Reader Views Reviewer Weighs In on Feisty Family Values

Title: Feisty Family Values
Author: B.D. Tharp
Genre: Women’s Fiction
ISBN: 978-1-59414-849-1
Five Star Publications (2010)


Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (11/09)


“Can't live with them, can’t live without them” seems like something a lot of us would come up with when describing family members, particularly those whose peculiarities are very different from ours. And when it comes to being different, at least on the surface, one would be hard pressed to find two more different people than the determined, abrupt and majestic Regina Morgan-Smith and her cousin, abused, meek and drab Annabelle Hubbard. When those two are thrown together after Annabelle finds herself battered and homeless, it is hard to see how they could share the same roof over their heads without driving each other insane. Luckily for both of them, Regina’s best friend and housemate, Tillie Dawson provides some much needed balance and sanity in their daily lives.

That is, until Tillie’s cancer returns and threatens not only her life, but also Regina’s sanity and Annabelle’s shelter. To further complicate matters, a new and very handsome neighbor enters the lives of the three ladies. While all three of them seem to like him quite a bit, he seems to have fallen pretty badly for Tillie, until she tells him about her situation. Once more, the ostensible balance is destroyed. If all of this is not enough to drive the three ladies to utter distraction, Annabelle’s three grandchildren end up living in Regina’s house as well. If you are thinking, “The more, the merrier...,” think again.

Could those three ladies “of a certain age” find happiness late in life? Could they possibly even find love?

B.D. Tharp’s story is a great example of contemporary and relevant writing; perceptive, intelligent and poignant. It deals with believable and distressing situations that many of us have faced or will have to face one day. The characters are colorful, entertaining and easy to relate to. One might even find one’s traits in several of the main characters. What I found particularly refreshing were the older characters who are still full of life and who desire to live their life to the fullest. This book, “Feisty Family Values,” will make you laugh out loud, but is also a book that will make you think. It should make you grateful for what you have and hopeful for whatever you are still wishing for, and above all, it should make you grateful for your family and friends and all that they give you on a continuous basis.

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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 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.
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Tony Eldridge Reviews Dana Lynn Smith's E-Book on Twitter

Twitter Guide for Authors
by Dana Lynn Smith
Revised and updated February 2010
Category: Publishing – Book Marketing
E-book



Reviewed by Tony Eldridge at Marketing Tips for Authors


If you ever wanted to learn Twitter, then you need to know about Dana Lynn Smith's revised edition of her Twitter Guide For Authors. This guide will take you through the process of opening a Twitter Account, but it will do a lot more than that. It will teach you the decisions you need to make early on in order to have a great experience on Twitter.

In this revised edition, Dana discusses Twitter's newest major feature: Twitter Lists. If you know how to use these lists, it can be a great productivity tool for you. She also has added a valuable troubleshooting section that can help you if you run into issues with your Twitter account.

The thing that makes the Twitter Guide For Authors such a useful resource for authors (or anyone else who needs to be on Twitter for that fact), is the simplicity in which the material is presented. If technology is not your cup of tea, then you don't have to worry. This guide can be read and understood by the least technical savvy of us. But what it will help you accomplish is far from simplistic. You will be able to get into the nuts and bolts of Twitter and use it like a pro.

When you get the Twitter Guide For Authors, you will have a resource that will help you with the following:

Common Networking Mistakes
Managing Your Time Effectively
Choosing Your Twitter Name
Networking Effectively
Twitter Tools

This list just scratches the surface of what you will have available to you in this guidebook. You'll learn everything you need to know about using Twitter in your marketing plan and what issues to avoid. Dana even includes action plans throughout the guidebook to give you step-by-step instructions of how to proceed to accomplish specific task and goals. If Twitter has made you nervous, or if you think that you may not be using Twitter to its full potential in your marketing plan, then check out Dana Lynn Smith's Twitter Guide For Authors. If you're like me, it will be a reference you keep handy to refer to time and time again.

Dana Lynn Smith is a book marketing coach and author of The Savvy Book Marketer Guides
Book Marketing Resources
Blog: www.TheSavvyBookMarketer.com
Newsletter: www.BookMarketingNewsletter.com
Savvy Book Marketer Guides: www.SavvyBookMarketer.com
Networks
Twitter: http://twitter.com/BookMarketer
Facebook Profile: www.facebook.com/DanaLynnSmith
Facebook Page: http://bit.ly/a4OEaj
Facebook Group: http://bit.ly/SavvyMkt
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/DanaLynnSmith


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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 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.
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RawSistaz Reviews Self-Help Book

The Only Way Out Is In: The Secrets of the 14 Realms to Love, Happiness and Success!
Winner of two national book awards
Published by Padaran Publications,

Reviewed by Ann of RawSistaz Reviewers


Daya Devi-Doolin charts her own course, she is the master of her soul's history. With her clear and unique view of reality, she recognizes the lessons and the principles of life, and she generously shares them with humanity. THE ONLY WAY OUT IS IN: The Secrets of the 14 Realms to Love, Happiness and Success is informative and inspiring as it takes readers on an excursion.

Although this is a journey for all mankind, this particular outing is a look at a woman's metamorphoses from life's lessons. It charts how she effectively put her knowledge into practice in order to change her existence in the most positive way. The 14 Realms she imparts is powerful information, and if these principals are adapted, Daya almost promises your life will change and you'll be acutely aware of the changes.

It is Daya's goal to give readers a better insight and take them to a higher level of consciousness, where they can witness the unseen dimension of their inner selves. To further enhance her writing, Daya shares her personal story with captivating openness. If you are searching for deeper insight and a greater path of enlightenment, this book could very well be that light.

"We are always brought back to our God Source, our Center our true reality - one of knowing we are Love, Loved and Loving."-- Daya Devi-Doolin
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The author is Rev. Daya Devi-Doolin, Dir. The Doolin Healing Sanctuary & Yoga Center,(386) 532-5308
Unity Minister / Spiritual Counselor-Healer
Award Winning Author metaphysical books for children and adults
Visit anytime www.blogtalkradio.com/padaran
Certified BodyTalk Practitioner Matrix Energetics
Certified Usui Reiki Master Teacher
Registered Yoga Alliance Teacher
Reach her at padaran@padaran.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 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.
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Paranormal Romance Abaxas

Book: The ABRAXAS Series: Books 1-3
Authors Name: Cinsearae Santiago
Genre: Paranormal Romance/Dark Fantasy
Length: 180 pages
ISBN 978-1-4357-2847-9
Publisher: Lulu Press
Buy Link: http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/the-abraxas-series-books-1-3/2748950

Reviewed by Magaly Guerrero for The Pagan and the Pen

Rating: 4 Cards (out of 5)


Cinsearae Santiago delivers a dark, sexy, and bloody tale that will leave most paranormal junkies absolutely hooked. The ABRAXAS Series is loaded with interesting characters that will surprise you at the turn of every page. Definitely, a slap in the face of those who have attempted to discredit small publishing houses, ebook publishers and/or self-published authors; Ms Santiago’s writing is original and professional. She presents a well written story that finds a happy medium between fantasy and mysticism. A “must read” for anyone who enjoys fiction that teaches while it entertains.

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The author is also the editor/publisher of Dark Gothic Resurrected Magazine and a cover artist for Damnation Books and individual clients.


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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 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.
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Author Pens Fun Detective Book for Kids

Detective Pancake
By Tracy Searight Dibert
Paperback: 24 pages
Publisher: AuthorHouse (January 15, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1449022642
ISBN-13: 978-1449022648

Mini reviews Michelle Adams and Charles Redpath from Amazon and Barnes and Noble

This book is very cleverly written and just a fun read that any child would enjoy. It easily keeps a child's interest from start to finish and leaves them wanting to read it again and again! My kids really enjoyed the story and it kept them guessing how it would end - I would definitely recommend it to any mother! ~ Michelle Adams

My kids loved the book. They have read it several times now, it kept their interest and they couldn't wait to turn the page to see what was to come next. Can't wait for another book to come from the author. ~ Charles Redpath

Peek at the Poetry:

"Your eggs are missing from your plate. There is syrup on the wall. If your breakfast is in crisis, there is one name you can call. Detective Pancake is on the scene. It's a messy sort of crime. I promise to solve your case before your dinnertime."

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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 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.
And while you're at it, as a courtesy to the author, please retweet this post:

Thriller and Africa Paired in Nicholas Winer Novel

The Tethered Goat
By Nicholas Winer
Publisher: YouWriteOn.
December 2008
ISBN-10: 1849231265.
Genre: Thriller, Espionage


Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner for Jackson for Reader Views


Africa... the mysterious continent... jungles, wild animals, great kingdoms... exotic beauties, majestic cities, bright colors... genocide, famine, diamond mines... Let's face it; most of us have some preconceived notions of Africa. And a good few of us are utterly fascinated by it, maybe even ventured as far as traveling there a time or two. I'll gladly admit to being one of those people. As the luck would have it, I managed to spend several months in Africa, yet there is so much I do not know about it. Nicholas Winer's The Tethered Goat introduced me to a part of Africa that was new to me, and totally different from the one I know. His Africa is slightly desperate, totally corrupt, and immensely intriguing, and I'll remain forever grateful to Mr. Winer for the reminder that one should not romanticize anything too much.

Mark Delama is a young, very idealistic aid worker, stationed in Ethiopia during the Mengistu's rule. His idealistic viewpoint is slowly, but surely being shattered the more he deals with a variety of corrupt politicians, policemen and assorted thugs posing as the good guys. In a short period of time he's been arrested, threatened by a variety of officials and also made aware of the dangerous games some of the highly placed locals are playing for personal gain. There are several moving side-plots, involving the local people, most notably a young Sudanese freedom fighter, Gatwech, who becomes a pawn in a dirty game of power; and Mr. Belai, an old man who wants to do the right thing for his family, but pays dearly for that desire. Those two are loosely connected by Lucy, whose character is not my favorite in the book; and I dare to say most readers will agree with me after having read the book. There are plenty other villains in it, some more likeable than others, and some of them utterly intriguing, Tesfaye probably being the most unexpected one. This heady mix of international intrigue (my favorite being the games Americans and British play with each other), oppressive local brand of Communism, exploitation of locals, sparkly emeralds, the heady scents and flavors of Africa as well as some breathtakingly beautiful descriptions of Africa is cleverly intermingled with scenes from Mark's private life and his developing love story with a young American journalist, Val. Author's love and knowledge of Africa are very much evident, and his descriptions are powerful and make a real impact.

I would recommend The Tethered Goat by Nicholas Winer to anybody interested in the politics of the 80s, the real Africa or anybody who enjoys a fast-moving, thrilling, and hard-hitting story. I am looking forward for more illuminating reading from this talented author.

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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 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.

As a courtesy to the author, please retweet this post:

Henry Ford Knew Cars: Billia Williams Knows Writing

A Writer's Vehicle Henry Ford's Way
By Billie A Williams

Henry Ford was an extraordinary person and an astute businessman. You could call him a principled man. His rules were simple straight forward. “Do onto others as you would have done onto you.” His business, his company, his reputation were built on giving the best that he could give, at the fairest price, with the most value that he could reasonably deliver.

“As I read his autobiography where he talks about what he wanted his automobile to represent, I was struck by how similar his wants were to those of an author,” says Billie Williams, the author of A Writer’s Vehicle Henry Ford’s Way. Even more intriguing, Ford’s automobile, the author’s vehicle (or book) had many of the same characteristics, each are revealed in this book.


A WRITER’S VEHICLE

Book a Trip

Henry Ford created his first vehicle to be dependable and more here is a list of his vehicle’s characteristics:

~Stand up to everyday wear and tear
~Sufficient speed
~Admired by men, women and children
~Safety
~Convenience
~Reasonable price
~Good material
~Simplicity
~The engine strong, reliable
~Ignition
~Automatic oiling
~Control of transmission
~Workmanship

"How like a table of contents should read for a book on writing," the author thought. "Let’s take each point, add a subtitle, and make it a book on writing."

And here is the Contents that came from that:

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I BOOK CONSTRUCTION:

Stand up to everyday wear & tear

Available when a buyer wants it

Wide audience to market to

Reasonably priced (Take a trip without the high cost of fuel)

Made of Good Material

Distribution/Stock of Parts – ( availability in quantity sufficient to meet readers demands

Suitable display advertising (find potential reader/store front of publisher)


PART II BOOK CONTENTS

Safety, no sharp edges or dangerous premises

Good Material (acquisition department scrutiny)

Simplicity (proper word choice for genre and/or age group)

The Engine (Strong plot, reliable format or design for the Genre)
Ignition (Hooks the reader quickly, immediate starting point)

Automatic Oiling (continual flow and proper mixture of action, and exposition, dialog and narrative.)

Control of Transmission (Guiding the reader to a logical and satisfying conclusion)

Workmanship (Editorial craft in polishing and shaping the finished book)
Trustworthy – (always ready anytime anywhere you want to read)

Built to Add to Your Reputation or Knowledge

Built for Business Or Pleasure (Learn/grow/useful knowledge)

Built for Your Good Health (relieve stress, relax rejuvenate, beach or barbeque, cabin porch or mansion patio)

Speed (“linger or speed through or lingeringly, through shady avenues or you can press down on the foot lever until all the scenery looks alike to you and you have to keep your eyes skinned to count the milestones as they pass.”

Strong and Well-built – last for generations

Up to Date Alive with Possibilities (a classic that will live forever)
Clean and dignified (error free/ attractive cover)

Salesmanship for Distribution (Editors/Agents who know genres)

Bookkeeping –(follow up sales system – track those buyers)
Promotional Budget

Absolute cleanliness of stock (no bent, cracked, bleeding, odd ball pages from the printer misfeeds)

Who Will Buy (Bookstores, outside the box thinking where else?)
Suitable display advertising (find potential reader/store front of publisher)

Bad Publicity (Even bad publicity and treacherous competition should not disrupt the quality, morals/values, and spirit of the writer – bad reviews are one person’s opinion nothing more.Ford Being Sued by George B Selden, a patent attorney accusing Ford of bad business practices, stealing someone else’s idea.

Word of mouth is the best advertising.

Re-gifting – pass on a good read. Write a review


CONCLUSION

RESOURCES

BIBLIOGRAPHY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Billie Williams is the author of many works including the three act play. I've included widgets for some in this post. Search for her on Amazon and take a peek!

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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 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.
And while you're at it, as a courtesy to the author, please retweet this post: