Book Tour for How-To Make a Rule-the-Room Presentation

 

 

Rule the Room: A Unique, Practical and Comprehensive Guide to Making a Successful Presentation.

By Jason Teteak's

This book isn't just for authors, but authors surely need how to make a great presentation!

"Jason Teteak breaks it all down for you, with a set of clearly explained practical skills that, with practice, can give you executive level presentation ability and/or a riveting classroom teaching style. If you can’t work with Jason live (which is a fantastic experience), the book is the next best thing. Highly recommended!" — P. Deloria

Persuade, motivate, teach or inspire any audience…Author Jason Teteak gives you fifty immediately actionable techniques that apply to beginners as well as seasoned presenters and cover all areas from content creation to delivery skills to audience management.

Rule the Room can help you solve every presentation challenge with practical, step-by-step guidance—not theoretical fluff—on sixteen essential topics. Among them:

• Overcome your fear
  
• Finish on time every time
  
• Customize your presentation
  
• Make the audience laugh
  
• Answer any question
  
• Among the unique tools Jason offers to readers:

The circle of knowledge, an exercise that will guarantee you’re telling your audience exactly what they want to know

Agree and see if you’re right, a never-fail technique to repeatedly engage and re-engage your listeners

The blueprint, a tool to make sure you’ll deliver a flawless presentation without relying on a script

Presentation personality style assessment, an analysis to help you know exactly how to entertain your audience by being yourself.

Learning style analysis, insights that you can use to get your message across to every type of learner in the room

Rule the Room will teach you how to create and deliver a presentation that can change people’s behavior!

 

Order with this link to see the surprises and benefits in store for you when you do: http://ruletheroom.homestead.com.

Submitted by:

Denise Cassino

Now Financing Options Available!

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"All my experiences with you have superseded my expectations and you gave me more value than the cost of your program. For your professionalism, skill and plain fun personality, I thank you!" - Michelle Podlesni, author of #1 Bestseller Unconventional Nurse

303 838 3399

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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.

World of Ink Book Tours Monster Book for Kids

Title of Book: When the Monsters are Quiet

Author: Alicia Lloyd
Publisher: Halo Publishing, Int.
ISBN Number: 13: 978-1-61244-219-8
Publication Date: January 2014
Genre of Book: Children’s Picture Book
Page count: 25
Price: $11.95

Follow Alicia Lloyd on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/whenthemonstersarequiet

 

Places available for sale: Halo, Amazon, Barnes & Noble

It is also located in 40,000 databases in over 100 countries around the world.

 

Review provided by: World of Ink Network

 

About the Book:

1st grade reading level children's book. Phonemic awareness and reading comprehension strategies are in the back of the book so parents can get their kiddos star readers!

This friendly book is a fun way children can start to become proficient readers by reading about one of their biggest worries- bedtime! This book is a reminder to never be afraid of your monsters and has helpful hints for parents to help their children by exploring with early reading strategies at home. 

 

EXCERPT:

“So the next time you think monsters are under your bed,

Just remember, it is all in your head!”

 

What inspired the Author to write the book?

The idea was unique and unexpected. I was sleeping at a new place one night and at the age of 22, still afraid of monsters. I heard all of these weird and unfamiliar noises around the house. I was texting my boyfriend, Chris, saying, “I don’t like this! I’m hearing too many noises, I can’t fall asleep.” He then texted me back asking if I ever did fall back asleep. My response was, “eventually, when the monsters were quiet.” Right there I thought, “That would be an awesome title for a children’s book!” The next weekend at 3am I suddenly woke up, went to my phone, opened notepad, and wrote the last two lines and the first three of my book. The next day Chris and I were driving and he was singing Selena Gomez’s song, “Come Get It,” extremely loud and obnoxious. (I find it funny with him being 6’5 singing this song.) Somehow, I finished my book right next to him in the car.

 

About the Author:  Alicia Lloyd is a senior at West Chester University of Pennsylvania and is working towards her Bachelor’s Degree in Early Grades Preparation (PK-4) and Special Education. She has a strong passion for working with children and loves to write! Alicia lives in Oxford, Pennsylvania surrounded by her wonderful friends and family. 

 Learn more about Alicia Lloyd, her book and World of Ink Author/Book Tour at http://tinyurl.com/mxhj8vj

To learn more about the World of Ink Tours visit

http://worldofinknetwork.com. Virginia S. Grenier is founder and partner of World of Ink network.

Office: 435-625-1743

Follow us on Twitter

Like us on Facebook

 

 

 

----- 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.

Children's Picture Book Cute and Educational

Title of Book: Gluten-Free Me, Beckmin Goes to School   

Author: Christy E. Bykowski                    
Author Website: www.glutenfreekids.info
Twitter URL: @christybyk
Publisher: Halo Publishing, Int.
ISBN Number: 13: 978-1-61244-228-0
Publication Date: January 2014
Genre of Book: Children’s Picture Book

Review provided by: World of Ink Network

 

About the Book: “Beckmin goes to School” is meant to raise awareness for celiac disease and the everyday challenges children with celiac disease face in their otherwise normal activities.  As diagnosis of celiac disease increases, education, awareness, and understanding will be the keys to making celiac kids feel normal and included. Written for children to help them express and understand celiac disease, the book is a wonderful tool for children and adults alike.

 

EXCERPT:

Five-year-old Beckmin headed off to kindergarten for the first time.

Beckmin climbed on the bus and waved goodbye to his mom.

Beckmin’s new teacher Mrs. Frederick said, “Let’s start our day with breakfast.”

The kids lined up to get their cereal.

Beckmin looked around.

“Here, you can share this cereal with me,” said his new friend Ellie.

“No, I can’t eat that,” said Beckmin. 

“Why not?” asked Ellie. “I like it a lot.”

“It has wheat in it. See…” he said, turning over the box.

He pointed to the ingredients and spelled, “W-H-E-A-T.”

“So?” said Ellie. 

“I can’t eat wheat,” said Beckmin. “I have celiac disease.”

“Silly what?” asked Ellie. 

“Celiac (SEE-lee-yak) disease,” said Beckmin. “It means I can’t eat wheat.”

“That’s silly,” said Ellie. 

“It’s not silly. It’s special,” said Beckmin.

 

 

About the Author: Christy E. Bykowski is an award-winning public relations and marketing practitioner, as well as a wife and mother. She lives and works in Cleveland, Ohio, with her husband, Benjamin, raising their three boys and spreading awareness about celiac disease and the need for a gluten-free environment for individuals diagnosed with celiac disease.

You can find out more about Christy E. Bykowski, her book and World of Ink Author/Book Tour at http://tinyurl.com/lquajjn

 

Submitted by:

To learn more about the World of Ink Tours visit http://worldofinknetwork.com

Virginia S Grenier 

Founder & Partner, World of Ink Network

Bringing Authors and Readers Together

http://worldofinknetwork.com

Office: 435-625-1743

Follow us on Twitter

Like us on Facebook

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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.

Bible and Nature Reviewed

Title: Snapshots: Focus on Nature in the Bible

Author: Laurie Chance Smith

Genre: Nonfiction- Bible and Nature

Publisher: Review & Herald Publishing (September 1, 2012)

Website: http://www.lauriechancesmith.com/

ISBN-10: 0828026890

ISBN-13: 978-0828026895

Where to buy: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, AdventistBookCenter.com, iTunes

Reviewed by Diane Geiser

It’s mind boggling to consider that certain trees that graced the earth when Jesus lived are still alive today. Identical flowers sprouted, familiar insects buzzed, and similar winds blew. “The Bible’s nature stories provide living links to the Biblical world,” writes author Laurie Chance Smith in her new book, “Snapshots: Focus on Nature in the Bible.” Through fascinating facts like “manna looked like the spice coriander,” “Snapshots” breathes life into the ancient world offering a deeper understanding of Scripture.

An accomplished writer, photographer, and avid gardener, Chance Smith explores the Biblical natural world in six sections covering everything from seeds, herbs, flowers, bread, honey, beasts and insects to water, air, fire, celestial bodies and the seasons. When she looked for a book that explored the connections between nature and Scripture, she couldn’t find one and began to write. While “Snapshots” is brimming with Scripture, Chance Smith also skillfully weaves in quotes and stories that offer insights into our present-day world, our Creator, ourselves—and the connections among them.

Readers of all ages will enjoy this active devotional, written simply enough for children to understand, yet engaging enough for adults to enjoy. Homeschoolers, children’s ministers, and teachers will find “Snapshots” an effective tool to augment their students’ knowledge of Scripture and its meaning in their lives. Each chapter concludes with a prayer, a scripture verse to contemplate, and a call to action.

Chance Smith says, “For people who don’t know God or want to feel closer to God, nature is the best place to find that connection. Trees show us God’s stability and strength. Animals show us God’s tenderness. In the sun, moon and stars, we see that God has no limits. In nature, all things have a purpose. There is order, but there is flexibility and change. There are phases. In nature, we can see ourselves—where we’ve been, where we are and where we’re going. Nature inspires us to discover God’s purpose for our lives.” With its conversational style and accessible content, "Snapshots" is the perfect guidebook for the journey.

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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.

Donald Altman Reviews Contemporary Romance

• Soulmate: by D. Lowell
• Genre: Novel, contemporary romance
• Paperback: 234 pages
• Publisher: Eminent Films; first edition (July 24, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0989392805
• ISBN-13: 978-0989392808
• Availability: Amazon.com; BN.com
• Reviewed by: Donald Altman

Reviewed by Donald Altman
 

Soulmate is a page turner, a brilliant, witty, sardonic novel that worked on so many intriguing levels. First, it entices you with a whole new look at Hollywood and its inner workings... one that will have you looking at films like you never did before. Then, of course, there's the love story--as untraditional and unexpected as you will find.. but truly believable and fascinating as it takes you into the underbelly (sorry for the pun) of LA's lap-dancing strip clubs. This is the compelling story of two souls whose love is forged in this strange, dimly lit world. It follows their inner struggles and fears as they attempt to bring their love into the light and lives of their daytime existence. The characters are extremely well conceived, and you cannot help but get drawn into the emotional roller coaster of their journey.

Soulmate is also, for me, a double entendre for how Hollywood itself becomes an irresistible soulmate and mistress of the actors, writers, distributors, filmmakers, and others who get obsessed with it. The portrayal of LA and the culture of narcissism is especially sharp and laugh out loud funny. The shower scene with the "nuclear hair bomb" (I don't want to spoil it so no more need be said) was hilarious. What really surprised me was how the book resonated with me after reading it. It had an uncanny way of bringing in surprising--and sometimes mind-blowing--historical background about our culture. It may also get you thinking in new ways about relationships, beauty, aging, and love. Thanks D.L. Lowell for your fresh voice and a wonderfully written and well-crafted novel. I'm looking forward to your next work.

More about the reviewer:

Donald Altman, M.A., LPC is former Vice-President, The Center for Mindful Eating - TCME.Org. See him on AM Northwest's morning show at http://www.TheJoyCompass.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.

Academic Book on Finance and Economics

General Equilibrium: Theory and Evidencehttp://www.worldscientific.com/worldscibooks/10.1142/6875
By W D A Bryant (Macquarie University, Australia)ISBN: 978-981-281-834-8 (hardcover)Category: Economics & FinanceCopyright 2010
481 pages 
£ 94.00; $ 125.00Zentralblatt MATH Database 1931 – 2013©2013 European Mathematical Society, FIZ Karlsruhe & Springer-Verlag


Reviewed by Krzysztof Cichy (Poznań) originally for  ZentralblattMATH:

General equilibrium theory (GET) is one of the most classic branches of mathematical economics, dating back to the work of Leon Walras in the 19th century. After so many years it is still an area of broad research and many questions have remained unanswered. Its main aim is to thoroughly analyze the properties of market economies. It focuses on four main areas, dealing with the conditions that ensure the existence of equilibrium,the optimality of the equilibrium state, the stability of equilibrium and the relation between model equilibria and real economic data.

 

The book by W. D. A. Bryant deals with theoretical and empirical aspects of general equilibrium. The principal aim of the author is “to achieve an understanding of what general equilibrium theory has to say about the circumstances in which deregulated market economies function well, along with circumstances where this is not the case”. The book begins with an overview of GET (Chapter 1). The basic Walrasian conjecture that the deregulated market mechanism leads to optimal outcomes is stated and it leads to the basic questions of GET about the existence, uniqueness, stability, optimality of equilibrium states, the role of parameter values for the properties of these states and the empirical congruence of GET models. Next, some applications of GET are discussed, i.e., branches of economics that rely on general equilibrium assumptions, such as international trade, new-classical economics and economies in transition.

 

Chapter 2 deals with the fundamental issue of sufficient conditions for the existence of equilibrium. Basic notions are carefully defined, such as commodity, consumption sets and preference orderings. They serve to define Walrasian equilibrium and freedisposal equilibrium. A non-mathematical discussion about the possibility of having such equilibria is provided. Next, sufficient conditions for the existence of equilibrium are thoroughly analyzed (the theorems by Arrow and Debreu (1954), Debreu (1962), Arrow and Hahn (1971), Moore (1975), McKenzie (1981) and others).

 

In Chapter 3, the author moves on to necessary conditions for the existence of equilibria, showing that the common belief that Walrasian equilibria exist under weak and general conditions might not be justified. He argues that the “conditions necessary for existence require potentially restrictive relationship conditions to hold across the primitives which define the economy”.

 

Chapter 4 deals with the issue of irreducibility, i.e., the assumption that each agent in the economy is the owner of something which other people are interested in purchasing. In particular, the notion of McKenzie-irreducibility is analyzed from the point of view of its empirical justification. This notion is very important in establishing the existence of a Walrasian equilibrium. Different views emerging from empirical data are thoroughly reviewed and commented on.

 

In Chapter 5 some alternative approaches to establishing the existence of a Walrasian equilibrium are analyzed, with a focus on the ones that avoid strong relationship conditions, such as assumptions of irreducibility. It is explored how such important properties as the individual agents’ survival can appear without such assumptions. In particular, policy induced existence results, as well as ones related to voluntary transfers and altruism are discussed.

 

Chapter 6 deals with the existence of a Walrasian equilibrium in non-Arrow-Debreu environments. This includes the existence of equilibrium in a temporary equilibrium setup of Hicks, in the presence of money and in a Keynesian setup.

 

In Chapter 7 the uniqueness of equilibrium is discussed. This is one of the most fundamental and interesting questions in GET and a subject of intense debate. The conditions that need to be fulfilled in order that uniqueness is guaranteed are carefully elucidated. The author shows that they are rather restrictive. Next, the much less-restrictive case of finitely many isolated equilibria is analyzed.

 

Chapter 8 addresses the question of the stability of equilibrium. The discovery of a universal and globally stable adjustment process is believed by many to be the Holy Grail of GET. A variety of adjustment processes are analyzed, such as classical tâtonnement, global Newton process, discrete time adjustment processes and random adjustment processes. The author argues that all of them yield interesting, but not fully-satisfactory results, therefore implying the need for further research.

 

In Chapter 9, the author moves to the issue of optimality of equilibrium. The fundamental theorems of welfare economics are discussed. It is shown that there exist conditions under which equilibria are optimal, but no universal connection between equilibria and optima can be established, thus leading to the necessity of considering this connection in particular economic environments.

 

Chapter 10 deals with comparative statics of equilibrium states, i.e., the role of parameter values for the properties of equilibria and the response to shocks. This is especially important from the point of view of policy implications of GET models. A special attention is paid to welfare comparative statics.

 

In Chapter 11, the link between the theory and empirics is analyzed. In other words, it is investigated whether GET captures the essential features of real world economies and under which circumstances. Various tests of GET are discussed, in particular ones using microeconomic data (consumer and producer side, market clearing). It is shown that GET can indeed produce meaningful and testable results, but it can not provide fully satisfactory results in all cases - it can not be regarded as the universal theory valid anytime and anywhere. Still, it is argued that there is compelling empirical evidence that under certain conditions and in some economies it yields interesting results and provides a good description of the analyzed real world economies.

Chapter 12 offers a general outlook on the successes and failures of GET. The most important results of the book are discussed and summarized.

 

One of the most important virtues of this book is the abundance of references (over 40 pages) and the thorough discussions of historical achievements of GET, making it a good starting point for an exploration of many subtle details that had to be omitted from the book if it was to remain reasonable in length. Therefore, it will be invaluable to any researcher interested in GET.

 

Krzysztof Cichy (Poznań)

Keywords : general equilibrium theory; existence of equilibrium; uniqueness of equilibrium; stability of equilibrium; optimality of equilibrium; empirical tests of general

equilibrium theory

 

Classification :

*91-02 Research exposition (Social and behavioral sciences)

 91B50 Equilibrium in economics

 91B02 Fundamental topics on applicability to economics

 91B26 Market models

 

 

 

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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.

D. G. Sutter: "Undisputed Champion"

Title: The Laughter of Strangers

Author: Michael J. Seidlinger
Author's webpage:http://michaeljseidlinger.com/
Publisher: Lazy Fascist Press (http://lazyfascistpress.com/)
Genre: Literature
ISBN: 978-1621050971
Available on Amazon

 

 

Reviewed by  D.G. Sutter

 

What is the purpose of identity? It is to dignify the existence of human separation. We are all equally varied in characteristics and personalities. Like two snowflakes, none of us are the same, and unlike Tyler Durden’s philosophy we are all special. In The Laughter of Strangers, Michael Seidlinger challenges the concept of self by giving several faces and facets to the boxer who is, was, and always will be Willem Floures.

 

While identity is a feature set aside for others to differentiate, ego and self-esteem are internal machines to determine identity; the protagonist’s main struggle in the book is discovering the “true” Willem Floures through rigorous tests of both. Is it Sugar, Black Mamba, or Executioner? Seidlinger takes readers on an existentially vagrant journey through the stages of Floures’s life, using boxing matches as vibrant reveries of combat against actions and behaviors of past and present.

 

His prose is clean and concise and he wastes no breath in getting the story across, in passages such as “Looking back all I hear is laughter. All I see is white. All I taste is the ache of my bleeding mouth, tongue numb, my eyes wanting so very much to roll back, have a look at the inside of my broken skull.”

 

There are no extraneous details or descriptions to bore you out of your mind—no—merely conflict in the mind of a character on the path towards self-discovery, categorization, and personal revelation. If you’re looking for a read with a broad degree of settings and action, you will miss out a bit, but Seidlinger makes up for it with honest characters, ones that blend together likes the rounds do for a fighter.

 

As for my recommendation, I would say disappear into the crowd and try, for yourself, not to laugh as the world of Willem Floures crumbles, and thrives, on the southpawed boxer’s back. Be a spectator in his final fight for glory and gratification. Stand in his corner while he battles for inner supremacy and against the throes served by years of publicity. We are all looking for our place in the world, to be understood and find meaning. In the words of Willem Floures:

 

“You had to hurt yourself in order to be heard. You have to continue working, being productive, doing whatever it is that you do to maintain their attention. If no one pays attention to you, you aren’t really alive.”

 

The match starts now.

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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.

Clare O'Beara Reviews Joy Smith's "Detour Trail"

Detour Trail

Joy V. Smith

http://pagadan.wordpress.com/
Genre: Western

ISBN: 978-1-61235-570-2

Format:Paperback

Amazon

Melange Books

4 out of 5 stars

http://www.melange-books.com/authors/joyvsmith/detourtrail.html

 

 

Reviewed by Clare O'Beara

 

 

The Oregon Trail is notoriously long and hazardous, but Lorena Emerson and her uncle set off to seek a better future. Her uncle is killed by a thief so Lorrie is told she can't continue driving her oxen alone and must leave the wagon train at the next town. But the determined girl gathers some other discards such as the Browns and their broken wagon, and makes ready to travel with the next small train. Lorrie, who started driving light, collects abandoned furniture, mattresses and cast-iron stoves on the trail. When the steep mountain climbs become too much for a heavily pregnant woman and their livestock, Lorrie investigates a DETOUR TRAIL to a river and suggests settling near a mountain man and his Arapaho family.

Next we see the plentiful hard work and planning involved in building a settlement, from splitting logs and hauling rocks to planting gardens, and Lorrie makes a few back journeys to buy goods including flour, chickens and a wise mule called Jake. The girl is good at planning but less so at backwoods skills. She can hold her own against trail thieves though, who foolishly imagine a girl and loaded wagon will be easy prey. The settlers only have a short summer to prepare for winter, and their lives will depend on their buildings and supplies.

This is a spirited tale of a brave young woman, without any great drama of Indian wars. I enjoyed seeing the little settlement prosper and grow, and Lorrie had further adventures every time she ventured to the town or fort for supplies. Joy Smith has written a decent young adult read for a slice of American history, which reminded me of  Children on the Oregon Trail.

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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.

Historical Fiction Appeals to Midwest Book Reviewer

Title: Olivia, Mourning (Book 1 of the Olivia series)

Author: Yael Politis
Author's website:  yaelpolitis.wordpress.com
Genre: Historical Fiction (USA, 1840s)
ISBN:   1493652451
ASIN:   B00H0GYRT2
Available on Amazon

Reviewed by Diane Donovan, Senior eBook Reviewer for Midwest Book Review

 

Olivia, Mourning, Book 1 of the ‘Olivia’ series, is historical fiction at its best. It is the story of Olivia Killion, a feisty, would-be-independent woman – a seventeen-year-old female living in 1841 who’s determined to fulfill the requirement of her father’s will and cultivate 80 acres in Michigan in order to gain title to the land.

She spent two years caring for her demanding father during his long illness and now feels entitled to a home she can call her own. Many obstacles stand in the way of her plans but Mourning, her childhood friend, has experience working the land and agrees to become a partner in this endeavor. Olivia not only trusts him but fears no romantic entanglement developing between them and complicating matters.

There’s only one problem: he’s black and reluctant to risk the wrath of white men by working with a young white girl. He’s also the orphaned son of slaves who escaped to the north. Mourning was born free in Pennsylvania, but knows that the private agents who patrol the free states in search of fugitive slaves to return to the south are not particular about the legal status of the young black men they kidnap.

Olivia believes she can make her dream come true without putting Mourning in danger, and the two set off to an isolated log cabin to work the land together. Olivia represses the feelings she begins to develop for Mourning and focuses instead on her attraction to a young neighbor. But when all turns to disaster, Olivia is forced to acknowledge – and re-assess – not only her feelings for Mourning, but the very nature of her drive for independence.

Olivia, Mourning deftly captures the atmosphere of her times, offering readers a smooth introduction to Olivia’s character and its origins, her purpose, and her growth: “Olivia had heard the good women in the pews behind her all through her father’s funeral service, a flock of pecking hens in winter poke bonnets. They lowered their voices, but not enough; she heard their opinions of what that Killion girl ought to do. Or not do. Just what was wrong with her and how it ought to be fixed.”

The way she attempts to conduct her relationship with Mourning reveals the depth of her maturity and awareness of the challenges they face: “I’m not a fighter, Mourning. I’ve never wanted to change the world. All I want is to make my own little piece of it as nice as I can. We’ll both have a lot more trouble doing that if all the white folks we meet get it into their heads that we’re way too friendly for their liking. We’re going to need good relations with our neighbors, and if telling them you’re my hired man – and me bossing you like you are – will keep them from getting all rankled, well so what?”

Her assessments of reality are strikingly down to earth for a seventeen-year-old and her slow realization of Mourning’s importance to her life (beyond their business relationship) is candid and revealing, too: “It’s Mourning, she thought. Mourning is the one I care for. Has been for a long time. Not just as a friend. He’s the one it could be wonderful to share a life with. But with Mourning there is nothing to hope for, no “if only he wanted me.” Never. I might as well wish both of us dead as wish for him to express desire for me. Nothing will ever change that. And no other man will ever feel like part of me, the way Mourning does.” 

What to do with this new-found self-awareness? What choices will Olivia make? Will they support her beliefs or compromise everything she purports to value? And what roles will isolation and stubbornness play in both their lives?

Olivia, Mourning is about the changing complexities of human relationships and politics as much as it is about one determined young girl’s desire to make her own place in the world, outside of boundaries and conventions. It’s also a story of trauma and how even the closest-held relationships and secrets change. 

Expect no easy conclusions to Book 1: it’s all about transition points and leaves the door open for further journeys with Olivia. Readers interested in historical fiction with a healthy dose of romance will find Olivia, Mourning a compelling, gripping saga that deliciously wraps what could be predictable elements in a cloak of many choices. It’s all about options and consequences – and is a heartfelt story especially recommended for readers who enjoy headstrong protagonists tasked with making their own way in the world.

– D. Donovan, Senior eBook Reviewer, MBR

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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.

Poetry Reading, Poetry Promotion on KPFK, Radio on Online

I’m very excited about helping poets with their marketing on Los Angeles’ great KPFK radio with poet and host Lois P. Jones on Wednesday, Jan 8, 8:30 pm Pacific or on the Web worldwide  at http://www.kpfk.org/. 

Our Facebook event:  

https://www.facebook.com/lois.p.jones.7/posts/10152102186647415?comment_id=28682895

 

Lois says,

"Please join us next Wed, December 11th at 8:30 p.m. for an up close look at poet and marketing guru Carolyn Howard-Johnson whose How to Do it Frugally series offers the ultimate guides in selling your book to an agent, a publisher, and--after it's published--the media! She is a tireless mentor of writers in all genres and an award-winning poet and author herself. You'll hear several of her gorgeous poems and a few promotional tips to boot. See you there!"

Here are the details:

RADIO: POETS CAFE INTERVIEWS AUTHOR AND POET CAROLYN HOWARD-JOHNSON

23,000,000 Southern Californians can listen live on radio at:
KPFK 90.7 FM in Los Angeles.
OR 98.7 FM Santa Barbara
OR anyone can listen to the streamed broadcast on their computers at http://www.kpfk.org/

Wednesday, January at 8:30pm

Please listen in. Lois is not only a consummate host but a poet in her own right. And at the Facebook event you might find networking with other poets the best part of the experience.  

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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.

Counseling Professional Shares Sobriety Secret

Title: Lifelong Sobriety

Author: Bajeerao Patil
Author's Web site link: http://www.bajeeraopatil.com/
Genre: self-help
ISBN: 978-0989569811Virtual Book Tour Page: http://virtualbooktour-theyppublishing.blogspot.ca/p/blog-page.html

Available on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0989569810/

Submitted by Yvonne Wu 

Addiction and the subsequent healthcare costs—accidents, crime, incarceration, clinics—cost Americans over $484 billion every year. 

Drugs are big business.  Throwing more money, more in-patient treatment, or more aggressive state intervention rarely addresses the underlying causes.  Addicts need help, but they need more than “tough love.”  Instead, they need an alternative to help them manage the toughest obstacle of all:  Their Emotions.
Many people tend to ignore their emotional health. As a drug and alcohol counselor for over 25 years, I have worked with hundreds of individuals who manage their emotions through the use of mood altering chemicals.  I realized there needs to be an addiction recovery book that offers straight talk in plain sensible language.   A book that offers motivational stories and real-life successes.  A book that offers the kind of simple advice a recovering drug addict might encounter in a recovery group. No academic jargon that would confuse an individual seeking help or family member. I decided to write such a book.
After 7 years of writing my book about addiction “Insanity Beyond Understanding” was published in 2009. With my new book Lifelong Sobriety, the focus is on helping readers find solutions to their issues, change their past behaviors, attitudes and learn how to manage their lives more effectively.

Lifelong Sobriety is the first recovery book that emphasizes the importance of taking care of one’s emotional health. The thirty-four chapters contain the kind of simple advice a recovering drug addict might encounter in a recovery group. The book has real-life experiences of dozens of recovering addicts. Readers will not only learn from these experiences but can benefit from the success stories of many of these individuals. 

Individuals who suffer from addiction need more than tough love. They need encouragement and proper guidance to make well informed decisions to sustain long term sobriety.  The healing starts within this book helps them find the solutions they need.

About Bajeerao Patil

Bajeerao Patil has been treating addictions as a drug and alcohol counselor for over 25 years. He has Masters Degrees in Social Work and Human Resources. He is an avid teacher of addiction and recovery.  He is affiliated with the Drug and Alcohol Testing Industry Association. To learn more about Bajeerao Patil and his work, visit http://www.amazon.com/dp/0989569810/ and http://www.bajeeraopatil.com/.


More about Yvonne Wu

Internet Publicist | Author & Speaker Assistant
The YP Publishing
Canada: 905-341-0997
USA: 1-347-674-9951
http://theyppublishing.com
http://speakerspromotion.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.

Coming of Age Story Impresses Reviewer

The Lady

By Judy Higgins

http://www.judyhigginsbooks.com

https://www.facebook.com/judyhigginsauthor

http://judyhigginsauthor.blogspot.com

Genre: coming of age/mystery (prize winning novel)

ISBN 978-0615878089

 

Reviewed by Jesse Sisken, author of Cavanila's Choices originally for Amazon

 

        "The Lady" tells the story of Quincy Bruce, a plucky, talented 16-year old girl who, in rural Georgia in the 1950's, dreams of becoming a concert pianist. But her fundamentalist parents and Aunt Mildred are more concerned about her soul than her aspirations. Quincy's salvation comes when her parents go to Africa as missionaries and leave her with her Aunt Addy who fosters her dreams and opens her eyes to a whole new world. But Addy has a mysterious past that, out of love, Quincy feels she needs to get to the bottom of. But what she finds is more than she bargained for.

       Higgins does an outstanding job of putting the reader into her scenes, capturing the speech and attitudes of the time and place. Her characters are well-rounded and believable. She writes well and has a nice voice. Once into the book, it's hard to put it down. And once finished, it's hard to get Quincy's story out of one's mind. I recommend this book very highly.

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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.

Poetry: Order Your Best Valentine Ever Early

Title: Cherished Pulse: Unconventional Love Poetry 

Authors:  Magdalena Ball and Carolyn Howard-Johnson. 

Genre: Poetry

ISBN: 9781449546052

Reviewer: Joy V. Smith 

Reviewer's link: http://pagadan.wordpress.com/

Review was originally published on Amazon

Publisher:  A Compulsive Reader Publication

Reviewer's rating: 5 stars

Available at Amazon in paperback and Kindle

 Reviewed by Joy V. Smith

 

Say it with poetry

 

This chapbook of poems is a delicious serving of loving and lovely thoughts, memories, and images of love shared and remembered in a breathtaking way, as in these lines from "Aurora":

 

 

"Red, green and purple curtains

waved above you"

 

"If I could capture that spectrum of

atomic neon sign of lost wonder"

 

As a science fiction writer, I so appreciated the cosmic comparisons in Magadalena Ball's poems. 

 

The first group of poems is by Magdalena Ball; the second group is by Carolyn Howard-Johnson.  All the poems flow and entice you into a world of longing and caresses.  Howard-Johnson's poems reflect the imagery of nature, as in these lines from "Dreaming Lilacs":

 

"hearing bougainvillea's fuchsia

song, taking shortcuts

across the lawn to kick

through jacaranda's silent

petalfall. Like Van Goh's flowers

twist their faces

 to the sun, ... "

 

These gentle, but stirring poems are a sweet gift to yourself, a friend, a loved one, or a young girl to show her what love really means...

 

ABOUT THE REVIEWER

Joy V. Smith loves science fiction; she reads it and writes it and interviews other science fiction writers when she tracks them down...  Her SF includes Sugar Time (audiobook), two collections of her published short stories, Aliens, Animals, and Adventure andThe Doorway and Other Stories, and three e-books: Hidebound (SF romance/adventure), Pretty Pink Planet, and Hot Yellow Planet (the sequel).  But her latest novel is a western, Detour Trail.

Find The Doorway and Other Stories on Kindle:  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007SV1FB2

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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.