Allbooks Review Blog

Urgent Request

2010-10-21T05:31:00.000-07:00

Urgently need cartoonists, for South African cartoon strips. I’m struggling to find artists who portray black characters. What’s needed are black heroes.... There are loads of possibilities. Eg; Where the subscriber can fill in the bubble captions thus writing the story board."

Urgently need artists/authors who already do something like this or who might be capable of it. If this sounds like you, contact richie@theebooksale.com.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve you
Shirley A. Roe
Managing Editor,Allbooks Review
www.allbookreviews.com

Allbook Reviews site will be new!

2010-10-20T10:51:00.000-07:00

Allbooks Review International is developing a new website. After more than 10 years, we are moving our site to: www.allbooksreviewint.com
Our old site: www.allbookreviews.com will be up until the end of December. We are still working on the new site to bring you some great books. Please visit the site, let us know if we can be of assistance in promoting your book or finding some great reads.
Allbooks Reviews International is the review and author promo source for POD AUTHORS as well as traditionally published authors. Authors around the world use our service.Great coverage for your book for twelve months +.Our complete review and author promotional package is less than $50.U.S and includes entry in the Allbooks Review Editor's Choice Award (a $50 US value) Unbelievable value!! www.allbookreviews.com and www.allbookreviewsint.com For complete details contact us.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve you
Shirley A. Roe
Managing Editor,Allbooks Review
www.allbookreviews.com

We highly recommend you become a member of iFOGO. Just click this link to join.
http://www.ifogo.com/buy/order_abr.html

Allbooks Review October 2010 Newsletter

2010-09-30T05:44:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween

The goblins have been having a great time with our website, we apologize for any inconvenience during September. Our new site will be better than ever, you can check it out at:
www.allbooksreviewint.com but remember it is only in the infant stages right now.

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. Also join iFogo and get www.booksonfilm.com. Great promo for a great price, post audio, book trailers, contact with agents and producers and much more. Be sure and let them know Allbooks Review sent you and join our group.
http://ifogo.com/buy/order_abr.html USE THIS LINK TO JOIN TODAY

Submissions Wanted:

Swyers Publishing Poetry Anthology Volume One: Making Waves
by Pamela Swyers on Tuesday, September 14, 2010 at 7:14pm
Just wanted to take a moment to explain a bit about our upcoming Poetry Anthology "Making Waves". As a small, independent publisher, Bill and I wanted to find a way to help young up and coming artists (poets specifically) get their work into print. Having walked the long, and often arduous road of getting something published, we feel the pain of those who want to see something they have written in printed form. I have been blessed to cross tracks with several young and amazingly talented writers and poets, and thought by donating some man-hours (and woman hours) and fronting the cost to get the anthology up and out there, the young poet could finally have a way to send someone to a place where they could purchase a poetry anthology that contained their works.
What's in it for us?We get the pleasure of helping out talented young poets and we make a small bit of money off each book sold on-line through Amazon or Smashwords, to help us recoup our costs.
What's in it for the poet?They may purchase (at our cost to produce, plus shipping) as many copies as they like directly from us, then re-sell these and make money off of them and/or they can send others to our site, Amazon or Smashwords to purchase as many copies as they would like. They have a printed, professional collection of poetry works to share and sell.
How does it work?We are currently searching for the best of the best from young, aspiring poets. (Okay, they can be "young at heart" as well.) By going to SwyersPublishing.com, anyone can submit their poetry (up to 5 per person) for consideration in the anthology. Go to "authors and projects" tab. Then go to "poetry project" tab. You will be asked to view the rules and guidelines and then to electronically submit your poem. ALL entries will be viewed and serioulsy considered for inclusion, however, it is ultimately up to our discretion on which ones we feel are the right ones to be included. (It is possible that yours may not be chosen this time, but may be chosen for Volume Two at a later date.) The poets will be contacted and informed as to whether or not their poem(s) has been chosen for inclusion by February, 2011 (at the latest). Chosen poets will be posted on the website. The anthology is set to be printed in the Spring of 2011, and the deadline for submissions is December 31st, 2010. Poets retain the rights to their works, so they can print or sell them elsewhere at any time. (We have non-exclusive rights to publish this once.)
The website is www.swyerspublishing.com

MINOTAUR BOOKS FIRST CRIME NOVEL CONTEST
-----------------------------------------
DEADLINE: November 13, 2010
GENRE: Books
OPEN TO: any writer, regardless of nationality, who has never been
the author of a published novel. Self-published writers may
enter, as long as the entry has not itself been self-published.
DETAILS: Submit previously unpublished works of book length (no
less than 220 typewritten pages or approximately 60,000 words).
PRIZE: $10,000 advance and a publishing contract from Minotaur
Books.

Science Articles Wanted
------------------------
Cosmos, the Australian science magazine, is open to submissions.
Cosmos is largely interested in ideas, particularly those that
involve, or are driven by, science and technology. Payment for
features ranges from A$900 to a maximum of A$3,000. View PDF for
full guidelines.
http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/pdf/Cosmos_writers_guidelines.pdf

FEATURE
FEATURE: Virtual Book Tours: A Five Step Planning Process
=================================================================
By Mohamed Mughal

I participated in an international virtual book tour the third
week of March 2010. The tour focused on my debut novel and on my
overall approach to writing. I had stops in Berlin, Germany;
London, England; and Washington, D.C. This being my first virtual
book tour, I didn't quite know how to plan the event. I took a
deep breath, I planned what I thought made sense and then I took a
head-first dive into the deep end.

Guess what? It was great!

Not only did I have the privilege of direct interactions with
readers world-wide, but the depth, complexity, relevance and humor
of the questions contributed to a number of compelling personal
and literary revelations.

Want to try it yourself? It's not difficult. You can start by
taking a look at the simple, five-step process that I used.

The Five Step Process
---------------------
Steps 1 through 4 happen before the tour. These steps don't
necessarily follow a strict sequence of one-after-another. Expect
some overlap in the execution of them. Step 5 happens after the
tour.

Step 1
------
Do web searches for literature blogs, particularly those who focus
on your genre. Contact as many as possible and briefly explain
who you are, what you wrote and why they should be open to hosting
you for a virtual book tour.

Being a Maryland-based writer, I'm a member of our state's
writers' association. I went to that organization's website and
contacted fellow members who maintain literary blogs. One of my
blog hosts came from these contacts. I found another of my hosts
through a web search on the terms "literary blogs" and
"book blogs." I found my third host by searching for writers with similar demographics as mine. Be persistent. I contacted three dozen blogs before finding three
willing to host my virtual book tour.

Step 2
------
Once you've gotten commitments from the number and the type of
blogs that you want on your tour (I wanted three literary blogs),
confirm tour dates with each host.

In addition to setting dates for the tour, this message tells
hosts to expect a prewritten tour announcement by a specific date;
it reinforces the mechanics of the tour; and it informs the hosts
of upcoming press releases.

Step 3
------
Pre-plan the mechanics of the tour and share this plan with each
of your hosts. Have your hosts share this information with their
blog's readers prior to the tour.

For my event, readers from each blog could ask up to three
questions about my writing and/or book. I developed and posted my
answers in about a day. To increase participation and interest, I
gave a free signed copy of the novel to the first person to post a
question at each blog. I made sure that I included information on
the giveaway in all my press releases and in all announcements
that I posted to my web-site and to other social media sites.

I also wanted to make sure that the information that my hosts
distributed to their readership was consistent and cross-linked.

Providing this information and text to your hosts makes it easier
on them. All they need to do is cut and paste the content into a
post on their blogs. Doing this also allows you to maintain
control over the mechanics of the tour while shaping its overall
message. Insert links to useful background information such as
book reviews and author interviews. Create an integrated set of
tour segments from one blog to another by having each host post
clickable links from their blog to each of the other participating
blogs.

Step 4
------
Issue a series of press releases to publicize the tour.

You can issue these releases through a press release service, your
website, local newspapers and through any other social media that
you participate in such as Facebook and Twitter. The idea is to
drive as much traffic as possible to the host blogs and to make
for a better attended virtual event.

I planned a series of four press releases. I issued the first a
month before the tour, the second about three weeks before, the
third about a week before and the last one on the day before the
tour. Here's sample text from one of the press releases:

Virtual Book Tour Puts God on Trial

American literary cubist Mohamed Mughal will participate in an
international virtual book tour for his novel, Resolution 786,
in March 2010. The novel's plot includes a trial of God for
crimes against humanity.

The tour has stops in Germany, the United Kingdom and the United
States. The following blogs are hosting the tour:

21-23 March 2010, ………………………………….etc.

You get the idea. In snappy, easy language, tell them who, what,
where, when and why. Make sure you throw in personal interest
material, background information that you think and feel will
resonate with the types of people who might read your books. If at all
possible, include clickable links in the press release. Make it
as easy as possible for potential participants to get to where you
want them, posting questions and comments at your host blogs
during the dates of the tour. Finally, think hard about the
titles of your press releases. You want titles that are accurate,
relevant and as compelling as possible.

Step 5
------
Once the tour is done, post clickable links to each host's Q&A
segments on your website and on all social media sites in which
you participate.

In addition to my web-site's blog, I posted my virtual book tour's
links on Facebook, hubpages and squidoo.

Conclusion
----------
There's an admitted simplicity and logic to the five-step process
and to the implementing details associated with each step. The
art and inspiration come with the personal nuances that you imbue
into the mechanical process. Make it special. Make it you.

Would I do another virtual book tour? Absolutely! Done right,
the process yields increased visibility to an author while
increasing traffic for the host blogs. It's an ideal venue
through which to create and leave behind a long-lasting
cyber-trail of information about your book, about your writing and
about yourself. Most of all, a virtual book tour is a perfect
vehicle through which to enjoy the benefits and revelations of a
real-time, deep conversation with readers and literature
enthusiasts the world over.

>>--------------------------------------------------<<
Mohamed Mughal writes in the schools of literary cubism and
absurdism. Learn more at http://www.mohamedmughal.com.

Copyright (c) 2010 by Mohamed Mughal
Allbooks Review is happy to be a stop on your virtual tour, just contact us.

SUCCESS STORIES

We love to hear of your success stories, submit them to us at: allbookreviews@aol.com
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.

Congratulations to:
Congrats to our Managing Editor, Shirley A. Roe on the release of Snow Eagle
Available on Amazon.com in print and kindle, ebooks at: www.theebooksale.com

Conversations with Jerry and Other People I Thought Were Dead won the silver medal in the 2010 IP Death and Dying Category, and was a Finalist in the 2010 Indie Excellence Awards.

Irene

Allbooks Reviews INTERVIEW:

Please state your name and location.
N. E. (Ed) Walker, Tampa, Florida, US

Tell us the title and publisher of your book:

Nexus, self-published ebook

Tell us about yourself:

I'm president of Design/Analysis Consultants, Inc., a small firm specializing in the creation of highly reliable electronic products. Because of my affinity for science and engineering, I've always loved good science fiction, but for some unknown reason I enjoy speculative fiction (science fiction without the rocket ships and futuristic gizmos) even more, particularly stories with offbeat psychological themes.

I've been writing non-fiction for over twenty years, primarily newsletters and one published technical book that has done well. I became serious about fiction approximately ten years ago, but on a part-time basis because of the demands of my career. Nexus is the first completed novel.

When was the book released?

July, 2010.

Give us an overview of your book.

I don't think I can beat the Allbooks review by Cindy Taylor.

What inspired you to write this book?

I enjoy writing, plus had a desire to write the type of book that I like to read that seems to be harder to find these days; i.e., one without the boring and predictable car chases, fist fights, and gratuitous vulgarities.

How is your book different from other books in this genre?

Other than being somewhat retro as mentioned above, it's a character-focused mixed-genre blend of mainstream and speculative fiction.

<emWhere can people buy your book?

Nexus is available at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Nexus-ebook/dp/B003S3S0CQ

Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published?

Yes, Purgatory, which is also a mix of mainstream/SF, scheduled for mid-late 2011. Purgatory examines a self-centered protagonist who, as a result of the terrifying side-effects of a serious injury, is forced to review the effects of his past actions from his family's perspective. A brief excerpt from Chapter 1 of the draft:

Bathed in a suffocating warmth, I eventually became aware of the faintest glow, eking its way through my translucent covering. The outline of a large ragged hole floated before me, ink black centered in the darkest gray. Its top was flattened against a charcoal ceiling; its rounded bottom connected to a coarse and dusky wall that dropped down into the depths.
Where was I?
This idle curiosity suddenly exploded, blowing away my calm detachment, as the horror of my situation plugged itself into my brain. My erupting screams were throttled into a dreadful moaning by my constricted throat, muffled further by the pungent fabric that smothered my face, and I writhed fiercely, trying to break myself free. Swaying as if on a tether, I realized that I was head down, wrapped and hung like a specimen in an insane collection.

If you self published, what advice can you give to fellow writers?Before you do, be sure to spend the time and effort to be very sure that your work is very polished and marketable. If you think you're at that point, an Allbooks review would be a good way to obtain professional and unbiased feedback. If the feedback indicates that you're not quite there, then obtaining their professional editing services would be a good next step.

How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us?
I was seeking a professional editor's opinion, and found Allbooks on the web. From reading several of their reviews, I could tell that they would provide the sort of straight talk that I was looking for, and that criticisms would be balanced and constructive.

Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.
www.allbookreviews.com

Author is looking for information. Can anyone help?

2010-09-23T15:26:00.000-07:00

My question is, would you have any information on how I could get this book into the Scholastic collection for school fairs? As it was published by Infinity, a POD publisher, it seems a bit more complicated. I contacted Scholastic and they would need 7000 books, which Infinity can print as they do their own publishing. It sounds rather lucrative (even at $1.00 a book royalty, or so) and I would certainly like to try.
I would be so grateful for any information you could give me.
Regards,
Sheila McIntyre

NB. Please contact Shirley Roe at allbookreviews@aol.com and your information will be forwarded to Sheila

Allbooks Review site updating.

2010-09-21T10:35:00.000-07:00

The Allbooks Review website www.allbookreviews.com is down for a few days for upgrading. Please return to the site at a later date if you can not access it. Thank you.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve you
Shirley A. Roe
Managing Editor,Allbooks Review
www.allbookreviews.com

2010-09-16T11:29:00.000-07:00

Myriad Editions is Looking for Books to Publish-----------------------------------------------
Based in the UK, this independent publisher publishes atlases,
graphic nonfiction and original fiction. They do not publish
children's stories, poetry or plays. For more information visit:
http://www.myriadeditions.com/submissions

Grantville Gazette Wants Short Sci-Fi and Fantasy
-------------------------------------------------
This appears to be a good magazine to break into if you want to
write fantasy. They have strict guidelines but a supportive
process. You need to submit your story as it progresses onto a
forum board where it will be discussed and problems with it ironed
out. If they decide to purchase your story you will get paid 5
cents a word. For more information visit:
http://www.grantvillegazette.com/submissions

Timeline Wants History Articles on Ohio
---------------------------------------
The editors of Timeline, the publication of the Ohio Historical
Society, are accepting manuscripts of 1,500 to 6,000 words related
to the history, prehistory, and natural history of Ohio and to the
broader cultural and natural environments of which Ohio is a part.
Articles with a significant regional or national focus also will be
considered. Suitable topics include the traditional fields of
political, economic, military, and social history; biography; the
history of science and technology; archaeology and anthropology;
architecture; the fine and decorative arts; and the natural
sciences including botany, geology, zoology, ecology, and
paleontology.

In addition to full-length feature articles, shorter, more sharply
focused vignettes of 500 to 1,000 words will be considered.

For more information and writer's guidelines visit the website:
http://www.ohiohistory.org/resource/publicat/timeline/ifc.html

Delicious Living Call for Submissions
-------------------------------------
US-based healthy lifestyle magazine is open to submissions.
Delicious Living was the first magazine of its kind, and it
remains ahead of its time--a lifestyle magazine that meets new
millennium needs with centuries-old health solutions, combined
with contemporary natural health care methods and modalities.

Delicious Living articles are lively, informative, and
conversational in tone, and provide up-to-date health information
in a clear, easy-to-understand manner. Writers should consult
various sources for their stories, including health professionals
and research journals. They require that writers make every attempt
to reference current research.

For more information visit: http://deliciouslivingmag.com/contact/

Thank you for the opportunity to serve you
Shirley A. Roe

Making Waves

2010-09-15T11:40:00.000-07:00

Swyers Publishing Poetry Anthology Volume One: Making Waves
by Pamela Swyers on Tuesday, September 14, 2010 at 7:14pm
Just wanted to take a moment to explain a bit about our upcoming Poetry Anthology "Making Waves".

As a small, independent publisher, Bill and I wanted to find a way to help young up and coming artists (poets specifically) get their work into print. Having walked the long, and often arduous road of getting something published, we feel the pain of those who want to see something they have written in printed form. I have been blessed to cross tracks with several young and amazingly talented writers and poets, and thought by donating some man-hours (and woman hours) and fronting the cost to get the anthology up and out there, the young poet could finally have a way to send someone to a place where they could purchase a poetry anthology that contained their works.

What's in it for us?
We get the pleasure of helping out talented young poets and we make a small bit of money off each book sold on-line through Amazon or Smashwords, to help us recoup our costs.

What's in it for the poet?
They may purchase (at our cost to produce, plus shipping) as many copies as they like directly from us, then re-sell these and make money off of them and/or they can send others to our site, Amazon or Smashwords to purchase as many copies as they would like. They have a printed, professional collection of poetry works to share and sell.

How does it work?
We are currently searching for the best of the best from young, aspiring poets. (Okay, they can be "young at heart" as well.) By going to SwyersPublishing.com, anyone can submit their poetry (up to 5 per person) for consideration in the anthology. Go to "authors and projects" tab. Then go to "poetry project" tab. You will be asked to view the rules and guidelines and then to electronically submit your poem. ALL entries will be viewed and seriously considered for inclusion, however, it is ultimately up to our discretion on which ones we feel are the right ones to be included. (It is possible that yours may not be chosen this time, but may be chosen for Volume Two at a later date.) The poets will be contacted and informed as to whether or not their poem(s) has been chosen for inclusion by February, 2011 (at the latest). Chosen poets will be posted on the website. The anthology is set to be printed in the Spring of 2011, and the deadline for submissions is December 31st, 2010. Poets retain the rights to their works, so they can print or sell them elsewhere at any time. (We have non-exclusive rights to publish this once.)

The website is www.swyerspublishing.com Email is bill@swyerspublishing.com

Allbooks Review September 2010 Newsletter

2010-09-02T15:37:00.000-07:00

Cooler temps of autumn

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. Also join iFogo and get www.booksonfilm.com. Great promo for a great price, post audio, book trailers, contact with agents and producers and much more. Be sure and let them know Allbooks Review sent you and join our group.
http://ifogo.com/buy/order_abr.html USE THIS LINK TO JOIN TODAY

Submissions Wanted:
POOLE LITERARY FESTIVAL NEW MEDIA PRIZE
---------------------------------------
DEADLINE: September 15, 2010
GENRE: Short Stories, nonfiction, poetry, young writers
DETAILS: Two age categories: adult and student. Storytelling,
whether fiction or non-fiction or poetry, written specifically for
delivery and reading/viewing on a PC or Mac, on the web, or via
mobile phone. Could be thought of as a short story, a novel, a
documentary, or poetry. However, "writing" and "literature" in the
digital age now can include words, images, film, animation, and
interactivity for the audience.
PRIZE: £250 and an Apple i-pad for 1st prize winner in each age
category.
URL: http://www.poolelitfest.com/new-media-prize.php

FEATURE
Why Book Promotion Takes Patience
By Patricia Fry

Why must authors have patience? Because it takes time to go from exposure to sales. Exposure is necessary in order to alert potential customers to your book-let them know that it exists. People have to know about your book before they will purchase it. News flash: Just having it sitting on a shelf in a bookstore, doesn't necessarily mean that people will be inclined to purchase it.

They need to hear about it, read about it, hear others talk about it, see it reviewed in their favorite related publications, handle it a few (or many) times, have it recommended and learn more about it. Not only do they need to know about it, they must be convinced that this is something they want to read-that they will enjoy it or benefit from it or that someone they know will. Handpicked books make great gifts.

So how do you get this sort of exposure for your amazing book? You must establish a website and, perhaps, a blog site. Go out and speak. Get your book reviewed many times over. Arrange for book signings. Rent booths at book festivals. Join organizations and groups that can help you get exposure for your book (those related to the theme or genre of your book as well as those that can help with marketing, offer resources, etc). Where appropriate, teach courses and/or give workshops related to your book. Speak at conferences related to your book. Talk about it everywhere you go. Submit articles to appropriate magazines/newsletters/sites. And make sure you are listed in Books in Print (so booksellers can special order your book for customers).

Currently, I am testing new waters while getting exposure for my latest book, Catscapades, True Cat Tales. And I am reminded how time-consuming book promotion can be, especially just coming out of the publishing gate. How much time is it taking? LOTS of it. Getting exposure in all the right places is my full time job at the moment. And it takes patience, because reviewers don't always respond as quickly as you would like. Booksellers can drag their feet about scheduling your signings. Potential customers who may really want a copy of your book put off purchasing it.

How long does it take to get the results you want through exposure? Do you want me to be candid? This is an ongoing activity for as long as you want your book to sell.

Until you have major name recognition as the author of mysteries, true crime books, children's or young adult books, fantasies, science fiction or books on finance, for example, you will need to practically hand sell each and every book you produce. As authors in this publishing climate, the best that we can do is to consider authorship a serious business, not a privilege that will result in instant fame and fortune.

Sure, you'll get a flurry of sales after a positive review is published by a reviewer of some credibility and with a large following. You may sell a box or a handful of books at a book festival or a large conference where you speak. You will surely sell a dozen or so books at a well-publicized book signing. And some of those customers will tell others about your book and you'll get some residual sales. But then, you're back to the drawing board reminding potential customers about your book on a regular basis while attempting to find new ways to get exposure.

Does it sound like a dismal reward for writing a marvelous book-to have to promote for evermore? It depends on how you look at it. I suggest shifting a measure of your creativity over from your writing efforts to the process of promotion and look at it as a creative challenge.

Here's another tip. Don't ever allow yourself to be discouraged when your sales, during a particular event or after a great review, fall below your expectations. Exposure doesn't always lead to immediate gratification (sales). In fact, I like to tell the story of a SPAWN member who shared in our SPAWN booth at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books one year. He didn't sell very many books that year, but he made some amazing contacts that led to him being involved in a documentary featuring the topic of his book. It airs frequently on the Military channel.

If you are currently or will soon be promoting a book, keep things in perspective. Understand the concept of book promotion.

• Book promotion is not a one-time shot. It is ongoing for as long as you want to sell copies of your book.

• Book promotion is not a passive process. It takes serious planning and assertive action.

• Book promotion efforts do not usually result in high sales right off the bat.

• Book promotion takes time, effort, energy and creative thinking.

If you have a good product, your next obligation is to be proactive in promoting it and be patient.

SUCCESS STORIES

We love to hear of your success stories, submit them to us at: allbookreviews@aol.com
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.

Congratulations to:

Creating A Healthy Life and Marriage has won an award. Judith

Readers Favorite
2010 Silver Medal Winner
Non-fiction, Relationships

Dear Shirley!

Wow. Thank you for the wonderful review. I have been real busy and could not get back to you.
I just broke my third Guinness World Record on Live TV last week.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etDo37PKKvk (see me drop the anchorman on the floor live)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGG9D7EO_rs
Another world record (4th one) is set for this Saturday August 14th at 1 PM PST at livestream.com.
The cookbook is here. I will send the hardcopy to you.
Thank you so so much!
THIENNA

Creating A Healthy Life and Marriage; A Holistic Approach: Body, Mind, Emotions and Spirit has received its first two awards:

Featured Book of the Month
August 2010
Pacific Book Review
http://www.pacificbookreview.com/
Readers Favorite Awards 2010
Finalist, Non Fiction - Relationships

Beyond Doubt is now available as an e-book through Amazon, Barnes and Noble and others, please let everyone know it is downloadable. Many blessings!
John

Allbooks Reviews INTERVIEW: (Please put your answers in black)

Please state your name and location. (city and State or Province, Country)

Don Hurst. Roseville, California, USA

Tell us the title and publisher of your book:

Cloud Riders. ePress-online Inc.

Tell us about yourself:

I'm Don Hurst. My full name is Donald Douglas Hurst. I'm a 75 year-old life-long bachelor living in Northern California, U.S.A.

I have an AA in Art and a BA in Expressive Arts.

I am a veteran of United States Navy during the Korean War and a veteran of the United States Air Force during peacetime.

I have two younger brothers.

10 years younger, Dennis, who lives in San Diego, California. He's an electronics engineer. He's retired but still magnificently smart.

And Bob, who also lives Roseville. He's 3 years younger than me and has for years been the president of a corporation. He's now retired but is still unabashedly bossy.

I write fantasy mostly, because it's more real to me than so-called reality.

I have a web site: www.donstuff.com

On the back cover of Return to UKOO, my first book, is the following: 'No matter where I go, there I am. I can either get in the way or enjoy the company.'

Enough about me. I'm getting bored.

Don

When was the book released?

2010

Give us an overview of your book.

14 year-old Paul Winsome has to ride clouds to save his 11 year-old sister Vicki, and the solar system. He has no idea how. Why was he chosen? Could anyone be less qualified?

Through his parallel-imagined-life, Paul has to enter a dangerous, intimidating, puzzling pursuit of a reality just beyond his grasp. He has no choice but to trust his imagination. However, isn't his imagination mixed in with everyone else's imagination in an imagination life stew? Aren't his chances of failure literally astronomical?

"Your gift of imagination is able to reach any altitude,” says wizard Maken Fairchild. Easy for him to say. He doesn't have to confront gargantuan gorilla Claude Nab or his owner, queen authority of malice Calamity Horrid. He doesn't have to face an invading solar system Vile Extinction, whose added suns will cook Earth upon her arrival. He doesn't have to face her laser-shooting eyed son, Kid Badd. Face six eyed Keen Aware. Bully Buster. Save his cat, Isno Gravity.

Not to mention, how does one ride clouds anyway?

Surely someone has made a dreadful mistake.

What inspired you to write this book?

E. B. White answered a child's question about whether his stories were true.
He answered, quote: "No, they are imaginary tales… But real life is only one kind of life―there is also the life of the imagination." End quote.
Combine that with the Harry Potter series and Cloud Riders sprang to life in my imagination.

How is your book different from other books in this genre?

I wanted to write a book about imagination itself. It took six years to complete. It's been quite a cloud ride.

Where can people buy your book?

www.ePress-online.com

Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published?

Not at the present time.

If you self published, what advice can you give to fellow writers?

Cloud Riders is not self-published. But my advice is to remember that
'writing the book and self publishing it is only half the task. The other half is to sell it.'

If published traditionally, tell us how you benefited:

Editing, cover design, encouragement and a reality check when my
Imagination soared too far for a reader to grasp. ePress-online Inc. is staffed by other writers helping writers with their craft. They have been wonderful to me both in guidance and understanding my goal.

Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?

My review by Alison Griffiths, an Allbooks Reviewer. She brought me out of a worsening dark cloud of self-doubt. The encouragement of Writers Village University's Donna Sundblad, know at WVU as Birdie, suggestions as to marketing. Marketing success is the branch held out to keep me running toward accomplishment. I truly care less for Don Hurst being successful than Cloud Riders reaching the reading public, young and old.

How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us?
I found Allbooks Reviews on a site that lists book reviewers. I just got lucky in my pick.

Was the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to offer writers?

I'm 75 and living on Social Security. Low cost was not only a surprise, but a God send. As to what more Allbooks Reviews could offer, I haven't explored fully what is now offered. Seems to me so much is offered that it will take some time to grab a hold of the spinning merry-go-round of marketing help.

Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.

Thanks right back at you. I am truly appreciative.

A Travel in Time to Grand Pre

2010-08-23T12:57:00.000-07:00

Allbooks Reviews INTERVIEW:

Please state your name and location. (City and State or Province, Country)

Michele Doucette, Stephenville, Newfoundland, Canada

Tell us the title and publisher of your book:

A Travel in Time to Grand Pré
St. Clair Publications

Tell us about yourself:

A Special Education teacher of 25 years, I am as equally passionate about the written word; I love to orchestrate and manipulate words. I spend countless hours working on genealogy; sourcing and validating relationships. I am a firm believer in the healing energies of crystals, stones and positive thinking.

When was the book released?

The first edition of the book was available on July 3, 2009. The revised edition became available on March 16, 2010.

Give us an overview of your book.

A Travel in Time to Grand Pré is a historically informative adventure, tying the history of the descendants of Yeshua (Jesus) to modern day Nova Scotia, Canada. Madeleine Sinclair feels disconnected with the era of her birth, yet intuitively aware of herself in another time period in history. Transported back to 1754, she comes to learn, live and experience firsthand the lives of the French Acadian people, meeting Michel (dit Sophie) LeBlanc, her love of that time.
Through the warm, loving and helpful guidance of fellow time traveler, Madame Pêche, she comes to understand the predetermined course of her Sinclair bloodline, beginning with Rollo the Viking, father of William Longsword, a line that is shown to be linked to the Merovingians, the Cathars and the Knights Templar (protectors of the Holy Grail).
Before long, the reader is led to the very apex of this time travel adventure. Madeleine has been decreed the one who is to introduce the words of Yeshua, spoken in Aramaic at the height of his ministry, to the modern world. Herein, Yeshua explains how individuals can find their way, their truth(s), so as to live their lives to the fullest.

What inspired you to write this book?

In a plot that came to me in 1996, I knew how I wanted the story to begin and I knew how I wanted the story to end. While I was sure about certain elements for inclusion in the story, I was very surprised at how the story unfolded.

I was inspired by my French Acadian heritage, my fascination with genealogy and current DNA findings, my attraction to quantum physics (courtesy of the spiritual and metaphysical realms) and my enthrallment with the plausibility of a holy bloodline as discussed in The Holy Blood, The Holy Grail.

In addition, it seems that I had been duly positioned, beforehand, to conduct extensive research: authors, books, websites, email communication (regarding genealogy) with countless individuals.

When the time came for me to begin writing, the entire process took less than six months.

How is your book different from other books in this genre?

Having researched my own genealogy for close to 20 years, this book incorporates linkages to several ancestors of historical import.

Where can people buy your book?

Amazon US, Amazon Canada, Amazon UK, Barnes and Noble
Direct from the publisher at http://stan.stclair.net
Direct from the author via email at michele.doucette@nf.sympatico.ca

Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published?

Since A Travel in Time to Grand Pré was released, I have gone on to release several spiritual / metaphysical books, both published through St. Clair Publications. The next few months shall see the publication of two additional spiritual / metaphysical tomes followed by several in reference to the wisdom of crystals and stones.

Currently, I am busy reading and researching for Back Home With Evangeline, the sequel to A Travel in Time to Grand Pré. In keeping, I am aiming for a Summer 2011 publication date. I shall also be releasing Germain Doucet (Sieur de LaVerdure): Ancestry of Michele Doucette, based on my paternal lineage, in the not too distant future.

If you self published, what advice can you give to fellow writers?

Take the time to conduct thorough research into POD (Print On Demand) publication services before making a final decision. I also heartily endorse Stanley J. St. Clair of St. Clair Publications as a possible publisher.

How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us?

A good friend of mine, an author by the name of Jean-Claude Koven, was also reviewed by Allbooks Reviews, winning the Editor’s Choice Award for Best Metaphysical Book. It was this that led me to you.

Was the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to offer writers?

I was pleasantly surprised by both the low cost as well as all that was contained within that price. To be featured for one month with the review thereafter being posted in the Review Showcase for the period of one year is sensational. In addition, the initial review is posted in a wide variety of publications, both printed as well as online. Interviews are also posted on the website. To know that your website is denoted as being one of the best websites for authors speaks volumes. Just knowing that each book is automatically considered for the Editor’s Choice Award at each year end is quite the opportunity.

While I am unsure as to anything else that Allbooks Reviews might be able to offer, especially after citing the previous information, I am sure that they will be able to come up with something fantastic.

Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve you
Shirley A. Roe
Managing Editor,Allbooks Review
www.allbookreviews.com

The Gatekeeper

2010-08-20T05:52:00.000-07:00

Genre: Fiction
Author: C. Alease

“The doors we open and close each day decide the lives we live.” Flora Whitmore

At 54 years of age, the main character has what she considers a mundane life. In limbo, so to speak, not happy but not sad, suicidal thoughts but no attempt at action, only to return on the cycle, to become bubbly again. She examines her life with questions about why she always attracted the wrong man; why two failed marriages and another on the way out?
She has three grown children, one who is showing the same anger outbursts that she has herself. She has learned to live with it, he has not. Keeping up appearances is of vital importance, but she has always felt inside herself, that something is not quite right, never feeling quite ‘together.’
After listening to a co-worker, she decides to take her son to a therapist for anger management, opening the door to her own obscure past. Repressed memories, flashbacks of repulsively shocking events are revealed, which explain why her mind fragmented. Survival at any cost!
The steady stream of new personalities coming forward compels you to read on. Being intrigued by this complex personality disorder, each personality struggling with their own crisis, propels you to the intense climax. Who is real? Will a convergence happen? Which personality will survive the convergence ultimately existing as only one whole person?
C. Alease has made her author’s debut with a very thought provoking, insightful story. Her natural, flowing descriptive style leaves nothing to the imagination as you become part of the scenes, and her words carry you to the end.
Although born in New York City, NY, she was raised in Philadelphia, PA. She is married with three adult children with confidence toward her own goal, to become a full-time author.
Highly Recommended: Reviewer: Cheryl Heinrichs-Ellis, Allbooks Review www.allbookreviews.com
Available through Amazon.com, local book seller or the author herself calease@cadsmith.net

Title: The Gatekeeper
Author: C. Alease
Publisher: Bumblebee
ISBN-13: 978-1449552640
Pages: 207
Price: $19.99 USD
April 2010

Allbooks Reviews INTERVIEW: (Please put your answers in black)

Please state your name and location. (city and State or Province, Country)
C. Alease Smith, Philadelphia, PA USA

Tell us the title and publisher of your book:
The Gatekeeper, a Novel by C. Alease, published by Createspace

Tell us about yourself:

My “Don’t quit your day job” is as an Information Technology Manager. I hold a BS in Information Technology and have been in the business of computing for over 27 years. I am married with three adult children, one of whom is an outstanding actress named Amina Robinson, who just finished three years on Broadway in Mama Mia as Aly and played “Jermaine Hicks” in the movie, “Precious,” which won two Academy awards. I am looking forward to being a fulltime novelist.

When was the book released?

The Gatekeeper was released in paperback in November 2009. It was released in Kindle electronic format in October, 2009.

Give us an overview of your book.

The Gatekeeper is a novel about a woman who discovers that her life isn’t her own, but that it belongs to a number of different, distinct personalities wrapped inside her mind. She searches for and ultimately finds herself and her purpose, but it is definitely not what she expected.

What inspired you to write this book?

There were many life experiences of my own that I can say inspired me. What I decided to do was imagine a woman with similar experiences and fold into those experiences a unique character whose purpose was to have just those experiences. I wound up with about 8 distinct characters, one dimensional, each with a purpose. Then I imagined what it would be like none of the 8 characters “knew” who was supposed to be in charge.

How is your book different from other books in this genre?

I believe this book is different because of the way I describe the experiences throughout the story. I take the reader through each experience in such a way that they can feel the air in the sky, and they can see and touch the flowers in the vase on the round wooden table in the center of the room. They can smell the fragrance of lilacs in bloom by the window of the therapist’s office. The reader feels the torment of the protagonist as she is reminded of trauma in her past, as well as the humor and wit of the all the characters in the story. It’s that descriptive quality of the book that involves and holds the reader through to the end of the story.

Where can people buy your book?

The Gatekeeper is distributed worldwide through the Ingram Group. Because it is a “Print-on-Demand” (POD) technology novel, it can be ordered from bookstores that purchase through the Ingram Group, which include Barnes and Noble, Borders and others. The ISBN number is: 1449552641. It is presently available at Classics Books, 117 South Warren Street, Trenton, New Jersey, book_cellar@mindspring.com, 609-394-8400; Barnes and Noble.com; Amazon.com in both paperback and Kindle; and iFOGO.com. Copies are also available through my website, http://thegatekeeper.cadsmith.net. Signed copies are also available by emailing orderbooks@cadsmith.net and providing name, postal address and email address. For Facebook users, signed copies of the novel are available on the C. Alease Fan page, Storefront tab at http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/C-Alease/90340399803?ref=ts

Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published?

I am working on another book, and I expect it to be published in about a year or a year and a half.

If you self published, what advice can you give to fellow writers?

Yes, I did self-publish through Createspace, the self-publishing arm of Amazon.com. My advice is, “read, research, read some more, and research some more. Find out what is acceptable formatting and page requirements for novels. Surround yourself with people who are similarly situated, through social networking services. Covet your contacts. Register your work with the Copyright office. Learn about literary predators; the agents and publishing houses to stay away from. Get your work professionally edited. Finally, you represent your work. Know that anything worth reading has been polished to a high gloss!

Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?

I recently began what I call “The Salon Tour.” Women in salons love to read good page turners while under the dryer, so my hairstylist and dear friend, Charlie Trendi gave me my first book signing at her salon. I wrote an article about it that you can read on my website: http://thegatekeeper.cadsmith.net/News_pics.html

How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us?

I discovered Allbooks Review through my association with iFOGO Village, a networking website for serious writers and authors. My first desire was to get an honest, unbiased review of my novel. When I checked out the website, I discovered that Allbooks Reviews is a reputable site for authors to showcase their work. I am hoping to get readers of Allbooks Reviews to read my novel and to pass the word about it to others.

Was the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to offer writers?

The low cost was a pleasant surprise. I must point out that reviews by Allbooks Reviews are not fee-based, which drew me first. To me that ensures an unbiased, honest review of my work. The promotional fee is extremely reasonable. I would be very interested in the opportunity to talk about my novel on the radio with Allbooks Reviews. I’m not sure if that is offered at this time, but it is something I would like to do.

Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.

Book of Eli

2010-08-20T05:48:00.000-07:00

Genre: Fiction/Humor
Author: Sam Moffie

The Book of Eli arrived in my office on a very busy day. After the first chapter, I thought, ‘Just another self centered, sex crazed hero- this is going to be a long, difficult read.’ Well let me tell you that I was pleasantly surprised.

Our hero, Eli Canaan, who is indeed a sex maniac, is basically a “Good man,” or so he thinks. When Eli wakes up in Heaven, things begin to change. This author’s flamboyant imagination takes readers on an interesting journey. Eli’s guide in Heaven is none other than Groucho Marx. The guide introduces Eli to many distinguished characters: Freud, atheist Madalyn Murray O’Hair, Ayn Rand, Buddha and, of course, Jesus. God has a mission for Eli, a very important mission.

You will laugh out loud at the antics of angel guide, Julius Henry Marx (Groucho). The characters are lively, bold and entertaining. The book’s message of salvation is subtle but inspiring.

Author Sam Moffie’s previous books are award winners. He resides with his family in Youngstown, Ohio where he owns a bar.

The Book of Eli is an eye opener. Readers will laugh, but more important they will question. Hopefully by questioning one’s own existence and making positive changes, improvements that will eventually affect all of humankind will take place. Bravo Sam Moffie!

Highly Recommended by Reviewer: Shirley Roe, Allbooks Review. www.allbookreviews.com
Available: www.samsstories.com and Amazon.com
Publisher:Mill City Publishing
ISBN: 978-1936107353
No. of Pages: 147
Price: $14.95
March 2010

Pink Slips and Parting Gifts

2010-08-18T12:10:00.000-07:00

Author: Deb Hosey White

In the world of fiction, many tales have been written about the famous business icon at the top of the pyramid whose name and life will always be remembered. However, when do we ever hear the story of the little guys at the bottom of the pyramid – the foundation blocks of the structure itself, without whose strength and stamina the whole building would collapse? Even if you have never worked in the corporate business world or been part of a merger or acquisition, you will find Deb Hosey White’s Pink Slips and Parting Gifts a clear and insightful journey into the world of corporate America. White defines and describes in great detail, but in simple terms, the lives of the “foundation” employees of The Easton Company through the merger process, opening the reader’s eyes to the stark reality of how their lives are thrown into upheaval by the selfishness of those great icons at the top.

If you have lived through the experience of a merger or acquisition, you may very well find yourself relating to the events and people within the storyline. The story is told through the eyes of employees at every level, from the maintenance man in the basement, to the accountant, to the human resources specialist, and it touches on all aspects of their shock, pain, heartbreak, confusion, and loss as their lives are turned upside down.

On the one hand, this is a very refreshing read as it falls outside of the standard, repetitive subject matter in the world of fiction today, but on the other hand it is a very disturbing and rude awakening to what the world of business has become. Gone is the much loved and admired company founder dedicated to the common good, the community, and the company’s employees, who built the company from the ground up to be known for its solid reputation, positive profile, and profitable business sheet. Enter the power and money hungry CEO’s and executives of the Fortune 500 generation who forget about the original goals and whose only concern now is the size of their parachute (the job insurance for top executives in case of a merger or acquisition) which allows them to leave with millions in their pockets to secure their futures, while the low men and women on the totem pole watch their futures crumble before their eyes.

Although the chapters were so short that I found the storyline a bit disjointed, making it difficult to get to know the characters, I was intrigued by the plot of this novel right from page one, and I could feel the tension building throughout as the employees of The Easton Company, comfortable in their stable lives, were thrown into chaos with no warning. It makes one yearn for the early days in business when no one was making huge amounts of money, but everyone loved their work and lived comfortably. No one, not even the CEO, was wealthy!

Pink Slips and Parting Gifts was certainly an eye opener for me, and I would highly recommend it for anyone who wants to see the truth behind big business today and the power of the privileged few.

Deb Hosey White is an executive management consultant and retirement coach who lives and writes in North Carolina with her husband, David. Reviewer: Cindy Taylor, Allbooks Review.

Title: Pink Slips and Parting Gifts
Author: Deb Hosey White
Publisher: iUniverse, Inc.
ISBN: 978-1-4401-5804-9
Price: U.S. $20.95
No. of Pages: 345
March, 2010

Allbooks Reviews INTERVIEW:(Please put your answers in black)

Please state your name and location.(city and State or Province, Country)
Deb Hosey White
Greensboro, North Carolina USA

Tell us the title and publisher of your book:

Pink Slips and Parting Gifts

iUniverse
1663 Liberty Drive, Bloomington, IN 47403
ISBN 9781440158049, $20.95, www.iuniverse.com

Tell us about yourself:

Thirty years of corporate life never really "cured" me of being an English major, a creative writer and a poet.And while up to my eyeballs in 401(k) plan administration, ERISA, COBRA, andother stress-inducing arcanity, I never stopped collecting and writing stories. Anyone who has ever worked for a large organization knows that the best workplace stories end up in human resources. Now retired from corporate life, I'm free to share some of those stories--without naming names, of course!

When was the book released?

September 2009

Give us an overview of your book.

When is the first time a CEO dares to say out loud, “It’s time to sell the company”? Does he practice first in front of a mirror? Does he quietly float the idea to his most trusted colleague over dinner? Does he seek legal counsel? SEC guidance? Financial advice? If the CEO is gutsy enough, “selling the company” might quietly pass his lips for the first time during a clandestine meeting with a potential buyer in Las Vegas—setting the bait for a bid that will electrify the decision-makers back home.

Mergers and acquisitions are messy business and they change the lives of everyday people.Pink Slips and Parting Gifts is the fictional account of the sale of a U.S. development company, revealing absurd events mixed with employee anguish as another corporation changes hands and disappears from the big board on Wall Street.

By the time Easton Company CEO Jeffrey Elkins entices a major competitor to buy his Fortune 500 Company, the corporate jet is waiting and his parachute is platinum. In 14 weeks the deal of a lifetime transforms a handful of quirky executives into undeserving multi-millionaires, propels a workforce into unemployment and dispatches unsuspecting retirees into poverty. In the background, security guards dance naked in mall fountains, the corporate jet is sold on eBay, and a CEO utters his final words before relinquishing his title: Make sure the employees get their pumpkin pies.

The memorable cast of corporate characters includes a germophobic CEO, a marketing VP turned Elvis impersonator, the Sundance Kid of Everyman Compensation, and a purchasing director nicknamed the eBay Wizard.

What inspired you to write this book?

I spent more than 30 years in corporate America as a manager and a consultant. During that period I collected hundreds of stories about companies and the people who work for them.I also experienced firsthand the merger that inspired Pink Slips and Parting Gifts.As a corporate human resources director I was required to help "turn out the lights" at my company as it was sold to a competitor.I dealt with retirees whose health insurance and pensions were ripped from their aging hands; with long-term employees whose jobs were abruptly eliminated; and with a community that lost it's premier hometown corporate citizen.

Reading the news coverage of that merger and many others, I was struck with the realization that the stories being covered were heavily weighted to the top of the corporate heap—the CEOs, big stockholders,and top-level management who benefited most from the merger-mania. I wanted to get behind the headlines and tell the realities ofthose stories—the incredible perks, corporate jets, and multi-million dollar goodbye packages—but I also wanted to tell the stories of the maintenance workers, secretaries, and others whose lives were upturned by the merger.

How is your book different from other books in this genre?

Pink Slips and Parting Gifts is business fiction.That's not a genre that fits neatly onto library shelves or bookseller databases.But fiction set in the workplace is still a strong sub-category of modern literature. As such, Pink Slips and Parting Gifts shares a lineage with Up in the Air, The Bonfire of the Vanities, and The Devil Wears Prada. What is unique about Pink Slips and Parting Gifts is that it tells the story of a corporate merger not just from the perspective of the news-makers—the CEOs, board members, and power brokers—but from the mailroom clerks, secretaries, retirees, mid-level managers and even the homeless man living on the company's loading dock.

Also, Pink Slips and Parting Gifts employs flash fiction storytelling -- a unique format for a novel. Each chapter tells its own small story within the context of the larger novel. Many of the chapters could stand alone as stories within a story. The best example is the embedded "Tales of the Sofa." Many readers have commented on their enjoyment of the "sofa story" within Pink Slips.

Where can people buy your book?

The book is available online from:

· Amazon.com

· BarnesandNoble.com

· iUniverse.com

· Amazon.ca

· Booksamillion.com

· Amazon.co.uk

· Waterstones

Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published?

Yes.I am in the initial stages of a new workplace novel—publication date unknown.Also working on a screenplay for Pink Slips and Parting Gifts, and a poetry collection.

If you self published, what advice can you give to fellow writers?

The publishing industry has been in a state of upheaval in recent years and self-publishing is a reality for many writers.In this reality, the author must take on tasks traditionally performed by professional agents, editors, copy-proofers, designers, and publicists.Print-on-demand publishers offer a Chinese menu of add-on (read that "extra cost") services, but the quality of those services may vary greatly.I experienced issues throughout the process–from layout and production concerns, to accounting issues, to unprofessional publicity services.

I would advise writers to first attempt to find a professional agent and/or publisher.If that is not possible–and the odds are stacked against new writers–then enter the self publishing world with eye wide open:

Solicit a team of literate readers who will critique your manuscript (I used volunteers from a literary book group).

· Find a capable person to assist with editing, proofreading, and other production-related tasks.

· Budget more time than you think might be necessary to the critiquing, editing, proofing, and production process.

· Explore third-party publicity services rather than add-on services offered by the publisher. Be prepared to do much of the promotional process yourself.

· Submit your finished book for review by services such as AllBooks Review.

· Do not expect bookstores to stock your self-published book, but be aware of the multitude of online book selling services that predominate today's market.

Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?

Because my book is topical/newsworthy, I was able to arrange an interview from a regional newspaper in a city that has been affected by corporate mergers similar to the story in Pink Slips and Parting Gifts.

How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us?

Allbooks Reviews was included on a list of reputable reviewers on the Midwest Book Review website. My hope is that the insightful Allbooks review of Pink Slips and Parting Gifts will receive broad international circulation and that it will be quoted and noted in numerous sources.

Was the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to offer writers?

Allbooks Reviews offers timely and personal service to their authors--something not to be undervalued in the 21st century literary marketplace!

Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.

Short Circus

2010-08-16T12:13:00.000-07:00

Genre: Young Adult
Author: Stephen V Masse

Everyone from twelve to one hundred and twelve can remember their favourite summer as a child. Equally as memorable are the essays usually entitled “What I did over the Summer.” that were a standard task in the Autumn Term of school.

“Short Circus” is, in basic terms, that essay, told by twelve year old Jem Lockwood, but expanded to novel length.

Central to Jem’s story is Jesse Standish, a Big Brother who leads him into the kind of adventures every teenage boy dreams of having. The Big Brother Association puts adults or older teens, with younger ones as a programme to teach the children about life, to keep them out of trouble, and above all else, to act as a role model. Jesse certainly ticks the boxes, but more than that he also can communicate with children in a way that someone of authority couldn’t get away with.

That said, Jem knows nothing about Jesse before he meeting him for the first time, and he conjures up images of someone more akin to a strict headmaster than the cool, trendy character that Jesse turns out to be. Together Jem, Jesse and Jem’s friends get involved in bike jumping, visiting the circus, fighting and waterfall bathing – all in all the perfect summer for a young adult.

Throw in a mystery surrounding the local swimming pond and a boys own adventure to discover the culprit, and you have a story that wouldn’t be out of place in a teenage magazine for boys.

Running parallel to this is Jesse’s story, told from Jem’s point of view. Despite being the perfect Big Brother on the outside, Jesse has problems to deal with such as being forced to sell his house due to lack of money and his relationship with his girlfriend. It is Jesse’s story that takes over in a contrast to the fun and frivolity of the earl part of the novel. Considering Jem’s mother approached the Big Brother solution as a way of giving Jem a role model in the absence of his father, it is somewhat ironic that Jesse is struggling to deal with loss of his own father, and it seems that losing himself in the younger boy’s antics is one way of helping him get through.

Aimed at early teens, the book is a prime example of playing to its target audience. The plot is probably not complex enough to stand out to adults who are looking for anything more than a quick-flick, but Jem and Jesse are characters that will appeal to the age range of 9-14 year olds, and the tale of children learning to grow up and adults who learn life’s lessons from children has just enough mischief and fun to hold their attention to the end. The writing is not too taxing, but similarly it does not patronise with primary school wording, and is actually a book that is written with a certain type of reader in mind and sticks to it. Short Circus is not the type of novel that can easily cross over into the adult reading market due to it’s subject matter as much as anything else, but I could see it translating well to a late summer family movie someday.

Highly recommended by Anthony Lund, Allbooks Review www.allbookreviews.com

Publisher – Good Harbor Press
ISBN : 978-0-615-32057-1
Price - $20.00
Page Count – 184
March 2010

Allbooks Reviews INTERVIEW:

Please state your name and location. (city and State or Province, Country)
Stephen V. Masse
Medford, Massachusetts, USA

Tell us the title and publisher of your book:

Short Circus
Good Harbor Press

Tell us about yourself:

Stephen V. Masse was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Educated at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, he studied creative writing, and was author of a weekly newspaper column, "Out of Control." His first novel for children, Shadow Stealer, was published by Dillon Press in 1988. Short Circus is his second novel for children.

In addition to children’s books, Masse has written A Jolly Good Fellow, winner of the Silver Medal in the 2008 Independent Publisher Book Awards, as well as
honorable mention in the 2008 New England Book Festival for best books
of the holiday season.

When was the book released?

March, 2010

Give us an overview of your book.

Twelve-year-old Jem Lockwood has been fatherless for four years and finally gets a Big Brother, but just as the best summer of his life is about to begin, he discovers that Jesse Standish's rented house is about to be sold. Jem does all in his daring imagination to make Jesse's house unmarketable, and the neighborhood unfit for prospective buyers. This three-ring circus romps with Jem's boyhood friends and older brother Chris, all recognizable kids who share in the rough-and-tumble delight of living in a northern Massachusetts city whose newspaper is delivered by kids on bikes, where kids play in the streets, and the local convenience store is owned by the family of Jesse’s girlfriend, Andrea.

Sadly the city’s swimming pond has been sabotaged, and the city has to close it to all recreation after two boys are injured. Jem is sure he knows who did it, and helps carry out a plan to punish the evildoer. But Alpha qualities are not always perfectly aimed, and Jem learns about the consequences of jumping into action without sufficient knowledge or understanding.

What inspired you to write this book?

Memories of childhood as well as being a Big Brother.

How is your book different from other books in this genre?

Packed with everyday people bending their lives into the fringes of sideshow lunacy, Short Circus is in a genre of its own – reality fiction from a twelve-year-old kid’s point of view.

Where can people buy your book?

Barnesandnoble.com; amazon.com; jacketflap.com; flamingnet.com

Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published?

Yes, but not ready for publication.

How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us?

I’ve worked with Allbooks Reviews before, and would like to keep a continually growing web presence for marketing my books.

Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.

In Pursuit of Love, Spirituality and Happiness

2010-08-16T12:02:00.000-07:00

Genre: Fiction
Author: Gita Audhya

When you feel trapped in your own life, a journey is often the only way to see things clearly.

Jonathan has led a comfortable existence. His family's wealth has kept him provided for, but with that status come certain expectations. In a rare moment of rebellion, he flies to Hawaii to take in the sights, and runs headlong into destiny.

In Pursuit is a love letter to Hawaii, both as a place and a state of mind. However, that does not necessarily translate well into fiction. Audhya's prose is rich, breathing life into her setting, but her characters are lacking in depth, and their dialogue is not as natural as it could be. The characters are there to explain things, to make points on behalf of the author. This is a common technique in fiction, but in this case the reader is constantly being reminded of it. Audhya clearly has talent, and passion for her subject, but might be better suited to non-fiction , specifically personal travel writing.

Gita Audhya has traveled from India to the UK, and then to the United States in pursuit of her dreams. She still travels frequently with her husband.

In Pursuit of Love, Spirituality and Happiness is a meditation on the wonder of life and the present moment, but its author might be more at home in a different genre. Audyha's debut is an Average read.
Reviewer: J. Blackmore, Allbooks Reviews. www.allbookreviews.com
Available at: iUniverse.com, Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com

Title: In Pursuit of Love, Spirituality and Happiness
Author: Gita Audhya
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 978-1-4401-3989-5
Pages: 191
Price: $14.95 USD
Date: March 2010

Allbooks Review August 2010

2010-08-02T10:26:00.000-07:00

Allbooks Review August 2010 Newsletter
Summer Festivals are everywhere

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. Also join iFogo and get www.booksonfilm.com. Great promo for a great price, post audio, book trailers, contact with agents and producers and much more. Be sure and let them know Allbooks Review sent you and join our group.

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Submissions Wanted:

CALL FOR ENTRIES: Dream Quest One Writing Contest! Write a poem,
30 lines or fewer on any subject or write a short story, 5 pages
maximum length, on any theme, for a chance to win cash awards!
Prizes: Writing - $500, $250, $100. Poetry - $250, $125, $50.
Entry fees: $5 per poem, $10 per story. Postmark deadline: July 31.
Visit http://www.dreamquestone.com for details and to enter!

Military History Articles Wanted
--------------------------------
Military History Quarterly welcomes feature articles. All eras are
of interest, particularly ancient times, if the writer bases an
article on up-to-date historical research. Rates for feature
articles start at $800 (more if special expenses incurred) for
1500-6000 words. Pays $400 for departments. View website for
details: http://tinyurl.com/28q8auo

Science Articles Wanted
------------------------
Cosmos, the Australian science magazine, is open to submissions.
Cosmos is largely interested in ideas, particularly those that
involve, or are driven by, science and technology. Payment for
features ranges from A$900 to a maximum of A$3,000. View PDF for
full guidelines.
http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/pdf/Cosmos_writers_guidelines.pdf

FEATURE

How to Get the Media Interested in You
You May Be Newsworthy Without Even Knowing It

Do you know what the media would consider newsworthy about you or your company?

Many new clients come to us with a strong opinion about what their "pitch" should be, but often miss the mark, in terms of knowing what will get the media to sit up and pay attention to their message. But it's very understandable that this could occur, if you're not working with the media the way we do, day in and day out, developing story angles intended to grab their interest.

For those who are new to PR, my message is this - think outside of the box! As normal as it is to be focused on your own company and industry or field of interest, there is a lot going on in the world, and your expertise might be news in ways that you've not previously envisioned.

I always recommend to my clients that they try to view their companies from the outside looking in, particularly, from the perspective of the media. The best way for you to garner the media's interest is to understand what it is about you and your company that might be interesting to them. The process is actually quite simple.

Read the News - If you want to be featured in the news, you should read the news. Be general in your approach. Read the top headlines in all the categories, even if your company is in a niche industry, because you never know what is going to happen. For instance, the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has focused a spotlight on oil rigs and the people who work on them. Journalists are looking at the companies who own oil rigs, drilling rights, and other oil company service firms. Analysts in that small business niche are being quoted in top tier media outlets, after existing for decades completely outside the reach of the media's radar. So, go broad with the topics that you track, and don't be afraid to become a little bit of a news geek. Being better informed about the world around you isn't a bad thing, and the by-product is that you'll be far more media savvy.

Track it Back - Now, as you absorb the headlines and the stories of the day, think about how one or more of them could track back to you, your company and your key messages. A good example comes from one of our clients, a maker of natural health supplements. Their primary product line uses a natural ingredient called Resveratrol. Clinical research has uncovered that Resveratrol can be helpful in reducing fatigue, restoring energy and safeguarding your immune system. Now, earlier this month, Reuters reported that doctors who performed an 11-year study of British civil servants discovered a direct link between heart disease and working 11 hours or more each day. Another story quoted U.S. Department of Labor statistics that more than 7 million Americans work at least two jobs. We combined those two pieces to demonstrate that millions of Americans are working way more than 11 hours, and are at risk for everything from chronic fatigue to heart disease. From there, it wasn't too difficult to beat a path back to the client's physician spokesperson who recommended a series of tips to prevent those outcomes, including a short tip about how some natural supplements can be helpful. At first blush, you wouldn't imagine that labor stats and a medical study in Great Britain would have any relationship with a natural health supplement, but by thinking creatively, we were able to make the connection and develop a strong radio pitch for that client.

Be Opportunistic - The news happens fast, so be prepared to think just as fast. Recently we took on a client named Jane Heimlich, who has a dual claim to fame. She is the daughter of dance hall king Arthur Murray, who established the largest chain of dance instruction centers in the country. She is also the wife of chest surgeon Dr. Hank Heimlich, the creator of the life-saving, anti-choking first aid technique called the Heimlich Maneuver. She had just written her memoir, and was looking to promote it via media interviews. When we brought her on board, the new season for the network TV show Dancing with the Stars was about to begin. In reading her book, we discovered that her father's TV show, The Arthur Murray Party, was the first network TV dance contest - and it involved the big stars of the day. So, we put together a radio pitch with the headline "Remembering the Original Dancing with the Stars." We booked 15 radio interviews and a full print campaign with that angle, and we just refreshed the angle with the CBS announcement that they are giving Paula Abdul her own TV dance competition.
At the end of the day, recognize that your expertise can be stretched beyond what you have in your marketing plan, and you'll be able to make you and your company more relevant to the press in a lot of creative ways.

Marsha Friedman
CEO EMSI Public Relations

SUCCESS STORIES
We love to hear of your success stories, submit them to us at: allbookreviews@aol.com

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.

Congratulations to:
Conversations with Jerry and Other People I Thought Were Dead won the silver medal in the 2010 IP Death and Dying Category, and was a Finalist in the 2010 Indie Excellence Awards.

Irene

GREAT AUTHOR SERVICES
I highly recommend this cover designer. Trisha FitzGerald

COVER DESIGN www.myspace.com/bookdesign
PUBLISHING: E Books www.theebooksale.com
POD: www.realtimepublishings.com
EDITING: www.allbookreviews.com

Allbooks Reviews INTERVIEW: (Please put your answers in black)
Please state your name and location. (city and State or Province, Country)

Kerin Bellak Adams Englewood NJ

Tell us the title and publisher of your book:

AD/HD Success! Solutions to Boosting Self-Esteem: The Diary Method Ages 7-17
ISBN 978-1-61599-024-5

Tell us about yourself:

Kerin Bellak-Adams is accredited through ICF with an ACC certification and has years of experience as a highly respected coach, speaker, and expert on AD/HD. She has taught elementary school children with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and comes from an unusual background being the daughter of world-renowned psychiatrist Dr. Leopold Bellak, a pioneer in ADD, back in the 1960s. From her teaching experience, Kerin not only developed this book, but specializes in coaching parents on such issues as: how to find your child or teenager’s gifts, how to ask questions that help with focus and get the actions you most desire, and much more. She also coaches kids ages ten and older with ADD symptoms and helps them define small steps that will help them feel more in control of themselves and happier.

When was the book released?
Feb. 2010

Give us an overview of your book.

The book boosts self-esteem by developing a child or teenagers awareness of what comes naturally to them. The book also directs the reader to focusing on the areas that are challenging each day at school, helping them to emphasize their focus which is based on time-management, organization, and other areas, while gently encouraging and strengthening behavioral skills. Chapters are broken out to handle problems and situations common to children in specific age brackets within the overall range of 7-17 years old.

What inspired you to write this book?

My father who was a pioneer in the psychiatric study of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), and being influenced by Dr. Edward Hallowell, author of Driven to Distraction.

How is your book different from other books in this genre?

There is no other type book on the market that inspires the reader to grow, while boosting and maintaining their newly developed self-esteem. This book also is one of a kind as it directs and encourages the student to focus on challenging areas through prompts and questions while encouraging social skills. This book is both educational and for the home. Focus. There is a specific home/school accountability form designed for teachers and parents to use to communicate regularly on the students strengths and weaknesses, as they develop throughout their school life. There is also a parent evaluation and self-esteem logs and graphs.

Where can people buy your book?

Most people are buying it through online stores such as Amazon.com but you can call or visit your neighborhood bookstore and have them order it for you from Ingram with no shipping charges to pay.

Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published? Yes I am it will be published in 2 years.

If you self published, what advice can you give to fellow writers?

Don’t give up 5 minutes before the miracle!

If published traditionally, tell us how you benefited:

It creates some marketing ability, and cuts down on some costs.

Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?

My website has been the most successful marketing tool. Through a professional designer, I've been able to add book reviews, videos, promote events, and even add a special "Members Only" area where people who've purchased the books can download printable worksheets and extra content for free. I have to admit, a website is an author's best friend!

How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us?

Through my publisher Loving Healing Press Inc. Victor Volkman tells me that he is starting to use Allbooks Reviews both to promote brand-new self-help and personal growth titles AND to revive interest in backlist titles. He says an Allbooks Review is always fresh and generates new buzz.

Was the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to offer writers?

I'd like to see a Content Management System (CMS) based website so that Allbooks Reviews could take better advantage of social networking tools. Imagine what using Drupal or Joomla could do to make visitors stays more interesting on the site!

Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you, I really appreciate it.

In the News

Italian Writers Fight for More Rights
-------------------------------------
Four young Italian writers have set up a protest group, Writers in
Litigation, to protest what they see as unfair practices on the
part of the Italian publishing industry. It appears that authors
in Italy do not always receive their fair share of royalties.
For more on this story visit: http://tinyurl.com/36qvj67

Publishing Industry Unlikely to Return to Pre-Recession Heights
---------------------------------------------------------------
After eight out of ten publishers reported a fall in sales in 2010,
the Chief Executive Officer of HarperCollins, Victoria Barnsley,
has warned that sales are not likely to return to pre-recession
figures. HarperCollins saw sales fall by over 13% in 2010 and as a
result have reduced the number of books they will publish by 20%.
For more on this story visit: http://tinyurl.com/33bgx5s

Dear Allbooks Review Friends

2010-07-26T09:24:00.000-07:00

Here's an announcement from one of our sponsors about a free
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Want to be on TV? Ex Oprah booker tells how

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In addition to me, you'll hear from a former Oprah guest booker, a former Fox News Channel producer and other surprise guests. Together we'll teach you things unknown to 95% of all publicity-seekers.

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* The most important question you must be able to answer to land a TV appearance.

* Case histories of five authors and entrepreneurs who got booked on top TV shows

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Thank you for the opportunity to serve you
Shirley A. Roe
Managing Editor,Allbooks Review
www.allbookreviews.com

We highly recommend you become a member of iFOGO. Just click this link to join.
http://www.ifogo.com/buy/order_abr.html

A Toast for You and Me, Vol.2

2010-07-15T11:17:00.000-07:00

AUTHOR: Robert C. Valentine

In the twentieth century there was no greater cataclysm, natural or man-made than the Second World War. Less than a dozen countries remained technically neutral during the entire war from 1939 through its conclusion in 1945. Innumerable books have been written about it. Why would anyone want to read, much less write, another book about this conflict? It is necessary because this story can never be completely told. There are also so many angles and methods to convey this great struggle that there will be new material available for decades to come.

Robert Valentine has here written am interesting book that fits in very well the reading experiences of this reviewer. “A Toast for You and Me” can stand on its own or be an excellent adjunct to other histories of the period. This volume covers in detail the events of 1942 in a quite detailed manner. The two main reasons this book merits inclusion in most home libraries are its in depth coverage of the situation on the home front in the dark days of 1942 and the marvelous collection of photographs that help to illustrate the transition in the United States from an isolationist society to one that is dedicated to victory. This is all aside from its greatest gem: The exceedingly detailed timeline of the events of 1942.

This reviewer highly recommends this book to all readers. It is written in a clear and informative style. If the reader desires a typical academic tome, it is best to look elsewhere. This book is written for the common man; yet it does not condescend and is fact-filled, presenting an unapologetic look at America’s blemishes as well as her strengths in this uncertain time.
Reviewer: John D. Helman, M.A., Allbooks Reviews.

Author: Robert C. Valentine
Publisher: Dig-Cam Publishing
ISBN: 1-880633-84-2
Pages: 296
Price: $32.98 US
March 2010

Where You Are

2010-07-15T11:13:00.000-07:00

Author: Michael Burns

What would happen if you lived in a small town most of your life in a dead-end job without much of a future of anything changing, except the seasons? The main character, Paul, is in such a place barely making enough to live on without his new bride also having to work and not liking this particular small town with nothing going on as far as any type of cultural activities, just the same old people doing the same old boring things, day in and day out.

His wife nags her husband Paul, to move to the west coast, and attend college. Moving is not something Paul has considered. He is also not sure about going to college. Paul’s only time away from his hometown was a stint in the army, then back to the same place, and losing contact with his high school friends.

Married around a year, Laura, Paul’s wife takes off one day with a note left for Paul that is cryptic at best. Has his wife Laura left him? Will they get back together? Will Paul finally leave his small town and the small town ways to the big city? The only way to find out is to read “Where You Are.” This reviewer is not going to spoil it for you.

“Where You Are” is a good read. If you like relationships and interesting situations, “Where You Are” is a book for you. This reviewer found the pace good, the characters true to life, engaging, and assigns a four star rating to “Where Are You.”

Available from publisher: allthingsthat matterpress.com, Amazon

Title: Where You Are
Author: Michael burns
Publisher: All Things That Matter Press
ISBN: 978-0-9840984-0-8
Pages: 246
Price: $16.99
Date February, 2010

Sarah's Socks: My World of Autism

2010-07-12T11:37:00.000-07:00

Genre: Children’s Book

Authors: Litsa Kamateros & Nia Morfonios

It all started the day Sarah went outside in a pair of old smelly socks she picked up from the dirty laundry.

Who knew the everyday life of an autistic child could be so intriguing and sweet? As you chase Sarah in and around her school with the rest of her classmates, you will find yourself unconsciously lapsing back into familiar memories and habits.

Both Montrealers as well as core Canadians, Litsa Kamateros and Nia Morfonios have combined their artistic talents to sculpt this delightful short story. Such a heart-warming and humorous children’s book will undoubtedly hit a chord deep within. It is highly recommended by Boyu Huang, Allbooks Review. www.allbookreviews.com

ISBN number: 978-1-61633-023-1
Publisher: Guardian Angel Publishing Inc.
Number of pages: 26
Price: $13.95
Feb. 2010

A Freak's Journey: The Life and Times of a Circus Runaway

2010-07-12T11:32:00.000-07:00

Genre: Adventure/Fiction
Author: Steven R. Roberts

An amazing historical backdrop of one special strong-willed man.

A Freak’s Journey is an exhilarating look of the true life story of Jim Stockley as told to the author by David Wood.

The author begins this extraordinary man’s life in a dam project, showcasing Stockley’s hard-shelled personality. From there the reader is taken to the past, reliving every single emotional upset, victory, and people Stockley had met that - in some way or the other - helped to shape and demean him to the point of nearly breaking down his spirit.

Mr. Roberts descriptive details of the 1930s and onward jump at you, drawing you immediately to the world he’s penned. His opening line:

Did you ever meet a guy who had a good job and you couldn’t for the life of you figure how he got it? hooked me; a simple question but one that has an enormous meaning. This emotional connection maintained evenly throughout the read, never once disconnecting me from the main character, and let me explain: I love to read novels about present day affairs, never have been interested reading anything that happened before my time. However, the author did a superb job with his descriptive details, mixture of dialogue that truly exemplified Stockley. But more than that – and this is why I loved this book – the novel contained virtues, loyalty, heartbreak, family situations, friendships, a battling court case to prove one’s innocence, and hardships that any reader at one point in their life will be able to connect and sympathize with.

Anyone that has experienced anything like this will truly dig deep into this novel and appreciate the storytelling talent of Mr. Roberts. I highly recommend A Freak’s Journey with no hesitation.

Lea Schizas, AllBooks reviewer. www.allbookreviews.com

Prepub review.

Allbooks Review July 2010 Newsletter

2010-06-29T09:50:00.000-07:00

Hot and steamy summer time

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. Also join iFogo and get www.booksonfilm.com. Great promo for a great price, post audio, book trailers, contact with agents and producers and much more. Be sure and let them know Allbooks Review sent you and join our group.
http://ifogo.com/buy/order_abr.html USE THIS LINK TO JOIN TODAY
FEATURE
Provide waiting room Copies

When you receive your shipment of books from the printer, open the boxes and hand check each book for flaws. Set side those copies that are less than perfect and negotiate a partial refund from the printer. Place flawed books in waiting rooms throughout your city/county. I've left copies of my Ojai history book in several doctors', dentists', veterinarians' attorneys' and accountants' waiting rooms locally as well as in the lobby of the hospital. Place copies of your novel in the lounge at large companies.

Mark these books "waiting room copy." And, just inside the front cover, tape a list of local bookstores and specialty shops where the book can be purchased.

Is there value in placing books where so many people have access to them? Will people still want to buy your book when they can read portions of it for free? I say, "Yes." After all, how far can they get into a 375-page book in just ten or even twenty minutes? If the book is of any interest to the reader at all, he'll surely want to have his own copy. In fact, the receptionists in those offices where I've left copies of my Ojai book say that they get inquires every week from folks wondering where to purchase it.

from Over 75 Good Ideas for Promoting Your Book (Matilija Press 2000) by Patricia L. Fry

SUCCESS STORIES
We love to hear of your success stories, submit them to us at: allbookreviews@aol.com
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.

Congratulations to:
Wyndano's Cloak is highly recommended by Kirsten Bussière, Allbooksreviews. Author's Website: www.arsilverberry.com, Publisher: Tree Tunnel Press, Publisher's Website: www.treetunnelpress.com
Retail Price: $21.95,I.S.B.N: 978-0-9841037-6-8
Finalist in the 2010 National Indie Excellence Awards in Young Adult Fiction
Finalist in the 2010 National Indie Excellence Awards in Adventure
• Winner of the 2010 National Indie Excellence Awards in Children's Cover Design
What Can We Do Next? The Adventures of Lexie & Lolly" was reviewed by your reviewer "Margaret Orford" back in October of 2008 . . . I'm happy to mention that my book has won FOUR Awards, and was a Finalist in a fifth competition, so that's pretty exciting for me.

What's New at Allbooks Review
Read our Inspirational column each month on the Inspiration Feature of the Month page in Review Showcase. This column is by Deb Scott, author of Award winning: The Sky is Green and the Grass is Blue.
Inspiration http://www.allbookreviews.com/Default.aspx?tabid=560

Allbooks Reviews INTERVIEW: (Please put your answers in black)

Please state your name and location. (city and State or Province, Country)
Mark Whiteway, Storrington, West Sussex, England.

Tell us the title and publisher of your book:
Title - Lodestone Book One: The Sea of Storms
Publisher - Virtualbookworm

Tell us about yourself:
Mark Whiteway lives in rural West Sussex, England, near the former home of H G Wells. A lifelong devotee of H G Wells and Jules Verne, this is Mark’s first science fiction novel, built around the concept of negative matter–an extension of Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity. Mark lives with his wife Sandra.

When was the book released?
April 12 2010

Give us an overview of your book.
Ail-Kar–a white hole–a portal from another universe ejects a stream of material into the Kelanni System, raining meteoroids on to the planet’s surface. But the so-called "lodestones" behave according to different physical laws, changing Kelanni`s society, it’s religion and it’s people.

Now the land is ruled over by a mysterious "Prophet". With the aid of the fearsome Keltar in their flying cloaks, the Kelanni are put to forced labor to mine the lodestones, whilst the Prophet is building a machine of terrible destructive power.

Shann, an orphan with a fiery disposition, witnesses a battle between a Keltar and a stranger bearing a similar flying cloak. Fleeing the Prophet’s soldiers, she sets out to track down the stranger. She learns of the technology behind the Keltars’ power, and joins him on a mission to free the slaves and cut off the Prophet’s supply of lodestones.

Meanwhile, Keris, a Keltar, is sent on a mission to track down the rebels. She is attacked by a flying creature and saved by the enigmatic Chandara. At their Great Tree, she receives a message from the distant past that the Prophet is out to destroy the Kelanni. She must travel to the other side of her world to retrieve a device, designed to disable the Prophets machine. She races to save the rebels from a trap set for them, joining the party.

They flee to a tower containing a displacement transporter, pursued by Keltar. The tower is destroyed as they are attempting to use it. They then make for the coast in a desperate attempt to cross the barrier of storms that divides their world. After surviving a battle with an immense creature, they arrive at the coast and modify a ship to carry them through the barrier. Following a titanic battle at sea, Shann is washed up on a distant shore, where a world shaking revelation awaits.

What inspired you to write this book?
Einstein’s Theory of Relativity predicts a number of strange consequences for our understanding of reality. One of these is the possible existence of negative matter. Although negative matter has never been found, we know from the math involved that it would have some highly peculiar properties, including negative inertia. My thought was “What might happen to an alien society that was exposed to a source of negative matter and the power it offered?” The result has been the Lodestone series of books.

How is your book different from other books in this genre?
As far as I am aware, no previous Science Fiction series has comprehensively explored the concept of negative matter in this way. In addition, the series weaves in alien life cycles, ultrasonics, electro and gamma ray laser technology, null space transporters, the “action at a distance” effect of particle physics, black holes and time dilation in a gripping action oriented story involving complex and engaging characters.

Where can people buy your book?
Direct from the publisher Virtualbookworm, Barnes and Noble, Amazon.com or any good bookstore. Links appear below.

http://www.virtualbookworm.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=bookstore&Product_Code=Lodestone_Book_One&Category_Code=

http://productsearch.barnesandnoble.com/search/results.aspx?WRD=lodestone+book+one

http://www.amazon.com/Lodestone-Book-One-Sea-Storms/dp/1602645469/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1272215579&sr=8-1

Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published?
The second volume in the Lodestone series, subtitled “The World of Ice and Stars” is now complete and is already at the publishers, receiving its final edit prior to publication. I am very excited about it. The characters really come into their own and there are a lot of twists and turns along the way. I am hoping that those who enjoyed the first book will be swept up in the story as it progresses. I anticipate a publication date of August/September 2010.

I am now writing the third volume, “The Crucible of Dawn.” Look for it during the first half of 2011.

If you self published, what advice can you give to fellow writers?
The route I took amounts to something of a middle way between self and traditional publishing. Virtualbookworm only accept manuscripts of suitable quality. Once my work was accepted, I found them generally very helpful and would have no hesitation in recommending them to authors like me who are starting out.

If published traditionally, tell us how you benefited:
See above.

Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?
Well my first book has only just been published, so it’s a little early. However, can I say that my Allbooks review has already attracted a fair amount of attention?

How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us?
I googled you (like everyone else).

I will be sending you my second book for review as soon as it’s ready. I’m confident you will give it the same careful consideration as you gave the first.

Was the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to offer writers?
That sounds exactly like the sort of question that an American would ask!

Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.

www.allbookreviews.com Your one stop author promo and review source since 2000.

The Majic of Old Man Pouring Rain

2010-06-14T07:47:00.000-07:00

Author: Janet Davis

The Magic of Old Man Pouring Rain is an engaging children’s book that weaves a story about the appreciation of precipitation. The title of this story was intriguing and creative. Who would’ve been able to create an aging raindrop along with 10 spunky little raindrops? This story is simple and understandable and it teaches children to be fond of rain. It has a good moral as well. As the story says, rain nurtures the Earth and helps provide crops for humans. The plot is started with the wise Old Man Pouring Rain, sitting on the clouds creating little raindrops to drop down on Earth and to teach kids about the rain. Being successful with his agents, the Old Man Pouring Rain orders the group of raindrops to fly from the sky. They have many exciting adventures. When the raindrops leave, the children on Earth learned something new, and the raindrops made new human friends. The vocabulary of this book was humorous and easy, perfect for youngsters to read. This read is an impressive attempt from Janet Davis, and I am sure it will intrigue many young readers.

Janet Davis is a budding authoress as well as a busy mother of two girls. She takes care of her mom and her mentally challenged brother. Davis is hoping to write more adventures about these raindrops and uses the money she earns from her sales to donate to the Leukemia Society. Her kind loving, personality shines very well in this book. She is a lovely author and I hope to read some of her other books! Highly Recommended, Reviewer: Iris Park, Allbooks Review www.allbookreviews.com

ISBN: 978-1-936046-28-7

The Culture of Excess

2010-06-09T10:03:00.000-07:00

Genre: Business/politics

Title: The Culture of Excess: How America Lost Self-Control and Why We Need to Redefine Success

Author: J.R. Slosar

“Can Generation Me, become Generation We?”

The seemingly sudden onset of the Great Recession has led many people to ask questions about what caused this massive economic downturn. Clinical psychologist J.R. Slosar tries to answer this question more broadly by investigating the influence narcissism and excess have had in shaping a generation of Americans.

J.R. Slosar is a clinical psychologist in private practice in Irvine, Ca. He is an adjunct asst. professor at Chapman U, Orange. Ca. Drawing upon his own experience as a college professor to enrich the academic research, Slosar draws together disparate elements ranging from childrearing and grade inflation to foreign policy in Iraq to demonstrate how a desire for instant gratification and sense of entitlement have led to moral ambiguity, reckless deregulation, and ultimately the financial collapse which dominated the end of the 2008 Presidential election.

The net the author casts is broad, when he speaks to his psychological training, his ability to synthesize existing research into his hypothesis is excellent. Readers will make up their own mind about passages on the science behind weapons of mass destruction and the stock market, The Culture of Excess is nevertheless a well-thought-out explanation of the forces driving our society down in recent years. More information and Book available at: www.cultureofexcess.com

Terence P. Ward, Allbooks Review. www.allbookreviews.com

Publisher: Pre pub

Step Back In Time

2010-06-09T09:35:00.000-07:00

Genre: Poetry coming soon
Author: Sharla Lee Shults

Step Back in Time is a collection of both meaningful and educational poems written in chronological order that are based on historical facts starting as early as the 17th century up until the present day. The compilation of Sharla Lee Shults’ poems is a timeline of everything our ancestors have lived through within the last four centuries; this includes everything from war, politics, and the fight against racism to fashion, music, and the evolution of television.

The author is able to create this image of a timeline by writing about different scenes from different parts of our history. At times, some of her word choice can seem a bit confusing since the targeted audience is of a younger age. In addition, at first glance her poems appear brief; however, she is still able to grasp the readers attention by writing catchy titles and incorporating both humorous and serious poems in her compilation.

But, what about the popcorn?

Were pilgrims the early munchers

Of that puffed corn treat,

Or someone else the launcher?

(1676)

At dawn, despite the warnings of icebergs

The ship became swallowed by the sea.

Hundreds of cries echoed across the icy cold

As watery graves silenced each plea.

(1912)

Sharla Lee Shults was born in Dothan, Alabama and graduated from Troy State University. Upon graduation, she became an educator but after only four years, ventured out into the business world and worked for St. Andrews Railway Company. After eleven years, Shults returned to teaching and now lives in Panama City, Florida with her husband and is retired from the Beacon Learning Center.

The author definitely knows how to pull at a readers heartstrings; all the while being informative yet entertaining. Not only will young readers instantly fall in love with her poetry, but also with history. Highly Recommended for readers who on their own time, want to learn more about their ancestors but who don’t necessarily want to have to open a text book.

Author: Sharla Lee Shults
ISBN: -
Publisher: - PRE PB

A Guide to the Best in Cinema Thrills

2010-06-02T05:49:00.000-07:00

Genre: Film Reference

AUTHOR: John Howard Reid

For all you movie buffs out there, this is an outstanding reference book. Subtitled Mystery, Suspense, Film Noir and Detective Movies on DVD, this is one of the most comprehensive and detailed summaries of the genres (as indicated by the subtitle) that I’ve seen compiled to date. Written in two parts, the first 300 pages provides short but concise descriptions of well over 200 titles on currently released on DVD. Sorted alphabetically, each mini-review provides detailed information on the cast, the film crew and studio, a synopsis, interesting production notes and a critical summary of the film itself. The book is illustrated by a couple hundred photos–mostly stills from the actual movies–, which work nicely to break up the text in this extensive project.

A pseudo-historical essay on film noir dominates the second part. (I use “pseudo” here, as it’s neither chronological, nor dominated by industry facts). The main vehicle for the education is a discussion of the actors and directors, and comments about the films themselves. This combination provides revealing and colorful insights on the evolution of this long-lived era of film. This includes sub-genres such as musical noir, comic noir and mysteries and thrillers themselves. Also included are interesting (albeit much shorter) essays on film noir character icons such as Sherlock Holmes and The Thin Man; and the screen adaptations of author Raymond Chandler.

It is clear from the writing that Reid knows his stuff. Most of the work concentrates on films from the late 20’s to the 50’s, which includes a mix of no holds-barred criticism and scholarly interpretation of the industry. The author has a crisp and concise writing style that is both rich and at the same time interesting and easy to digest.

If I have one criticism for this book, it’s very minor. I would have liked to see an introduction by the author to introduce the two parts and how they were written. I’m sure that this would have been as fascinating as the rest of the work.

Professional film critic, John Howard Reid, examined over 1,200 DVD’s in the mystery/suspense field, resulting in more than 700 film reviews.

For film aficionados of the genre, this is a must read and fine contribution to your library. I’d recommend reading the essays first (the last 150 pages), then place this next to your DVD player for constant enjoyment.

Reviewer: Gregg J. Haugland, Allbooks Reviews.

Title: A Guide to the Best in Cinema Thrills
Author: John Howard Reid
Publisher: Lulu Books
ISBN: 978-0-557-12223-3
Pages: 468
Price: $24.50
Jan. 2010

Boys with Cars

2010-06-02T05:41:00.000-07:00

Genre: Fiction/Women
Author: Pamela Swyers

“It was one of those evenings I’d always dreamt of, surrounded by everyone I loved”.

Adison and Ronnie, are the projected characters in this captivating, fictional life story. Growing up in a small town, situated near an air force base and Oklahoma City, the two girls become best friends. Raised by their fathers, they create a bond stronger than some twins, feeling each other’s jubilations, as well as the inevitable pain reality presents along life’s journey.
Just as time flies, so does this story. I abandoned my usual note taking, to allow myself the pleasure of becoming part of the flow. To feel the emotion and memories the author, Pamela Swyers, coaxes out of the reader.
Beginning as young teens, this duo survive the magic, along with heartache, of first love, and the thrill of ‘cruising down main street’, an activity which seems to transcend generations. They experience the emotional terror of traumatic events, such as David Koresh’s ranch under siege in Feb. 1993. They feel the sadness of saying goodbye to friends in order to move on with life.
These friends support each other through one of Mother Nature’s cruelest losses, and one of the greatest joys, birth. Feel the raw emotion of terror, when threatened with physical danger or imminent death!
As adulthood descends upon them, they marry, living their lives to the best of their abilities. Through trial and error, ultimately learn, you need to find your own peace, to be at peace with others.
The author, Pamela Swyers grew up in the small town Oklahoma. She has experienced the marvel of birth 3 times, the devastation of divorce, and the loss of their home due to Hurricane Andrew in Homestead, Florida 1992. She and her husband Bill Swyers, relocated with their 3 children to Dacula, Georgia, where today they are proud of their 21 years of marriage.
I would say my review reflects my feelings. This novel had me hooked from the prologue through the acknowledgments, not to mention the dedication, which were all written from the heart. Anyone would be proud to be a part of her immediate or extended family. I believe Pamela has just begun to tap into her talent.
Highly Recommended by Reviewer: Cheryl Heinrichs, Allbooks Review www.allbookreviews.com
Available through www.amazon.com or your local book seller.
Title: Boys with Cars
Authors: Pamela Swyer
Publisher: Swyers Publishing (paperback)
ISBN-13: 978-0-9843113-0-9
Pages: 234
Price: $9.34 US January 2010

Allbooks Review June 2010 Newletter

2010-05-30T06:26:00.000-07:00

Get Hot with your writing this month!

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

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FEATURE

Here are five tips for using social media to build your opt-in list:

Join Targeted Groups and Post Effective Discussions. Within your social networks, choose the groups wisely in which you will participate, focusing on groups that are active and contain your target market. You should post discussions to demonstrate your professional expertise and drive people to your website, taking care to make your headlines short and interesting.
Make Sure your Website is "Opt-in" Friendly. Make sure your opt-in form is prominent throughout your website, with a message telling visitors that when they sign up for your list they will receive helpful information (as opposed to spam).
Invite Every One...But Don't Pester! Every time you get a friend request or a new follower, send a message introducing yourself and include an invitation (with the link to your site's opt-in form) to sign up for the helpful information you send to your list.
Be Direct...But Not Too Often. If you have a helpful and valuable incentive to offer, occasionally post updates inviting your friends and followers to go get it! Keep in mind you are treading a thin line with this type of post, so make sure they are infrequent and are mixed in with many posts that are completely non-promotional in nature. You don't want to be considered "that guy" who's just there to promote to people.
Be Consistent in Your Social Networking! The key to making points 1 - 4 above really work for you is - stay active in your networks and groups. If you are only an occasional visitor, you might as well "stay home." In order to reap the rewards of these strategies, post often and wisely, and pay attention to your group members.
Participation in social networks can be enjoyable and rewarding, so start posting and have fun!

Warm regards,
Marsha Friedman
CEO EMSI Public Relations

SUCCESS STORIES

We love to hear of your success stories, submit them to us at: allbookreviews@aol.com

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.

The Sky is Green, the grass is Blue is a Finalist in the Motivational Category of the 2010 Next Generation Indie Book Awards! Deb

I wanted to share some great news with you: Conversations with Jerry and Other People I Thought Were Dead has been chosen as an IPPY finalist in the category of Death and Dying and will either be awarded the gold, silver or bronze medal. My husband and I will be traveling to NYC for the gala event and award ceremony. I am so very excited, especially since this is my first book! All the best, Irene

PublishingGuru: I am accepting queries for traditional publishing in all genres. todd.rutherford@yorkshirepublishing.com

Congratulations to all of our great authors on their success.

strong>What's New at Allbooks Review
Read our Inspirational column each month on the Inspiration Feature of the Month page in Review Showcase. This column is by Deb Scott, author of Award winning: The Sky is Green and the Grass is Blue.

Inspiration http://www.allbookreviews.com/Default.aspx?tabid=560

Allbooks Reviews INTERVIEW:
Please state your name and location.(city and State or Province, Country)

Deb Hosey White
Greensboro, North Carolina USA

Tell us the title and publisher of your book:

Pink Slips and Parting Gifts

iUniverse
1663 Liberty Drive, Bloomington, IN 47403
ISBN 9781440158049, $20.95, www.iuniverse.com

Tell us about yourself:

Thirty years of corporate life never really "cured" me of being an English major, a creative writer and a poet.And while up to my eyeballs in 401(k) plan administration, ERISA, COBRA, andother stress-inducing arcanity, I never stopped collecting and writing stories. Anyone who has ever worked for a large organization knows that the best workplace stories end up in human resources. Now retired from corporate life, I'm free to share some of those stories--without naming names, of course!

When was the book released?

September 2009

Give us an overview of your book.

When is the first time a CEO dares to say out loud, “It’s time to sell the company”? Does he practice first in front of a mirror? Does he quietly float the idea to his most trusted colleague over dinner? Does he seek legal counsel? SEC guidance? Financial advice? If the CEO is gutsy enough, “selling the company” might quietly pass his lips for the first time during a clandestine meeting with a potential buyer in Las Vegas—setting the bait for a bid that will electrify the decision-makers back home.

Mergers and acquisitions are messy business and they change the lives of everyday people.Pink Slips and Parting Gifts is the fictional account of the sale of a U.S. development company, revealing absurd events mixed with employee anguish as another corporation changes hands and disappears from the big board on Wall Street.

By the time Easton Company CEO Jeffrey Elkins entices a major competitor to buy his Fortune 500 Company, the corporate jet is waiting and his parachute is platinum. In 14 weeks the deal of a lifetime transforms a handful of quirky executives into undeserving multi-millionaires, propels a workforce into unemployment and dispatches unsuspecting retirees into poverty. In the background, security guards dance naked in mall fountains, the corporate jet is sold on eBay, and a CEO utters his final words before relinquishing his title: Make sure the employees get their pumpkin pies.

The memorable cast of corporate characters includes a germophobic CEO, a marketing VP turned Elvis impersonator, the Sundance Kid of Everyman Compensation, and a purchasing director nicknamed the eBay Wizard.

What inspired you to write this book?

I spent more than 30 years in corporate America as a manager and a consultant. During that period I collected hundreds of stories about companies and the people who work for them.I also experienced firsthand the merger that inspired Pink Slips and Parting Gifts.As a corporate human resources director I was required to help "turn out the lights" at my company as it was sold to a competitor.I dealt with retirees whose health insurance and pensions were ripped from their aging hands; with long-term employees whose jobs were abruptly eliminated; and with a community that lost it's premier hometown corporate citizen.

Reading the news coverage of that merger and many others, I was struck with the realization that the stories being covered were heavily weighted to the top of the corporate heap—the CEOs, big stockholders,and top-level management who benefited most from the merger-mania. I wanted to get behind the headlines and tell the realities ofthose stories—the incredible perks, corporate jets, and multi-million dollar goodbye packages—but I also wanted to tell the stories of the maintenance workers, secretaries, and others whose lives were upturned by the merger.

How is your book different from other books in this genre?

Pink Slips and Parting Gifts is business fiction.That's not a genre that fits neatly onto library shelves or bookseller databases.But fiction set in the workplace is still a strong sub-category of modern literature. As such, Pink Slips and Parting Gifts shares a lineage with Up in the Air, The Bonfire of the Vanities, and The Devil Wears Prada. What is unique about Pink Slips and Parting Gifts is that it tells the story of a corporate merger not just from the perspective of the news-makers—the CEOs, board members, and power brokers—but from the mailroom clerks, secretaries, retirees, mid-level managers and even the homeless man living on the company's loading dock.

Also, Pink Slips and Parting Gifts employs flash fiction storytelling -- a unique format for a novel. Each chapter tells its own small story within the context of the larger novel. Many of the chapters could stand alone as stories within a story. The best example is the embedded "Tales of the Sofa." Many readers have commented on their enjoyment of the "sofa story" within Pink Slips.

Where can people buy your book?

The book is available online from:

· Amazon.com

· BarnesandNoble.com

· iUniverse.com

· Amazon.ca

· Booksamillion.com

· Amazon.co.uk

· Waterstones

Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published?

Yes.I am in the initial stages of a new workplace novel—publication date unknown.Also working on a screenplay for Pink Slips and Parting Gifts, and a poetry collection.

If you self published, what advice can you give to fellow writers?

The publishing industry has been in a state of upheaval in recent years and self-publishing is a reality for many writers.In this reality, the author must take on tasks traditionally performed by professional agents, editors, copy-proofers, designers, and publicists.Print-on-demand publishers offer a Chinese menu of add-on (read that "extra cost") services, but the quality of those services may vary greatly.I experienced issues throughout the process–from layout and production concerns, to accounting issues, to unprofessional publicity services.

I would advise writers to first attempt to find a professional agent and/or publisher.If that is not possible–and the odds are stacked against new writers–then enter the self publishing world with eye wide open:

· Solicit a team of literate readers who will critique your manuscript (I used volunteers from a literary book group).

· Find a capable person to assist with editing, proofreading, and other production-related tasks.

· Budget more time than you think might be necessary to the critiquing, editing, proofing, and production process.

· Explore third-party publicity services rather than add-on services offered by the publisher. Be prepared to do much of the promotional process yourself.

· Submit your finished book for review by services such as AllBooks Review.

· Do not expect bookstores to stock your self-published book, but be aware of the multitude of online book selling services that predominate today's market.

If published traditionally, tell us how you benefited:

Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?

Because my book is topical/newsworthy, I was able to arrange an interview from a regional newspaper in a city that has been affected by corporate mergers similar to the story in Pink Slips and Parting Gifts.

How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us?

Allbooks Reviews was included on a list of reputable reviewers on the Midwest Book Review website. My hope is that the insightful Allbooks review of Pink Slips and Parting Gifts will receive broad international circulation and that it will be quoted and noted in numerous sources.

Was the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to offer writers?
Allbooks Reviews offers timely and personal service to their authors--something not to be undervalued in the 21st century literary marketplace!

Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.

What's New at Allbooks Review

2010-05-30T06:18:00.000-07:00

Read our Inspirational column each month on the Inspiration Feature of the Month page in Review Showcase. This column is by Deb Scott, author of Award winning: The Sky is Green and the Grass is Blue.

Inspiration http://www.allbookreviews.com/Default.aspx?tabid=560

Thank you for the opportunity to serve you
Shirley A. Roe
Managing Editor,Allbooks Review
www.allbookreviews.com

We highly recommend you become a member of iFOGO. Just click this link to join.
http://www.ifogo.com/buy/order_abr.html

April 2010 Newsletter

2010-05-05T05:23:00.000-07:00

Warm weather at last, Outdoor festivals begin

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. Also join iFogo and get www.booksonfilm.com. Great promo for a great price, post audio, book trailers, contact with agents and producers and much more. Be sure and let them know Allbooks Review sent you and join our group.

http://ifogo.com/buy/order_abr.html USE THIS LINK TO JOIN TODAY

FEATURE

Podcasting Your Way to Success
By Sigrid MacDonald

About two years ago, one of my science-fiction clients started a podcast series. Every week he would put a new chapter of his book on audio, and upload it to iTunes and MySpace. He had a tremendous following and I really admired his form of promotion, but I thought it would be too difficult and expensive for me. Wrong! Podcasting is simple and affordable. And it can be an effective way to get the word out about your book because you are offering free content, which people love.

How do you make a podcast? Download free software from Audacity.com or splurge for the user-friendly package by RecordForAll. I went with the latter because it has an easy navigational system, and only costs $39.99. After listening to the tutorial, I was ready to record. I had long pauses in my sentences, but the software gave me the ability to edit. After recording, I took out the blank spaces, and the few times I coughed, or said, "Um" or "Ah." The end result was a polished product.

What can you talk about? Anything related to your book. My new book is called Be Your Own Editor. It's a crash course in grammar basics that deals with the most common errors people make when they're writing, as well as editing issues related to creative writing. So, I made ten different podcasts and broke them down as follows:

1. How to Avoid Writing Run-On Sentences
2. How to Use Apostrophes Properly
3. How to Establish Realistic Dialogue

I made each podcast brief since people have short attention spans online. If you have a nonfiction topic, podcasting is a breeze. Identify key points in your book and abbreviate them. This is a great teaser; it introduces people to you and draws them to your material. You won't be giving your whole book away - just pieces of it to whet a prospective reader's appetite.

Fiction is a little more complicated but you could read your book chapter by chapter on audio. If you choose this method, stop after two or three chapters. That way the reader is left hanging and needs to know the end of the story. Second, you could read excerpts from your book, and talk about yourself and what motivated you to write it. I hosted my podcasts on MySpace and searched the site using the terms writers, poets, editors, etc. Your search words would relate to your book.

You can also load your podcasts on iTunes. This requires software that has a feed such as FeedForAll and a website that will give you more space for hosting like Mevio, which is free.

We've come a long way, baby, since I started writing in my teens. Now that we have blogs, websites, video, web cams and podcasts, why not take advantage of them?
---------------------------------------------------

Sigrid Macdonald is the author of three books, including Be Your Own Editor. Visit her at http://sigridmacdonald.blogspot.com or http://beyourowneditor.blogspot.com.

SUCCESS STORIES
We love to hear of your success stories, submit them to us at: allbookreviews@aol.com

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.

Pink Slips and Parting Gifts was awarded Editor's Choice from the iUniverse recognition program this week.

Deb Hosey White

Pink Slips and Parting Gifts

CONGRATULATIONS DEB !

Shirley A. Roe is collaborating with screenwriter, director Randall Rutledge to bring her book Dreams and Nightmares to the big screen. All of us at Allbooks Review congratulate Shirley on this accomplishment.

Allbooks Reviews INTERVIEW:

Please state your name and location. (city and State or Province, Country)
Jonathan Maxwell. Taylorsville, Georgia.

Tell us the title and publisher of your book:
Murderous Intellectuals: German Elites and the Nazi SS. American Book Publishing, which is based in Salt Lake City.

Tell us about yourself:
I’ve been a writer and editor for about four years now. I hold a BA in English from Berry College in Rome, Ga., along with a psychology minor. I also possess a Paralegal Certificate. Since the publication of my first book- Murderous Intellectuals- I have written two additional books. I have also penned op/ed pieces for various newspapers, have contributed critical reviews to literary journals, and have written chapters for history textbooks. As an editor, I have worked for the publishing giants Harcourt and Pearson.

When was the book released?
November 2009.

Give us an overview of your book.
My book examines why so many well-educated professionals- such as doctors, lawyers, professors, scientists, and engineers- willingly joined the Nazi SS, the notorious group that spearheaded the Holocaust.

What inspired you to write this book?
My interest in the Holocaust- the Nazi war against Jews, Slavs, Gypsies, and other “undesirables”- began in high school. I read many excellent books about the subject through the years, but, eventually, I noticed a dearth of information in at least one crucial area. Popular culture tends to depict the Nazis as being brutes, but many Nazis did not fit this stereotype. Many Nazis, in fact, were superbly educated, graduating from the best universities in Europe. At times, books would briefly examine this contradiction, but no author that I knew of wrote a book about this phenomenon and what motivated these “murderous intellectuals.” I read book after book, but none dealt satisfactorily with the subject. Eventually, I got frustrated and decided to write the book myself.

How is your book different from other books in this genre?
Many books have been penned about the Final Solution (the Nazi term for the Holocaust), but comparatively few histories have examined the motivations of Nazi elites from psychological, sociological, political, and historical perspectives.

Where can people buy your book?
People can purchase a copy at www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com, and www.pdbookstore.com.

Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published?
My second book, Piltdown Man and Other Hoaxes, will be released in late 2010. It’s a far cry from my first one. The book is a lighthearted, fun examination of scientific frauds through history, such as the Missing Link Hoax and the Minnesota Iceman Hoax.

If published traditionally, tell us how you benefited:
Working with traditional publishers helps to ensure that you get a quality product. My publisher, for example, requires your assigned editor to edit your manuscript four times. Then, your copy editor edits it once, and, finally, the proofreader edits it at least once. The editorial stage, then, transpires for at least a year. In addition, your book designer spends about six months creating a suitable cover, selecting fonts, choosing colors, and so on. It’s a slow, painstaking process, but in the end, you appreciate the results. Everything looks sensational.

Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?
Take a multi-tiered approach to marketing your work. Do signings at the book stores and libraries. Submit press releases to local and regional newspapers. Send out galleys to reputable reviewers. Perform lectures at schools, colleges, service organizations, and elsewhere. Get radio interviews. Don’t try starting at the national level. If you’re a new author just starting out, USA Today and Book TV are not going to give you publicity. Start out locally and work your way up.

How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us?
I stumbled upon Allbooks Reviews while searching for book reviewers on the Internet. I was impressed by the website and I sent out an e-mail asking for more information. The information I received impressed me further, so I decided the use the company’s services.

Was the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to offer writers?
Publicists are a requirement in the publishing industry, and Allbooks Reviews provides the most services at the most economical rates. To Allbooks Reviews, all I can say is: Keep up the good work!

Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.
Thank you!

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Allbooks Review Newsletter April 2010

2010-04-12T05:28:00.000-07:00

Don’t be an April Fool

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. Also join iFogo and get www.booksonfilm.com. Great promo for a great price, post audio, book trailers, contact with agents and producers and much more. Be sure and let them know Allbooks Review sent you and join our group.

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FEATURE

Sneak Peek: Characterization
from Accelerated Getting Started in Writing

Once you've determined who your characters are, what they
look like and why they act the way they do, you'll need to
find creative ways to get that information to your reader.
The use of a variety of techniques to portray your
characters to your reader is referred to as "characteriza-
tion."

There are three primary methods of characterization:
description, action and dialogue. Description is narrative
that simply tells your reader something about your
character:

Larry was a tall, unhappy man with short brown hair.

A more dynamic method of characterization is to show your
character in action or in dialogue with another character
(we'll discuss dialogue in more detail shortly). The words
and actions of a character--particularly when enhanced by
description--can tell your reader a lot about who that
character is. Here, for example is Larry in action:

Larry shuffled into the kitchen, ducking instinctively as
he came through the doorway. The dishes were piling up and
the floor needed sweeping, but he couldn't find a reason
to care about that right now. He pulled a beer from the
fridge and sat at the table without opening it.

From this passage we get an impression of Larry's height
from the fact that he needs to "duck" through the doorway.
His unhappiness is hinted at by his shuffling and his
apathetic reaction to his surroundings. In a similar way,
dialogue can characterize by letting the reader see the
character relating to someone else:

Beth clicked on the light and jumped when she saw Larry
slumped over the kitchen table. "Jeez, Larry, you scared
me half to death. What the hell are you doing, sitting in
here in the dark?"

"I don't know. Nothing." Larry ran his hand over his head,
spiking his short brown hair.

"Did you go to work today?"

"No."

"You sick?"

"No."

Beth laid her purse on the table and sat down. "Now you're
really scaring me. Tell me what's wrong."

Not only does this brief dialogue passage show us a picture
of a despondent Larry, it introduces a second character
and gives us some indication of the relationship between
the two characters.

All three methods of characterization can be effective.
How you use them, and in what combination, is a matter of
your personal style and the needs of your story. You
should practice all three, and study them in the published
works of writers you admire to see how each contributes to
the overall style of the piece and to your understanding
of the character.

- - - - - - -

Get on the fast track to writing success!

Visit http://fwpubs.sparklist.com/t/2101129/3836259/1590/0/
to check out the six one-week sessions for this course,
and to enroll in Accelerated Getting Started in Writing
today!

SUCCESS STORIES
We love to hear of your success stories, submit them to us at: allbookreviews@aol.com

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.

Hi:
Just wanted to share the news that my book has been nominated for an award in the Romance Category. Take a look, http://readerviews.com/Awards2009Finalists.html. Winners will be announced next month. :)
Christyna Hunter
Author, Wildfire & The Butterfly's Dance

My New Book Unintelligent Humans will be released officially in July of this year. Check out detailed info at my website.www.UnintelligentHumans.com In addition, my last book Eastern Wisdom for Your Soul has recently been sold for translating to an E-Book publisher in Italy.

Richard Singer, Author, Eastern Wisdom for your Soul, Unintelligent Humans

TIP

Allbooks Review wishes to thank all of the authors that purchased our promo package in 2009, making this our best year ever. We have grown over the past 10 years and will continue to provide excellent service for reasonable fees. Our goal is to make your book sell !

Allbooks Reviews INTERVIEW:
Please state your name and location. (city and State or Province, Country)
Sherry Jones Mayo
Sedona, AZ

Tell us the title and publisher of your book:
Confessions of a Trauma Junkie: My Life as a Nurse Paramedic
Modern History Press

Tell us about yourself:
Depending on the day and situation, I’m a wife, mother, grandmother, nurse, writer, cook, confidant, or crazy cat lady. No matter which hat I’m wearing, after 20 years in emergency medicine and working with a paramilitary organization, I’ve accumulated enough experience to lend a more qualified hand in crisis response; my focus remains on continuing in the helping professions, but lately it is through another door. I find myself looking backward as much as forward, stopping to think, “Wait, I’m not entirely done with that yet, I still have something to say.” Knowledge gained while working toward the Health Psychology degree is giving me a clearer voice, and I hope to share those lessons and thoughts with my readers.

When was the book released?
Paperback edition was June 1, 2009. The publisher plans a hardcover edition for June 1, 2010.

Give us an overview of your book.
“Confessions” reflects the innermost feelings of emergency services workers as they encounter trauma, tragedy, redemption, and even a little humor. I have worked as an Emergency Medical Technician (Paramedic), Trauma Nurse, and on-scene Critical Incident Stress Debriefer for Hurricane Katrina, and following small-airplane crashes. Most people who have observed or experienced physical, mental, or emotional crisis have single perspectives. This book allows readers to stand on both sides of the gurney; it details a progression from innocence to enlightened caregiver to burnout, glimpsing into each stage personally and professionally.

What inspired you to write this book?
A lot of people today are interested in the true ‘story behind the story’, especially when it comes to true-life situations that touch so closely upon what they or their family members may experience. Whenever I tell people what I do, they focus on the gory side of life, and the type of incidents that catch folk’s attention and prevent them from looking away. What they don’t realize, until it happens to them, is that those horrible things happen to someone who is loved and cherished, especially the children. I want people to see the world, for a moment, through my eyes, to walk with me through the broken glass, to sit next to me and hold the hand of the sick or dying, to fight against death. And then I want them to see the lunacy of it all and laugh.

How is your book different from other books in this genre?
Many books about emergency medicine and true life situations present the hero perspective, a viewpoint of glamorization and drama. This book presents the raw and honest feelings of people without (much) censure or euphemism. Love us or hate us, this is how we feel. My slant is in telling the side of the story you may never know: how the emergency services worker feels about his experience, how it impacts him (sometimes for the rest of his life), what he is thinking as he works his calls, how he internalizes most of the negative thoughts and experiences lest his coworkers or family see him as weak, and what happens after the call is over.

Where can people buy your book?
Ordering from my website allows readers to get an autographed copy (or not, as they choose) through http://sherryjonesmayo.com. Readers may also order from Amazon (which offers a Kindle version), or ask major bookstores to order the book for them.
Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published?
I’m gathering materials for another book, but it will have to wait until grad school is complete, so I’m only writing short pieces for the next couple of years. I’m working on a master’s degree in Health Psychology, which offers a different perspective than my medical training offers. Nurses and Medics respond to the affects of injury and illness, I’d like to focus on a more proactive vision of promoting wellness, and future books may represent that bio/psych/socio vision.

If you self published, what advice can you give to fellow writers?
If published traditionally, tell us how you benefited:
A publisher who provides services beyond editing and printing books is invaluable. My publisher, Modern History Press, gives writers tools for self-marketing and promotion that are beyond our experience and expertise, and regularly links writers to other writing opportunities (which in turn promote books). I wouldn’t have known where to begin without that service, and the book may never have gone beyond family copies and bragging rights. Simply, I’m an expert (of sorts) on emergency medicine and crisis response, not on publishing.

Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?
Recently my publisher provided a query regarding the experience of nurses who transitioned from paramedics. The piece turned into a feature interview on the website, and I was able to establish a writing agreement with the site owner. Now I’m not only getting a lot of publicity about the book every time I write for this site, but I have the opportunity to be a paid contributor.

Initial interview: http://rndegrees.net/confessions-of-a-trauma-junkie.php
First feature piece: http://rndegrees.net/blog/career-development/disaster-relief-a-paramedic-turned-rn-shares-her-story.html

How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us?

Sherry: I’ll turn this over to Victor, my publisher, he can answer this question the best
Victor: Thanks Sherry! I believe I discovered Allbooks Reviews through a referral from my friend and colleague Irene Watson at ReaderViews. I like the professional and erudite nature of the reviews that AllBooks Reviews has consistently produced. I feel their reputation and influence in the independent review industry will only continue to grow. That is why I have selected Allbooks Reviews for all new titles coming from Modern History Press in 2010.

Was the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to offer writers?
Victor: Allbooks Reviews is highly competitive and offers an excellent value-for-money proposition. In fact, I doubt you can get reviews of this caliber for less money anywhere. Their service is also quite speedy and customer service always friendly. Probably the next domain for them to conquer would be author-interview podcasts. Ok, I’ll turn the interview back over to Sherry.:

Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.
Sherry: Thank you! Selling books is nice, but the biggest joy is when someone has read the book and told me they laughed, they cried, they were deeply touched. Taking people to a place deep within themselves is extremely rewarding. It makes baring one’s own soul, standing naked before the world in one of the most vulnerable ways possible, well worth the exposure.

In the News

Amazon Fires All Colorado Affiliates
------------------------------------
To show that it protested against a new Colorado State Sales Tax,
Amazon immediately broke all relations with every affiliate based
in Colorado. The new law requires out-of-state retailers such as
Amazon to collect and remit sales tax for purchases made by
Colorado residents or simply to inform their Colorado customers
that they owe use tax on any purchase they have made. For more on
this story visit: http://news.bookweb.org/7364.html

Canadian Booksellers Fight Against Amazon Coming to Canada
----------------------------------------------------------
The Canadian Booksellers Association has urged the Canadian
government to prevent Amazon.com from entering the Canadian market.
Amazon.com wants to build a shipping warehouse in Canada.
For more on this story visit: http://news.bookweb.org/7354.html

Hidden in the Sun

2010-03-20T11:32:00.000-07:00

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Genre: Adventure/Romance

Author: CA Bodiford

Author, CA Bodiford, has written an adventure filled story. Sarah is content living the single life, when she reconnects with someone from her past. They marry and the real saga begins. Sarah finds herself as the wife of a wealthy man and with a seemingly charmed life. As their relationship changes, violence and deceitfulness destroy her world. Fleeing for her life, she must start all over again in a new life with a new identity.

Meanwhile, Jackson, a police detective, is working the case of a missing woman who seemingly was harmed and kidnapped. The case goes terribly wrong and he, too, seeks refuge in a new place.

A chance encounter brings the two main characters together, yet they can never fully love until they learn to trust one another. Will they be able to forget their past lives and move on, or will their lives remain Hidden in the Sun.

Ms. Bodiford has created believable and endearing characters with “sit on the edge of your seat” circumstances. Adult situations and language, along with graphic details, limit this book to mature readers.

Recommended for anyone wishing to escape in the pages of a good book!
Reviewed by: Donetta Garman, Allbooks Review www.allbookreviews.com

Publisher: Publish America
ISBN: 978-1-61582-748-0
List price: $19.95
January 2010
*Disclaimer on Homepage.

Self Murder

2010-03-20T11:22:00.000-07:00

Genre: Fiction
AVAILABLE APRIL 2010

Author: Robert Scott Leyse

SELF-MURDER. “Do you dare to fall in love?” asks the narrator of Self-Murder, and
then answers by detailing an instance of attraction to a "breath-stealing" beauty, which swiftly becomes an obsessive fixation, such that all else melts from his awareness, his sanity is stretched to its limits and madness threatens to engulf him.
Thus begins the tale of a man who plays mind games with himself as he invites you “dear reader” to follow him down the pathways of a developing criminal mind.

Of course, like many of those who follow this pathway, his problem is totally the fault of beautiful women. His lust is not his lust. It is all the fault of the beautiful and mysterious curves of young and supple women. The narrator visits peep shows and solicits young women for excesses in sensual delights, and adds prolonged sleep deprivation to erode his tenuous hold on rationality. What is real and what is imagined become totally confused to the point where both narrator and reader wonder if murder or even several murders take place before the end.

This is a good/fun read, though a tad confusing at times. But what would you expect
when entering the mind of the insane. A note to women: This is not a character you would ever want to meet. He is the extreme example of men who blame women for all their woes.

As previously mentioned, the style can be confusing because you are taken into an
increasingly unstable mind. I enjoyed the romp maybe because I rooted for the girls and wished one of them would put an end to his madness by being crazier than him

Robert Scott Leyse was born in San Francisco, grew up in various locales about America, lived in Paris for a spell, and now resides in Manhattan. He has worked as a New York cab driver, on the night shift, and has over a dozen years of experience in the legal field. His first novel, Liaisons for Laughs: Angie & Ella's Summer of Delirium appeared in July, 2009.

Self-Murder is his second novel. Visit him online at: www.robertscottleyse.com
"This is a good/fun read I can highly recommend to readers searching for something different and don't mind entering the mind of the insane." Reviewer: Peter Klein, Allbooks Reviews. www.allbookreviews.com

Publisher: ShatterColors Press
ISBN: 978-0-9821710-2-8
Pages: 224
Price: $26.95
Jan, 2010

Dragon's Hat: Who was Noah?

2010-03-18T07:08:00.000-07:00

Genre: Religious Fiction
Author: Jack Dunn

Oliver and Justine visit Eridu, now known as Abu Shah Rain, southeast of Baghdad. They return to the Enki’s temple to retrieve the Tablet of Time that they hid on their last visit. Unfortunately, someone has removed it and other artifacts in their absence.
Meanwhile, back in New York City Jonathan and Lisa, who work for the Whiting Foundation attempt to discover the truth about the Private Security Company and the CIA’s involvement. There is some evidence that the Vatican is also involved.
Father Luke and Father Joshua follow the trail of the tablets to Berlin. The trail leads them to the Berlin Zoo, where the tablets surface, but are guarded by evil spirit who is attempting to sell them.
How do these 6 characters come together and what will they discover? Are the beliefs of the world’s religions, both current and ancient, the same after all? Is one faith’s God the same as another, with only slight variations on the legends and stories? Who was Noah and how does he influence modern day destiny?
Jack Dunn’s previous books, The Vatican Boys and Babylon’s Tablet of Destiny introduce his theories and talent for intense research. The books are works of fiction, but the author gives readers something to think about with his conspiracy theory and covert operations. His spin on the religious folklore is interesting.
Recommended by Reviewer: Shirley Roe, Allbooks Review. www.allbookreviews.com
Publisher: Raider Publishing
ISBN: 978-1935383956
Jan. 2010

Fireworks

2010-03-18T07:02:00.000-07:00

Genre: Adventure/Mystery

Author: Paul J. Mila

In Pakistan, a U.S. Navy Seal uncovers a terrorist plot against
America, somehow involving the Queen of England. The details are
murky, but the potential for death and destruction are terrifying. The
CIA and New York police department must work quickly to uncover the
details and prevent a disaster.
Fireworks, is the third in a series by Paul Mila about Terry and Joe
Manetta and their heroic dolphin friend, Notchka. Happily raising
their children in the beautiful tourist island of Cozumel, Mexico, the
couple is called upon by the NYPD to help prevent a terrorist attack
against the Queen Mary and New York City. Notchka's keen dolphin
instincts, with help from Terry's training, proves indispensable, but
the threat doesn't end there, and the family finds themselves deeply
entrenched in the terrorists' plans.
Paul J. Mila is an avid scuba enthusiast, with great respect for the
conservation of the ocean and the creatures in it, often appearing at
speaking engagements on the subject. As well as having written the
three books in this series, his underwater photography has appeared in
magazines and websites.
Fireworks is a cleverly written novel, filled with not only
adventure and entertainment, but with many informative facts about
every facet of the story, from dolphins and scuba diving, to New York
and Cozumel. It is quickly apparent that the author has real
experience in the areas of which he writes, which is crucial for
producing a novel that involves such specific skill sets. The
characters are vivid and each unique, with genuine emotions and
interpersonal relationships. The settings, particularly that of the
island, are described with an obviously personal appreciation, and
talent, by the author.
An exciting and fast-paced read, Fireworks is a wonderful book,
that gives ample reason to look for the first two in the series!
Highly Recommended by Reviewer: Nancy Morris, Allbooks Review.
www.allbookreviews.com

Publisher: Authorhouse
ISBN: 978-1-4389-0068-1
Pages: 270
Price: $15.95
also available in hardcover, $25.99, ISBN 978-1-4389-0069-8.
Jan 2010

Hitting the High Notes

2010-03-18T06:45:00.000-07:00

Genre: Womens Fiction
AUTHOR: Nan D. Arnold

Maggie’s life is rather ordinary until she meets sexy-as-all-get-out ‘Stavros’ at a convenient store one afternoon and goes to his place for drinks.
Forgetting her purse when Stavros rushes her out the door starts a series of events for Maggie that leave her head spinning, especially once gorgeous Detective Bruce “Red” Herring enters the picture.
Forty-something Maggie finds her hot flashes increasing in number as she tries to figure out which green-sock-wearing guy is the one worthy of seeing her in her best lingerie.
Told with a similar humoristic style to Janet Evanovich and Sarah Strohmeyer, Hitting the High Notes grabs the reader with a lot of lively dialogue and non-stop action. With a protagonist who needs cold bursts of air to temper her hot flashes, the author has created an amusing, down-to-earth character that many Boomers will find themselves relating to.
Nan D. Arnold is a member of Romance Writers of America. Her novel-length work has finaled in several RWA chapter-sponsored contests and The PACIFIC NORTHWEST WRITERS ASSOCIATION’S annual literary competition, adult, and romance genres respectively. Five manuscripts later, Hitting the High Notes landed a contract.
The story itself is fun and entertaining, but hard to enjoy due to the vast amount of editorial issues. Hitting the High Notes is a good read. Reviewer: Lisa Haselton, Allbooks Reviews.
Will be available through www.champagnebooks.com in Feb 2010.

Title: Hitting the High Notes
Author: Nan D. Arnold
Publisher: Champagne Books
Dec. 2009

Allbooks Reviews INTERVIEW: (Please put your answers in black)
Please state your name and location. (city and State or Province, Country)
Hello, I’m NAN D ARNOLD and I live in coastal Georgia (USA)

Tell us the title and publisher of your book:
HITTING THE HIGH NOTES, published by Champagne Books

Tell us about yourself:
I’m a former ass’t purchasing agent before I became an indentured servant working for my husband’s firm (grin). Currently, I’ve taken a year off to write full time. I’m also doing the “for better, for worse, and for lunch” thing as my husband recently retired. Between his visiting children and their off-spring, herding three cats, and every woman’s routine, there’s little time for sleep if I want to write. But I do it.

When was the book released? February 1st 2010

Give us an overview of your book.
A mildly neurotic woman meets an AWOL opera star by chance who is posing as something he’s not. Uncharacteristically, she agrees to join him for a glass of wine at his place. Someone knocks on his door, spooking him, and he urges heroine, Maggie Duncan, out his back door. Miffed, she rounds the building to reclaim her pride and her purse which possesses an irreplaceable photo of her deceased mother. It’s not mystery man who greets her but an Amazon who claims no one other than “she” is there and knows nothing about any handbag.

Maggie wants that photo! Many want opera man returned home before he garners negative press. A cop enters Maggie’s romantic sphere as well. Along the way, both men help her re=learn that life’s a song and at the end she endeavors to hit all the high notes from here on. One man lays claim to her heart but Maggie has baggage, lots of it. However, after many ups and downs, things work out in the sequel, PESTO PACKIN’ MAMA, a contemporary romance.

What inspired you to write this book?
I asked myself what would Carl Hiaasen write if he were a woman on the brink of menopause. (Not that I’m in his esteemed league!!!)

How is your book different from other books in this genre?
Maggie is off-kilter and a woman of age for one thing and it’s not your typical women’s saga or sibling rivalry sort of women’s fiction.

Where can people buy your book?
Details are available at my website: http://nandarnold.com/
Or, they may check out Champagne Books website after February 1st.

Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published?
As previously mentioned, PESTO PACKIN’ MAMA, a contemporary romance is scheduled for release JUNE 1st 2010 by Champagne Books.

If you self published, what advice can you give to fellow writers?
If published traditionally, tell us how you benefited:

Writing the novel is only the first step on a long hard road. There’s promotion which takes up a l-o-t of time and the stress of coming up with other publishable works in a timely manner to contend with.

Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?
Not presently. I’ll see how sales fare then give you an answer (grin).

How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us?
A fellow author buddy suggested review sites other than standard romance venues. Your organization was on that list.

Was the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to offer writers?
The price was reasonable considering the potential exposure. The expedited review (I submitted my novel shortly after Thanksgiving) was a plus.

Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.
Thank you, as well. May you and your readers have a happy, healthy, prosperous new year.

*Disclaimer on HomePage.

Allbook Review March 2010 Newsletter

2010-02-26T10:34:00.000-08:00

Spring is on the way, get ready to blossom!
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. Also join iFogo and get www.booksonfilm.com. Great promo for a great price, post audio, book trailers, contact with agents and producers and much more. Be sure and let them know Allbooks Review sent you and join our group.

http://ifogo.com/buy/order_abr.html USE THIS LINK TO JOIN TODAY

FEATURE

Make More Money with Information Products

Once you build an audience for your book(s), you have an opportunity to make even more money. Your fans will be eager to purchase your future books and will also be interested in other types of products.

Information products such as e-books, special reports, and teleseminars can be a fantastic source of revenue for authors. These products are most successful when they teach the buyer how to do something.

Following are some examples:

The author of a guide to fishing could also sell:

* A special report on the best fishing destinations in a specific state.
* A booklet about how to tie flies.
* An e-book with recipes for cooking fish.

The author of a children's book could also sell:

* An audio book version of the book.
* A companion workbook with fun activities for kids.
* An instructional report on how to help kids enjoy reading.

The author of a detective novel could also sell:

* A special report with alternate endings to the book.
* An e-book with short true crime stories.
* An instructional guide on how to write a detective novel.

The author of a business marketing book could also sell:

* An e-book with real-world marketing case studies.
* A workbook that helps readers develop a marketng plan.
* An instructional teleseminar that teaches listeners new marketing strategies.

from The Author's Guide to Building an Online Platform (Quill Drive Books 2008) by Stephanie Chandler

SUCCESS STORIES
We love to hear of your success stories, submit them to us at: allbookreviews@aol.com

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.

Hi:
Just wanted to share the news that my book has been nominated for an award in the Romance Category. Take a look, http://readerviews.com/Awards2009Finalists.html. Winners will be announced next month. :)

Christyna Hunter
Author, Wildfire &
The Butterfly's Dance

My New Book Unintelligent Humans will be released officially in July of this year. Check out detailed info at my website.www.UnintelligentHumans.com In addition, my last book Eastern Wisdom for Your Soul has recently been sold for translating to an E-Book publisher in Italy.

Richard Singer, Author, Eastern Wisdom for your Soul, Unintelligent Humans

TIP

Allbooks Review wishes to thank all of the authors that purchased our promo package in 2009, making this our best year ever. We have grown over the past 10 years and will continue to provide excellent service for reasonable fees. Our goal is to make your book sell !
Allbooks Reviews INTERVIEW:
Please state your name and location. (city and State or Province, Country)
My name is Laura Sepesi, and I’m from Bridgewater, NJ.

Tell us the title and publisher of your book:
The title of my book is The Guardian of Kelmar. My publisher is Infinity Publishing.

Tell us about yourself:
I’m twenty-two years old, and I’ve loved to write since I was a child. When I was in high school, I thought of the idea for The Guardian of Kelmar and the greater Kelmar Trilogy. I started writing Guardian the summer I graduated. I completed and published The Guardian of Kelmar when I was twenty-one, and achieved my dream of becoming an author.

When was the book released?
August of 2009.

Give us an overview of your book.
The Guardian of Kelmar is a young adult fantasy novel targeted for children and teens between the ages of 10 and 17. The book tells the story of Carmen Fox, a shy fifteen-year-old girl who journeys to a magical world called Kelmar, and realizes her destiny to restore peace to the war torn realm. Carmen trains to develop her magical gifts and battles Dark sorcerers in an effort to take back the land. Along the way, Carmen meets mystical creatures that aid her in discovering and mastering her magical powers.

What inspired you to write this book?
The initial inspiration for The Guardian of Kelmar came from a vivid dream that I had when I was thirteen. In that dream, I saw my first glimpse of Kelmar, and I met one of the main characters. Later on when I was in high school, I imagined the other central characters, who all began as pencil sketches. From there, I built a story around those characters and that original dream. I just wanted to write a story that I would love to read, and that I hoped other people would enjoy as well.

How is your book different from other books in this genre?
My book has many unique elements to it, and transports the reader to a magical place that they’ve never ventured before. It is an original story, filled with imaginative characters and adventures that make for an exciting and enjoyable read. The world, the beings that live there, and the magic that they use are all distinct to this story.

Where can people buy your book?
Signed and unsigned copies of my book can be ordered through my website, www.laurasepesi.com. They can also be ordered through my publisher’s website, www.buybooksontheweb.com, as well as through Amazon.com and any major bookstore.

Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published?
I am currently working on Book 2 of the Kelmar Trilogy, and I expect it to be published sometime in 2010.

If you self published, what advice can you give to fellow writers?
Go the extra mile to make your book as amazing as it can be. Invest the time and energy into writing and editing your book to perfection, and then go out and market it to the best of your ability. Develop a plan to promote your work, and always follow through.

Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?
I’ve been able to secure many book signings throughout my area, and I have had success at most all of them. I attribute this achievement to creating a solid website, getting local press coverage, and following up with bookstores. It’s a lot of work to market a book, especially at the beginning, but it’s crucial to getting your book out into the public.

How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us?
I found Allbooks Reviews listed in a book marketing publication, and I hope to achieve positive publicity from the review and hopefully get some new readers.

Was the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to offer writers?
It was a surprise, and I am very happy with the excellent promotion Allbooks provided me. I feel that what Allbooks offers right now is more than sufficient, and as a writer, I was very happy with their prompt and dedicated service.

Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.

The Tethered Goat

2010-02-18T06:57:00.000-08:00

Genre: Espionage Thriller

Author: Nicholas Winer

The words “political thriller” and “aid workers” are not usually found in the same sentence, and moreover they do not tend to raise the sense of bestseller joy that so many publishers and agents crave. That does not mean, however, that those in the business are correct for their way of thinking.

The Tethered Goat is a perfect example of a “write what you know” novel. Nicholas Winer’s time spent as an aid worker comes across in the details of the culture, politics and landscapes of Africa in the late 1980s in a way that only someone who has seen it and lived it can achieve.

The story begins in 1988, finding the main character, Mark Delama travelling to Gambela. Mark is the local director of an aid agency, and his business in Gambela concerns his belief that something is amiss with the food packages being delivered to the rebel army instead of to the refugees it is meant for. This journey leads Mark into the centre of trouble involving corrupted world powers, secrets, lies, murder and torture which endanger both him and his girlfriend.

The story moves along at a fair pace, with Mark being drawn into dealings he knows nothing about but what he is determined to see through. The political intrigue and espionage laden storyline is gripping and certainly detailed enough to hold the attention. What could have been another run of the mill political thriller is enhanced by the depth of insight offered by the author from his personal experience in Africa.

The book offers an aside in the great length it goes to in order to detail the plight of Africa in the late 1980s, ravaged by wars and famines and hindered in its repair by the powers supposed to be in control of the country.

There are a small number of issues with the book, the main one being that although detail does give the book one of its greatest strengths it also leads to one of its weaknesses. Sometimes the same kind of information is brought around again, told in a slightly different way but inevitably it is still the same information. There are also a small number of sections that I had to reread to fully understand, which can hinder the pace of the novel when it is required to return to the same section a few times. Perhaps a little further editing of the text could solve this, which can be one of the benefits of having a large publisher rather than self-publishing. That said, the additional detail does not pad down the story enough to hinder the pace too much and is more a small nit than anything else.

Despite the small niggles, The Tethered Goat is a high class thriller that can stand up along side others in the genre and beat some of the complacent masters of the craft who need nothing more than their name to have their books published. A novel like The Tethered Goat does not have that luxury and has to work to achieve its audience through word of mouth and a lot of luck. I would happily recommend the book for any lover of espionage thrillers, and encourage them to pass on the word to anyone else they believe would enjoy it.
Highly recommended by Anthony Lund, Allbooks Review www.allbookreviews.com
Title – The Tethered Goat
Author – Nicholas Winer
Publisher – YouWriteOn.com
ISBN : 978-1-84923-126-8
Jan. 2010

Allbooks Reviews INTERVIEW:

Please state your name and location. (city and State or Province, Country)

Nicholas Winer, I live in a conservation area in south west Spain.

Tell us the title and publisher of your book:

The Tethered Goat published by YouWriteOn

Tell us about yourself:

I lived for 20 years in Africa as an aid worker and since retiring from full time work there I have been doing some short term advisory work back in Africa as well as in South America for aid agencies. I also run a small rural tourism business in the beautiful village where I live with my wife, a few horses, some chickens and a dog.

When was the book released?

The book was released in December 2008

Give us an overview of your book.

It’s a story of espionage and romance in the dark days of Mengistu’s terrifying dictatorship of Ethiopia - during the famous famine of the 1980s. As the last playground of the Cold War, the Horn of Africa was then a heady mix of idealism, war and political terror….much as it is today. Mark, a young aid worker in the tragic famine that decimated Ethiopia, is caught between his idealism, the ruthless oppression of Mengistu’s Stalinesque regime and the cynical games being played by the British and American Embassies. After being briefly arrested by a fat chameleon of a policeman he and his girlfriend Val begin to unearth the sordid tale of a young south Sudanese fighter, arrested and tortured by Ethiopian security officials with the connivance of an insider in the UN. As they explore the murky world of diplomatic intrigue in a war zone Mark finds out too late he’s a pawn in a plot to guarantee the West’s access to Sudan’s oil and the unwitting ally of an unscrupulous Ethiopian dissident.

What inspired you to write this book?

I wanted to say something about those days and about the lives of other people; the people in between Bob Geldof and the starving. So much was written and filmed about the two extremes that little understanding of the life in the middle of the drama managed to get out. The result was the impression of a country that was nothing but starvation, war and celebrity compassion. It’s a typical media sin: the stereotyping of disaster and war.

How is your book different from other books in this genre?

I think its setting and the two protagonists; one an aid worker and one an African policeman looking for a way out of hell do mark it as a new and original story.

Where can people buy your book?

The book is available on Amazon, Waterstones and Barnes and Noble or more easily through my website www.thethetheredgoat.com where more background is available and direct links to the book can be found.

Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published?

I’m working on a novel about immigration. It’s about a Palestinian girl washed ashore in Spain….. and I’ve no idea when it might be published!

If you self published, what advice can you give to fellow writers?

I was self published in that YouWriteOn offered to publish a limited number of authors for free in 2008. I took them up on the offer, having had my submission accepted. The lack of the editorial support that an agent should give and the publicity that a main stream publisher can provide are real drawbacks for people such as myself who are not writing in instant ‘hit’ categories. If you can get an agent I think its well worth the blood, sweat and tears.

If published traditionally, tell us how you benefited:

I wish I had been.

Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?

Still looking for that elusive deal.

How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us?

I found you on the internet and I’m hoping that your site generates increased interest in my book. What I most want from this is an agent willing to work with me. Let’s see what comes up.

Was the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to offer writers?

It’s a great value service and I appreciate that enormously. Would be great if books your reviewers liked could be passed to agents who might be looking for new authors.

Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.

Thank you too for this opportunity

Nothing Lasts Forever

2010-02-17T06:29:00.000-08:00

Genre: Fiction / ebook
Author: Vaughn Tunstall

Nothing Lasts Forever (Secrets and Seduction) written by Vaughn Tunstall, as an homage to daytime television, is a story that could have been lifted straight from an episode of The Bold and The Beautiful. Set in the fictional world of Everlasting Falls, where sparkling white mansions stand elegantly against the horizon and every other car is a Lamborghini, the lives of three wealthy educated families intertwine.

The Forresters, Jack and Casey, is a marriage on the brink. One more push is all it may take to send it over the edge.

Enter the Woodshires, David and Linda and their children: Dorothy, Tyree, Mychal and Denise. Dashing David, a man handsome enough to turn any woman’s head; can Casey possibly resist him? If she does not want to engender the wrath of Linda, a woman whose nerves are stretched tight due to her long years of struggling to hide a secret that has left her deeply embittered, she had better do so. The cracks in Linda’s life widen as on the one side she fights to keep her marriage together and on the other side she battles with her children, who have their own issues to deal with: boyfriend problems, raging hormones, a need for support and a desire for acceptance.

Then into this roiling pot of strained emotions come the Lopez family. The father, Jack, has a secret too, a secret and a desire for vengeance. He will destroy the man he sees as responsible for the ruination of his life and beware to any that think to get in his way. Of his children: Serena, Teresa and Timmy, only Serena realises her father’s mad schemes. If she can stop him she will but how is she to do so? She knows he is in the wrong but he is her father and how can she keep from loving him? Teresa and Timmy are protected from their father’s machinations by the ignorance of youth and the fact that for them their lives centre on school and not much else. Teresa steps lightly under a fog of shyness, casting glances at a boy who only has eyes for his pretty math teacher and Timmy becomes the unwilling target of vicious bullying goths.

Around the Forresters, the Woodshires and the Lopez family a host of secondary characters move. Like moons around planets their pull is felt. Passions run rampant but with each character so focused on his or her troubles will anyone notice the dangers surrounding them before it is too late?

As a story this piece of work contains everything that you would expect to find in a book written as homage to daytime television. There are beautiful women, handsome men, troubles and tragedies, evil schemes underway, sex, violence and murder. This book makes use of contemporary issues: bullying, drug use, prostitution, relationships between teachers and students, a modern-day disease and the obsession with women’s weight. It takes some tried and tested familiar themes and adds them to the mix: adultery, greed, jealousy, the age-old struggle of trying to keep marriages and families together. This book has everything in it that should have made it a thrilling and entertaining read but I was left cold and at times shuddering in distaste and at other times shaking my head with the sheer nonsense of it all.

In conclusion as homage to daytime television this is a roaring success (if you can overlook the very poor quality of the writing). There is a dastardly, yet handsome, villain. There is a car crash caused by the cutting of a brake line and secrets waiting to be unearthed. There is love and lust and the kind of dramatic action scenes that would not look out of place in a Van Damme movie.

If you enjoy The Bold and the Beautiful and fantasize about living in Sunset Beach then this is a book for you. It is not overly taxing, will not win a Pulitzer Prize but it will keep you occupied for a few mindless hours as you wait for your flight to land or as you while away an afternoon by the pool.

If on the other hand the thought of watching The Bold and the Beautiful makes you cringe with horror, then steer well clear. I am not a fan of such programmes as The Bold and the Beautiful. So this work did not appeal to me in the least.

It lacked heart I felt as though the writer does not actually enjoy daytime drama himself but believes that because many others do a work based on this genre will sell. He chucked in what he thought were the right ingredients: gorgeous women, handsome men, sex, violence and murder but did not make much of an effort to mix them together well enough and what came out of the oven was a rather lumpy result. Review written by Yvonne Carsley, Allbooks Review.

Title: Nothing Lasts Forever
Author: Vaughn Tunstall
ISBN: ebook
Number of pages: 138
Publisher: Club Lighthouse Pub
Price: na
Dec. 2009

Allbooks Reviews INTERVIEW:

Please state your name and location. (city and State or Province, Country)
Vaughn Tunstall, New Jersey.

Tell us the title and publisher of your book:
Nothing Lasts Forever Secrets and Seduction. Club Lighthouse Publishing.

Tell us about yourself: I am currently attending college in New Jersey.

When was the book released?
Nov 2nd, 2009.
Give us an overview of your book.
Nothing Lasts Forever Secrets and Seduction is composed of six subplots that follow the lives of two prominent families, the Woodshire family and the Lopez family, upon their arrival to Everlasting Falls, New Jersey. Passion, secrets, murder, and intrigue erupt, as many of the characters find themselves in sticky situations such as dealing with a psychotic scorn lover, a hostile business takeover, a brutal murder, and a budding romance between two members of the feuding families.

What inspired you to write this book?
My novel was inspired by daytime storytelling. The soap opera genre has been around for over fifty years and has an audience of millions. I felt that this type of storytelling could easily make the transition into books which is why I wrote my series. Several novels have been published under the same vein but I wanted to capture that fast pace excitement with all the classic, albeit stereotypical, clichés. I also wanted to narrate my novel with a soap operatic feeling as well, which is why my novel constantly juggles five to six scenes per chapter.

How is your book different from other books in this genre?
Nothing Last Forever Secrets and Seduction will never be mistaking to being on par with classic works such as The Sound and the Fury. I wanted to write something that was entertaining but never pretended to be anything but that. I think this is how my novel differs from others in its genre. Many stories try to take themselves too seriously with their campy plots and cliché characters but Nothing Lasts Forever Secrets and Seduction knows exactly what kind of story it is. It also differs because it is made up entirely of subplots that alter scenes per chapter. Soaps offer one of the ultimate escapes, a world where people are beautiful and rich but have more problems than the Average Joe and my novel delivers this.

Where can people buy your book?
My novel is available on my publisher’s website at www.clublighthousepublishing, www.amazon.com, and www.mobipocket.com.

Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published?
If Nothing Lasts Forever Secrets and Seduction does well, I plan on continuing writing them as my novel is just one in a series. I am in the process of re-editing a previous novel I’ve written which is a mainstream fiction novel. In addition to that I am currently writing a horror novel and hopefully plan on starting a science fiction/fantasy series for teens and young adults.

If you self published, what advice can you give to fellow writers?

If published traditionally, tell us how you benefited:
Publishing a novel electronically allows authors to reach virtually every place that possess internet access. This is a great benefit to gaining a wide audience very quickly. I was also fortunate enough to be published under a great publishing house who was very helpful along the way and worked with me to ensure the best possible opportunity for success.

Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?
The only success I’ve had is that I was willing to turn every proverbial rock. Publishing an ebook still does not have as much commercialism attached to it as printed works do. You have to be willing to start from the ground and work your way up. I’ve done this so far and it’s paying off well. There are a plethora of blogs, web journals, and ebook reviews, out there waiting for new authors to find them. Making as many contacts, no matter how small they are, goes a long way to ensure the maximum change of success.

How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us?
I found Allbooks Reviews when contacting Rich O’Brien at TheEbookSale Publishing website and he was able to get in touch with your website.

Was the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to offer writers?
Honestly the cost was a shock. I was fully expecting to pay self publishing prices for advertising. I was very glad and grateful Allbooks services were affordable and offered so much. I think Allbooks Reviews offers writers a great deal, so much so I can’t think of any improvements. It’s definitely helped out this new author.

Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.

If She Should Die

2010-02-17T06:24:00.000-08:00

Genre: Fiction/Mystery
Author: Florence Yonin Brown

Erin Farmer believes that someone is trying to kill her. She hires Craig Harrows, a former police officer turned private investigator, to discover the truth. Just when the presence of Craig starts to make Erin feel safe again, life just becomes more complicated. She cannot understand why. Everyone around her seems to love her. Or, so she thinks. However, Erin has something others want: lots of money, a good home, a good husband, good friends, a good life. It just does not add up. When the brakes on her car fail, someone tries to run her over, then she almost drowns, things start to support Erin’s suspicions. The added effects of a funeral notice on her windshield and a funeral wreath delivered to her door just contribute to the subtle suggestion that someone really hates Erin enough to kill her.

If She Should Die is a murder mystery. Only, the murder is yet to occur. Will Erin die? Will the killer be found before in time to save Erin’s life? Will the killer manipulate Erin’s emotions to make her appear mentally unstable? After all, her husband does have the power of attorney over all her affairs, including her money. Was that indeed a wise move on Erin’s part? So many questions that demand answers! Is there enough time for Craig to unravel the mystery and save his employer?

If She Should Die is Forence Yonin Brown's fourth book. A retired teacher,
Brown divides her time between her writing and her family, which includes
four grown children and seven grandchildren. She belongs to several crime
writer's organizations and she enjoys both reading and writing a good
mystery.
If She Should Die is a dramatic, page turning thriller that leaves the reader breathless in anticipation until the very end. If She Should Die is highly recommended by: Emily-Jane Hills Orford, Allbooks Reviews.

Publisher: Baico Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-897449-71-4
Pages: 267 pages
Price: $18.95 CDN
Dec 2009

Dead of Knight

2010-02-16T07:32:00.000-08:00

Genre: Crime/Mystery
Author: William R. Potter

Dead of Knight is a Jack Staal mystery. Jack is a detective in a fictitious town located in British Columbia, Canada. While Jack is carrying some baggage and having nightmares, he is on the trail of a murderer nicknamed “The Birthday Boy.” A special group (IHIT) established for major crimes denies that Jack could possibly be able of solving the crime.

Jack not one to give up, begins a cat and mouse chase of “The Birthday Boy.” How will this cat and mouse game end? You will have to read the book and find out for yourself. It is full of egos, distrust, and the dogged determination of one detective to find the serial murderer running loose and staying one-step ahead of the IHIT unit.

Dead of Knight is a gripping novel that could be taken out of cases that have been in papers about the failings of not comparing notes and not listening to experienced officers that have been reported. This novel is a work of fiction that could be a slice of real life. Let’s hope that it never comes to be reality.

Told from two perspectives, that of the cat, and the mouse, but who is who? Is the detective chasing the murderer, or is the murderer chasing the detective in Dead of Knight? Only by reading the book will you find out who is the ultimate winner in the chase.

This reviewer awards Dead of Knight a recommendation of a read for those into mysteries with a four star rating.

Available from publisher: ww.realtimepublishings, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble

Publisher: RealTime Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-84961-026-1
Pages: 268
Price: $14.95 US
Date: December , 2009

Conversations with Jerry and Other People I Thought were Dead

2010-02-16T07:26:00.000-08:00

Author: Irene Kendig

Everyone has questions about what happens after death. What if all you had to do was ask?

When author Irene Kendig was introduced to medium Jana Anna, she was skeptical. However, during their first conversation, Jana made contact with Irene's mother, and Irene became a believer. What followed was a series of conversations with her mother, the Jerry of the title, and other friends and loved ones who had "crossed over."

Conversations is a deep, layered book. By turns intensely personal and grandly philosophical, Kendig's renderings of her sessions with Anna are a joy to read. This is a hopeful book, one that emphasizes the joy of living, and stresses against morbid fixation on death. Death is seen as another stage of development, and therefore nothing to fear.

Kendig is a speaker and self-acceptance coach, with a M.A. in Spiritual Psychology.

Conversations with Jerry and Other People I Thought Were Dead is a comforting, yet challenging book. This is Recommended for anyone who would like a new perspective on life, and the afterlife.

Reviewer: J. Blackmore, Allbooks Reviews. www.allbookreviews.com
Available at: www.conversationswithjerry.com

Publisher: Grateful Press
ISBN: 978-0-982-45670-5
Pages: 320
Price: $19.95 USD
Date: December 2009

The Crusading Spirit of Modern America/Review

2010-02-14T07:53:00.000-08:00

Genre: Political Science
AUTHOR: Richard J. Bazillion

It seems that every generation has some sort of watershed moment. In recent American history there has been the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The next generation grew up in the aftermath of the assassination of John F. Kennedy. It took 40 years for the next event of this sort to occur. That was the attack on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center on the ninth of September in 2001. The major difference in the country in 2001 was a definite political polarization and a seemingly new word had come into some usage. That word is – neoconservative.

In this book, Richard Bazillion has made a laudable effort to present his case for the history and evolution of the term ‘neoconservative’ in its current usage. The research is quite detailed and well explained. Dr. Bazillion then continues to tie this school of neoconservative thought into a study of the motivations and strategy and general outlook for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. He also includes a chapter on the war America isn’t fighting and that is the war with Iran that has been simmering since 1979.

Dr. Bazillion concludes this work with his commentary on the possible legacy of the George W. Bush administration and future conflict and co-existence between the United States and the rest of the world. This is in short, a very interesting book.

This book is definitely recommended, but as a part of a balanced approach to the conflicts and conditions at hand. Dr. Bazillion makes it known, to his credit, that he has little love for the neoconservatives and the George W. Bush presidency. A serious student should consider all sides of an argument while recognizing his own biases. Education is an uncomfortable process. If you only look for authors with whom you agree then you learn nothing. I give this a 4 out of 5 rating. Reviewer: John Helman, M.A., Allbooks Reviews. www.allbookreviews.com

Author: Richard J. Bazillion
Publisher: BookSurge
ISBN: 9-781439-229446
Pages: 398
Dec. 2009

The Divine Theory of Everything-Book 1- Wanderer

2010-02-14T07:46:00.000-08:00

Genre: Fantasy
Author: Robert D. Berger

Without balance, good and evil would run rampant. Someone must intervene and the one chosen is ripped from their daily life and is thrown into another dimension where magic substitutes for science.

The Divine Theory of Everything is a truly amazing story. The novel begins with the ancient symbol of evil, the Prince of Darkness, known in this story by the name of Iblis, who with his armies of demons is battling an army of men and dwarves in a land called Eden ruled by the High Priestess goddess. It appears evil will win and creation will come to an end. The story then shifts abruptly to a space ship preparing to leave the Earth with the 144,000 chosen from all the tribes of Israel. Will they escape from the wrath of Iblis? What of those being left behind? It is here the story shifts once again and we meet the unlikely hero of the story, Steve Morgan, an engineer who is thrust from his 21st Century world into a world of magic of both time, space and place.

The story is complex, to say the least, and a valiant attempt to, as the title suggests, reconcile religious creation belief with scientific evolution theory. Without going into any details revealed in the story, author Berger makes an interesting argument for religious belief and the scientific approach of empirical reasoning being just two sides of the same coin - much like chaos and order or good and evil. It’s all about balance. But whatever you believe or disbelieve, the story makes for an interesting read.

Berger has a scientific background. He now works as an engineer but the idea for the story first came to him when serving onboard the first attack submarine, the USS Sunfish. Berger says he deeply believes in God, sometimes feels torn between science and religion, and hopes someday to know the real “Theory of Everything.”

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys original ideas set in a world of fantasy- one small note of warning for some. Berger takes chances not only with being original in thought. He also dares to write in the present tense. Example: “Steve wonders why he is chosen.” Reviewer: Pete Klein, Allbooks Reviews.

Title: The Divine Theory of Everything
Author: Robert D. Berger
Publisher: Llumina Press
ISBN: 978-1-60594-284-1
Pages: 330
Price: $17.95
Date: Dec 2009

The Magic of Old Man Pouring Rain

2010-02-13T16:09:00.000-08:00

Author: Janet Davis
Genre: Childrens' Fiction

The Magic of Old Man Pouring Rain is an engaging children’s book that weaves a story about the appreciation of precipitation. The title of this story was intriguing and creative. Who would’ve been able to create an aging raindrop along with 10 spunky little raindrops? This story is simple and understandable and it teaches children to be fond of rain. It has a good moral as well. As the story says, rain nurtures the Earth and helps provide crops for humans. The plot is started with the wise Old Man Pouring Rain, sitting on the clouds creating little raindrops to drop down on Earth and to teach kids about the rain. Being successful with his agents, the Old Man Pouring Rain orders the group of raindrops to fly from the sky. They have many exciting adventures. When the raindrops leave, the children on Earth learned something new, and the raindrops made new human friends. The vocabulary of this book was humorous and easy, perfect for youngsters to read. This read is an impressive attempt from Janet Davis, and I am sure it will intrigue many young readers.

Janet Davis is a budding authoress as well as a busy mother of two girls. She takes care of her mom and her mentally challenged brother. Davis is hoping to write more adventures about these raindrops and uses the money she earns from her sales to donate to the Leukemia Society. Her kind loving, personality shines very well in this book. She is a lovely author and I hope to read some of her other books! Highly Recommended, Reviewer: Iris Park, Allbooks Review www.allbookreviews.com

ISBN: 978-1-936046-28-7
Price: $14.99 US
Jan. 2010

The Guardian of Kelmar/Review

2010-02-13T15:53:00.000-08:00

Author: Laura Sepesi
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

The Key shall the Guardian command
Guided by wisdom and understanding,

The world shall be healed,

By the Guardian's Sword.

The magical world of Kelmar has spent years in peril merely waiting for their Guardian to arrive. Fifteen years passed without a glimpse of hope, but upon the date of Carmen Fox's birthday the change that everyone had been waiting for came to pass. Normal, everyday and ordinary Carmen finds that she is the legendary Guardian the Kelmarian's have been awaiting. Thrust into a world of magic with her animal counterpart Blaze and her souls to find, will Carmen find strength she never knew she had and defeat the evils plaguing Kelmar?

Laura Sepesi has had a love of writing for much of her life, something she brought with her in the passage from childhood into adulthood. The Kelmar Trilogy was first thought of during her years as a high school student. Laura then began to write The Guardian of Kelmar the summer after graduation and continued with it whilst working towards a degree in elementary education. At the age of twenty- one the book was completed, so as to pursue her dream to become an author. Sepesi has written a fast paced book with surprises and challenges for her characters around every twist and turn. Her main character; Carmen Fox is well written and somebody who people can relate to, someone seemingly normal that truly is quite an interesting individual. The sort of brave and loving person that remains in all of us no matter who we are and Ms. Sepesi seemed to have captured that in her writing. Currently, she is working on the second piece to the trilogy and I am very excited to read the next part.

The Guardian of Kelmar was a story filled with magic and wonder upon every page. The book will appeal to children and teenagers alike with a well- written and interesting story they will not find a dull moment. The battle between the good of the Kelmarians and the evil of the magicon was wondrous and brought the reader on an adventure they will feel to have gone on themselves. I myself, hope that we will be seeing more from Laura Sepesi quite soon.

The Guardian of Kelmar is highly recommended by Kirsten Bussière, Allbooksreviews.

Author's Website: LauraSepesi.com
Publisher: Infinity Publishing
Publisher's Website: infinitypublishing.com
Retail Price: US $26.95
ISBN: 0-7414-5336-3
Jan. 2010

Allbooks Reviews INTERVIEW:

Please state your name and location. (city and State or Province, Country)

My name is Laura Sepesi, and I’m from Bridgewater, NJ.

Tell us the title and publisher of your book:

The title of my book is The Guardian of Kelmar. My publisher is Infinity Publishing.

Tell us about yourself:

I’m twenty-two years old, and I’ve loved to write since I was a child. When I was in high school, I thought of the idea for The Guardian of Kelmar and the greater Kelmar Trilogy. I started writing Guardian the summer I graduated. I completed and published The Guardian of Kelmar when I was twenty-one, and achieved my dream of becoming an author.

When was the book released?

August of 2009.

Give us an overview of your book.

The Guardian of Kelmar is a young adult fantasy novel targeted for children and teens between the ages of 10 and 17. The book tells the story of Carmen Fox, a shy fifteen-year-old girl who journeys to a magical world called Kelmar, and realizes her destiny to restore peace to the war torn realm. Carmen trains to develop her magical gifts and battles Dark sorcerers in an effort to take back the land. Along the way, Carmen meets mystical creatures that aid her in discovering and mastering her magical powers.

What inspired you to write this book?

The initial inspiration for The Guardian of Kelmar came from a vivid dream that I had when I was thirteen. In that dream, I saw my first glimpse of Kelmar, and I met one of the main characters. Later on when I was in high school, I imagined the other central characters, who all began as pencil sketches. From there, I built a story around those characters and that original dream. I just wanted to write a story that I would love to read, and that I hoped other people would enjoy as well.

How is your book different from other books in this genre?

My book has many unique elements to it, and transports the reader to a magical place that they’ve never ventured before. It is an original story, filled with imaginative characters and adventures that make for an exciting and enjoyable read. The world, the beings that live there, and the magic that they use are all distinct to this story.

Where can people buy your book?

Signed and unsigned copies of my book can be ordered through my website, www.laurasepesi.com. They can also be ordered through my publisher’s website, www.buybooksontheweb.com, as well as through Amazon.com and any major bookstore.

Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published?

I am currently working on Book 2 of the Kelmar Trilogy, and I expect it to be published sometime in 2010.

If you self published, what advice can you give to fellow writers?

Go the extra mile to make your book as amazing as it can be. Invest the time and energy into writing and editing your book to perfection, and then go out and market it to the best of your ability. Develop a plan to promote your work, and always follow through.
If published traditionally, tell us how you benefited:
Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?

I’ve been able to secure many book signings throughout my area, and I have had success at most all of them. I attribute this achievement to creating a solid website, getting local press coverage, and following up with bookstores. It’s a lot of work to market a book, especially at the beginning, but it’s crucial to getting your book out into the public.

How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us

I found Allbooks Reviews listed in a book marketing publication, and I hope to achieve positive publicity from the review and hopefully get some new readers.

Was the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to offer writers?

It was a surprise, and I am very happy with the excellent promotion Allbooks provided me. I feel that what Allbooks offers right now is more than sufficient, and as a writer, I was very happy with their prompt and dedicated service.

Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.

Allbooks Review Feb.2010 Newsletter

2010-01-31T11:58:00.000-08:00

Happy 10th anniversary to Allbooks Review

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.
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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. Also join iFogo and get www.booksonfilm.com for free.

Winners 2010 Allbooks Review Editor’s Choice
Shirley A. Roe, Managing Editor of Allbooks Review would like to announce the winners for the 2010 Allbooks Review Editor's Choice Award. From the hundreds of books we receive each year, a few outshine the rest; Allbooks Review likes to show our appreciation of their excellence. www.allbookreviews.com

Suicidal Tendencies Mystery Garry Patrick

Son of my Soul MemoirDebra Shiveley Welch

City of Gardens Health P. Schnerch

Shattered Reality Inspiration Kimberly Cheryl

For God and Country Fiction Daniel Reyes

Beyond Those Distant Stars Sci/FiJohn B. Rosenman

Shipwreck of a Nation History Peter Nennhaus

The Step-By-Step Guide to Self-Publishing for Profit! Writing
Pinheiro and Nick Russell

Congratulations to all of our winners. We have chosen the 8 overall best books from our list of various genres, rather than one from each genre. Books can be purchased on Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and various bookstores.

Just a reminder, your book is automatically included in the award program with the purchase of our promo package. The award is given to the authors that outshone the rest in their particular genre. Book Awards are a great marketing tool.

FEATURE
TIPS FOR BOOK READINGS.

1. Come prepared with a rehearsed reading.

2. Unless you are a Pulitzer prize winner, never read longer than 20
minutes max. Preachers know this, and authors should, too. Rehearse and
time yourself before the reading. Include any introduction you give in
that 20 minutes. If necessary, have a friend in the audience who can give
you a 2-minute warning and PAY ATTENTION TO IT.

3. Just READ. No apologies of any kind for the work. This is
embarrassing and makes the audience uncomfortable.

4. Just READ. No long introductions or rambling stories about how you
happened to write the book or why or what happened during that long winter
or how bad the agents were or any other extraneous information. If the
audience is interested, they'll ask.

5. Just READ. Choose a selection from the book - generally the opening
pages - that doesn't require a lot of explanation or background for the
audience.

6. Leave time for questions. This is how you bring the audience into
your book and get them interested in buying it.

7. Leave the ego at home. Be pleasant to the audience and don't wear
the "I'm a Writer and you're not" hat, tee-shirt or attitude. These are
the people who might buy your book. And writing is a job not an
anointment.

8. No matter how small the audience, be grateful. And remember the show
biz axiom - "The show must go on." I once did a reading for one person
who bought both my books and recommended them to several other people who
also bought them.
--Molly Larson Cook, Blue Finch Press,
www.bluefinchpress.com

Success Stories
We love to hear of your success stories, submit them to us at: allbookreviews@aol.com

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.

TIP
The title of your Web page, and your page description are also important

to search engines. Use a title that has keywords someone might use to

search for your site. For example, if your book is titled Homemade Cookies

the Easy Way, you might choose the domain name

www.EasyHomemadeCookies.com.

Allbooks Review wishes to thank all of the authors that purchased our promo package in 2009, making this our best year ever. We have grown over the past 10 years and will continue to provide excellent service for reasonable fees. Our goal is to make your book sell !

Babes in Business Suits: Top Women Entrepreneurs Share Success Secrets

2010-01-15T08:09:00.000-08:00

Genre: Business/ Inspirational/ non-fiction
Author: Felicia Pizzonia

“Let them (the Babes in Business Suits) collectively be a lesson to you that no matter who you are or where you came from, anything is possible and life is limitless.” Intro

Felicia Pizzonia introduces readers to 12 female entrepreneurs, each known by the color of their suit. The stories of their success, struggles, unique talents and entrepreneurial journeys will motivate, stimulate and inspire you to reach your goals.

The book begins with the chapter titled, The Power Within, followed by Attitude and You as a Brand, which present motivational tips and secrets before introducing the 12 powerful women. The tips are covered in depth, highly effective and well presented. Ms. Pizzonia uses her own experience as a motivational speaker to the corporate world, author and publisher, to present a well researched and powerful, highly educational guide.

Marianne Ford, Dr. Cynthia Barnett, Sally Walker and Mona Jagga, are just a few of the interesting women that will share their secrets of success. Starting with Jeri Walz, Babe in Tweed, each woman then shares her own emotional heartfelt story, filled with unique ideas, strategies and secrets of success. Bonus gifts are included with contact information for each woman. Readers will gain valuable information to transform both their business and personal lives.

Readers will laugh, cry and be inspired. This book should be added to the school library of every high school, business college and university. A unique look at some very interesting people, and what could be a valuable teaching aid.

For more information visit www.babesinbusinesssuits.com
Highly Recommended by Reviewer: Shirley Roe, Allbooks Review. www.allbookreviews.com

Publisher: The Ultimate Publishing House
ISBN-13: 978-0-9819398-2-7
Price: $29.97
Dec 2009

Smoking: 201 Resons to Quit

2010-01-15T08:05:00.000-08:00

Genre: Health/Tobacco
Author: Muriel L. Crawford

201 Reasons To Quit is exactly what it’s advertized to be. A frank no nonsense list of all the reasons to quit smoking, or, more importantly, never start. With a powerful forward by actor, Jack Klugman, who almost lost a career to throat cancer, the book starts off with a poignant plea; Quit Smoking!

201 is broken up into bite sized chunks of easy to read information, each presenting a statement of fact and followed by discussion, statistics, medical findings and common sense. Taken individually, you can say, “so what.” Confronted with 201 facts and the message becomes powerful. Crawford takes the reader from the obvious to obscure, giving points most of us never thought about. For instance, did you know that smokers are 50 – 75 percent more likely to have a motor vehicle accident? Are at a much greater risk of falling. More prone to frost bite. Are having a major impact on their pets health. This book discusses the impact on the smoker, sure; but it also presents the smokers impact on you and me. It is very complete. I did some research of my own and could only come up with one other reason. Did you know that your computer warranty could be voided if the case contains a significant amount cigarette smoke residue?

The message is compelling, but only if you listen. I know a lot of smokers and every single one of them knows the downside. They also don’t want to be preached at, be controlled and most of all, be told to quit. The book doesn’t preach, it simply lays out the facts. It is a great tool for when you are ready.

I recommend 210 Reasons To Quit as a gift for your smoking friends, or as a smoker, as a gift to yourself. It does not have the power to make someone quit, but it will certainly help them when they’re ready. And it just might keep someone from starting.
Reviewed by reviewer Gregory J. Saunders, Allbooks Review, www.allbookreviews.com

Publisher: Dillon & Parker Publishing, LLC,
ISBN: 978-0-9819590-0-9
Price $15.56
Dec. 2009

Jay Slosar Jan.25/10

2010-01-13T10:31:00.000-08:00

Jay Slosar author of Culture of Excess will be visiting the Allbooks Review blog site as part of his virtual Book Tour. Drop by Jan. 25th and get to know Jay.
http://allbooksreview.wordpress.com
and http://allbooksreviewinternational.blogspot.com

Allbooks Review is available as a stop for your Book Tour, contact BOB allbooksmktg@aol.com

Thank you for the opportunity to serve you.
Shirley Roe, Managing Editor
Allbooks Review
www.allbookreviews.com
Where books are appreciated and judged by their merits

Clean Energy Common Sense

2010-01-12T08:01:00.000-08:00

Genre: Environmental/ non fiction

Author: Frances Beinecke w/ Bob Deans

Frances Beinecke is the president of the NRDC, ( Natural Resources Defense Council) a national environmental advocacy group. For more than 40 years the NRDC has voiced the need to curb global climate change. This book is a comprehensive, informative guide to doing just that.
Filled with statistics, it presents a very well researched argument that time is running out for this planet and it is time for each and every one of us to do something positive to make changes as soon as possible.
Well- documented facts show that clean energy legislation will cost the average American household somewhere between 23 and 44 cents a day. 23 cents a day to save this planet, sounds like a no- brainer to me. The book outlines how Environmental Entrepreneurs or E2, represents more than 1200 companies that employ more than 400,000 people nationwide. The E2 represents companies that believe in investing in energy efficiency and putting the American people back to work, an excellent joint venture.
Clean Energy, Common Sense lists too many wonderful ideas and strategies to list here, but this book should be used by every teacher of environmental studies, be in every home and every office. The book is concise, well written and informative. Dan Quayle took his message to the big screen, Frances Beinecke is bringing her message in book form, but the message is clear. It is time for the nation to wake up and realize that the clock is ticking on our future. For more information on how to buy the book or how you can take action now, visit: www.nrdc.org today!
Highly Recommended by Reviewer: Shirley Roe, AllbookReview. www.allbookreviews.com

Publisher: Rowman & Littlefiels Publishers
ISBN-13: 978-1-4422-0317-4
Pages: 106
Price: 9.95
Dec 2009

The Travelers

2010-01-10T10:27:00.000-08:00

Genre: Fiction

Author: Delaney Henderson

In this first book by Delaney Henderson we meet Ann - a young tourist who is on a free spirited tour of the world. Ann is an unattached, feisty woman who travels around Europe and Africa meeting up with other backpacking tourists. Drugs, freely available are done on a regular basis. Her affinity to the ever present and publicly consumed drugs like hashish leads her to be courted by drug traffickers and this of course, leads her to the dark side of the drug world where young tourists like Ann are courted and targeted to be used as drug smugglers.

“Everyone is doing some sort of drug deal here, Ann thought, I was wondering why all the furtiveness and now I know why. “

Ann’s cocky confident agreement to be a drug smuggler puts her into the expected dangers of local police, chases, drug related deaths, and the threat of capture. We follow her as she tries to navigate a far more complicated world than she had naively expected.

The Travelers is a quick paced, suspenseful slim volume. It contains a lot of dialog that at times appears to be a bit choppy but which adds to the awkwardness of the main’s character’s dilemma. The story line focuses on most of Ann’s dialog making this story seem to be autobiographical in nature. I would have liked to see more description on the surroundings, which would have added to the travel aspect of the book. There are some editing flaws but they don’t distract much from the story. Still, it is a good, at times disturbing, read that will leave you thinking.

Delaney Henderson who was born in France is an accomplished fine artist with oil paintings on display throughout the west Coast. Henderson turns her massive talents to the world of fiction, combining her worldly knowledge with modern-day trends to develop a novel that captivates readers. I give this book a highly recommended rating.
Reviewer: Wendy Thomas, Allbooks Reviews. www.allbookreviews.com

Title: The Travelers
Author: Delaney Henderson
Publisher: A-Argus Better Book Publishers
ISBN: 978-098190757-4
Pages: 199
Price: 17.95
Nov. 2009

Allbooks Reviews INTERVIEW:
Please state your name and location. (city and State or Province, Country)
Delaney Henderson Berkeley California US

Tell us the title and publisher of your book:
The Travelers
A-Argus Better Book Publishers LLC

Tell us about yourself:
Delaney Henderson was born in France and grew up Southern California in Santa Monica and Malibu Canyon. She relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area where she has lived most of her life except for two years in Portland Oregon. She currently lives and works in Berkeley, California.

Delaney writes novels, screenplays and short stories. She studied writing with the ‘Dangerous Writers Group’ on the Oregon Coast while living in Portland and credits this group as being influential in her approach to writing. The idea is to write about those things which may be difficult or uncomfortable which theoretically have more of a potential to emotionally resonate with the reader.

Delaney has traveled to Europe, Morocco, Canada and Mexico and lived in France for several months at age 13. In more recent years she has done residencies in Santa Fe New Mexico and in Basin, a small town in Montana.

When was the book released?
May 2009

Give us an overview of your book.

The Travelers is about a group of young wanderer types in Morocco that get involved in the hash trade. They have relationships. They get in trouble. They drift in and out of towns and houses and restaurants and teashops, besieged by mild existential angst and alienation.

The book is a slice of history, coming from a time when young men and women from western countries could to go places like Morocco and get in trouble and usually get out of it. It was before the fundamentalists and reactionaries took over and made that kind of travel, as silly and irresponsible as it was, impossible.

What inspired you to write this book?
I traveled to Morocco in my twenties and the story is based on experiences and characters I met during the trip. I do want to emphasize that the book is a work of fiction and I took great liberties with the story line.

How is your book different from other books in this genre?
The book is reflects experiences and travel in a Muslim country from a woman’s point of view and gives the reader an insight into a world they probably aren’t familiar with.

Where can people buy your book?
People can buy the book on line at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Borders and also directly from the publisher. It also is for sale in some local book stores in the SF Bay area.

Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published?
I am currently working on a novel to be titled ‘Out of the Gorge’ about three young people from dysfunctional backgrounds seeking a better life for themselves. It is set in the US Northwest Columbia Gorge and Portland Oregon area.

If you self published, what advice can you give to fellow writers?
I’m not self published but my advice would be to start learning how to promote your book before it comes out.

If published traditionally, tell us how you benefited:
The benefit of course is that the publisher shoulders the cost of publishing the book and makes the book widely available through a distribution network already in place.
They also send out books for review and do varying degrees of promotion.
Increasingly these days a lot of the work is on the author to do promotion.

Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?
One thing I did was seek out reviews on Amazon which has had mostly good results. It’s difficult to get professional reviews. I also am using my Facebook page to promote my books. Other things that are recommended that I will do for my next book is put a web site up.

How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us?
I am hoping for more exposure for my book from Allbooks Reviews.

Was the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to offer writers?
No surprises and I am happy with what is offered. Thanks!

Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.

Entering the Age of Elegance

2010-01-10T10:17:00.000-08:00

Genre: Self Help

Author: Chloe JonPaul

Blessed is the woman who affirms herself each day,
Blessed is the woman who zeroes in on qualities that will help her become.

Life is full of blessings. Perhaps that is one of the things we, women, seem to forget. We are the super-human beings who take care of others, organize others, run the household, cheer others on, and the list continues. When we reach that star-studded age of forty, we often wonder what happened. How could we have let those years of youth pass us by so quickly? What did we miss in the process? Well, at forty, we enter the age of elegance, the age of dignity, refinement and grace. We may see more gray hairs and wrinkles, and our energy level may be less than it once was; but, at forty, we have reached a time in which we can take care of ourselves first, as well as honor and pamper ourselves. We deserve this much. We have worked hard for the privilege of putting ourselves at the top of our personal to-do lists. What better way to start the next phase of living than to make a list of priorities that suit our needs and prepare for our future so that we can, in fact, age with elegance. It is not a time to moan lost youth. It is not a time to be afraid of the aging process. It is, however, a time to celebrate our successes and to enjoy ourselves, in short, to enjoy life.

Chloe Jon Paul is a retired educator. As a writer who has entered the age of elegance, Paul shares her experiences, her talents and her knowledge of how to grow old elegantly, with dignity, refinement and grace. Entering the Age of Elegance is Paul’s very positive step-by-step guide, which includes practical suggestions, resources for further study, and encouragement for all of us women who are thrust into this era without prior preparation. Although many of us may have role models - mothers, aunts, grandmothers, who showed us the way of living elegantly - most of us are often clueless and, quite frankly, frightened at the prospect of growing old, or, worse, growing old all alone. It can be done, though, and we can be a shining example of elegance for the next generation of elegant women.

Entering the Age of Elegance is a valuable resource with useful tips and resources to help the elegant over-forty woman age gracefully. Entering the Age of Elegance is highly recommended by: Emily-Jane Hills Orford, Allbooks Reviews.

Available at: www.maturingmodernwomen.com
"Entering the Age of Elegance: A Rite of Passage & Practical Guide for the Modern Maturing Woman" ~ available at Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Borders

Author: Chloe JonPaul
Publisher: Two Harbors Press
ISBN: 978-1935097051
Pages: 133 pages
Price: $12.95 US
Nov 2009

Allbooks Reviews INTERVIEW:

Please state your name and location. (city and State or Province, Country)

Chloe JonPaulBowie, MD United States

Tell us the title and publisher of your book:Entering the Age of Elegance:
A Rite of Passage & Practical Guide for the Modern Maturing womanTwo Harbors Press

Tell us about yourself:
Chloe Jon Paul, M.Ed is a retired educator and writer of several published articles and a book entitled What Happens Next: A Family Guide to Nursing Home Visits…and More. Her many achievements include:
Title of Ms. Maryland Senior America 2003· Recipient of the Fulbright Fellowship Seminars Abroad award to South Africa, 1996
Volunteer internship during the 2005 Maryland legislative session as a Legacy Leadership Institute graduate
Lead facilitator for the Alternatives to Violence Project in prison and community workshops on conflict resolution for ten years
State representative for the National Family Caregivers Association’s caregiver community action network 2006-2008
Advisory board member: MD, Healthcare Commission and the Interagency Commission for Aging Services: Maryland Dept. of Aging
Hospice and homeless shelter volunteer
Coordinator for the Good Samaritan Project at her church
World traveler – all 7 continents

Chloe’s philosophy of life is: find a need and fill it. She is the proud mother of son, Dominic and daughter, Alessa. Her 3 grandsons are her greatest joy.
Chloe resides in Bowie, MD.
***Note: These accomplishments have taken place since the age of 50

When was the book released?
2009Give us an overview of your book.Thirty-eight million baby boomer women have already entered the Age of Elegance and more will follow; yet many of these 50+ women are making this journey without any real advance planning. Many of them don’t even think of themselves as “elegant” but this transition into the second half of their lives should take place with style and grace. Now think F-A-S-T: *format *approach *style *tempoThese are the key elements which make this book original. It is written as a travel guide filled with valuable information that will whet the reader’s appetite to explore resources in detail on the topics featured in the book. The Table of Contents provides such curiosity-evoking subtitles as Change Your “Oil Filter”, The FGA Quotient, The F-Word You Need to Use, The 10 Commandments of Aging Motherhood, Think MSN, Beyond Support Pantyhose, and Just Heard It Through the Grapevine. The author has networked with more than 25 leading women’s organizations across the nation.

What inspired you to write this book?
How This Book Came To BeWhile writing this book, I was inspired to present information in a format similar to the travel guides published by Fodor, Frommer, and Lonely Planet. These travel guides give up-to-the-minute information on how to plan your itinerary, what to pack, things to do, restaurant and hotel reviews, plus ratings for attractions of historical interest as well as photo opportunities. They even rate attractions that are “kid-friendly”. They also offer advice from knowledgeable travel experts.My philosophy of life is simple: find a need and fill it. This book is meant to be a gift to you, as you stand on the threshold of the Age of Elegance.There is already a magnificent potpourri of books on aging but what you will find within these pages is your own personal road map for a journey into what should and can be the most exciting time of your life. The idea for this book came about as a result of many conversations with women forty and older who really have no clue as to who they are. They have spent their lives being someone’s daughter, wife, mother, or a career woman with no identity outside her profession. Now, as they approach this phase of their lives, many of them desperately want to hang on to their youth while others succumb to aging the wrong way.

How is your book different from other books in this genre?
What makes this book different is basically the format since it is written as a travel guide with sections entitled Planning That Fabulous Journey,Entry Requirements, Currency Considerations, Luggage Check,Travelers Advisory, At the Boarding Gate,etc.

Where can people buy your book?
It is available online at Amazon, Barnes& Noble, Borders, and at my web site: www.maturingmodernwomen.com

Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published?After having had two non-fiction books published, my plans for 2010 is work on getting my novel published. I have gotten great feedback on it, even being told that it has potential as a movie.

If you self published, what advice can you give to fellow writers?Do your homework! Compare what various companies offer. Above all,consider a company that offers distribution and fulfillment at a reasonable rate.

If published traditionally, tell us how you benefited:Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?
Using sell sheets, bookmarks, postcards, and offering a beautiful framed copy of "The Litany of Elegance"(which is found at the end of the book) as a bonus gift at book signings and presentations has paid off. I use the services of TU-VETS andVista Print.Most of all, networking is indispensable. The National Association of Baby Boomer Women sponsored an essay contest based on my book.

How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us?
I found Allbooks Reviews by researching possible contacts on the Internet. I hope to continue working with you in a mutually beneficial way. I plan to begin teleseminars after the first of the year so perhaps we may be able to collaborate in some way.

Was the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to offer writers?
Yes, it was! I really need to think a bit more on the second question.

Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.

PLEASE VOTE FOR ALLBOOKS REVIEW

2010-01-02T15:24:00.000-08:00

Critters Workshop
Preditors & Editors
Readers Poll
Voting Page @

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2010 Newsletter

2010-01-02T12:38:00.000-08:00

Allbooks Review Jan 2010 Newsletter
May 2010 be your best year ever !

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.

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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. Also join iFogo and get www.booksonfilm.com for free.

FEATURE
ALLBOOKS REVIEW EDITOR’S CHOICE AWARD 2010 NOMINEES.

Suicidal Tendencies Mystery Garry Patrick

Capital Reflections Mystery/Thriller Jonathan Javitt

Beyond the Ordinary…and more Short Stories Authors: 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.

Our Mother’s War Memoir Mel Fiske with Christina and Laurina Radich

Son of my Soul Memoir Debra Shiveley Welch

Your Health in the information Age Health Peter Yellowlees

City of Gardens Health P. Schnerch

Someone Stop This Merry-Go-Round Health Alberta Sequira

Shattered Reality Inspiration Kimberly Cheryl

Attitude: It’s not what you see It’s how you see Inspiration Ernie Carwile

For God and Country Fiction Daniel Reyes

The Judas Ride Fiction Peggy Sue Yarber, PhD

Demon Key Fiction David Brookover

Beyond Those Distant Stars Sci/Fiction John B. Rosenman

The Sarran Plague Sci/Fi AC Katt

Shipwreck of a Nation Spec. Int/History Peter Nennhaus

Clean Energy, Common Sense Spec. Int/Envir. Frances Beinecke w/ Bob Deans

The Step-By-Step Guide to Self-Publishing for Profit! Spec. Int/Writing
Pinheiro and Nick Russell

Congratulations to all of our nominees, Winners to be announced this month!!!
Just a reminder, your book is automatically included in the award program with the purchase of our promo package. The award is given to the authors that outshone the rest in their particular genre. Book Awards are a great marketing tool.

Success Stories
We love to hear of your success stories, submit them to us at: allbookreviews@aol.com
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.

TIP
The title of your Web page, and your page description are also important
to search engines. Use a title that has keywords someone might use to
search for your site. For example, if your book is titled Homemade Cookies
the Easy Way, you might choose the domain name
www.EasyHomemadeCookies.com.

Allbooks Review Interview
Please state your name and location.
Alberta H. Sequeira
Rochester, MA 02770-1506

Tell us the title and publisher of your book:

Someone Stop This Merry-Go-Round; An Alcoholic Family in Crisis

Publisher: ISBN# 07-7414-5415-7; Infinity Publishing; 1094 New DeHaven St., Suite 100, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2713; www.infinitypublishing.com

Tell us about yourself:
PUBLISHED AUTHOR: I’m the author of my second memoir (June 2009) Someone Stop This Merry-Go-Round. My first memoir is A Healing Heart; A Spiritual Renewal (November 2006) PublishAmerica.
SPEAKER: I’m a speaker on “The Affects of Alcoholism on the Whole Family.” I talk at rehabilitation centers, halfway homes and to the public. I also give speaking engagements on my spiritual changes relating to my first memoir

INSTRUCTOR: I also teach workshops “Bring Your Manuscript to Publication.”
I’ve been on numerous radio and Cable TV shows and have had write-ups in the surrounding newspapers.

When was the book released?
June 19, 2009

Give us an overview of your book.
Someone Stop This Merry-Go-Round is a very, deep emotional story of the author’s seventeen years living in an alcoholic family. Soon their security turns to confusion, fear, broken promises and abuse by Richie’s drinking. No matter what Alberta tried to do to keep her family together, it fell in tiny pieces. Richie died 1985 at 45 years of age at the VA Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island.

What inspired you to write this book?
I found so many people suffering with alcohol abuse and families falling apart from it. I wanted to share my life behind closed door with others living in the same dark hole. My desire was to help others see the light of hope; both the alcoholic abuser and family members.

How is your book different from other books in this genre?
This book hides nothing with the emotional and physical abuse. It’s an honest and realistic story with nothing omitted. It’s a rollercoaster of ups and downs with the good and bad. It shows the sober person who turns into a stranger from blackouts.

Where can people buy your book?
www.amazon.com; www.buybooksontheweb.com, and bookstores.
Order by ISBN 0-7414-5415-7

Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published?
I’m completing the sequel Please, God, Not Two; This Killer Called Alcoholism. It’s the continuation of our lives after Richie died. The author comes to realize that her daughter, Lori, is taking the same path as her father with alcohol abuse.
Hopefully, the sequel will be out sometime in the Spring of 2010.

If you self published, what advice can you give to fellow writers?
Work hard! Get as many reviews as you can, call newspapers to do a story on you and a write-up each time you have a book signings or special events. Build a trusting relationship with editors and producers. Do the same with local cable TV stations. Get seen and heard. The hardest job is getting your book(s) into bookstores. A traditional publisher usually gets an author’s book(s) into bookstores. Don’t depend on your publisher to get your book known.

If published traditionally, tell us how you benefited:
I wish I had a traditional publisher. I decided on self-publishing because I was already into speaking engagements at rehabs and halfway homes. The requests were starting to come for public speaking. I would still love to get a traditional publisher if the book starts to sell well.

Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?
I get interviewed with local newspapers, local TV stations, review from different countries, Magnificat, A Catholic Woman’s Ministry, libraries, etc. I was told by Steven Harrison, who is a promoter that a poor author depends on getting books in the bookstores and book signing. A rich author sees what else they have to offer with their talents. So, I started a workshop titled “Bring Your Manuscript to Publication.” In other words, get seen and known for more than just your book. I joined five other published authors and started our group called “Authors Without Borders” in May of 2009. We offer different services to bookstores, libraries and schools.

A successful marketing plan is when you see your books are selling in stores, online and your phone is ringing off the hook for speaking engagements. I’m still waiting!

How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us?
Allbooks Review had been recommended to me by another author in 2006. I feel like family with Allbooks because they have done reviews on my first book A Healing Heart. I wouldn’t think about skipping their services with any book I may get published.

Was the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to offer writers?
It’s such a relief to see a professional site that offers services at a low price. Authors are struggling trying to get reviews, marketing plans or any other service so we can get our books out there.
Allbooks has many services right now and I can’t think of what’s missing. I would love to purchase more but I’m tied up with purchasing my two books to sell on my own, and working on a third (sequel). Money seems to disappear. Once the last book is completed, I’m going heavy on advertising and marketing.

Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.

Allbooks Review wishes to thank all of the authors that purchased our promo package in 2009, making this our best year ever. We have grown over the past 9 years and will continue to provide excellent service for reasonable fees. Our goal is to make your book sell !

Harvard Business School - Confidential

2009-12-14T07:57:00.000-08:00

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

The Lost Gate

2009-12-11T06:39:00.000-08:00

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

Threshing the Cosmic Chaff: The Reckoning of a Degenerate World

2009-12-11T06:33:00.000-08:00

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

The New Arthritis Cure: Eliminate Arthritis and Fibromyalgia Pain Permanently

2009-12-08T06:01:00.000-08:00

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

Seen & Sold: 51 Proven Ideas for Marketing Your Art in Any Economy

2009-12-08T05:56:00.000-08:00

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

The Secret in the Forest

2009-12-04T05:41:00.000-08:00

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

Gone Beaver

2009-12-04T05:10:00.000-08:00

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

Thumb Flagging

2009-12-02T07:20:00.000-08:00

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.

Leviathan's Master: The Wreck of the World's Largest Sailing Ship

2009-12-01T07:03:00.000-08:00

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

Unintended Consequences

2009-12-01T06:53:00.000-08:00

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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

2009-12-01T05:44:00.000-08:00

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.

To Everyone!

2009-11-26T09:05:00.000-08:00

Allbooks Review wishes everyone a HAPPY THANKSGIVING.

Allbooks Reviews, clients are our greatest advertising

2009-11-24T05:00:00.000-08:00

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

Someone Stop This Merry-Go-Round

2009-11-09T11:18:00.000-08:00

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

Nutshell Guides

2009-11-09T11:11:00.000-08:00

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

The Geronimo Corndogs

2009-11-09T10:55:00.000-08:00

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

As Long As He Needs Me

2009-11-06T07:05:00.000-08:00

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

Thumb Flagging

2009-11-03T17:46:00.000-08:00

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

The Judas Ride

2009-11-03T17:41:00.000-08:00

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

A Land Beyond Ravens

2009-11-01T08:05:00.000-08:00

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

Beyond the Maps Boundary: A Timely Adventure

2009-11-01T07:59:00.000-08:00

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

How to Use Herbs, Nutrients & Yoga in Mental Health Care

2009-10-17T06:57:00.000-07:00

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

Short stories collection with outstanding characters!

2009-10-14T10:45:00.000-07:00

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

A truly unique approach to novel writing

2009-10-14T10:42:00.000-07:00

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

Words at Work by Lynda McDaniel

2009-10-14T10:40:00.000-07:00

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

The Activation, Aaron Anderson

2009-06-28T09:35:00.000-07:00

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

Title: HARRISVILLE Author:MARK GORDON SMITH

2009-06-28T09:33:00.000-07:00

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

Fifty Confessions Author: Paul Kiritsis

2009-06-28T09:32:00.000-07:00

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

Memoirs, Norma Jean's Sun

2009-06-28T09:31:00.000-07:00

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

Tune in to Shirley A. Roe on Blog Radio Sat. 21st

2009-02-17T13:08:00.001-08:00

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.

From Movie City to Music City USA

2009-02-16T13:13:00.000-08:00

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

Beyond the Ordinary and more

2009-02-16T13:11:00.000-08:00

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

Babylon's Tablet of Destiny by Jack Dunn

2009-01-22T11:31:00.001-08:00

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

Your Health and the Information Age

2009-01-22T11:29:00.000-08:00

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

Friends

2009-01-02T16:13:00.000-08:00

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

Paris Insights, visit the city of lights

2008-10-23T11:09:00.000-07:00

Imagine an armchair tour of Paris. Paris Insights-An Anthology is a collection of several of the newsletters published by Discover Paris. Vibrant, colored photographs bring Paris to life accompanied by vivid and in depth descriptions of some of Paris’ well know attractions and often overlooked places.
The author takes us on a personal guided tour of one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Not your usual guidebook, this one delves into more personal points of view and topics. A Dog’s Life-A Good Life gives readers the canine lover’s point of view of Paris. Mystery lovers will enjoy the chapter: Photographing the Da Vinci Code or Hemingway’s Paris. As you would expect the chapters on Food and Drink will tempt every palate. The individual topics are too many to discuss in this short review but readers will not find this book lacking. Naturally the book also covers the usual topics of Churches, Transportation, Wine, Sight seeing and much, much more.

Author Tom Reeves created Discover Paris to share his love of the city. The Paris Insights newsletter is part of his mission and his decision to present several of them in this anthology was a wise one indeed.

An all around guide to Paris, this is something any traveler will value: a definite addition to the suitcase before jetting off to France. Well written, beautifully presented and a joy to read, this one is highly recommended by Reviewer: Shirley Roe, Allbooks Review.

Title: Paris Insights
Author: Tom Reeves
Publisher: Discover Paris
ISBN: 978-0-9815292-0-2
Pages:155
Price: $39.95

Hospital care has become hazardous to patients

2008-10-23T11:06:00.001-07:00

“Hospital care has become hazardous to the patient’s health.” The proven statistics of hospital error related deaths are staggering! Sad, but never more true than the crisis that exists today. Did we know it was coming? I believe many of us did and those that didn’t, must not have listened to the news back in the late 70’s, when many healthcare representatives tried, in vain, to make the public aware of the inevitable decline of care in the future. After the ‘efficiency experts’ recommendations were in, healthcare staff was severely downsized. Complete nursing care by trained professionals, became a thing of the past. The author, Martine Ehrenclou, has a mantra, “Your goal is to support the best possible medical care for your loved one.” Either through sedation, stress or the illness itself, the patient often does not have the presence of mind or the strength needed to be observant or understand the language of this foreign world. It has become imperative that family or friend, stay with their loved one most of the time, and in many cases, around the clock. Martine, through her own personal, tragic experiences, recognized the need for a survival guide. She became determined to bring awareness to the patient, as well as the patient’s advocate and family, precisely what to expect and how to cope. She has written a matter-of-fact analysis of a hospital stay and the potential serious/deadly errors. No stone has been left unturned as she intensely interviewed, researched, ultimately publishing this step by step, easy to follow book. She proves the importance of knowledge, so that you can become a proactive advocate for your loved one. You need to be knowledgeable about the patient’s condition so that you can converse with the healthcare team. She has stressed the importance of positive communication, especially with the primary caregiver of each shift, to write everything down (especially any changes), wash your hands, humanize the patient, ask pertinent questions and so many more valuable facts. At the end of each chapter, she has provided a page for notes, approximately 80 pages dedicated as a Quick Reference Guide for you to record in, followed by hospital staff and medical terms glossary. References and index are provided as well as several impressive reviews. This guide is not only essential for the patient but perhaps a refresher for the overworked medical profession, business people and politicians. Martine Ehrenclou, M.A. is a writer and public relations/marketing executive. She received her masters degree in psychology and currently runs writing groups for at-risk teenagers and adults. In one way or another, few will escape being affected by a hospital stay. Be prepared and believe in the value of this book. I am unable to give her work enough praise and with highest regards, highly recommend this book to everyone. Reviewer: Cheryl Ellis, Allbooks Review
Available through Amazon.com, Barnes&Noble.com as well as other booksellers.Title: Critical Conditions The Essential Hospital Guide to Get Your Loved One Out AliveAuthor: Martine Ehrenclou, M.A.Publisher: Lemon Grove Press, LLCISBN-13: 978-0-9815240-0-9Pages: 248Price: $19.95 October 2008