Oh! That Blind Date Thing-- Revisited!

Eyes Wide Shut
Title: All Men Are Cremated Equal: My 77 Blind Dates
Author: Elizabeth Fournier
Genre: Women's NonFiction/Chick Lit
ISBN-13: 9780595533008
Format: Paperback, 212 pages
Publisher: iUniverse, Incorporated (January 2009)

Review by Cate Garrison, author OF MUTTS AND MEN, MIRANDA AND HER
DAUGHTERS, CHOICE CUTS OF LAMB

Elizabeth Fournier is a motorcycling, ballroom dancing, beer drinking mortician who decides to go on 77 blind dates; if that isn't a formula for success, I don't know what is. And, believe me, this page-turning, hilarious yet thought-provoking book lives up to the promises of its premises. Elizabeth's imagery is alive and glorious; her dialog pops off the page; the pictures she creates shout aloud with color. In
particular, the thumbnail sketches of the guys she dates are telling and resonant. We recognize these jerks; nay, we have dated them, if not blindly, then certainly (in my case) with our eyes closed. And her central character (herself) is beautifully drawn, quirky, half-vulnerable, half-brimming with confidence, at all times both totally empathetic and yet refreshingly unexpected. Buy this book for
your girlfriends (and boyfriends), and they will forever be grateful.

About the Author:

After she got over her dream of being a Solid Gold Dancer, Fournier promptly headed into the local funeral home and asked for a job, any job. She became the live-in night keeper which meant she resided in a trailer in the far reaches of a large, hilly cemetery and slept with a shotgun near her bed. It was the scariest summer of her life. She is currently the voice of the autopsy exhibit in the forensic wing at the United States National Museum of Medicine and a full-time mortician. She is also a ballroom dance instructor at Reed College in Portland, Oregon. But she couldn't resist writing the story of her unusual method of dating that led her to the love of her life.


-----
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 loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index 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.

Be Part of a Movement: Feel the Feng Shui Energy

Title: Confessions of a Feng Shui Ghost-Buster
Author: Dr. Anna Maria Prezio
Purchase: Find it on Amazon or scroll down and click on the cover on the Amazon image below.

Synopsis:

Confessions of a Feng Shui Ghost-Buster is part memoir, part guide. It is a result of a life long journey that begins in a tiny village in Italy where Anna Maria experienced her first metaphysical phenomenon. The book is so compelling that I wanted to share it with you:

Part I captures your attention with a ghostly first encounter of an intuitive and vulnerable 6 year old. The culture and experience of the author growing up in a rural and mystical village in Italy where ghostly occurrences and stories were part of every day life sets the stage for what would be a life-long study of the mystical and divine.

Part II describes Feng Shui, like medicine, as both an art and a science. Here, the definitions and different sects of Feng Shui are discussed to provide a backdrop for the connection between environmental balance and the appearance of spirits. Through Feng Shui mastery you will begin to understand the metaphysical and hidden knowledge as it applies to all aspects of our life here on earth. In this book, Dr. Prezio teaches you to create a better and more harmonious environment to uplift your spirit and raise your vibrations. As a result, your spirit is naturally in tune with creation and your divine self.

Part III delves deeper into the correlation between environment and entities with ideas, cures and stories about ghost-busting from Dr. Prezio's direct and extraordinary experiences.

This book promises to intrigue you from cover to cover. You will better understand yourself and the phenomenal world in which you live.

I encourage you to visit this link now and step into the prosperity and serenity you deserve:

http://www.confessionsofafengshuighost-buster.com/BookPromo.html

The inspiring mentors you will meet when you visit the link above want you to have this book so badly that they are willing to FREELY SHARE their very valuable wisdom and knowledge so Confessions of a Feng Shui Ghost-Buster can transform your life and guide you toward your ultimate dreams.




Technorati Tags:
dr. anna maria prezio, confessions of a feng shui ghost buster, chi, blog tour, denise cassino,
Add to: | Technorati | Digg | del.icio.us | Yahoo | BlinkList | Spurl | reddit | Furl |



-----
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 loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index 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.

Star Cynthia Brian Presents New Book for Teens

Be the Star You Are! for TEENS
By Cynthia Brian with 38 contributors
304 pages
Morgan James Publishers
Teen/Young Adult $17.95 ISBN: 9781600376320
Starstyle® Productions, LLC


It’s tough being a teen in the 21st century. With so many restrictions, requirements, and reality television obsessed with cultural messages focused on fame, fortune, beauty, and sex, it’s no wonder teens feel helpless, hopeless, and stressed out. Empowerment coach, TV/Radio personality, and best selling author, Cynthia Brian has worked tirelessly over the past two decades to encourage young people to reach for the stars. In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the founding of Be the Star You Are!® 501 c3 , a new book boasting thirty eight contributors from around the world, Be the Star You Are! for TEENS, will be released with all proceeds benefitting the charity.


Olesya Rulin, actress and star of High School Musical 1, 2, and 3 stated, " I wish I would have read this when I was a teen. It would have encouraged me to let go and be me. Individuality is crucial in life. This book helps explain why it is so important to stay true to yourself."

Be the Star You Are! for TEENS is a refreshing escape from sermons and rules. Instead you’ll read real life stories with real issue tools. Each easy to read short chapter is jam packed with simple strategies that you can implement immediately to survive and thrive. The book encourages you to embrace your individuality, find your passion, and ignite the flame that burns brightly within. “ In this book, Cynthia Brian provides stories and tools that will help teens honor their individuality and uniqueness while learning to deal with peer pressure in a positive way,” stated Patty Hansen, author of Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul.

Besides contributions by renowned best selling authors such as Dr. Bernie Siegel, M. J. Ryan, Libby Gill, and C. Hope Clark, teenagers from around the country are making their writing debut.

This book has garnered rave endorsements from educators, authors, celebrities, and CEO’s. Pro-surfer and teen inspiration, Bethany Hamilton, who suffered the loss of her arm from a shark attack wrote, “When I read a book it has to be like talking to a friend...this is it! Made me smile and surf a bigger wave!” Cassidy Freeman, Star of CW’s SMALLVILLE said, “I'm glad there's a book to help people of all ages realize that joy is more important than status and absolutely no one is better at being you.”

Whether you are a teen looking for answers, a parent, teacher, grandparent, or advisor searching for communication guidance, Be the Star You Are! for TEENS is a teen survival guide with pro-active positive steps in learning to major in success. Cynthia shared, “I’ve always strove to help young people uncover their inner genius. And as a woman who loves to garden, my real goal was to grow people.”

Be the Star You Are! for TEENS is in full bloom. Proceeds from the sale of this book benefit Be the Star You Are!® 501c3 charity. (www.bethestaryouare.org)


-----
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 loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index 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.

Mother's Day Chapbook Reviewed by Poet Helena Harper

Poet Helena Harper, www.helenaharper.com, just reviewed She Wore Emerald Then: Reflections of Motherhood by Magdalena Ball and Carolyn Howard-Johnson. So as not to steal any of her Mother's Day thunder, please go to her site to see the poems she chose to quote and see what she has to say about this ultimate in Gifts-for-Mother. It's at her blog http://helenaharpersblog.blogspot.com/2009/05/she-wore-emerald-then-cosmic-imagery.html.

-----
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 loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index 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.

Unintended Review: This Is the Place Takes Publisher's Reading Pile Honor

This review is really an unsolicited letter to me about my novel, This Is the Place. I don't run my own review often, but this one was irresistible and it seemed, well... fair is fair. It is still available used (sometimes for only $1 or $2!) on Amazon. And I thank Mindy Philips Lawrence, publisher of Thinking Stone Press and author in her own right, for her kind words. Sometimes the best reviews are the unintended reviews!

This Is the PlaceBy Carolyn Howard-Johnson
Published by AmErica House
Fiction, literary, historical, women's, western
ISBN: 1588513621

Unsolicited Comment by Mindy Philips Lawrence

This is The Place is so motivating! It’s an excellent lesson in tolerance or, more than that, acceptance. It’s going to go in my pile of books to dissect and study. Few books make it to that pile. I’m reading David Balducci now (two books) and have to say he’s good but won’t go in my pile (Dan Brown made it because of the intricacy of his plot in The DaVinci Code). What my reading now is teaching me is to have depth to my writing and not just random characters doing stuff. Your book, Laila Lalami’s book and V.I. Naipaul’s book all show characters operating in a backdrop of either history, geography, religion or something larger than just an individual’s story. That’s what I am seeking to do with my novel . . . still too underdeveloped to write.

Thought you’d like to know.
Mindy Lawrence, Publisher THINKING STONE PRESS

Technorati Tags:
historical fiction, utah fiction, western fiction, women's fiction, tolerance, acceptance, dan brown, david balducci, Fiction: Historical, Fiction: Literary, Fiction: Western, laila lalami, Mindy Philips Lawrence (publisher), V.I. Naipaul, book reviews,
Add to: | Technorati | Digg | del.icio.us | Yahoo | BlinkList | Spurl | reddit | Furl |

-----
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 loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index 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.

Overcoming Fear

A Layman's Guide To Managing Fear
Author: Stanley Popovich
www.managingfear.com
Nonfiction: SELF HELP
ISBN: 1928602975 AND Rated: [G]

Review by Piers Watson, OCD Action, London England for Treble Heart BooksReview


This short booklet, published in the USA, is full of common-sense practical advice on techniques for coping with fear. As the title makes clear, it is very much a layperson's interpretation and explanation of the most commonly accepted methods of managing or overcoming fear, namely behaviour therapy and cognitive behaviour therapy (terms not used by Popovich). Effective use is made of examples to illustrate the choices we all face.

For some this booklet will be profoundly helpful. Everyone, however, whose life is crippled by fear, will find something useful here

-----
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 loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index 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.

Valerie Landau Tells Teachers How To Develop an Online Course

Title: Developing an Effective Online Course
Author: Valerie Landau
Publisher: McGraw-Hill
ISBN-10: 0072587024
ISBN-13: 978-0072587029
My Rating - 4 out of 5

Reviewed by Judi Silva

Author Valerie Landau is very thorough in helping you to develop and evaluate a successful online course. Each topic comes complete with goals, objectives, warm up activities, famous quotes, instructor’s notes, student assignments and a list of resources.

Topic 1: Course Introduction
A discussion of the production process of online media (Web sites and multimedia) pros and cons will be the crux of this topic. Features of the online medium and the four stages of it, namely, concept definition, design, production, and testing and quality assurance phases will be discussed in detail.

Topic 2: Evaluation and Criteria
How to find review and evaluate existing online courses will be shown. Included are links to sample courses and a list key questions your course needs to be able to answer.

Topic 3: Survey of Online Courses
The objectives in this topic include: reviewing existing online courses related to your topic, using "Bloom's Taxonomy of the Cognitive Domain" to identify levels of cognition, analyzing the advantages and drawbacks two different approaches the student-centered approach and the teacher-centered techniques

Topic 4: Goals and Objectives
You will learn to write a broad overall goal for the course you are developing, measurable objectives for the course, a broad goal for one module of instruction and measurable objectives for the module of instruction. You will also learn to categorize each learning objective according to "Bloom’s Taxonomy of the Cognitive Domain".

Topic 5: Developing the Course Outline
Learn just what a course outline is and how to write one using your goals and objectives discussed in the previous topics.

Topic 6: Developing Assignments
Here Ms. Landau teaches the most difficult part of developing an online course - how to developing engaging assignments. She also discusses how to describe the type of feedback students will receive, categorize the assignment according to Bloom’s Taxonomy and describe how the assignment leverages the Internet.

Topic 7: Developing Instructor’s Notes
This topic shows how to create properly developed instructor’s notes in order to close the gap between what people already know and what they need to know in order to perform the module objectives.


Topic 8: Web Design
The goal in this topic is to draft a plan outlining the guidelines you will use to design your course so it is accessible and easy to read and navigate. You will also learn to identify basic Web design principles and accessibility requirements.

Topic 9: Course Management & Planning
Here you will define a policy for group work, ‘netiquette’, and student expectations, along with developing a plan on how to complete your course

Topic 10: Planning a Formative Evaluation
Prior to publishing a course, two basic types of testing is recommended: Quality assurance and Formative evaluation (usability studies). This topic will walk you through both of them. Learn when to test, what a test plan should include, examples of commonly used testing methods and formative evaluation reports.

Topic 11: Conducting a Formative Evaluation
Once you have developed a plan for formative evaluation, the next step is to test your course via the target audience. This topic will show you how to conduct a successful evaluation of your course. The 8 top priorities in doing this will be discussed so that you will know what to do with all the useful information that you’ve collected to your course’s benefit.

All in all, a very detailed and informative writer’s guide to developing an effective online course.

You can purchase Ms. Landau’s book at Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0072587024/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Reviewed By Judi Silva
judi.silva@gmail.com
http://www.dark-horse-adaptations.com/
Originally published on Assoicated Content: http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/1968/simran.html


-----
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 loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index 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.