Beyond a Poetry Review

i write therefore i am (?)

By Roy Anthony Shabla 

Poetry Book

Pre-review by John Brantingham

My friend Scott once said that bad poets get into language poetry so they can just write the word “duck” on a piece of paper ten times and be done with it.

 

I don’t know if that’s necessarily true, but it feels like it.

 

By way of explaining, language poetry is a movement that started with poets like Gertrude Stein and took off in the 1970s and emphasizes the way words work together instead of meaning.

 

It’s easy to do badly.

 

Gertrude Stein did it well.

 

So does the Downey, CA,  poet Roy Anthony Shabla.

 

Or rather, Roy’s not exactly doing language poetry. Roy’s a poet who has worked in with narrative poetry for years (think Robert Frost) and is bringing elements of language poetry into his work so he’s able to make those the stories in his poems have music.

And it’s not as though he’s just dropping the word “duck” into his poems ten times in random spots. That would be like dropping it in this piece for absolutely no reason.

Duck

Duck

Duck

Duck

Duck

Duck

Duck

Duck

Duck

Duck

 

No, Roy Anthony Shabla is a poet who is able to combine language poetry with narrative poetry to create an emotion that goes beyond the story that he’s telling. His work is elegant and often difficult, the kind of work that you can read again and again to gain more insight into what he’s saying and the worldview that his work is coming out of.

 

Roy has a new book coming out, and I’m going to be the first in line to buy it. I’ve loved his other books, but from what I’ve heard of this newest book, he’s plunged more deeply into the language poetry, and I’m interested in what he has to say.

 

Better yet, he’s going to be reading his work this Saturday in Downey, CA,  at 7:30pm. He’ll be at 9029 Florence Avenue in Downey, just off the 605 in a barbershop off all places, Roni’s #34. There’s an open mic beforehand so if you’ve written something you’re proud of, bring it.

 

I’m going to be there, and so is most of the crew for the upcoming San Gabriel Valley Literary Festival. It’s going to be great.

~More about the poet, Roy Anthony Shabla:
the films ~ roy anthony shabla
the books ~ roy anthony shabla
the paintings ~ roy anthony shabla

 

 

 

~~More about the reviewer:

John Brantingham is the author of:

Mann of War

Oak Tree Press 2012-2013

Poetry Chapbook.

Let Us All Pray Now to Our Own Strange GodsWorld Parade Books 2012-2013

Study AbroadWormwood Chapbooks, October 2012, Pre-Order 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. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Author Reviews Libby Grandy Mystery

Desert Solioquy
Author: Libby Grandy

Author's Website: http://www.libbygrandy.com
Genre: Mystery
ISBN-10: 1475196725
EAN-13: 9781475196726

Published: June 2012

Publisher: CreateSpace

Reviewed by Laura L. Mays Hoopes originally for Amazon

Reviewer's Rating: 5 stars

Desert Soliloquy is a wonderful read. I began it one evening, thinking I'd read a bit each night until I finished the book. I couldn't stop; read the whole thing until the wee hours of the morning.

The characters are fresh, their passions are up with today's news, but they haven't let go of their need for human warmth. Libby Grandy lets them get into some desperate situations, and you can't see the ending easily from the middle at all. When you read a novel by Grandy, you feel you know the people in it and want to hear more of their lives.

She's a master storyteller and infuses her characters with that human mixture of joie de vivre and mischief that makes the whole book seethe with conflicting desires and plans. Highly recommended!

Reviewer Laura L. Mays Hoopes is author of Breaking Through the Spiral Ceiling.

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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 :

Tales2Inspire™ 

An Authors Helping Authors Project/Contest

A Smile Goes a Long Way

by 

Pauline Hager

Great visual depiction of all the different applications of the SMILE. It was great to observe every situation and compare our own travels. It brought to mind my favorite quote by Anne Frank. “Happy people make others happy!” The smile is a wonderful free tool that so many forget to employ. Great story of compassion and appreciation for others. Thanks for sharing.

Cecile M. Bell: free lance writer

Tales2Inspire™ author of: Don’t Worry Mom

This wonderful tale by Pauline Hager reminds us of the power and beauty in a simple smile. She reminds us, through her travels, that smiles are all around the world—even in the worst of situations. Just reading her story has made me want to smile more and complain less, for as she writes, a smile is contagious and has the rippling effect of a pebble tossed into a pond.

Micki Peluso: reviewer, journalist and author

Tales2Inspire™ author of the 'tale': A Magical Meditation Garden

To meet Pauline and learn more about her tale, click here.

A Magical Meditation Garden

by 

Micki Peluso

This is a beautiful model for those who want to meditate but aren't sure how to start ... 

Terry Crawford Palardy

Author

http://terrysthoughtsandthreads.blogspot.com

Absolutely beautiful and I am so there with you! I do much the same thing for my meditation, but I've never thought of including animals and I love that idea.  . . . “

Sandra McLeod Humphrey

Childrens Books Author/

I loved this. I really do get into my garden and walk and think. I have a labyrinth and deer and a white duck. Wishing you well. -

Delinda Mccann

Author

Beautiful! . . .  It is so great to have these concrete, soothing things to think about while meditating.

kario

Blogger: The Winning Life

Micki’s description here is so beautiful and lyrical and I relate to the spirituality coming out of such tragedy. The writing is wonderful.

Shirley Ann Parker, author

To meet Micki and learn more about her tale, click here.

Stepping In Today

by  

Laura Vomos

Great story with a most impactful last paragraph. The story leaves me hanging, which is a good thing, of what the future may hold and wondering whether something like this can turn others into Christmas Elves. 

Luke Potter

Tales2Inspire™ author of: My Life in the Country

To meet Laura and learn more about her tale, click here.

ATTENTION TALENTED WRITERS: 

Do you have an inspiring story to share? Learn more about this exciting new Authors Helping Authors project/contest at: http://www.tales2inspire.com. FREE to enter, with many valuable author platform building opportunities.

Major Reference Important for ESL Students and US Emmigrants

What America Needs To Know About America From A To Z

Subtitle: How To Understand Crazy American Culture, People, Government, Business, Language and More

By Lance Johnson

Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/What-Foreigners-Need-About-America/dp/1468172360/

Author's Web site: http://howtodoitfrugally.com/A_to_Z.htm

Author's E-mail: info@AmericaAtoZ.com

ISBN: 978-1468172362

 

Endorsed by U.S. and foreign ambassadors and editors, this new book paints a revealing picture of America and its people for those foreigners who will benefit from a better understanding of America. It will also inform Americans who want to learn more about the U.S. and how it compares to other countries around the world.

World traveler and teacher Lance Johnson studies cultural differences and the difficulties foreigners (even Americans!) have understanding crazy America, as some call it. Foreigners might come to the U.S. to work for American employers, to open branch offices or factories for their homeland employers, to start their own businesses (100's of thousands do each year), go to school (1 million a year do), or just move here (500 thousand do yearly). Others might work for American organizations in their homelands or have American teachers there. An understanding of American culture and language without question will contribute to their success.

For this book “foreigners” are defined as anyone who is not sufficiently familiar with American culture to achieve success. This includes the multitudes of foreign-born, naturalized citizens who have lived in the U.S. for years and still struggle with the ways and the language. A foreigner could also be a first-generation American whose immigrant parents did not fully expose their children to American culture and they now pay the price in mainstream U.S. There are lots of other examples, too.  Throw in foreign students, those who would like to become foreign students, those who would like to open a business in the US or do business with Americans--either in the US or oversease, and you have a very wide audience indeed. The language chapter has special value for ESL (English as Second Language) students everywhere.

Each of the 26 chapters’ brush strokes contributes to the final painting of what America is all about. For ease of understanding, the chapters are grouped into four sections. (The sections are available as individual books as well.)

•Section I – America's Heritage - The historical background of why America and its people became who and what they are today.

•Section II – America's Culture - Everyday life in America, ranging from customs and etiquette, to what’s on the minds of Americans, to education and personal relationships.

•Section III – America's Business - The complex business environment, operations, and people-related customs. How to start a business of your own in the U.S. How to increase the chances of getting hired by an American firm in the U.S. or abroad.

•Section IV – America's Language - The number one problem area foreigners say they have with American culture. Easy, practical ways to improve English grammar, speech, writing, communication skills, and accent reduction. Common English grammar and speech errors made by foreigners are identified and simple tips are provided for overcoming them.

This book is also in paperback in Europe and Asia at:  

 

Austria - 

  

 http://www.amazon.de/What-Foreigners-Need-About-America/dp/1468172360/

 

Canada  -

http://www.amazon.ca/What-Foreigners-Need-About- 

America/dp/1468172360/

 

France -

http://www.amazon.fr/What-Foreigners-Need-About-

America/dp/1468172360/

 

Germany -

http://www.amazon.de/What-Foreigners-Need-About-

America/dp/1468172360/

 

Italy -

http://www.amazon.it/What-Foreigners-Need-About-

America/dp/1468172360/

 

Japan -

http://www.amazon.co.jp/What-Foreigners-Need-About-

America/dp/1468172360/

Spain - 

 

http://www.amazon.es/What-Foreigners-Need-About- 

America/dp/1468172360/

 

United Kingdom -

http://www.amazon.co.uk/What-Foreigners-Need-About-

America/dp/1468172360/

United States -

http://amzn.to/ForeignersAmericaUS

It is also available in Chine from Oriental Press in simplified Chinese.

For those with special needs or interests,
the sections of this book
are also available separately:

Book 1 - America's Heritage
Find it on Amazon at http://bit.ly/AmericasHeritageBook1
Book 2 - America's Culture
Find it on Amazon at
http://bit.ly/AmericasCultureBook2
Book 3 - America's Business
Find it on Amazon at
http://bit.ly/AmericasBusinessBook3
Book 4 - America's Language
Find it on Amazon at
http://bit.ly/AmericasLanguageBook4
The above volumes are also available on Amazon in Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

     

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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 :

Murder Mystery Features CSI Agent and Child Molesters

The Goodbye Man
By Chad Barton
Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Don't you love it when you find a great murder mystery? Chad Barton has delivered one with The Goodbye Man, a first rate novel loaded with great twists and turns and a tear jerker surprise ending.

It’s about a former CSI agent, Jack Steele, who has become independently wealthy and has at his disposal all the necessary tools to eradicate child molesters continuing to offend using an assumed identity – law enforcement credentials, a private jet, a .380 Walther and his trusted companion, Sadie. One by one, he and Sadie hunt them down – even though he knows his days are numbered. Of course, his mission is complicated when he meets a beautiful woman he can love- something missing in his life since the death of his wife.

Here’s what one reader said, "This book mixes elements of romance, murder, suspense, vigilantism and sadness. As a person, you become proud and encouraging of Jack ... even knowing that what he's doing is against the law and a sin. Who wouldn't want to hunt down and kill child rapists and murderers?"

It's gotten loads of great reviews and I'm glad I found it. And, to my delight and surprise, I got to download all sorts of great bonuses, like book chapters, e-courses, e-books and more! Such a deal! I’m so glad I found this in time for my summer vacation – what a treat! Thanks, Chad!

Check out the book & bonuses.

~Submitted by Denise Cassino, publicist and book marketing specialist

303 838 3399
skype: denise.cassino
www.BestsellerServices.com
www.spiritoftheseasoncatalog.com
www.mybestsellerlaunch.com

Follow me on Twitter

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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 :

Dr. Hefferan May Solve YOUR Job Crisis

Title – JOBS, How the United States Can Reach Long-Term Full EmploymentAuthor – Dr William T HefferanAuthor's website link - http://drhefferan.com Genre or category –Business/Employment/Entrepreneur
ISBN-10: 0615598366
ISBN-13: 978-0615598369

In JOBS, Dr. T. William Hefferan, DBA, MBA, CCIM, CPM provides a stunning approach to achieving long-term full employment in the United States and ending the repeating cycles of high unemployment. Dr. Hefferan reveals the essential shift in how we need to think about jobs and employment as the U.S. accelerates its timely transformation into a knowledge worker economy.

This profound shift will invigorate our heritage and foundation of innovation and entrepreneurship – including restoration of our global leadership in education and learning – leading to a dawn of new discoveries that create exciting new and unique careers.

With over 23 years of experience as President/CEO of a 100 employee company, Dr. Hefferan decided to put his corporate work experience together with his academic background and solve one of our most significant societal problems. His unique approach to end the persistent ups and downs of unemployment includes a peer reviewed research study he designed specifically to discover ways to solve the problem.

Capitalizing on the focus of his doctorate – organizational psychology and social science research -- in 2009 and 2010 Dr. Hefferan interviewed job seekers, employees, employers, HR professionals and CEOs across the United States using unique questionnaires he designed to uncover unique solutions to the problem.

Each group has their own thoughts as to the needs and wants of the other; however, Dr. Hefferan’s concept was to look at those viewpoints side-by-side to determine if there were gaps in the communications strategies and perceptions of each group that may affect optimal employment relationships. The results are surprising as they reveal the differences and misperceptions of each of the groups -- employers and employees -- Dr. Hefferan interviewed.

These differences lead to less than optimal hiring and often to poor employment relationships. Obviously the performance of the company is significantly affected and the employees are not only disengaged at work, but many dislike even showing up for another day at a job they don’t like. 

These startling results and conclusions from his research study lead him to develop a series of easy to understand solutions called the 10 building blocks of EMBER. The EMBER employment relationship is one in which both the employer and the employee concentrate on making the work relationship a mutually beneficial and rewarding one that meets each other’s needs and wants for both the short and long-term. The path to reach EMBER is described in these 10 building blocks,

Passion for Work
Finding an EMBER Job
Connecting with EMBER Employees
Creating an EMBER Environment
Ethics and Authenticity
Personal Branding
Online Social Networking
Leadership
Education and Retraining
Innovation and Entrepreneurship

JOBS draws the reader deep into visualizing the solutions through heartfelt real-life personal stories and experiences of the research participants regarding all aspects of employment. Readers clearly see how everyone can benefit from this journey to create a steady stream of beneficial and rewarding jobs. Job seekers and employees learn how to secure their perfect job, employers learn how to attract and retain top-tier employees, and entrepreneurs learn the value of putting their ideas and initiatives to work.

Readers learn the value of ethics and authenticity in the workplace as well as why everyone in an organization can be a leader, adding value to the company and the employee’s career growth. Education and retraining, innovation and entrepreneurship are shown in their increasingly critical role in putting every American to work in their dream job.

Just like the financial melt-down that caused the Great Recession, we will continue to face new and complex challenges, such as globalization and economic challenges that could again cause massive unemployment with little warning. Together with the findings of his study, germinal research, and the input from contemporary experts and authors in the area of employment, this groundbreaking book provides a blueprint for America to reach long-term full employment. Dr. Hefferan demystifies our journey to ending persistent ups and downs of unemployment with his original entertaining presentation style.

Readers are energized as they see how they can participate in this contemporary revolution to a new America that will always have meaningful and rewarding employment. 

About Dr William T Hefferan

With over 23 years of experience as President/CEO of a 100 employee company, Dr. Hefferan decided to put his corporate work experience together with his academic background and solve one of our most significant societal problems. His unique approach to explore ways to end the persistent ups and downs of unemployment includes a peer reviewed research study he designed specifically to discover ways to solve the problem.

Dr. Hefferan shares with readers his life-changing event that compelled him to dedicate over three years of his life to find these sound solutions, creating a blueprint for America to reach long-term full employment.

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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 :

Romance Blogger Reviews New Romance by Trish Jackson

Way Out of Line
By Trish Jackson
Author's Web site:

http://www.trishjackson.com
Genre: romantic suspense
ISBN-13: 978-1475218343
ASIN: B0084FD84I

• Reviewed by  Juanita Keys originally for
  www.mission-romance.blogspot.com.au
  
  
  When raging hormones bring young lovers Hal and Trent together one steamy summer, neither would imagine the trouble their union will bring. Despite his inner warnings, Hal finds he can't resist his attraction to the beautiful young girl he meets on a private beach. She is young - perhaps too young. Spoilt, indulged Trent, however, knows exactly what she wants and she's not about to take 'no' as answer or let something as trivial as age keep them apart. The white lie that brings them together will drive them apart in a way that they least expect.
• Jackson sets an amazing scene in the lead up to events that will change these two young lives forever. Caught in the act by her distrustful father, Hal finds out that the girl of his dreams has mislead him in the worst possible way. When you mess with the rich who have connections in Congress, you can only expect trouble - a lot of trouble. He finds himself in jail for statutory rape and the only thing that keeps him sane, is the advice of a prison guard to 'never let go of his dreams'.
• While Hal serves his time and battles his demons in prison, we're taken on a tumultuous journey that alternates between Trent's emotional derailment and Hal's experiences in confinement. Despite their brush with drugs, cults, jailhouse bullying and other nasty, character-building experiences, they never forget each other nor do they give up hope of one day being reunited again.
• Again, Jackson brings about their reunion in a very unique and unexpected way. We're taken on a fast-paced, action-packed journey around the world to the wilds of Zimbabwe and Mozambique where finally, amidst brushes with death that threaten to tear them apart again, the two are once again reunited. Nothing in WAY OUT OF LINE is what you expect. Just when you think you know what's going to happen, Jackson whips you off in a whirlwind of action that takes you to places you never imagined.
• If you're looking for a book that has it all, then this is one you should not miss. Follow Hal and Trent's journey to hell and back as they learn hard, fast lessons in the real world, experience brainwashing, drugs and the terrors of a wild country and live through it to be reunited in a love designed by Fate.
  ~Trish Jackson blogs at  http://romanticreviewramble.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 :