Inspiration! Travel! Self-Help! Review for Watching the Daisies

Title: Watching the Daisies

Subtitle: Life Lessons on the Importance of Slow

Author: Brigid P. Gallagher

Genre: Inspirational, Memoir, Self Help, Travel.

ISBN: 978-0-9935923-6-2

Purchase: 

https://amazon.com/dp/B01N3M9VJ0

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/watching-the-daisies-brigid-p-gallagher/1126231153

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/watching-the-daisies

Reviewed with permission by Wendy Hodgson  originally on Amazon.co.uk

"I loved this book - so much so that I read it twice which isn't something I do very often. The book took me on a journey combining practical tips with an inspiring insight into destinations I've never been to. I'm tempted to add some of the destinations to my bucket list!

This is a really relaxing read and very inspiring as it shows how you can overcome adversity to live an inspiring and fun life. The author is never daunted by her experience of living with fibromyalgia and pushes through with courage to visit far off destinations and rise to new challenges. The journey takes the reader on a path full of emotion - laughter, sadness, fun and frolicks - the route has them all!
A truly lovely, gentle and relaxing book which makes a perfect holiday read."

MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brigid P. Gallagher aspired to becoming a doctor but it was not her destiny. Instead she embarked on studies to become one of the first natural medicine practitioners in Scotland, eventually becoming a tutor for community projects, a women's prison, and the Open Studies and Summer Schools of Stirling University from 1993 to 1999. In 1999, she relocated to Donegal, Ireland - the home of her ancestors. Four years later she succumbed to a mystery illness that was eventually diagnosed as fibromyalgia. "Stopping the World"  forced her to reassess her life, and creative writing became a significant aid in her recovery. She eventually retrained in organic horticulture, worked in the glorious gardens of Glenveagh Castle, and inspired children and teachers to create organic school gardens.

Learn more about Brigid P. Gallagher at:

Website: https://watchingthedaisies.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/watchingthedaisies/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/watchingthedai1

MORE ABOUT THIS BLOG AND GETTING REVIEWS

 The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. Of particular interest to readers of this blog is her most recent How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically (http://bit.ly/GreatBkReviews ) that covers 325 jam-packed pages covering everithing from Amazon vine to writing reviews for profit and promotion. Reviewers will have a special interest in the chapter on how to make reviewing pay, either as way to market their own books or as a career path--ethically!

This blog 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.

Review: Miscommunication Across Cultures

Title: Perception and Deception
Subtitle: A Mind-Opening Journey Across Cultures
Web site: WWW.PerceptionAndDeception.com
Genre: Nonfiction: Communication Across Cultures, Intercultural
Competence, International Issues, Travel, Immigration Challenges;
Business , Diplomacy  and Language Conundrums Across Cultures.
ISBN13: 978-1512113266   and ISBN-10: 1512113263

Reviewed by David Lennon, International Vice President of the
Association of European Journalists and former Managing Editor and
Foreign Correspondent for the Financial Times.

Don't Leave home without it! No, not your credit card, I mean Joe
Lurie's master class of miscommunication across cultures, PERCEPTION AND
DECEPTION, A MIND-OPENING JOURNEY ACROSS CULTURES.
   
 This is a priceless book for anyone who travels and wants to
navigate the minefields of misunderstandings that arise because of
cultural differences. A lifetime of practical experience, a compendium
of cultural challenges, and a wicked wit combine to make this book an
indispensable volume for all those planning to step beyond their
cultural village. Oh, how I wish this book had been available when I
began my international career-how many fewer people I would have
inadvertently offended."

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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.

New Book Features Quest for World's Best Chocolate

Title: Chocolatour
Subtitle: A Quest for the World's Best Chocolate"
Volume 1
Author: Doreen Pendgracs
Author's Web site link: http://doreenpendgracs.com
Genre: Nonfiction travel, food
ISBN: 978-0-9918901-0-1
Personalized autographed copies can be obtained directly from the author's site at http://chocolatour.net where e-books are also available.
Hard copies are available on Amazon



Reviewed by Susan Fluhr originally for Boomeresque: Baby Boomer Travels for the Body and Mind  

 

This first volume of a projected three has convinced me that travel writer Doreen Pendgracs is the “Rick Steves” of chocolate tourism. Like Steves’ books, this volume not only takes us to places, but also provides historical context and information necessary for an in depth understanding of chocolate. Pendgracs’ passion for and appreciation of chocolate is infectious.

In this first volume, Pendgracs ultimately takes us to seven European countries to explore the world of fine, artisanal chocolate, but she starts the book by sharing her travels to cacao growing regions in a remote Amazon jungle area in Peru and on back roads subject to mudslides in Ecuador. Her cacao growing exploration on the island nation of Saint Lucia was undertaken in somewhat more luxurious surroundings. In this chapter, we learn how the cacao fruit (yes, it’s a fruit!) is grown and ultimately harvested and processed into chocolate.

If you ever feel the need to explain your chocolate addiction or why chocolate is actually good for you, Pendgracs provides the necessary information in chapter two of her book which is titled, “Chocogasms and Other Health Benefits of Chocolate”.

Although most of us know we like chocolate, the author educates us about how not to just consume chocolate, but how to experience it — much as an oenophile understands and enjoys fine wine. She identifies ten chocolate personalities that we can use to characterize the products of different chocolatiers and then introduces us to chocolatiers she finds noteworthy in the United Kingdom, Belgium, France, Holland, Italy, Spain and Switzerland. These chapters will be very useful for travelers wanting to undertake a chocolate pilgrimage along with their visits to the “must sees” of Europe. After reading this book, you will want to and be able to add fine chocolate tastings to your European travel itineraries.

Many people know that Mexican mole sauce combines the flavors of chocolate and chile. In Chapter 12 of Volume One of Chocolatour, the author shares some recipes that employ chocolate in new and intriguing ways. Are you ready for cacao gazpacho or a summer salad with smoked eel, chocolate and pecorino wafers topped with chocolate vinegar?

There is also a chapter about chocolate festivals, museums and attractions around the globe.  Indeed, I purchased my copy of Chocolatour: A Quest for the World’s Best Chocolate (Volume One) at the Hawaii Chocolate Festival in Honolulu, where the author, Doreen Pendgracs, lectured about chocolate. I admit I was a little leery about sitting still for an hour lecture about chocolate, especially immediately after having sampled some of the festival products (chocolate covered bacon anyone?). However, just as in her book, the author kept me and the others in the room engaged as she conveyed her knowledge abut and enthusiasm for chocolate.

While you can (and should) purchase this book for yourself if you are a chocolate devotee or a chocolate devotee wannabe, it would also make a wonderful gift for the chocolate lovers in your life. My copy is inscribed to my favorite chocolate lover — my husband.

 

 

 

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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.

Author Shares Expat Ideas from Costa Rica

Title:  Retiring in Costa Rica or Doctors, Dogs or Pura Vida

Author:  Helen Dunn Frame

Website:  www.helendunnframe.com

Category: Self-help (part of doing due diligence for retirement)ISBN:  9781479126095

Amazon Author's Page with second edition: https://www.amazon.com/author/helendunnframe.com 

 

Reviewed by Margaret Hegboum

 

Helen Dunn Frame's extensive background traveling and living abroad eminently qualifies her to advise on what it takes to "do it right." Although it's been said that there's no teacher like experience, getting a first-hand account of life in Costa Rica from an intelligent, experienced, and articulate source such as this writer runs a very close second. Consistent with my own much more limited experience (I lived in France for a year), her emphasis that having the right attitude: willingness to adapt, to learn the language and to keep an open mind, is indispensable to making a success of living in a foreign country, is right on the mark. It certainly made all the difference for me. The same thing is true for her admonition that in essence moving to "paradise" isn't going to magically "fix" everything if you have problems you're trying to escape dealing with. In other words, be realistic in your expectations.

 

The book, Retiring in Costa Rica or Doctors, Dogs and Pura Vida, is exhaustively researched, comprehensive and detailed-chock full of information, with scores of references on where to go to find more. The uninitiated visitor/immigrant could stumble and fumble around the country for weeks or months and still not succeed in acquiring the wealth of knowledge contained in this book. It's a tremendous head start on understanding how life "works" in CR. In addition, there are interesting anecdotes, warmth, and humor. The author's affection for Costa Rica and its people ("warts and all") shines through - tempered with a healthy dose of practicality. Reading the book is a bit like having an enjoyable conversation with a good friend over coffee. I had a hard time laying it down.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Helen Dunn Frame
Retiring in Costa Rica or Doctors, Dogs and Pura Vida (Second Edition); Greek Ghosts  Website: www.helendunnframe.com   Author's Page:  https://www.amazon.com/author/helendunnframe.com  Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/RetiringInCostaRicaOrDoctorsDogsAndPuraVida

 

 

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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.

Women's Nonfiction Reviewed by Book Club

Title: My Pilgrim's Heart
Subtitle: A woman's journey through marriage and other foreign lands

By Stephanie Dale
Author's Web site: www.stephaniedale.net
Genre: Travel memoir
ISBN: 978 09821 40765

Reviewed by Chocolate Amethyst (chocolateamethyst) originally for Talk the Talk Women's Book Club

“You won't find Stephanie Dale in My Pilgrim's
Heart, you will find yourself. What you will find is Stephanie Dale right beside you." Stephanie - thank you. Every time you comment,  My Pilgrim’s Heart comes alive in a different “light”. I would like to thank you for for creating a “atomosphere” of sincerity, truthfulness, and “tough love”. This blog page has allowed the TTT Ladies a precious opportunity to be “real”. I can’t thank you enough for taking the time to comment and answer each question. I did my final post on 6 May 2012, and honestly I have been on a “journey” of self reflection. Your book My Pilgrim's Heart has opened up the flood gates to my soul and mind. I did not realize how much “tension” that is in my spirit. I have set some new goals for myself, and I have a plan to be proactive with each one. Your Journey is full of wisdom, and your insight is limitless.
 TTT Ladies I really hope that other book clubs take this journey with Stephanie Dale and My Pilgrim’s Heart. They will discover the” journey” in their heart, 
Stephanie you are a ‘rare jewel’, and I have the upmost respect for you.”

More About the Author:
Stephanie Dale
Traveling writer

Facebook.com/mypilgrimsheart

Twitter: @stephaniedale22

www.stephaniedale.net

'A lover is a fighter who believes
her desires are shared by all the world' Harriet Rubin

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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 :

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 :

Travel Book a Won't-Forget Narrative, Too

Lost Angel Walkabout-One Traveler's Tales
By Linda Ballou, http://www.lindaballouauthor.com/
ISBN 978:1449971526
ISBN 978-1449971526

Price $14.95
Available at Amazon.com and Kindle Reader editionas well as all major online distribution sites. Signed copy with free shipping at author’s site: http://www.lindaballouauthor.com/



Reviewed by Bonnie Neely, editor of RealTravelAdventures.com e-zine and top Amazon Reviewer 

Lost Angel Walkabout by Linda Ballou is one of the most beautifully written travel books I have ever read. Linda tells her personal experiences of her many travels in different continents and environs. She is well-known as a top adventure travel writer, and her tales of her intrepid soul's search for beauty in the wilds and her ability to rouse physically to any demands of the setting will thrill the reader. She increased my desire to become more physically fit so that I could do some of the things she is daring and fit enough to do. She grew up in Alaska and has always loved horses. Her travel tales about returning to that wonderful environ and her experiences in many different places which involved riding horses are so beautifully inspiring. Linda also leads walkabouts in Los Angeles. I highly recommend her book as a treasure you will want to read, and then to re-read aloud to anyone who might want to listen. Her use of words is very commanding and her descriptions so vivid you will feel you have traveled alongside her and seen all the beauty of the surroundings which she so deeply appreciates. This is a MUST READ!

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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 :

Rebecca Jones Lauds Doreen Orion's Travel Tale

Queen of the Road: The True Tale of 47 States, 22,000 Miles, 200 Shoes, 2 Cats, 1 Poodle, a Husband, and a Bus With a Will of Its Own
By Doreen Orion
Humorous Travel Memoir
ISBN 0767928539.
Broadway Books, $13.95

Reviewed by Rebecca Jones for the Rocky Mountain News "Grade A."
Published June 5, 2008.
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jun/05/queen-of-the-road-the-true-tale-of-47-states-200/

Book in a nutshell: When Boulder psychiatrist Orion's husband, Tim, proposes they take a year off to travel around the country in a converted bus, Orion - a "princess from the island of Long" with a deep-seated aversion to anything strenuous and a profound appreciation for shoes and exotic drinks - is appalled. Reluctantly, she agrees.

Their year on the road proves a wonder, taking them from fall in New England to Christmas in Key West to Mardi Gras in New Orleans to summer in the wilds of Alaska. Orion never quite conquers her fear of bus crashes - or bus fires or various other bus misadventures - but along the way she learns that living with only what you can cram into 345 square feet of living space has its advantages.

Best tidbit: "We went to Memphis specifically to see Graceland, something we'd both always wanted to do. We're not the only ones; it's the second most visited residence in the U.S. (The White House is Number One.) The fourteen-acre, 17,000-square-foot estate turned out to be a colossal disappointment. I thought it would be far more grand. Maybe it's just that, as a museum left exactly as it had been when the King died, it can't help being a fashion victim of the '70s. But really. One of the richest men in the country, a cultural icon no less, and he had Formica countertops?"

Pros: Orion has every good travel writer's ability to make readers feel they are there, to capture the telling details of places, and to present the account in a witty, accessible way. Reading the book makes you want to hit the road and have some of your own grand adventures.

Cons: Alas, for most readers, taking a year off to travel - let alone a year well before they're of retirement age - simply isn't feasible. But we can dream . . .

Final word: This is a fun read that will make just about anyone start itching for a road trip.

Doreen Orion
We didn't just dream of the road...
www.QueenOfTheRoadTheBook.com
www.QueenOfTheRoadTheBook.com/blog

QUEEN OF THE ROAD: The True Tale of 47 States, 22,000 Miles, 200 Shoes, 2 Cats, 1 Poodle, a Husband, and a Bus With a Will of Its Own is available now from Broadway Books, an imprint of Random House.

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, founder of Authors' Coalition (www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com). 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 and reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page.

New Release: Travel with a Purpose

Title: ALONG THE TEMPLAR TRAIL: Seven Million Steps for Peace
Author: Brandon Wilson
Paperback/Hardcover: 328 pages with 42 photos and maps
Publisher: Pilgrim's Tales, Inc.
Publish date: January 1, 2008
(now available to pre-order from Amazon.com)
ISBN: 9780977053681 9780977053698
Website:
Genre: Travel / Mind, Body, Spirit

Quotations from Richard Bangs and M. K. Gandhi

“[Along the Templar Trail is]A vivid and eye-opening blend of history, adventure, religion, mysticism and modern conflict. Brandon Wilson has crafted an exquisite chronicle of an obsessive journey where we are compelled to come to terms with the consequences of good intentions and bad politics. We cannot resist being swept along with the fervor of this quest. Wilson writes with extraordinary clarity, lyricism, sensitivity and grace. It is simply one of the most remarkable adventure stories of our time, and one that proves that with the right combination of character and determination great things can be done, and the eyes of the world can be opened.” ~ Richard Bangs, world-adventurer, author/host of the PBS television series Richard Bangs' Adventures With Purpose, co-founder Mountain Travel Sobek


"A fascinating testimony of faith and gumption that inspired two men to take seven million steps for peace. A must read…" ~ Arun Gandhi, president, M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence, University of Rochester, NY
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This book is coming in January 2008. It is avaialble for pre-order on Amazon now.
Visit: http://www.PilgrimsTales.com for excerpts, photos, movies, interviews and more.