I Need To Be Safe--Practical and Kid-Friendly

I Need to be SAFE: I’m Worth It! How to Protect Your Child from Danger
By Janet Goliger
Publisher: Class Publications
ISBN: 978-0-9768273-2-0
144 pages
Cover Price: $19.95
Children Non-Fiction
Available at Amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and classpublications.com

Reviewed by Carolyn Howard-Johnson at Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/I-Need-SAFE-Im-Worth/dp/0976827328

Janet Goliger's I Need To Be Safe is full of information that fearful parents need to teach their kids, but it is likely this is information the parents themselves need. Almost all of us know someone who has been mugged. How much better each of them would have been had they read this book, even cursorily. I can't put it down. You'll learn about awareness and exactly what to do if you're being followed by a car or on foot. You'll learn about identifying suspicious strangers. But most of all, you'll love the fully illustrated (photos) of ways to fight off an attack.

Confidence? After only leafing through this book (well, OK, after thinking I would leaf through it and spending a much longer time studying the steps of self-defense!), I feel surer that I will not be a victim myself. And I intend to spread the word to young girls and boys, other women and, yes, men, too.

Workbooks and a teacher's manual are available.
-------

A Well Written Insight Into Human Suffering

Title: Sleep Before Evening
Author: Magdalena Ball
ISBN: 978-1-904492-96-2
Page count: 296
Format: paperback
Release Date: 24th July 2007
Available: http://www.amazon.com/Sleep-Before-Evening-Magdalena-Ball/dp/1904492967/


Review by Warren Thurston,
owner of Pentales


Sleep Before Evening is Magdalena Ball’s debut novel. It is a beautifully crafted piece dealing with rejection and betrayal. Those of us who have felt that someone we loved deeply betrayed us, will form an immediate bond with the main character.

Marianne is a vivacious nineteen year old, full of life and a brilliant scholar. She is at the peak of her powers when life decides it will test her character. Eric, her much loved grandfather and mentor, is suddenly struck down by a stroke. His death begins a series of events that takes Marianne into a world of darkness, filled with drugs and depression.

Hurting to the core about the loss of Eric, and the fact that she was denied the chance to say goodbye, Marianne hates the world. She also starts to hate herself and seeks solace in the arms of Miles. He is a struggling musician who for a time is the maestro who conducts her life.

Lily, Marianne’s mother, also has her own demons eating at her. She is so wrapped up in her struggle to find happiness and fulfillment, that she cannot see what is happening to her daughter. It is a flaw that many parents are guilty of, not through an act of selfishness, but one brought on by their own struggle to survive.

Confused and angry Marianne deteriorates to the stage where fantasy, reality and pain are so intermingled within her, that she loses contact with her real self. She was entering the stage of what the noted British psychiatrist Hall called, drifting back to the time before you are born. It is a stage along the path of mental recovery, where one’s mind is in an infantile state, as it retreats from the hurt it finds itself in. Then when it feels strong enough it comes forward again, out of the darkness and into the light. This usually brings with it a positive change in an individual, making them mentally stronger and enhancing their creativity.

This is a good story that makes the reader feel the highs and lows of Marianne as if they are their own. It reminds me of the style adopted by the Russian writer Dostoyevsky. He had the ability to get the reader to feel exactly what his characters felt; a gift Magdalena ball has too.

Sleep Before Evening is a well written insight into human suffering. The author shows an in-depth knowledge of how to hold readers attention, and make them eager to know more. This is a debut novel that shows the author has many more novels inside her, which will provoke strong emotions in readers of her work.

A Personal Review--Heart to Heart

The Fallen by Gigi Miner
By Gigi Miner
Publisher: Lulu
Supernatural Mystery - Erotic Aesop's Fable
ISBN: 978-1-4303-0182-0

Reviewed by Yvonne Perry

The Fallen, has made such an impression upon me. My love for humanity has been rekindled and my awareness heightened by reading it.

It may seem like a fiction novel, but the spiritual impact it carries, caused me to see that it indeed contains a greater truth. We are the fallen angels; you, me, and so many others regardless of what course our lives take.

The characters in your book have come to life in the faces of those I love; even in those I do not understand or particularly enjoy being around, because now I know and recognize them as kindred spirits. Already, I feel less judgmental and more compassionate towards those who have forgotten who they are.

You’ve bravely delved into a place of pain where we abuse ourselves and others by the choices we make. Your book will help many realize that all of life is about choice and free will. Hopefully humanity will begin to make better choices that will bring peace to this planet rather than continuing to destroy it with hatred and retaliation.

Thank you so much for sharing your book, your love and your heart with me and all your readers.

Sincerely,
Yvonne Perry
Author of More than Meets the Eye and owner of Write On! Creative Writing Services
Discuss spiritual topics on our blog at http://weareoneinspirit.blogspot.com/

College Instructor Reviews Western Creative Nonfiction

Fly With The Mourning Dove
By Velda Brotherton
Creative non fiction
ISBN 1-4241-5904-0
Publish America


REVIEW by Dr. Loren GruberOriginally published on Publish America's website

Velda Brotherton delivers again. Gleaned from the diaries of Cassie Smith and her daughter Edna, Fly with the Mourning Dove captures the struggles of two women to civilize their portions of the West.

Quoting material from their diaries, Brotherton reconstructs their lives at the beginning of the twentieth century.

They "cowboy up" as tuberculosis ravages the lungs of Finas, their husband and father; as drought ravages their land; as the Great Depression ravages the economy. While butchering a turkey, overcoming frontier loneliness, and eating porcupine, Cassie and Edna each learn to be as tough and tenacious as the West itself.
Brotherton recreates especially endearing scenes when Edna discovers herself. She roars through the boarding house with her Indian-scalping playmates, prepares for her first Communion, lives the life of a cowpuncher, and teaches her first grade school class.

Young Edna asks permission to accompany her father on his trip to fetch water at Taos Junction, New Mexico.

"No," her mother replies, "I said no. You stay here and we'll make some clothes for the fairies. They have missed you terribly and are practically going naked."
Although Edna thought the notion of naked fairies silly, one can imagine that she grew up with Palmer Cox's Brownie Books, Andrew Lang's Fairy Books, and perhaps Art Nouveau semi-nude fairies.

In her later years, Edna writes, "All my life has been packed away in little boxes." Lucky for us, she did.

Still luckier for us, Brotherton carefully unpacks each to display memorable scenes of Edna's life.

Fly with the Mourning Dove is a welcome addition to turn-of-the-century "civilized" memoirs that include Virginia Cary Hudson's O Ye Jigs and Juleps, Dorothy Daniel's Circle 'round the Square, and Clarence Day's Life with Father.

The difference is that Velda Brotherton draws us into the lives of two women who helped shape the West, Edna and Cassie Smith. We are all the richer for it.
------
Loren Gruber is former Dean of the Arts and Humanities Division at Missouri Valley College, Marshall, Missouri. He continues to teach English there.

Courageous Souls, A Metaphysical Study

Courageous Souls: Do We Plan Our Life Challenges Before Birth?
Robert Schwartz
Pre-Birth Contracts | Spiritism
$14.95
ISBN: 9780977679454,
327 pages
Whispering Winds Press, 800/742-0148, www.courageoussouls.com

Reviewed by New Age Retailer magazine June, 2007
Anna Jedrziewski, Spirit Connection New York, New York, N.Y.

The serene cover of Courageous Souls belies the punch with which Robert Schwartz communicates the results of his research into pre-birth planning. Working with four experienced channelers, he asked 10 people, each facing different challenges (AIDS, blindness, addiction, or death of a loved one), to delve into the reasons why they agreed, before birth, to put themselves in such difficult situations. Each entry begins with an interview in which the person’s story is told from his or her point-of-view. Information via a medium is used to provide insight and sometimes actual pre-birth conversations about the goals or life lessons desired, contributing past-life factors, and the people who contracted to play major roles in the person’s present incarnation. Moving us away from the idea of karma as punishment, Schwartz introduces the idea of learning through contrast, for instance, a soul wishing to fully experience her or his compassionate side might choose to be born into a family that lacks compassion.

In addition to the considerable wisdom provided from the spirit side, Schwartz writes a summary at the end of each chapter in which he adds some of his own insight garnered during years of metaphysical study. Overall, it is one of the best books of this kind I have come across.

Courageous Souls will trigger interest in both past lives and spirit-guide contact. Display alongside books by best-selling authors such as Brian Weiss, M.D., and Doreen Virtue Ph.D., or with Ruth Montgomery’s works, A Search for the Truth, A World Beyond, and Companions Along the Way.

Fate: Here's Why We All Believe In It, Even If Just a Little Bit

The Simple Touch of Fate:
How the Hand of Fate Touched
Our Lives Forever
Edited By Arlene Uslander and
Brenda Warneka
ISBN: 0-595-30283=1
Website: www.thefatesite.com


Reviewed by Glenda A. Bixler,
Independent Press Book Reviewer


Do you believe in fate? Fate, “the supposed force, principle, or power that predetermines events,” as defined by the dictionary, is known under many names¾destiny, kismet, predestination, foreordainment, foredoom, luck, or just coincidence¾and is often described by individuals around the world. Arlene Uslander and Brenda Warneka have experienced acts of fate in their lives. In The Simple Touch of Fate: How the Hand of Fate Touched our Lives Forever, they share not only their own stories but have gathered over fifty real stories by real people, in a thought-provoking anthology, that leaves you with one question: if it wasn’t fate, how and why did these events happen?

As a lover of suspense and mysteries, I enjoy reading or hearing about events or activities that leave us wondering and questioning. I especially enjoy “little” acts that happen. For instance, was it a coincidence that one of the authors chosen for this anthology, Patricia Patteson, had also been included in an anthology, Mist on the Mon, that had sat on my bookshelf for many years, unread, but was immediately pulled and enjoyed when it was included in this book?

Or was it fate that a daily newsletter I read before I began to write this review, covered a mysterious life-saving event, but in that story, the writer attributed her story to guardian angels? Personally, I no longer question such things. In fact, based upon a book, As You Wish by Christine Massot Simpson, a resident of Canada, for whom I had the privilege to help edit and publish her book, I now use her phrase, “A God Incident” whenever I confront such events.

Let me share a little about my favorites from The Simple Touch of Fate. If you don’t believe in fate, then these short stories just may force you to reconsider­is there something or someone, somewhere that controls events in our lives?

Jacob! Jacob! Reborn. The date was September 11, 2001. Jacob Herbst often traveled by plane; however, work-related activities prevented his taking a scheduled flight from Boston’s Logan Airport at 8:45, American Airlines, Flight 11, to Los Angeles. How do you thank a man who could not make an important meeting, causing an unexpected delay, for saving your life?

Desert Boomerang. Two soldiers meet in Iraq; one is standing guard at a barren traffic control point and helps the other by giving him directions. Months later, the same two soldiers meet at the site of an accident on a deserted road and the favor is returned. Only this time, lives are saved! For the man just happened to be part of a medical unit...

We all Cross Paths for a Reason. A birth mother and her now-grown daughter are reunited through an automobile accident and a woman’s willingness to work overtime. Just a coincidence?

Time for Life. A man and a woman, members of one family, but located in different places­both trying to catch the train­fail in their efforts due to various reasons. They missed the most disastrous train crash in the United Kingdom in 42 years.

“Honor, Courage, and Commitment”: Saving Jack Roush. When a small plane is in trouble, it happens to hit near the home of an ex-marine, specifically trained “to save a pilot in an upside-down plane from a watery grave.”

Grandmother Spirits. In a time of family distress, a woman prays to the spirits of grandmothers for the needs of a family. Was it a coincidence or a direct response to prayer that allowed a son just arriving in Hiroshima to be able to make a free call to his mother?

The Angel That Couldn’t Fly. My favorite! A wonderful answer to why the chicken crossed the road...

Uslander and Warneka have created an excellent, well-diversified anthology that provides heart-warming, happy, life-saving and sometimes-unbelievable tales. They are presented with an interesting continuity, yet broken with small offerings of people’s own definitions of fate. I found it informative, flawlessly presented to allow readers to form their own conclusions regarding these stories from “real people.” For those who continuously wonder... and search... I found this a must-read!

This books can be purchased for $16.95 on Amazon.com and other online bookstores, or ordered from the publisher 1-800-288-4677 or any brick-and-mortar bookstore.

An Unusual Romantic Heroine for a Summer's Read

THE BODYGUARD AND THE SHOW DOG
Christy Tillery French
Behler Publications
ISBN 193301637X
Romantic Suspense/Comedy
268 pages
$15.95
5 Stars

Reviewer: Brenda Edde, Romance Junkies
www.romancejunkies.com

Natasha Chamberlain is starting up her own bodyguard business and her first case is guarding a show dog. Ok, it is a dog, however, Natasha knows she has to start somewhere and after her last case working for her ex-boss Jonce Striker, where she ran into some trouble she believes this case will be a lot safer. WRONG!

Natasha is excited about starting her own business despite the complaints from Striker and her family that it is too dangerous for her. Her first case guarding Chumley, a champion show dog should be a piece of cake. However, whether it's Natasha’s style or just the fact that the case is jinxed, she runs into trouble at every turn. Jonce Striker, her ex-boss, now lover is having to pull her out of trouble almost daily and is not happy about it. Will this case cause a serious rift in their building relationship or will Natasha and Jonce manage to balance their individual needs for independence? As Natasha follows the clues to who has threatened she runs into an animal abuser, lands in the hospital and is thrown into jail, no wonder Jonce is a bit worried for her safety. Who would have thought guarding a dog would be such a challenge?

THE BODYGUARD AND THE SHOW DOG is a laugh a minute story in the best Janet Evanovich style. The situations that Natasha finds herself in are hilarious, her attempts to balance her career and her relationship are the makings of an Emmy winning sitcom. Ms. Tillery French’s Bodyguard series is one that will have you laughing and cheering Natasha’s bid for independence even as you feel complete sympathy for Jonce’s quest to keep her safe from herself. A wonderful book for an afternoon read.

Harry Potter Beware! This Fantasy Has Educational Value!

Title - Conor and the Crossworlds: Breaking the Barrier
Series - The Crossworlds Series
Author - Kevin Gerard
Author Wesite - http://www.conorandthecrossworlds.comGenre - Kids/Teens Fantasy Adventure
ISBN - 1425991831
Reviewer - The Reading Tub
Journal first published - The Reading Tub
Publisher - Authorhouse
Reviewer's rating - BUY!

Summary: Conor Jameson is 10 years old. He’s confused and angry because his favorite uncle Jake has died. On the night his Uncle was buried, Conor was in bed, crying, trying to understand why his uncle died. He was visited by a mystical beast from the Crossworlds, Purugama, who took him on a series of adventures aimed at explaining life’s choices and consequences. Their journies were exciting, challenging, scary, and informative. Their shared experiences developed a strong bond of gratitude, respect, and friendship. This is book one in an five-part fantasy adventure series.

Big Kid Reaction: This piece of teen fantasy is well done. It is well written and imaginative. There is also some education re civility, moral issues, etc. that make it a bit more meaty than some of the other Harry Potter wanabees.

Pros: The author knows his audience and captures them before the end of the first paragraph. Though its genre is teen fantasy, the authenticity of the plot, the integrity of the characters, and the quality and structure of the narrative set it apart from the typical teen fantasy works.

Cons: None.

Borrow or Buy: Buy. Fantasy literature is an extraordinarily popular genre among young teens these days. However, most of the works are simply variations on the Harry Potter theme. The author has demonstrated that there are fresh, imaginative, and creative ways to keep the genre interesting. His writing style provides the reader with an enjoyable experience. Not only does this work qualify for a “buy” recommendation, it also serves as a tickler to watch for the sequel.

If You Liked This Book, Try: RAIRARUBIA (The Rairarubia Tales, Book 1) , TOASTER POND , THE JOURNEY (Guardians of Ga’Hoole, Book Two)

Other Reviews: See reader feedback at borders.com. No Critics' Reviews found at bn.com (Barnes & Noble) or borders.com.

Educational Themes: This is essentially the story of mentor and student. Purugama, a mystical cougar, is charged with mentoring ten year old Conor Jameson about life, its challenges, choices, responsibilities and consequences. Each episode provides rich topics for discussion that will engage preteens and teenagers in thoughtful and personal conversation.

Ooooooh! A New Paranormal Awaits You!

Title: Gatekeeper's Realm
Book 2 in the Legacy Series
Author: Elena Dorothy Bowman
Genre: Paranormal
Print ISBN# 1-59431-451-9 : ebook ISBN# 1-59431-481-0
Publisher: Write Words, Inc., imprints: Cambridge Books, ebooksonthe.net
Available: www.amazon.com, www.cambridgebooks.us, and your favorite book
store.
Author's Website: http://elenadb.home.comcast.net
Reviewer's Name: Chrissy Dionne for Romance Junkies Reviews
Reviewer's Link: http://www.romancejunkiesreviews.com/artman/publish/paranormal/Gatekeeper_s_Realm_7970.shtml

An ancient relic granted by Divine Decree to a Noble Knight who had been mortally wounded is buried beneath the foundation of a home - this home had once been named Pierce House but now is known as THE HOUSE ON THE BLUFF. Only a direct descendant of the Noble Knight may take possession of the house - and even he or she will be tested by the house to deem if he or she is worthy.

Abigail and her consort, Ethan, have fulfilled the prophecy surrounding their current dwelling which they’ve converted into an Inn. It’s a beautiful house steeped in mystery and ghostly wonders - who cling to the old ways. There’s no electricity, no running water, no central heating system, no phone and no television. Abigail’s a bit apprehensive about their first guests. There’s a possibility they’ll get spooked and want to leave especially once the ghosts make themselves known. There’s no way of telling how the ghosts will react to guests at the Inn and Jacob, the apparitions’ "Ambassador," knows it will just depend. Many of the ghosts have been living there for centuries and may not like having visitors in their house.

As soon as the first guests arrives a shapeless apparition appears over the Inn. Abigail, Ethan, and Tony (town sheriff and sometime permanent resident of the Innwhen he’s not working) quickly realize that this apparition is not one of the ‘Others’ and they question who it is and what it wants. The ghostly appearance doesn’t scare off the guests though and is just the beginning of the bizarre appearances which will be taking place over the next couple of days. What will happen when the guests unexplainably begin to start disappearing - one or two at a time? Is the house holding them hostage?

I don’t normally read ghost stories but I have to tell you I was fascinated by this one! Elena Dorothy Bowmen’s GATEKEEPER’S REALM takes an ancient prophecy and brings it into a modern day setting with results that will steal your breath. I was enthralled by the ghost scenes and the guests reactions to each of them and couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next or to whom it would happen. The storyline moved along at a quick pace but it never lacked enough descriptive information that
I was easily able to imagine each of the scenes.

I would highly recommend reading HOUSE ON THE BLUFF first simply because I believe it goes into more of the details of what Abigail had to endure in order to claim the house. Of course, I’m also going to recommend the third book, ADAM’S POINT, because there are questions that are left unanswered in this story and I’m dying to find out the answers. HOUSE ON THE BLUFF, GATEKEEPER’S REALM and ADAM’S POINT are all available now.

© Copyright 2003 by RomanceJunkies.com, printed with permission

A to Z: Important Questions Answered by Francine Silverman

Book Marketing from A-Z
By Francine Silverman
Purchase Link:http://www.buybooksontheweb.com/search.asp?cat=Marketing&action=browsemarketing 0-7414-2431-2
Reviewed by Shirley Johnson, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

A Must For All Authors To Have!

By Shirley Priscilla Johnson "Author/Reviewer -... (USA

If you were to sit and talk with any writer whose work is having success, and ask them what the main element is that has made this a reality, they would tell you one word, promotion.

As a reviewer, I have read countless books that literally brim over the top with talent and craftsmanship of writing that will never be read by a hungry audience. Why? Because none knows about these rare treasures that would fill them with total ecstasy and pure reading enjoyment. When I am asked, who is your favorite author; I always say, the unknown. It is a sad truth, but there is hope at the end of the tunnel, Book Marketing from A-Z, may indeed give any author a fighting chance in the competitive world of publishing.

What will you find inside the pages of this excellent work? The heart of your fellow authors, reviewers, and others that will share with you their trials, tribulations, failures and successes in book promoting. Written in a clear concise way; this work is easy to navigate, not filled with fluff, but with honest ideas to help you achieve your goals.

Authors from every genre are represented, countless stories and valuable tips literally fill each page with their carefully constructed ideas and plans that have helped to bring them in contact with the reading public. Find out the true answers to questions such as; Just how well do contests do to draw potential buyers? Are reviews really that important? Does having a book signing really make a difference? If you have an unanswered question about promoting, this book will give you the answer.

As one who hears the heart-cry of countless unknown authors, I cannot recommend this book highly enough. This work will be a Godsend to you; an author's Bible that you will refer to time and time again; one that will help join you with the reader that is awaiting your hidden treasure.

Shirley Johnson
Senior Reviewer
MidWest Book Review

Disclaimer: Carolyn Howard-Johnson, editor of The New Book Review is quoted in this book. I think it's an exceptional book, too!
(-:

Cynthia Brian's Star Shines: She'll Help Yours Do the Same

Review of The Business of Show Business, a comprehensive career guide
for actors and models
By Cynthia Brian
ISBN 0-9721140-0-9
304 pages $19.95
E-Book Available@ $25.95
ISBN# e-book: 0-9721140-1-7

From The Midwest Book Review

Want to be an actor, but don’t know how to break into the business with the right approach? You can’t go wrong with-and shouldn’t go without-Cynthia Brian’s The Business of Show Business: A Comprehensive
Career Guide for Actors and Models.

The author has a background in producing, directing, acting, hosting, and consulting, and has coached kids and adults alike. From learning what kinds of jobs are out there to learning about agents, auditioning, rules for child actors and working on the side, this is the ‘insider’’ guide to the industry which should be in the hands and on the minds of any aspiring model or actor before they compete in the show business world.

--
The Business of Show Business is available from on-line booksellers or
directly from the author, Cynthia Brian. Email cynthia@star-style.com for autographed copies or discounts on cases of 32. Books are great for drama, theatre, and acting workshops and classes.

New Beginnings Earns Four Romantic Hearts

New Beginnings
Pat McCain
Paranormal romance
ISBN: 978-1-84728-621-5
Reviewed by Anita of The Romance Studio
Rated Four Hearts
Available from TreePress.net

After the death of Alexandra’s father some very strange things started happening. Her lights being turned on and off by themselves. She has seen what looks like a ghost of a small man wearing a kilt and a woman wearing a long dress. Her father has left her money to trace her roots in Scotland and she believes that the things that are happening around her and her strange dreams may have something to do with her family’s history.

John MacDonald is a very distant cousin of Alex. He has been experiencing some of the same strange occurrences. He believes their ancestors are trying to tell them something. As they go about researching their history and looking for the answers to their mystery they become quite close. Things are going well between them until Alex’s friend arrives to join her on the trip.

Sammy has always thought she should be the center of attention. When she does not get her way she begins making life miserable for Alex and John. Alex has always known her friend to be self-centered but her actions go beyond what is normal for her. As Sammy’s behavior becomes even more bizarre it is obvious to Alex her friend needs help.

New Beginnings is a paranormal romance that takes the readers on a fascinating adventure to uncover a mystery. Alex and John’s ancestors want their story told. Throughout the story the reader is carried back and forth through time to learn the truth about these people that lived and died three hundred years earlier. As their story of love unfolds a new love begins to grow.

Alex and John are a wonderful couple of characters. They find a love and understanding that can lead to future happiness. Their love grows slowly as they notice they enjoy the same things and that they have a common history. Their sweet story of love will leave the reader feeling warm inside as history corrects wrongs done in the past.

Drama unfolds when Sammy joins them and starts making trouble. The true strength of the characters and the love that has grown between them becomes known. John does not let anyone walk all over Alex and Alex is not about to let John be treated badly. Sammy has some serious problems that lead to some startling surprises being revealed. Readers will cheer Alex and John on as they set Sammy straight and do not let her roll over them.

This is a moderately paced story that lets the mysteries it has to tell unfold slowly. The characters draw the reader into their lives and let them share in the love that grows between them. This is a story of love that last forever even beyond the grave. I encourage readers to add New Beginnings by Pat McCain to their reading list.

Rodin's Inspiration: A Novel to Inspire Artists and Women Everywhere

Camille Claudel: A Novel
Author: Alma H. Bond, Ph.D.
Publisher: Publish America, LLLP
ISBN: 1-4241-1670-8
Reviewer: Evie Sears for Lady Book Notes http://ladybooknotes.blogspot.com/index.html


The story of Camille Claudel is the story of a woman born ahead of her time, a female genius for whom the world was not ready, a woman who attained heights of artistic ecstasy and endured acute personal and mental agony.

Camille Claudel was born on December 8, 1864 in a village in northern France, the eldest of three surviving children (her elder brother died when merely fifteen days old). As a child, she enjoyed warm relations with her father and brother, but her relations with her mother and sister were distant and cold. Claudel’s fascination with art began when, as a young child, she sculpted figures from stones and mud. Having moved with her family to Paris as a teenager, Claudel began studying with Auguste Rodin in 1884, at the age of nineteen. Her tumultuous relationship with Rodin shaped the remainder of Claudel’s life.

Claudel quickly became Rodin’s inspiration and served as the model for many of his sculptures. She also became one of his principal assistants whose work on many detailed portions of his sculptures was invaluable. Most significantly for Claudel, in spite of the fact that he was a married man more than twenty years her senior, she became Rodin’s lover. After nearly a decade of intimacy, and at least one pregnancy that ended in either miscarriage or abortion, Claudel finally realized that Rodin would never marry her and severed their intimate relationship. Soon thereafter, Claudel stopped working in Rodin’s atelier, though she continued to see Rodin in professional capacities for several more years.

From 1884 until the early 1900s, Claudel was an expressive sculptor whose style grew more distinct from Rodin’s after the breakup of their relationship and her departure from Rodin’s studio. Dozens of her works are still displayed and admired in museums around the world. Her achievements are particularly noteworthy when one considers the amount of time she spent assisting Rodin’s career in her roles as his model and assistant. Claudel was close friends with Claude Debussy, whom she greatly admired. Sadly for both of them, however, she did not love Debussy with the passion she felt for Rodin.

Although Claudel’s precarious mental state began manifesting itself around 1905, it is unclear when her decline began. Claudel locked herself away for long periods of time, created and destroyed numerous sculptures, acquired a houseful of cats to be her companions, let her property and house rot around her and took no care of her physical condition and appearance. She who had once been a beautiful woman became, prematurely, a hag, convinced that a jealous Rodin was trying to steal her works and impede her career.

There were many factors that probably contributed to Claudel’s mental decline. Her failed relationship with Rodin and the loss of her child (particularly if she was compelled against her will to have an abortion) were likely contributing factors. The dysfunctional relations within her family also may have contributed to Claudel’s decline. Her father was the only family member who supported her, her brother tolerated her, and her mother and sister outright rejected her. The rigors of being an independent female artist in a male-dominated world certainly had negative effects on Claudel. Her life was a never-ending struggle to acquire commissions, sell her works and attain the professional status she believed (rightly, as it turned out) she deserved. Rodin, Claudel’s mentor, enjoyed degrees of fame, success and prestige that Claudel never attained. While he prospered, she nearly starved. Unable to support herself, Claudel remained financially dependent upon her father until his death in 1913. Eight days after their father’s death, Claudel’s brother committed her to an asylum.

Claudel spent the last thirty years of her life in an asylum in the mountains of southern France. Her mother and sister never visited her and her brother visited intermittently, approximately a half-dozen times in thirty years. After several years of treatment, Claudel’s psychiatrist suggested that her family should take her home and reintegrate her into their home and society. They did not take up his suggestion. Since her family had no interest in resuming relations with Claudel, she remained institutionalized until her death on October 19, 1943, at the age of 79.

Alma H. Bond, a psychoanalyst, has written a compelling account of Claudel’s tragic life. She presents the story as a memoir written by Claudel in the final days of her life. Although the broad outlines of the story are true, Bond has taken liberties in setting scenes, providing dialog, and revealing Claudel’s purported thought processes and interpretations. Bond states clearly that hers is a fictional account, simply one plausible view of Claudel’s life; it should not be read as a definitive biographical or historical work. Nevertheless, Bond reveals the heartbreak of a gifted woman working in a society that rejects her personally and pays scant attention to her artwork. Bond lifts the veil on the heartbreak of an impressionable, sensitive young woman betrayed by an older lover. Bond discloses the family dysfunctions that remained hidden from view, or ignored, even when they resulted in gross injustices. Clearly, even though the work is fictional, it offers a compelling, accurate glimpse at the broad characteristics of an era.

Bond’s most extraordinary feat is the way she portrays Claudel’s subtly deteriorating mental state. Early signs of paranoia are evident from the outset in Claudel’s descriptions of her childhood home. During Claudel’s happiest period, the height of her romance with Rodin, the paranoid tendencies are more subtle, but not entirely absent. After her breakup with Rodin, the paranoid tendencies resurface slowly and build gradually until Claudel’s institutionalization in 1913. In an accurate depiction of mental illness, Bond balances Claudel’s periods of lunacy and lucidity. Sometimes the reader is uncertain whether Claudel’s viewpoint is delusional or uncannily insightful. Bond understands mental illness and she presents it masterfully.

Camille Claudel: A Novel is a beautifully written book that seizes the reader’s mind and heart. Readers who have never heard of Camille Claudel will, upon finishing this book, seek to learn more about this wonderfully gifted artist and her work. This book, notwithstanding the fact that it is fiction, should be required reading for all students of women’s studies and art history.

Reviewed by Evie Sears

Police Chief Weighs in on "Integrity: Do You Have It?"

Title: Integrity: Do You Have It?
2nd edition
Author: Dennis Aubuchon
Infinity Publishing.
ISBN: 0741429160
Author's Website: www.myqualitywriting.com

Reviewed by William E. Cooper for Reader Views (1/07)

Integrity. We live in a world where integrity has often become situational. We don't always agree what it is or when it applies. Many people simply have never been taught its value or applications. The pace of today's world too frequently does not allow many people or organizations the time or ability to consider the ethical implications of decisions or actions. Unless one is grounded in integrity and practices it as a rule, the consequences of taking the "easier" option in the long run may become significant.

As a retired police chief it was my responsibility to insure the integrity of everyone and everything in my department. The public entrusted us with considerable power, and the criticality of maintaining the highest standards was the rule of the day. Absolute, unquestioned integrity must come from the top and be set through example and actions. In addition, the leader of the organization must have the courage to act when ethics violations occur. So it is in an organization, and in any person.

We are constantly barraged by ethics problems in the daily media, yet the majority of organizations and people are honest and truthful. It is our responsibility to teach it and conduct ourselves accordingly. Mr. AuBuchon has written a truly good book on the subject, and I encourage everyone to buy this book and read it. He provides an excellent journey through the subject and adds cases, examples, policies, and directives, as well as references to the law. I believe this book should be part of every home, business, library, and educational institution. It is too important to ignore or let get away from us. Any discussion of religion, politics, government, or education must have as its basis integrity and ethics. The
author provides his readers with definitions of ethics, applicability to each of the parts above.

I've taught ethics in the police academy and in graduate school courses. I've written on the topic and have found that many of the ideas and beliefs I teach are discussed and promoted in this book. I have to provide a high recommendation for "Integrity: Do You Have It?" because it deserves it.


Dennis AuBuchon, author: Integrity: Do You Have It? 2nd edition
Have you signed the business ethics pledge
Member Authors' Coalition @ www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com
Registered as an expert on www.Allexperts.com

Can the Food Business Be Evil? Great Fare for a Thriller!

Evil Business
A paranormal mystery novel
By John F. Nienstedt
ISBN 0-595-42056-7
200 pages at 14.95 paperback
24.95 Hardcover
IUniverse

Reviewed by Laurel Johnson for Midwest Review

In this follow up to the popular See the Monkey, protagonist Norman Fuller battles evil in America's heartland. His career as a New York newspaper journalist is stalled. His Pulitzer nomination was heady stuff for awhile, but the prize went to someone else. His boss thinks Fuller has lost his journalistic edge and is sending him to Kansas City, of all places, in pursuit of the ultimate evil. Once again, the mysterious "Voice of Evil" that saved Fuller's life on 9/11 returns to reveal a conspiracy that threatens the lives of all Americans.

You don't have to be a conspiracy theorist to believe the truths uncovered in Fuller's investigation. The three powerful Midwestern CEO's in "the golden triangle" understand what buyers want and play to their customers zealously. The world wants cheap food that tastes good, easy meal preparation, and a quick fix to all problems. Past generations ate food fried in lard, ate sweets and butter. They lived through unbelievable hardships yet faced life with hope. The questions Fuller must answer in his investigative report are: Why is our generation paralyzed by depression, obesity, and high cholesterol? Could the answers be hidden in the foods we eat? Do we worry excessively about terrorist attacks when we should be worrying about the foods we put in our mouths? Are political donations more important to the government than the health of citizens? Fuller's life and career are on the line as he follows clues from Kansas City to a tiny Utopian village. The truths he reveals are frightening to consider.

Evil Business is a book of fiction based on a premise made scarier because it's probably true. The plot is fast paced and exciting, the characters believable, and Nienstedt's writing style exceptional. This thriller has "movie" written all over it.

Laurel Johnson
Senior Reviewer
Midwest Book Review, March 2007

Tackling the Tough Questions About Riders of the Purple Sage

No One to Cry To, a Long, Hard Ride into the Sunset with Foy Willing of the Riders of the Purple Sage
By Sharon Lee Willing
Biographical Memoir
ISBN-10: 1-58736-686-X
ISBN-13: 978-1-58736-686-4
Reviewer: Tim Lasiuta (Canada) reviewer (


As one of the premier western swing bands of the 1930's and 40's, Foy Willing and the Riders of the Purple Sage were in demand everywhere. Radio. Movies. Special appearances. But, unlike the Sons of the Pioneers, their lineage did not continue unbroken. Unlike the Sons, their history was not chronicled, until now.

Sharon Lee Willing has provided a look into the troubled life of Foy Willing. Not that this is a sad book, but it is more a book about sadness. Foy Willing had had it all. Wealth. Fame. Reputation. And a faithful family. But his life path was the result of poor planning, and in the end, his character.

Sharon tackles the tough questions. She relates the early history of the Riders in more detail than we have ever had. But, with her appearance in Foy’s life in the 1950's, the story gains credibility. Foy had been an alcoholic, but he recovered. He still was in demand. He wanted marriage. But he was unwilling to take the final step. When he did, alcohol was again part of his life. And his marriage dissolved. That’s where the sadness comes in.

Foy was talented. More talented than his recording history tells. More passionate and creative than he is given credit for. Near the end of his years, the ‘old’ Foy Willing resurrected and he began the nostalgic resurgence of the Riders with very much success.

She even includes a discography, his film appearances, and a comprehensive list of songs written/co-written by Foy. Collectors will love this.

This is a heartfelt book. If you want a glossed over history of Mr Willing, don’t buy this book. If you want to read about the real Foy Willing, this is for you. Written by the one who knew him best, and loved him the most, "No One to Cry To" is the story of a man, blessed with talent, on a lifelong journey who finally found what he was looking for.

Tim Lasiuta (Canada)