The New Book Review

Wednesday, September 16, 2020

Join Our Team as a Volunteer Reviewer and Get a Free Image for Your Own Marketing

How would you like a FREE banner, similar to the one pictured above, but emblazoned with your name, book cover and headshot? Just imagine . . . You will be able to place it on all your social media platforms, your website, Amazon profile page . . . even on places like your letterhead, signature file and more. Really, the skies the limit. And did I tell you it's all yours free of charge?

Carolyn Howard-Johnson, the creator of this award winning blog, invited me to be her #TheNewBookReview review coordinator. She then Tweets these posts to her over 41,000 Followers. Carolyn Wilheim is the talented banner/image gal for this blog. What a generous offer from a multi-talented gal! So now we have become a Team of Three.

You are part of our team too. All you have to do to get your own image/banner is read through the book descriptions below, select a book of interest to you, and click here to follow the posted directions. What a gift just for reaching out to help a fellow author!

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More About Lois W. Stern

Tales2inspire® was a kernel of an idea I initiated in 2012, growing in proportions even I didn’t dare to envision. My innate curiosity about potentially fascinating human interest stories was the spark that ignited this idea, but there was something more propelling me forward - my belief in the power of stories to shape our thinking. Famed biographer, Doris Kearns Goodwin has repeatedly written about this theme in relation to some of our greatest presidents, who recognized the power of stories and used their storytelling abilities to reach the people they were chosen to govern. Each of the non-fiction stories published in one of the Tales2inspire® books was selected similarly - not only for its artful writing, but for its skill in delivering an underlying message to inspire each of us to reach for the best within us. Try us out. You can get a FREE sampler filled with six published T2I stories at: www.tales2inspire.com/gifts

Learn more about me and the Tales2Inspire® project at: http://www.tales2Inspire.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/tales2inspire

Twitter: www.twitter.com/tales2inspire2

Carolyn Wilhelm Reviews "Flash Fiction for Animal Lovers"--an Always-Free Ebook

Title: Flash Fiction for Animal Lovers

Author: Theodore Jerome Cohen

Genres: Flash-Fiction, Animal Fiction

Available free at Amazon

Flash Fiction for Animal Lovers is always and permanently free!

The eBook is FREE from Amazon, B&N, and Kobo.

Reviewed by Carolyn Wilhelm

Dr. Theodore Jerome Cohen begins his book with a photo to inspire his flash fiction writing. Often the stories he imagines from the pictures are from actual historical or cultural events. They are from different time periods and countries, as well. Each piece ends with a zinger to ponder.

Flash Fiction for Animal Lovers is always and permanently free! The eBook is FREE from Amazon, B&N, and Kobo. Cohen uses both footnotes and end-notes, and this last section in his books are as entertaining and interesting as the stories. For instance, in Flash Fiction for Animal Lovers, the writing piece “Valor” (about a bomb-sniffing dog) has the following footnote. [iii] Valor U.S. Marines from 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 8, carry Drak, an injured bomb-tracking dog, to an awaiting helicopter at Forward Operating Base Jackson, Afghanistan, on September 8, 2011. Both Drak and his handler, Sergeant Kenneth A. Fischer, were flown out of the country for surgery and recovery. Eventually, in line with military custom, Fischer will adopt.

English teachers will be able to use this free eBook as a mentor text for writing students when teaching flash fiction. Students may think a short piece is easy to write but that is not necessarily so as the writing must be concise and thought-provoking.

More About the Author

Theodore Jerome (Ted) Cohen is an award-winning author who has published more than ten novels--all but one of them mystery/thrillers--two books of short stories, eight flash-fiction anthologies, and an anthology of short stories and flash fiction.

More About the Reviewer

Carolyn Wilhelm is the author of The Wise Owl Factory site and blog. She has an MS in Gifted Education, an MA in Curriculum and Instruction K-12. She also offers free Twitter social media images to participants on this blog with permission for them to use in their marketing campaigns. Reach her at

cwilhelm (at) thewiseowlfactory (dot) com

Tweet with her @WiseOwlFactory.

Carolyn Wilhelm Reviews "Flash Fiction for Animal Lovers"--an Always-Free Ebook

More About This Blog

The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. Authors, readers, publishers, and reviewers may republish their favorite reviews of books they want to share with others. 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 and love. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page and in a tab at the top of this blog's home page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites so it may be used a resource for most anyone in the publishing industry. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers.

Carolyn Wilhelm is a blog associate who contributes study guides for books and film suitable to be used as teaching aids. She has an MS in Gifted Education, an MA in curriculum and Instruction K-12.

Lois W. Stern, also an associate, edits an anthology series and is an educator. She provides a free service for authors to find new reviewers and reviewers to find new books to read. Find her submission guidelines in a tab at the top of the page of this The New Book Review blog.

Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. #TheFrugalbookPromoter, #CarolynHowardJohnson, #TheNewBookReview, #TheFrugalEditor, #SharingwithWriters, #reading #BookReviews #GreatBkReviews #BookMarketing

Monday, September 14, 2020

L. Artzer Reviews Diane Mullins New Book on Empowerment

Title: Dying to Belong: How I Accidentally Found Myself

Author: Diane Mullins

Website: https://diane2mullins.com/

Genre: memoir, self-help, empowerment

ISBN 978-0997431605

Available on Amazon

Reviewed by L. Artzer

This book will get your attention for anyone captivated by a true story. Dying to Belong is an inspiring book about a young girl desiring to belong anywhere or with anyone. Throughout her life and her journey that God has taken her on woke her up to an important realization. Through an unbelievable tragedy, she begins to find out and to know who she really is. I was attracted to the title of this book because I too wanted to belong to something. It helped me to go after finding myself. So, if you are looking for help to find yourself, then this book is for you.

MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Diane has her master’s degree from Grand Canyon University where she studied psychology to better understand people and how to help them succeed. As an author she tells how a tragic accident literally saved her life. She is now inspired to help others. Learn more about her at:

https://www.facebook.com/diane.boydmullins/

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/

L. Artzer Reviews Diane Mullins New Book on Empowerment

MORE ABOUT BLOGGER AND WAYS TO GET THE MOST FROM THIS BLOG

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.

Note about other #TheNewBookReview free services: Participating authors and their publishers may request the social sharing image by Carolyn Wilhelm at no charge. Please contact the designer at: cwilhelm (at) thewiseowlfactory (dot) com. Provide the name of the book being reviewed and--if an image or headshot of the author --isn't already part of the badge, include it as an attachment. Wilhelm will send you the badge to use in your own Internet marketing. Give Wilhelm the link to this post, too!

Lois W. Stern, educator, anthology editor, and authors' advocate, offers a way for authors, readers, and publishers to find new reviewers for their books. It's also a way for reviewers to find new books at no charge. Find her submission guidelines in the tabs at the top of The New Book Review home page.

Tuesday, September 8, 2020

Poet LB Sedlacek's Review of "Nature Sketch" in Its Own Poetic Form

“Nature Sketch”

A poem about the 12 Apostles in Victoria, Australia

by Jimmy Tan San Tek

ISBN 978-981-11-7595-4

https://www.amazon.com/Nature-Sketch-Apostles-Victoria-Australia/dp/1983023140

Reviewed by LB Sedlacek

“Nature Sketch” is reminiscent of romantic

poetry. It is the first book by Jimmy Tan

San Tek. He was inspired to write it after

visiting the coastal landforms.

His verses are accompanied by gorgeous

pictures which help bring the words to life.

You can simply imagine being there seeing and

experiencing what he saw with lines such as

“Here I am, peering agape at the churning

froth, / tracing the shadows that veil like

ebony cloth / of the trapped towers confined

to isolation / (Lonesome not as they huddle

in congregations).”

One of my favorite poets is Coleridge – some

of the lines here are in the same style and form.

This poetry book is a calling card of sorts

bringing the 12 Apostles to a natural life

in his words and verses.

His writing style is compelling and each line

not only shows a contemplation of what

might be happening, what could be

happening with the rocks as well as a respect

for them and their presence, necessity.

Observation is key as a poet. With this

work, Jimmy has accomplished maybe

the impossible – putting those magnificent

natural wonders into words and sharing

them with everyone as well as inspiring

them, too.

He sums it up with “I cast a backward

glance at the silent sentries / which have

stood vigilent over countless centuries.”

The book is beautiful and in itself the

poems are a work of art.

ABOUT THE REVIEWER LB SEDLACEK

LB Sedlacek’s is the author of several books

of poetry including “The Poet Next Door”

(Cyberwit), “Happy Little Clouds”

(Guerrilla Genesis Press), “The

Adventures of Stick People on Cars” (Alien

Buddha Press) and “Words and Bones”

(Finishing Line Press). Her first short story

collection, “Four Thieves of Vinegar & Other

Short Stories” came out on Leap Day 2020 from

Alien Buddha Press. Find out more:

http://www.lbsedlacek.com

Twitter: @lbsedlacek

Poet LB Sedlacek's Review of "Nature Sketch" in Its Own Poetic Form

MORE ABOUT BLOGGER AND WAYS TO GET THE MOST FROM THIS BLOG

Note: Participating authors and their publishers may request the social sharing image by Carolyn Wilhelm at no charge. Please contact the designer at: cwilhelm (at) thewiseowlfactory (dot) com. Provide the name of the book being reviewed and--if an image or headshot of the author --isn't already part of the badge, include it as an attachment. Wilhelm will send you the badge to use in your own Internet marketing. Give Wilhelm the link to this post, too!

Sunday, September 6, 2020

Book Review for Tales2Inspire ~ The Opal Collection

Midwest Book Review Chief Reviews Second Edition of Editing Tips Book

Title: Great Little Last-Minute Editing Tips for Writers

Series: HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers
Author: Carolyn Howard-Johnson
Publisher: Modern History Press

Genre: Nonfiction: Business/Writers/Editing/Self-Help
ISBN: 9781615995257, $24.95, HC, 56pp

Available on Amazon

Reviewed by Jim Cox, Editor-in-Chief of Midwest Review

Synopsis: In "Great Little Last-Minute Editing Tips for Writers: The Ultimate Frugal Reference Guide for Avoiding Word Trippers and Crafting Gatekeeper-Perfect Copy", book publicist, journalist, marketer, editor, and retailer, Carolyn Howard-Johnson picks the trip-you-up words that her clients struggle with and puts them in a quick reference guide light enough and small e
nough to be used as an quickie gift that the recipient can tuck into a glove compartment or purse to keep their homonym skills fresh and explains why following grammar rules assiduously isn't always the best choice for writers.

Critique: An absolute 'must' for aspiring authors seeking publication for their work, and having substantial value for even the more experienced writer, "Great Little Last-Minute Editing Tips for Writers: The Ultimate Frugal Reference Guide for Avoiding Word Trippers and Crafting Gatekeeper-Perfect Copy" is the ideal DIY instructional guide and 'how to' reference directly addressing the most common failing that authors (especially self-published authors) have -- an insufficient editing of their work.

Thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "Great Little Last-Minute Editing Tips for Writers: The Ultimate Frugal Reference Guide for Avoiding Word Trippers and Crafting Gatekeeper-Perfect Copy" is unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Writing/Publishing collections. It should be noted that it is also readily available in a paperback edition (9781450507653, $6.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $2.99).

MORE ABOUT THE REVIEWER

Jim Cox is editor-in-chief of Midwest Book Review archives all of the previous issues of his "Jim Cox Report" the Midwest Book Review website at www.midwestbookreview.com/bookbiz/jimcox.htm. If you'd like to receive the "Jim Cox Report" directly (and for free), just send him an email asking to be signed up for it at http://www.midwestbookreview.com. And watch for more reprints of some his author-and-publishing related reviews here on this blog.

Saturday, August 29, 2020

CAROL SMALLWOOD INTERVIEWS POETS SERIES

CAROL SMALLWOOD INTEVIEWS POET JUDITH SKILLMAN

Poet: Judith Skillman
Publisher: Shanti Arts; April 2020
ISBN: 978-1-951651-26-8 (print; softcover; perfect bound)
94 pages; $12.95

Learn more at http://www.shantiarts.co/uploads/files/stu/SKILLMAN_TRUTH.html

Interview by Carol Smallwood

Judith Skillman is author of around twenty collections of poetry. She is the recipient of an award from the Academy of American Poets for her book Storm (Blue Begonia Press). Her work has been nominated for Pushcart Prizes, the UK Kit Award, Best of the Web, and is included in Best Indie Verse of New England. A faculty member at the Richard Hugo House in Seattle, Washington, Skillman also paints.

Smallwood: You hold a Masters in English Literature from the University of Maryland and have done graduate work in comparative literature at the University of Washington. When did you begin writing and was it poetry?

Skillman: I began writing poetry as an undergraduate student and then, when I went back to get a master’s in English Literature, I got it with an emphasis in creative writing. The MFA degree didn’t yet exist. It was quite a privilege, as I got to hear the excellent poets who came to read at University of Maryland’s reading series: Galway Kinnell, Tess Gallagher, Stanley Kunitz, and others. Actually, looking farther back, I wrote my first poem in fourth grade as an assignment, after Kennedy was assassinated.

Smallwood: your poem, “Blue Note” notes:

those holocaust stories told

and later taken back,

as the most difficult facts

come to be handled by time

and distance.

The Truth about Our American Births asks questions about a German Jewish heritage and of generations. Do you think it takes a certain time in one’s life to really delve into family history?

Skillman: Yes, I think the family history has to be somewhat removed by time in order for it to stand out as a subject matter. It wasn’t until my children were in school— two of them even in college—that I began to have the detachment necessary to ask questions about how I’d been raised. I knew I’d felt like an exile in Prince George’s County Maryland, where we lived when I was age six until twenty eight. I felt “different” than my peers, who had Christmas and other things I envied. The feelings were there, but I had no way to articulate any coherent questions about the past.

Smallwood: reviewers have noted your figurative language and imagery in the 47 poems in the book. I particularly enjoyed these lines from “Rift:’

Hardened is the name of woman.

All hands and arms.

Hangnails come to tell.

Chores for the charwoman.

See her bend into soap.

Lean away from leisure.

In her stained rag a map of the world.

Countries never seen.

Why did you use a period at the end of each line?

Skillman: I suppose end-stopping these lines seemed appropriate when I wrote it because the persona is angry. She is enraged at the misogyny that exists in society and culture and religion throughout history. And so the poem became deliberately choppy.

Smallwood: what have you noted about the generational role of women?

This is a big question. Women give birth, nurture infants and children, and hold families together. I would say that from my own experience, women create in many ways, and provide a “generative” force as well as one that spans the generations. In addition, because we are trained to be verbal from an early age, we women often end up as the “storytellers” of the family. This is important role in that creating family certified “tall tales and legends” may enable those who are young to better understand their own origins.

But because ours is a patriarchal society, more often than not the work of women isn’t recognized financially. My views are admittedly 20th century, but in fields where women abound, such as teaching, they are under compensated. In arenas where women compete, including the arts and sciences, still females often are the ones who take it upon themselves to provide for basic needs of family and offspring. There are so many strong women I admire, including my mother and sister. All have had substantial obstacles to overcome.

Smallwood: what are you working on now?

Skillman: I am working on a manuscript that pulls work from six books and contains poems written over the past couple of years. Also I’m co-editing an anthology on domestic violence http://www.persephonesdaughters.tk/submit/

Smallwood: readers can learn more about Judith Skillman on: www.judithskillman.com

MORE ABOUT THE INTERVIEWER

Carol Smallwood, MLS, MA, Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, is a literary reader, judge, interviewer; her 13th poetry collection is Thread, Form, and Other Enclosures (Main Street Rag, 2020)

MORE ABOUT THIS BLOG

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Wednesday, September 16, 2020

Join Our Team as a Volunteer Reviewer and Get a Free Image for Your Own Marketing

More About Lois W. Stern

Carolyn Wilhelm Reviews "Flash Fiction for Animal Lovers"--an Always-Free Ebook

Monday, September 14, 2020

L. Artzer Reviews Diane Mullins New Book on Empowerment

Tuesday, September 8, 2020

Poet LB Sedlacek's Review of "Nature Sketch" in Its Own Poetic Form

Sunday, September 6, 2020

Book Review for Tales2Inspire ~ The Opal Collection

Saturday, September 5, 2020

Midwest Book Review Chief Reviews Second Edition of Editing Tips Book

Saturday, August 29, 2020

CAROL SMALLWOOD INTERVIEWS POETS SERIES

CAROL SMALLWOOD INTEVIEWS POET JUDITH SKILLMAN

MORE ABOUT THE INTERVIEWER

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