Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Utopian Frontiers: Useful Speculative Fiction

Title: Utopian Frontiers
Author – Drew Tapley
Author's website link – http://www.utopianfrontiers.com
Genre or category – Sci-Fi, Speculative fiction
ISBN-10: 1927005124
ISBN-13:978-1927005125

Welcome to the world of Utopian Frontiers, a fictional story about a secret, prototypical city located on the fringes of national parkland somewhere in the Americas. The city itself is the headquarters of a clandestine transnational research corporation dedicated to developing beneficial technologies in service to humanity. Please enter this unique research environment where alternative social/political/economic/technological options are explored in the interest of the future well-being of environmental and ultimately, human integrity.

Recent and emerging world events indicate a growing mass movement demanding solutions to increasingly disturbing trends that have spawned social unrest. People need and want real solutions to real problems that threaten the very systemic basis of the democracies that claim to support and protect the peace and (so called) freedom which generations before us fought to preserve. Yet the entertainment media, to a great extent, continues to deliver trivialized adventure sagas and doomsday scenarios, whereas the public is in need of messages that imply optimism and hope for the future of humanity, delivered in an edutainment format.

The relationship between humankind and technology, a main theme of Utopian Frontiers, explores the positive applications of technology as a tool in the service of social humanity. The inevitable conflict between vested interests and vying priorities, the dramatic tension that ensues as the impact of change upon people’s lives becomes manifest, and the message of hope for the future integration of technologies with the social imperative: these are the major underlying themes explored by Utopian Frontiers.

Join a vacationing family as they inadvertently stumble upon this futuristic city, and witness their struggles as they attempt to come to terms with the challenge of self- fulfillment and actualization, and ultimately the very survival of life as we know it.

This is a timely tale about a secret, evolving society that suggests change to the basic nature of our global culture may ultimately have to include the co-opting of if not a total break from the very institutions and values that spawned and currently nurture us.

Intended to provoke meaningful discussion regarding the current “human condition”, Utopian Frontiers will make you step outside of the box, expand the envelope of possibilities, and consider the very nature of our ways and why we must nurture the long journey to a better, more meaningful, inclusive way of life for one and all.

Please visit our website at www.utopianfrontiers.com and sample some of the music tracks on our EP Utopian Front while reading the book.

And consider this: Utopian Frontiers is about researching options that will help deliver humanity to a healthier state of being, but not all “investors” agree with priorities... Want to know more about the ultimate challenges that confront the community? Read the book, and enjoy, celebrate, embrace, protect life as we know it!

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Rebecca Graf Reviews Creative Look at Jackie Kennedy Onassis

Jackie O: On the Couch

By Alma H. Bond

Author's Web site: http://alma_bond.tripod.com

Published by Bancroft Press August 15, 2011
Reviewed by Rebecca Graf originally for Amazon

This review is from: Jackie O: On the Couch: Inside the Mind and Life of Jackie Kennedy Onassis (Hardcover)

What if a famous person sat down on your couch and opened up their entire soul to you? There would be no holds barred. You would know it all. You would hear the entire truth. The good and the bad would be laid open before you. What if that person was Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis? Alma H. Bond takes the facts of Mrs. Onassis' life and delivers them as though they were through her own lips in her book, Jackie O: On the Couch: Inside the Mind and Life of Jackie Kennedy Onassis.

I have to admit that like many others in America and around the world, I have always been fascinated with Jackie Kennedy Onassis. It could be contributed to the tragedy of her first husband's death, or it could be just the mystery that has always surrounded her. As young girls we look for women we would love to emulate. Each generation has its idol. Jackie's has spanned many generations. Her poise, her beauty, her elegance, and her sorrow have called to so many.

The problem is that like those in the 60s that watched her, subsequent generations placed her on a pedestal. We saw her as beautiful, tragic, and perfect. Yet, like any human being who walked this planet, she was far from perfect.

Ms. Bond lets Jackie tell her own life story of privilege and heartbreak. Instead of being on a pedestal, Jackie sits down beside you as you read of a girl that could have been you. How many could say that they never could please their mother? How many could say that they were emotionally destroyed when their parents divorced? Many women can read Jackie O: On the Couch and find themselves in her. The topics of her womanizing father, cold mother, jealous sister, low self-esteem, love of a man who abused her and loved her, womanizing husbands, brief affairs, and the tragedy of widowhood are laid bare before the reader. You get a glimpse into a woman who feels that she is less than adequate or her husband would love her, cherish her, and not flaunt his mistresses under her very nose. You see a girl inside a woman's body who only wanted to feel secure but found herself forced into a mold that did not fit her.

I found myself leaning toward this fictional Jackie on my couch as I connected with her at times. Other times, I felt anger and the desire to defend her. Then I would feel disappointment to see her be human and make mistakes. Quickly, I would love her for her wit and pride. When I got to the chapter on John F. Kennedy's assassination, I found myself unable to read as the tears overflowed my eyes and would not stop. Her description of holding him and the pain that ripped through her echoed in me. I tend to get emotional when I read, but this is probably the most I've cried in reading a book.

A few facts seem to be mixed up but overall the historical parts are done very well. The reader has to keep in mind that this is a work of fiction. This is not Jackie actually talking to us. This is a "what-if" book. Many people don't like these kinds of writings, but for others it is a way to step out of the "norm" and look at things in a different light. If you read this book and just develop a desire to learn more, then it did a good job. If you are looking for a history book or a biography, then you will be disappointed. This is a wonderful example of an author using creativity to explore an historical figure and to stimulate conversation. Do not approach this book as a biography, autobiography, or historical textbook. It is a fiction book used to help the reader view Jackie in a different light.

The way Ms. Bond delivered the life of Jackie is beyond words. It is something you can only feel and experience. You have to sit down on the couch and let Jackie open her soul.

If you want to get a new perspective on Jackie Kennedy Onassis and those in her life, this is the book to read. It is remarkably done and will have you glad you bought it. Ms. Bond has delivered in Jackie O: On the Couch a piece of literary art that even Jackie would have applauded.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Win Your Divorce Fiancially, Emotionally, Socially

Title: Win Your Divorce Fiancially, Emotionally, Socially
Author: Rick D. Banks

This book is going to show you not only how to divorce without going broke, hating your spouse for the rest of your life, or suffering a nervous breakdown, it will help you get on with your life in the divorce's aftermath.
This book is meant to help you. It is not meant to teach you pit-bull, win-at-all-cost tactics. Most of the time, those tactics backfire and end up costing the spouse who uses them dearly. My goal is to give you a reference for divorce: a way to come through it stronger than you were before. After all, there are reasons you're divorcing. Hopefully your life post-divorce will be happier, more joyful, and more content than anything you've experienced to date.

~Submitted by Denise Cassino
Publicist & Book Marketing Specialist
skype: denise.cassino
w ww.BestsellerServices.com
www.spiritoftheseasoncatalog.com
www.mybestsellerlaunch.com
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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Online Book Launch / Book Tour Resource: How It Works

Many visitors to The New Book Review are authors and reviewers as well as our very welcome readers of books! (Not to say authors and reviewers aren't also readers! Ahem!). At any rate I though most would be interested in online book tours and online book launches--a subject I cover extensively in The Frugal Book Promoter (www.budurl.com/FrugalBkPromo) but that is of special interest to me right now because I just did one with the great guidance of Denise Cassino (w ww.BestsellerServices.com) , an expert on the subject if there ever was one.

Of course, online book tours and launches don't work if they don't go viral. That's part of the fun. Thus, this is part of that viral effort, too. Click on the link in the great page Denise did for me below and see how great bonuses add to the fun and to the value of such an online promotion. My bonuses came from some greats in the industry like Kathleen Gage, Dan Poynter, D'vorah Lansky, Bookbuzzr.com, and about a dozen other book promotion smarties.

So, check it out! And help me celebrate the new Kindle edition! (Remember, Kindle e-books can also be read on your computer!). All the while you rake it great benefits for yourself.

CAROLYN HOWARD-JOHNSON

Here's the book you writers have been looking for!

The second edition of The Frugal Book Promoter is an updated version of the multi award-winning first edition. It has been expanded to include simple ways to promote books using newer technology--always considering promotion and marketing techniques that are easy on the pocketbook and frugal of time. It also includes a multitude of ways for authors and publishers to promote the so-called hard-to-promote genres. The award-winning author of poetry and fiction draws on a lifetime of experience in journalism, public relations, retailing, marketing, and the marketing of her own books to give authors the basics they need for do-it-yourself promotion and fun, effective approaches that haven't been stirred and warmed over, techniques that will help rocket their books to bestselling lists. You'll also l earn to write media releases, query letters and a knock 'em dead media kit--all tools that help an author find a publisher and sell their book once it's in print.

When you buy the book today, you'll receive more than a dozen great bonuses for writers1

Click here to Buy the Book!

PO Box 1223, Conifer, CO USA

You, too, can get help from Denise. Here is how to learn more about her and contact her:
Denise Cassino

Publicist and Book Marketing Specialist
303 838 3399
skype: denise.cassino
w ww.BestsellerServices.com
www.spiritoftheseasoncatalog.com
www.mybestsellerlaunch.com
Follow me on Twitter @DeniseCassino
Friend me on Facebook Denise.Cassino

Monday, February 20, 2012

Growing Up Mixed: A Memoir About Intolerance

The Speckled People: A Memoir of a Half-Irish Childhood

By Hugo Hamilton
Fourth Estate, 2003
ISBN: 0007149980
Adult/Memoir
Rating: 5 of 5

The Best View for Understanding Intolerance

Growing Up Mixed

Reviewed by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, award-winning author of This is the Place and Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered

How sharp are the knives that divide. The Speckled People: A Memoir of a Half-Irish Childhood is about the effects of both sharp and blunt instruments on the lives of children. Religion. Borders. Language. Wars. Culture. And, yes, Love and Hate.

Themes literally seethe through Hugo Hamilton's work. Part of the reason for that is the story itself. The narrator is a child, the product of a severe Irish nationalist and a German mother. The parents themselves are creations of their time and place no less than their offspring are. Young Hugo is allowed to speak only Irish and German in a land that is increasingly speaking English. He is dressed in Irish sweaters and Lederhosen. The identities of some of his relatives are secreted away in armoires and others are flaunted as exemplary models. He is inundated by rules, rules, rules and they are modulated by a mother with much love to give in spite of her own story set in Germany of the Third Reich; her history is slowly revealed to the reader as Hugo grows in understanding.

Told with a child’s stream of conscious, this memoir requires careful attention. The reader unravels this family’s truths only when the child can finally grasp them for himself. This technique heightens our understanding of how affecting such an upbringing can be. The language is poetic in character. So is the structure: One situation reminds the narrator of another connection and we begin to see how this character and this family are strung together and—hopefully—also begin to see how similar dynamics might have affected our own lives. For, though very particular, this story is also general, one that still reaches beyond its time and touches ours.

It seems as if children tend to grow up speckled in one way or another. That makes the general premise of this lovely little book close to the heart of us all. We have all been there in one way or another, felt unloved, apart at some time in our lives. It is apparent that children who grow up half-and-half, a potpourri, will always be marked. Some will turn these hardships into the stuff of insight, understanding, and—in the case of Hugo Hamilton—great talent.

~The reviewer’s first novel, This is the Place (www.budurl.com/ThisIsthePlace), has won eight awards. It, too, explores how one can grow up part of two cultures and never feel a part of either one. Harkening, a collection of creative nonfiction stories, is also an award-winner. Learn more at: http://www.carolynhoward-johnson.com.)

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Don Blankenship Calls Memoir "Best"

Title: South to Alaska: A True Story of Courage and Survival from America's Heartland to the Heart of a Dream
Author: Nancy Owens Barnes
Website: http://www.southtoalaska.com

Book Link: http://www.amazon.com/South-Alaska-Survival-Americas-Heartland/dp/098239022X
Nonfiction, Memoir, Travel
ISBN: 098239022X (Rushing River Press)

Reviewed by Don Blankenship, Amazon Hall of Fame Reviewer, (http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A1MC6BFHWY6WC3 ), written originally for Amazon
5 out of 5 stars

Nancy Owens Barnes stated in the forward of this work that "Some suggested I fictionalize the story. By doing so would allow me to drive drama to a higher level and to void my worries about maintaining truth."

Well thank goodness and lucky for us she made the right decision and went with the truth. I cannot imagine how adding a bit of fiction to this story would in anyway "add to the drama" or make this a more satisfying read. I have to tell you that at the end of each year I sort of do an informal review of the books I read during the past twelve months and rank them in order of pure reading enjoyment. I will tell you right now that this read made the top three and it is quite debatable whether or not I should stick it in first place. My goodness, this book has so very much going for it.

This true story, put in a nutshell, is the telling of the remarkable journey of her father - an odyssey really, starting from the time he was a young child; a child of the Great Depression, living in Oklahoma, through his remarkable voyage in a boat he built himself and sailed it from Fort Smith, Arkansas (of all places) all the way to Alaska...for the most part, completely alone. But the book is so much more than just a sea voyage; a scary one, I grant you, but a voyage never-the less. It is also the story of her mother, Cecil Marie, a rather remarkable woman in her own right.

The author's parents, Melvin and Cecil Owens had a dream. They wanted to live in Alaska. Both these individual lived the majority of their lives in either Oklahoma or Arkansas - they were not sea dwelling people. George Owens worked construction and was one of those individuals (alas, I am not one of them) that could build just about anything he set his mind to. We are taken through the three years, where in his spare time, Mr. Owens built the ship they named "Red Dog" in his backyard and then through his remarkable journey down the Arkansas River, the Mississippi River, the Gulf of Mexico, through the Panama Canal and then up the western coast of Central America, America, all the way to Ketchikan, Alaska where he and his wife finally made their home. (They ended up living in a home built by Mr. Owens near the water and forest for over twenty some odd years - remarkable!)

We travel with Melvin as he navigates river ways, crooked customs officers in foreign ports, the open sea and rather evil conmen, storms, sickness, anxiety..... Speaking no language other than English this quiet but determined man made a journey of a life time against tremendous odds.

Now let me be frank and explain. When I first heard of this book and the homemade craft, the Red Dog, I had visions of something like what I would build which would have been hammered and wired together out of scrap lumber, orange crates and empty oil cans. Mr. Owens though was a craftsman and the boat he built with his own two hands and spare parts was actually quite a sophisticated and seaworthy craft. The building alone; the process he went through absolutely amazed me.

But don't think this book is just about his two year voyage. This is actually the story of a family; a family of like mine and yours. Good hardworking people; a close family full of love and respect for each other. The author has used the techniques of flashbacks throughout the book to bring a vivid picture of a family who made it through the depression, worked extremely hard all of their lives and above all, followed their dream. (I consider myself an amature historian when it comes to the Great Depression and I have to tell you that I learned much from this book. The author was able to capture the essence of those times perfectly. I felt she could have been writing about my own family at times). I also grew up in the same area (Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma) so I knew much of the physical background the author describes and can assure you she is spot on.

Furthermore, not only do we have a wonderful story here, but we have a story written by an author that can actually write and I might say, write extremely well. Her prose borders on lyrical and her ability to describe puts her on the same level with all the great travel writers....folks, this is one talented lady!

If you have not already read this work I would strongly suggest you do so. It is a great true story that has been written by a true master writer.

Learn more about author Nancy Owens Barnes, freelance writer and author, at www.NancyOwensBarnes.com and

www.SouthToAlaska.com She blogs at WritingNorthIdaho.blogspot.com.

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Friday, February 17, 2012

Spiritual Help in Life, Faith, Hope

Life, Faith, Hope Beyond the Shadows of Life Author: Linda L.C. Giles
Author's Web site: www.life-faith-hope.com
Order directly from the publisher

http://bookstore.authourhouse.com/products/SKU-000442168/life-faith-hope.aspx

About the Book

So much can happen in a single moment. Various interactions can be interpreted in so many ways. Here, in Life, Faith, Hope : Beyond the Shadows of Life, you just may be able to sift your soul into a place of healing, understanding, and comfort. Within each of these pages of luminous paintings, your soul can use pure sight instead of led-to-believe ideals. This compilation of visions is for every person, of every spiritual or religious background, perhaps even those with none at all. These paintings do not depict, but rather allow for your souls’ eyes to linger in the emotional beauty that only wants to speak to your heart. There are no negative connotations or meanings, just those of pure innocence without prejudice or concrete ideals. This book is open for your interpretation. Be still and let your eyes lead the way into your journey.

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Great Marketing Advice: Zero Stress Selling

Title – Zero Stress Selling: 5 No-Fail Strategies to Get More Clients and Fill Your PracticeAuthor – Sue KassonAuthor's website link – http://www.zerostresssales.com Genre or category – Business, Sales, MarketingISBN – B006LQUAAM (Kindle)
Available on Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Sue-Kasson/e/B006MMJHRM/

Your journey towards your thriving, full and successful practice will be simple yet practical – 5 no-fail strategies to help you achieve your goal of filling your practice with your ideal clients. You will learn the no-fail strategies of building your list, selling your services, doing profitable teleseminars, creating products, marketing with articles and how to connect with joint venture partners.

Zero Stress Selling is written for:

· Business owners

· Female business people

· Solopreneurs

· Entrepreneurs

· Salespeople

· Other Business and Sales people

Some of the topics you will find in Zero Stress Selling include:

· Developing a Zero Stress sales system

· Strategies to build an effective email list

· Strategies to hold profitable teleseminars

· Strategic article marketing

· How to participate in joint ventures

· How to find effective and appropriate joint venture opportunities

You may wonder why Sue Kasson is qualified to write about these topics. Here is some information about her background.

About Sue Kasson

Sue specializes in helping coaches, Soloprenuers and Professional Service Providers get more clients by having relaxed, authentic and confident client enrollment conversations. She is on a mission to help business owners fill their practices and learn to enjoy getting clients without stress or fear. Sue has a 20+ year sales and sales management background with several Fortune 500 companies and, in the last 11 years, has trained and coached hundreds of people to help them get more clients and sell more of their products and services.

What Are People Saying About Sue Kasson and Zero Stress Selling –

“Great Strategies… A Must Read….”

“Follow these strategies, and your business will be busier than you could have ever imagined.” Emma Garcia

“Clear, Concise and Extremely Helpful….”

“I like that each strategy was broken down in a way that made it easy and realistic for me to do. Each chapter is worth it’s weight in gold…” Susan Woods

“A Gem of a Book”
“This book reads as a detailed, step by step guide on how to make your business thrive with clientele!” Tracy from Canada

“Advice to Live By”

“… what I found inspiring in this book is how the author uses her personal experience to distill the basics of marketing down to clear, easy to understand and practical lessons.” Jeff

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Fred Warren Reviews Christian Nonfiction

Title: Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life

Author: Karina Fabian and Deacon Steve Lumbert
Category: Christian, devotionals, spirituality
ISBN: 9780982256534
Available from: Publisher (Tribute Books)
or Amazon or other online dealers
For More Info: http://whygodmatters.com
Amazon link: http://amzn.to/dI7jbp

Reviewed by Fred Warren for http://frederation.wordpress.com/

I know Karina Fabian best from her speculative fiction–tales of dragon detectives, spacefaring nuns, superhero misfits, and zombie cookery, filled with engaging characters, sly puns, and wry observations on human nature. While her faith informs all her writing (her tagline is “Fiction, Faith, and Fun”), that faith is front-and-center in this very non-fiction collaboration with her father, Steven Lumbert, a Catholic deacon.

There’s still plenty of fun. Why God Matters is primarily a devotional guide, in the spirit of Brother Lawrence’s The Practice of the Presence of God, but it’s also a personal memoir and meditation on the joys and challenges of life, shared by a father and daughter who love each other very much.

The book provides a series of topical meditations, “life lessons,” each with a scripture passage, an excerpt from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, a pertinent quotation that summarizes the chapter’s main idea, and a vignette from Karina or Steven.

The vignettes are what really bring this book to life. Karina and Steven share some very personal moments when they’ve recognized God’s presence and intervention in their lives. Sometimes it happens in something as simple as a shared family meal or the give-and-take of a relationship with a friend. Sometimes it’s a life-changing incident, a momentous decision, or a miraculous answer to prayer. These are situations we all encounter, and it’s encouraging to read these accounts of how God met Steven and Karina there and strengthened their faith in the process. As they note in the introduction,

The stories you’ll find here are ordinary, because quite often, we find our faith in the day-to-day living. After all, what could be more ordinary than taking a step—or a breath? Yet, as St. Patrick said, “Christ’s breath in mine.”

This book is written from a Catholic viewpoint with a Catholic audience in mind. I think, though, that any Christian reader would enjoy and benefit from the insights it offers, which transcend sectarian borders. Protestant Evangelical Fred certainly gained a renewed appreciation of how important it is to be aware that God is working in my life every day, and of my corresponding need to respond to that work and cooperate with Him in my spiritual development, becoming more like Him, and participating in the divine nature. That’s what being a Christian, a disciple of Jesus Christ, is all about.

It’s not complicated, but it takes commitment, and you’ve got to keep your head in the game. In its glimpses of one family’s faith journey, Why God Matters illustrates many practical ways to cultivate a daily walk with God. It’s helpful, it’s inspiring, and it’s heartwarming. A great combination, and well worth reading.

Author Bio:
Deacon Steve Lumbert and Karina Fabian are father and daughter who came to their faith in different ways. Karina was raised in it, while Steve discovered his calling later in life. Steve is a Deacon and parish administrator in Pueblo, CO. Karina is a writer, military wife, and mother of four.

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Nonfiction Intrigues Veteran Reviewer

Title: From Zero to Four Kids in Thirty Seconds (2011)

Author: Amy L. Peterson

Book link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006NQHFGC

Nonfiction

ISBN: 978-0-615-55589-8 (Smashwords)

Reviewed by Joy V. Smith originally for Amazon

5 out of 5 stars

I came across this book online; it sounded intriguing--and fun, so I got it. I enjoyed it from Amy and Mark's first meeting in the workplace when he rejects her proposal (for a study grant), their tentative attempts at getting to know each other and date--despite her understandable reluctance to get involved with a man with four children. She gives us the background too on why--though they worked there for five years--they never connected. (He was married; now he's divorced.) He persists, and together they overcome a variety of challenges. This story illustrates those challenges--her family, his children, the ex-wife, and the usual speed bumps, but Amy makes meeting them a fun read, while at the same time not being afraid to expose her conflicting feelings along the way. See Tip #11: "If your first meeting with the kids doesn't go well, rest assured that it won't be the last thing that won't go well." And that was why I wanted the book--for the funny takes on her life--reminding me of Erma Bombeck--and for what happened along the way and how they survived the challenges and succeeded. This is a romantic story, btw, and I sympathized with both of them as they felt their way along the path to marriage and beyond.

The tips for step-parents are helpful and funny. #1 sets the stage: "Behind every successful stepmother is a man with at least one child." There are 70 tips; #70 introduces the epilogue: "You won't be able to predict what the kids remember, or what they'll like the most. So try to enjoy it all." I believe she and her new family did enjoy it; and I enjoyed their story. Highly recommended.

Note: I read the paperback edition, which I received directly from the author.

~Learn more about the reviewer and helpful house and ecorating hints on her blog at http://pagadan.blogspot.com.

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Friday, February 10, 2012

Must Read for the Business Side of Writing

How to Write It
Second Edition

Subtitle: A complete guide to everything you’ll ever write
By Sandra E. Lamb
Ten Speed Press (2011)
ISBN: 9781607740322
Nonfiction/How-To (Writing)
Contact Reviewer: hojoreviews@aol.com
Publisher's Site: www.tenspeed.com

The Business Part of Writing—Down and Dirty

Reviewed by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, award-winning author of This Is the Place and Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered, Tracings, a chapbook of poetry and the How To Do It Frugally Series of book for authors

I wasn’t impressed by the title of How to Write It! It’s so general. And the subtitle? So all inclusive! How could it be a guide to everything you’ll ever write? And, truth be told, it isn’t. Not if you are a write of fiction. Or a poet. But even if you write those things, stop! Don’t go away. You’ll find in this book much that you need to know to build a successful writing career no matter what you write. And that was probably the intent of Author Sandra E. Lamb. She wants your writing career to soar. And this book will give you the tools to make sure it does. At least the tools outside the box that might be labeled “craft.”

And here’s one more aspect of this very fat, very thorough volume. It has much in it that many books for writers don’t cover. I’m not sure why. Maybe “proposals and reports” and “orders, credit and collections” don’t have the sizzle that that creative hearts yearn for, but those hearts need to manage their careers, too.

So, don’t go off in a snit. This book is an absolute must for freelance writers, but it is a darn good reference for writers of any ilk, especially those who don’t have a lot of business experience in those lives we often lead apart from our writing lives. Hooray for Ten Speed Press for bringing this to our attention.

------

Carolyn Howard-Johnson’s first novel, This is the Place, has won eight awards.

Her book of creative nonfiction Harkening, won three. A UCLA Writers' Program

instructor, she also is the author of another book essential for writers,

USA Book News' Best Professional Book of 2004, The Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won't. (www.budurl.com/FrugalBkPromo). The second in the HowToDoItFrugally series, The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success (www.budurl.com/TheFrugalEditor) covers writing successful query letters and includes helpful hints from twenty of the nation's top agents. Learn more about Howard-Johnson at her new site http://HowToDoItFrugally.com.

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Mary Hitchcock Cone’s Clear Effortless Writing Delivers Vivid, Memorable Characters

Book: Moose Mash and Other Stories

Author: Mary Hitchcock Cone
Website: http://www.moosemash.com
Genre: Literary fiction, short stories

Publisher: FolkHeart Press

Available: Moosemash.com, Amazon, Barnes and Noble

Reviewed by Barbara Swift Brauer of WordsWorth (www.wordsworthofmarin.com)

It’s hard to tell just what it is about Mary Cone’s collection, Moose Mash and Other Stories that carries the reader along so enjoyably from the first paragraph of the title story to the last paragraph of “Point of No Return.” Is it the light, engaging style? Down-to-earth characters, the wonderful humor, or rare insight into the complexities of human nature? Most likely, it is a fine interplay of all these qualities.

The subjects of the stories cover an amazingly wide range: from the humorous (a moose loose in a shoe store, a ghost looking for its murderer, siblings banding together to rescue the household from their bargain-crazy father) to the poignant (a young woman facing uncertain love, young soldiers leaving home for war).

At the heart of each story is the author’s exceptional ear for voice and dialogue. “Odd Socks,” for example, in which a late-night radio talk show host fields listeners’ calls on the subject of mismatched socks, is entirely dialogue — the wonderful assortment of characters revealed only through their commentary on the topic.

Many stories are told in the first-person, the tone and pace of the characters’ narrative providing insight into who they are. This is most apparent in the Rashomon-style “Incident on Number 50,” in which five individuals each respond to the mishap of a fellow bus passenger.

In a few brief paragraphs, a portrait of each is expertly drawn. Wallace has been prescribed bifocals, and laments, “that meant he was officially middle-aged! His view of himself as a man of vigor, steely eyed at work, sexy-eyed at the Pagoda Bar, was no longer defendable.”

Laura, sitting behind Wallace on the bus, observes him taking his seat and thinks, “Edgar never would have sat down like that. If Edgar was with her now, he would purse his lips at the man in disgust. Ever-groomed, perfectly coordinated, intensely organized, critical Edgar. Laura suppressed a desire to pat the stranger on the shoulder as a gesture of fellowship.” She is on her way to the lawyer’s to sign the divorce papers.

Cone’s attention to visual detail is similarly acute. In “Ferry Ride,” Karen stands at the railing and notes, “Windows on the hillside houses catch the sun. They shine like shields protecting a suburban army. The rosy horizon gives way to turquoise blue. The outline of the hills across the bay sharpens.”

In every story, clear, effortless writing carries the narrative along. Whether broadly humorous, subtly wry, or deeply moving, there is an unfailing honesty about the author’s observations of her characters — honesty and a profound compassion. At the end of “Joseph the Appreciator,” the protagonist contemplates the pull of relationship with his own need for independence. His epiphany is at once elated and wise:

“Western rays of the sun provided backlighting and the greens brightened. The sight filled him with fierce appreciative joy. He laughed. There it was. He would be an appreciator. Joseph the Appreciator, not a bad job for a man up in years . . .”

Long after the last page, the people encountered in these stories remain vividly alive in our imaginations. Their portraits are drawn so true to life, so much like ourselves, we feel as if we’ve known them. In some sense, we have.

~Reviewer Barbara Swift Brauer is a writer, editor, and poet, and, with husband Laurence Brauer, co-owner of Wordsworth publishing services. She is co-author of Witness: The Artist's Vision in “The Face of AIDS” (Pomegranate Artbooks, 1996). Barbara’s poetry has been widely published. Her full-length poetry collection is forthcoming from Sixteen Rivers Press.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Earth Day Reading for Kids

Title: Trouble on Earth Day

Author: Kathy Stemke

Illustrator: Kurt Wilchen

Published by Wild Plains Press

ISBN: 978-1-936021-36-9

Genre: Children's Lit

Reviewed by Karen Cioffi

As a proponent of conservation and the environment, I love children’s books that approach this topic in an engaging and entertaining format. Trouble on Earth Day by Kathy Stemke does just that.

The story begins with the main character, Shelby the squirrel, winning the Earth Day poster contest; the young reader is quickly brought into the focus of the story, our environment. Shelby’s poster has “Rethink, Reuse, and Recycle” boldly and colorfully written on it.

As the story progresses, Shelby and her parents discuss the different ways individuals and families can conserve, such as using old clothing for a quilt.

It also delves into the effects of deforestation. When Shelby hears the cries of a “little bird,” she searches until she finds it, then asks the bird what’s wrong. The bird explains, “The workman cut down my tree and my nest. I found a new tree, but I can only find twigs to make a new home.”

Using ingenuity and what she learned from her parents, Shelby helps the bird build a new nest using recyclable items from her home. Trouble on Earth Day will quickly heave children asking about the environment and looking around their homes for items that can be recycled.

Adding to the invitingness of this delightful story are amazing full page illustrations by Kurt Wilchen. Each page has vivid and bold illustrations that will surely grab and hold a young reader’s attention. Along with all this, Stemke includes pages and pages of activities, and additional information about conservation and the environment, all to help children better understand the story’s theme. It even includes a song titled “The Fuzzy Squirrel” that children can sing to with the music from “I’m a Little Teapot.”

Some of the activities and information include in Educator’s Edition:

Reading comprehension activities
Original topic related lyrics that children can sing to the melody of classic favorites
Discussion topics, such as Why Trees are Important and What Things Can be Reused
Games, including the Going Green Game
Recycling activities, such as making napkin rings using recycled toilet paper rolls, recycling old CDs to make ornaments, and how to recycle old crayons
Dolch Sight Word activity page

My favorite information page in Trouble on Earth Day briefly explains what went on before the first Earth Day in April 1970, what the focus of Earth day is, and why it’s so important.

Learning how each of us can take steps to protect our environment is important for children and adults alike. It will take all our efforts to help improve the environment for a healthier tomorrow. Trouble on Earth Day is a great start for children.

~Reviewer Karen Cioffi is a published author, ghostwriter, and editor for 4RV Publishing. For writing and marketing information, and to find out more about Karen and her books, visit: http://karencioffiwritingandmarketing.com. While there, be sure to sign-up for her newsletter, A Writer’s World.

Learn more about the author, Kathy Stemke. She is an award-winning author, educator, and freelance writer. Her Trouble on Earth Day and Sh Sh Sh Let the Baby Sleep earned the Children's Literary Classics Seal of Approval. Sign up for her free monthly newsletter, Movement and Rhythm: http://educationtipster.blogspot.com/

Monday, February 6, 2012

Noir is Back!

Reel Life Crime
Author: Cary PepperAuthor’s Website: www.carypepper.comGenre: Fiction/Detective/CrimeISBN: 978-1-4658-4263-3
Amazon: B0068438WE

Reviewed by cemag originally for Amazon

Five-Star Review

A GREAT READ for those of us who love the old movies and this genre.

The author takes us back to the days of Spade and Marlow: nicely done with some surprising twists! Based on the story every movie-lover knows - The Maltese Falcon - the author builds on little-known facts about the movie's production and creates a new story around this well-known tale.

While taking us on a tour of San Francisco, a modern noir P.I. tries to put the pieces of this bird puzzle together. The dialogue is crisp, the characters are skillfully drawn and delightfully offbeat, and the plot, while intentionally tracking the original, is new and fresh. And, of course, there's a beautiful woman knee- (or thigh-) deep in the case.

Perhaps the beginning of a series...

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

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