April 2018 Review Issue
Altered Seasons: Monsoonrise
Paul Briggs
Secant Publishing
9781944962487
$15.95
www.secantpublishing.com
Altered
Seasons:
Monsoonrise takes place in the near future and follows events
that become a
climate crisis when a few weeks with no sea ice in the Arctic Ocean
sparks a
chain relation that changes the entire northern hemisphere, bringing
droughts
and floods like never before.
An engineer, a governor, an
inventor, and a talk show
host are just a few of the people trying to adapt to this ongoing
disaster, and
their very different perspectives highlight events from competing
vantage
points.
The story opens in 'Year
Zero', when the icecap finally
dies, following events from the start of the disaster to its
full-fledged
incarnation. The even bigger picture reveals that, to some degree, at
least,
humanity has contributed to this situation. The question is: how will
they
survive in their changed world?
One doesn't expect pithy
dialogues between characters,
reflections on political and social choices, daily routines (such as
job
interviews) even as the waters rise, and the juxtaposition of disaster
and
daily concerns which adds a frighteningly realistic tone to the story
line. The
characters aren't running around screaming—they're living their lives
as best
they can, accepting changes and making plans for a dubious future, and
act much
as humanity probably would act in the face of sudden climate events.
This lends Altered
Seasons: Monsoonrise a much more realistic feel than
competing climate
disaster stories, creating a series of subplots based on interactions
that are
as mercurial as the waters that lap at high-rises.
The idea that things are changing and may or
may not go back to familiar routines and choices adds a powerfully
realistic
tone to a disaster scenario that feels refreshingly different.
Altered Seasons: Monsoonrise is a top
recommendation for cli-fi
(climate change fiction) readers seeking more depth than the usual
approach to
life-threatening environmental changes.
Return to Index
Kurintor
Nyusi
Aaron-Michael Hall
Xtabyren
ISBN:
0998409049
Price: $ 3.95
(kindle) $ 15.00 Paperback
Website/ordering
link: http://myBook.to/KurintorNyusi
Many epic
fantasy
reads hold the same familiar trappings: destiny redirects a young life,
heritage dictates its obstacles, the protagonist either rebels against
or
struggles to achieve his birthright, and new abilities come into play
to change
everything.
Kurintor Nyusi takes a different
approach, adopting a focus on
protagonist choices in the face of changing circumstances and
emphasizing these
changing options at different points during the tale.
The battles
aren't
just physical confrontations, and they don't always take place in the
arena of
a physical world, either. That's just one powerful piece in a story
that winds
through threats and arrogance, strong female characters who wield
swords and
defy death, and one savvy girl's devotion to her Da and her self.
One strength
to note
in the course of these events is the language Aaron-Michael Hall
employs to
describe scenes and characters: "Druehox
was a smug churl who wouldn’t have given her the time of day had she
wanted his
attention. Since the opposite was true, his advances bordered on
stalking.
Every night, he appeared to have a different woman’s company. They
doted and
sniffed behind him as if he was the ruler of the twelve kingdoms."
An
attention to atmosphere and psychological insights is just one of the
strengths
that lend a touch of the fantastic to even ordinary scenes and
descriptions.
Another
strength lies
in the story line's emphasis on developing mental as well as physical
prowess.
The descriptions of training and battles are well done, as are the
explorations
of how such training occurs on different levels. These insights
influence into
other kinds of preparations for survival against all odds: "You have to be aware of your battlefield, Damali,”
he lectured,
using his cover to mask his position. “There’s more to combat than
speed and
brute force. Use your mind and harness your true abilities.”
From the
loss of
parents and the desire to carry on their teachings to unexpected new
beginnings
("Once the gate closed, Alyelu
grinned. “I’ve shattered the mirror, Father,
and buried the past. With your death, I’ll truly begin to live,” he
said,
outstretching an arm over Fòlais’ grave."), Kurintor
Nyusi is replete with subplots that cover various forms of
choice and transformation.
Wind these
elements
into an epic fantasy filled with satisfying battles, confrontations
with self
and others, and changing ties between present, past, and future for a
powerful
saga especially recommended for epic fantasy fans who like their
action-packed
stories seasoned with examinations of personal power and how that is
cultivated.
Return to Index
Micromium:
Clean
Energy from Mars
David Gittlin
Entelligent
Entertainment
ebook ISBN:
978-0-9882635-3-6
$2.99
Print ISBN: 978-0-9882635-4-3 $12.99
(Paperback): https://www.amazon.com/Micromium-Clean-Energy-David-Gittlin/dp/0988263548/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1520432615&sr=1-1&keywords=micromium
(Author
URL): www.davidgittlin.com
Unlimited,
clean
energy is an elusive goal even in the future, where a company on Mars
charged
with mining the Mother Lode of minerals finds itself under
investigation by an
audit team which runs into more than mining operation discrepancies.
Micromium
promises to
be a solution to the world's clean energy dilemma and an
ever-deepening environmental crisis. One
kilo of
refined Micromium can power a major metropolitan city for an entire
year
without any environmentally harmful side effects. There's
much promise—but
the team's latest probe may turn out to be their last as truths emerge
that
threaten not just projects and ideals, but lives.
Micromium may
sound like classic sci-fi, but its roots lie just as heavily in a
mystery as in
its backdrop of Mars. Readers who turn to it expecting the mundane
trappings of
science fiction will uncover much more as they become involved in a
blend of
murder mystery, ethical conundrums, and corporate corruption and
revelations
that heavily impact mining operations and lives. The story is
thoroughly
engrossing.
Return to Index
Battle Over
Obamacare: 2009-17
Brendan W. Williams
CreateSpace
978-1983684715
https://brendanwilliams.com
Brendan W.
Williams
provided a succinct coverage of Obamacare's struggle to gain
Republication
support in his prior 2015 publication Compromised:
The Affordable Care Act and the Politics of Defeat. His Battle Over Obamacare: 2009-17 continues
the charge with an even wider-reaching discussion that examines Senate
sellouts, state regulation processes and conflicts, the battle against
state
exchanges, and more.
While Battle Over Obamacare provides
documentation specific to the evolving history of the ACA, on a deeper
level,
it's about the struggles between special, political, personal and
medical
interests and the industries that control and regulate the processes
that
contribute to unaffordable medical care.
In a land of
plenty,
renowned around the world for its richness and high-tech opportunities,
healthcare remains a glaring contrast in ideals and enactment. It often
proves
the focal point in ongoing battles that disrupt effective healthcare
and limit
its abilities and promise to the upper echelons of society.
Battle Over Obamacare documents these
processes, closely examining
the especially bitter fights surrounding the ACA and how regulatory
efforts to
sabotage the process have led to long-standing court battles at all
levels of
the political and legal processes.
Anyone who
would
understand these various layers of contention must closely inspect the
history
and critical examination in Battle Over
Obamacare. It dispels many popular myths about the
effectiveness of the
American healthcare system, documents political action, inaction, and
efforts
to set and dictate ground rules that stifle a broader acceptance of
alternatives, and shows how legislative efforts are killed and how
messengers
with those perspectives are systematically thwarted on many levels.
The
especially
astringent fights surrounding the ACA may seem to be well known; but
it's these
underlying forces, often buried in newspaper headlines or which take
place
under the radar, which are brought to the forefront here to provide a
better
understanding of the basic principles of the ACA and why it's been so
powerfully resisted by so many forces.
Readers of Battle Over Obamacare will receive a
specific examination of battle techniques, special interests, covert
and overt
forces operating on all sides, and the type of in-depth analysis needed
to
understand the specific structures and approaches of the healthcare
industry in
general.
No social
and
political reader of healthcare issues should be without this important
in-depth
review.
Return to Index
Screwnomics
Rickey Gard Diamond
She Writes Press
Print ISBN:
978-1-63152-318-2
$19.95
E-ISBN:
978-1-63152-319-9
$ 9.95
www.shewritespress.com
One might expect a
serious political discussion packed with dense figures and demanding
perspectives from Screwnomics: How Our Economy Works Against Women and Real
Ways to Make Lasting Change;
but while this work is filled with information, it's by no means
inaccessible
to the average woman without a degree in economics. It pairs personal
stories
with graphic illustrations and easily-understood economic definitions
to create
a survey that assumes no prior knowledge of either economics or women's
history.
The first strength to note
is that Screwnomics
doesn't alienate male readers who
may be curious to learn how economic forces are stacked against women.
Introductory chapters outline these forces in a way either male and
female
readers can readily understand, examining how masculine forces have
measured
and defined money and success in such a way as to stack the deck
against female
participants in economic and business prosperity.
The coverage is specifically
tailored to prove accessible
to economically disadvantaged women, but it doesn't 'dumb down' its
technical
considerations and it maintains a clear perspective on what it will and
won't
do: "Screwnomics isn’t
intended to help you manage your personal
finances, but it will explain the larger assumptions of a system that
makes
managing impossible for so many. Screwnomics
is my word for the unspoken but widely applied economic
theory that
women should always work for less, or better, for free...I translate
economic
history, terms, and definitions that especially disadvantage women,
here and
around the world. I introduce you to new, countering ideas and
solutions that
don’t require a PhD, and may even inspire you to broach an economic
subject
with your friends. As designed now, economic theory devalues family,
love,
young children, music and art, nature’s splendiferous beauty, and the
faithful
devotions, the loyal commitments, that make any life worthwhile. A glut
of
fiscal verbiage can put you to sleep, or convince you it’s too hard to
comprehend or too boring. Yet its rules have made money the central
story of
our time."
By blending judgments,
values, and personal insights into
this story of economic processes, Rickey
Gard Diamond succeeds in turning a potentially dull subject into an
invigorating—even empowering—read, connecting the subject of money to
the
playing field of personal goals, human values, and aspirations that go
beyond
fair wages and amassing wealth at all costs.
Another
satisfying
surprise is the discussion of moral and ethical hazards involved in
making money.
Most economics primers omit these important guideposts to personal
achievement
or any mention of toxic people and their threat to economic pursuits
and
personal satisfaction.
The
specifics of
money management, federal and business control processes, and why women
are
inherently at a consistent disadvantage are clearly explained and
paired with
facts that are clearly explained: "Everything
about the dollar trumpets the United States, proclaiming our nation’s
money. It
is, but the devil is in the details. Our national eagle and the Great
Seal,
that giant eyeball atop a pyramid, have both been on the dollar since
Benjamin
Franklin helped design the original bills. Only when you look at the
very top
in the border do you see what’s really going on in small type, the
words Federal Reserve Note."
The result
is a
powerfully accessible women's economics primer that covers not just
economics,
but the reasons why women consistently struggle to get ahead in a
male-dominated world of money, why they are often stymied in their
attempts to
educate themselves about the subject, and how to overcome many of these
barriers to understanding to not just gain a semblance of equality, but
an
understanding of the force and role of money in their lives.
Very, very
highly
recommended for the average woman who seeks a better understanding of
how the
American financial system works, why it's so often stacked against
females, and
what to do about it.
Return to Index
Death Votes
Last
Marc Rainer
Gatekeeper Press
ISBN: 9781619848498
$13.49 Paper
eISBN: 9781619848504
$
3.99
www.GatekeeperPress.com
These and
other
questions are brought to the forefront in a crime drama well immersed
in
political process and questions of justice. Jeff Trask finds that his
job is
complicated by Washington's political polarization, and also faces
prejudice, a
deeply divided U.S. Senate, the specter of a Democrat responsible for a
Republication's demise, and killers at high levels of office affected
by
Presidential politics and grand jury processes.
All this
might lead
newcomers to believe that Death Votes
Last's story line requires prior familiarity with the Jeff
Trask series,
politics, or legal matters; but readers need have absolutely no
political or
legal background in order to appreciate the events that unfold in this
vivid
drama.
Nothing is cut-and-dried as
Jeff Trask faces many
conundrums, and this is another satisfying piece to a story line that
will
prove as riveting for non-lawyers as it will to members of the legal
profession
or those already familiar with Washington politics.
The result is a gripping,
intriguing, complex crime drama
especially recommended for readers interested not just in being
entertained,
but in learning more about courtroom proceedings and the logic behind
investigative routines.
Return to Index
James M. Jackson
Wolf's Echo Press
ISBN-13 (Print):
978-1-943166-12-1
ISBN-13 (Kindle):
978-1-943166-13-8
Price: $14.95 (print)
$3.99 (Kindle)
https://jamesmjackson.com
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078XJRYDG
Empty Promises is Book 5 in the
Seamus
McCree series and continues to follow his evolution as he embarks on
new roles
in both his professional and personal lives.
Professionally,
he's
become a bodyguard...and a poor one, it seems, as his client vanishes
and dire
consequences follow. His job is also tied up in his home life; for his
business
partner is also his lover, and she's furious with him for his
incompetence and
choices that place them both at risk when he fails to protect a witness
who has
been moved to McCree's own family compound for maximum safety.
One decision
has cost
another man his life. What other snafus will Seamus create before the
story is
through; and can his choices and actions save not only others, but his
own love
life?
Having
failed as a
protector, Seamus decides to clear his name by turning detective to
uncover
what went wrong and who is behind it. However, this decision leads to
further
consequences as his own family is threatened and he discovers he is
alone in
repairing what he's started. While prior familiarity with some of the
past
McCree episodes will lend a better understanding of the characters in
this
story, this is not a requirement in order for newcomers to appreciate
the
dilemma of a capable man facing his own failures in life.
As the point
of view
shifts between the first-person experiences of Seamus and the
observations of
Jason Graham, tension builds with an exquisite attention to detail,
creating an
involving atmosphere to support the events that present Seamus with his
greatest challenges yet.
Surprisingly,
it's
Jason Graham who faces losing everything. And it's Seamus who must
confront the
consequences of lies, confessions, and truths surrounding a storm of
unfinished
jobs by The Happy Reaper and their unexpected aftermaths.
Return to Index
A Hole in One
Judy Penz Sheluk
Barking Rain Press
9781941295731
$13.99
www.BarkingRainPress.org
A Hole in One will attract readers with a
special interest in the
kinds of female amateur sleuths who find themselves in over their
heads,
creating a mystery that opens with a golfing promotion for Arabella and
Emily's
antiques shop and turns deadly when an errant ball lands next to a
corpse.
The next
thing you
know, both women are immersed in more than antiquities as they discover
the
victim is connected to Arabella's ex-husband, who now is a prime
suspect in the
eyes of the police.
A variety of
strange
leads brings them to an unexpected conclusion—one that they will find a
threat
to their own lives if they can't resolve the mystery in time.
One unusual
aspect of
A Hole in One is its ability to
depict the golfing world alongside a dogged mystery filled with special
motives, reputations at stake, a news media flurry about the murder and
its
ramifications, and, at the heart of matters, Arabella and Emily's
increasingly
complicated lives beyond the rigors of small business ownership.
Social media
and
computer world involvements from bloggers to Craigslist add modern
trappings
and complexity to a story line that even mixes in a perplexing
situation
revolving around an antique gun. What really happened at the third
hole, and
how can the special knowledge of an antiques picker affect a murder
investigation?
The tension
is wonderfully
drawn, Judy Penz Sheluk takes time to develop settings, business
worlds, and
characters, and the story includes enough twists and turns that even
savvy
mystery fans won't always be able to predict its outcome.
Murder
mystery fans
interested in a satisfyingly complex investigation that embraces
antiques and
golfing worlds alike will relish the story of two women who find
themselves in
over their heads, with no other choice but to move forward into
dangerous
territory.
Return to Index
Honor Kills
Nanci Rathbun
Dark Chocolate Press
LLC
978-0-9987557-4-8 (Print)
$13.99
978-0-9987557-5-5 (Digital E-book) $
3.99
https://nancirathbun.com
Honor
Kills is
Book 3 of an Angelina Bonaparte mystery series, and takes place six
years after
Marcy hired PI Angelina Bonaparte to find her missing husband Hank, who
fled
with all the money in their joint accounts. The fact that Hank is dead
doesn't
change their interest in uncovering the truth about his actions, but
Angie
doesn't expect that her pursuit will lead her full circle to confront a
threat
to her own family.
Hank was apparently
well-liked by his colleagues and
friends. Angie considers him a weasel. Which is the truth?
Under other circumstances,
Angie's report of the demise
of her suspect would conclude the case; but here it only broadens the
questions
and casts the net of intrigue further. Hank apparently has a number of
hidden
identities; and each comes with additional complexity and questions.
One notable feature of Honor Kills is that Angie is not a
superhuman genius; but a human
being prone to discouragement and mistakes. Not everything she does is
smart or
even well-reasoned ("Feeling
cornered, I admitted that I’d sent a new message to Hank via S-Mail,
one that
connected Hank and Beltran. Spider’s eyes rose to the ceiling as he
thought
about my dumb move."), but these descriptions are exactly
what makes
Angie likeable and human.
Angie is as prone to
screwing up delicate situations as
she is adept at problem-solving, and this lends a realistic and
engrossing
touch to her conundrums as she gets closer and closer to a surprising
truth.
Nanci
Rathbun also
takes the time to explore why her characters doggedly pursue their
objectives;
and this too makes Honor Kills a
superior read in a genre that too often focuses on the 'whodunnit' over
the
'why pursue this inquiry' question.
The result is another
spirited Angelina Bonaparte mystery
that requires no special familiarity with predecessors in the series in
order
to prove satisfying to newcomers and prior fans alike.
Return to Index
The Last Resistance: Dragon Tomb
Ricardo Alexanders
CreateSpace
ISBN: 1979564957
(paperback, $19.99)
ASIN: B0778ZN5DM
(for Kindle,$2.99)
www.ricardoalexanders.com
http://ricardoalexanders.com/
What would World War II have looked like if
an alien invasion had brought the Axis and Allies together? The
Last
Resistance: Dragon Tomb reviews just
such a world in a fantasy
that opens the first book in a projected series.
Lest readers
expect a
staid alternate history piece, it should be mentioned that The
Last
Resistance: Dragon Tomb is more
like an Indiana Jones action piece on steroids. Picture military
encounters
with a World War II backdrop, but with plasma-breathing fire dragons on
the
battlefield. Add a dash of difference with Chinese infantrymen joining
forces
and fighting alongside Japanese and American forces. Now temper this
mix with
extraordinary adventures: captured archaeologist Chuan-Jay (CJ) Hoo's
task of
excavating the tomb of the First King of China for a
mythical device,
the Ninth Cauldron, that can manipulate the time of the universe when
the
Dragon Stone is inserted; and a new mission that takes place a year
later.
In this
effort, CJ
teams up with American adventurer Dr. Harry Jones to convince the alien
guardians to fight with first China, then the Allies in a winding story
line
that pairs familiar history with unfamiliar fantasy touches revolving
around
hidden forces, buried history, and dark changes.
It takes a deft
hand to present World War II history in a logical manner while
adding all kinds of alternative history elements, fantasy influences,
and
military confrontations between individuals who find themselves caught
between
too many opposing forces and special missions. Ricardo
Alexanders
succeeds in portraying a satisfyingly complex dance between a diverse
range of
influences. What
new force released on
Earth could prove so deadly that the efforts of all human fighters are
thwarted? Will CJ prove mankind's last hope, or humanity's greatest
enemy?
From the
riveting,
last desperate attempt of the Enola Gay to change history in a
different manner
to descriptions of the plasma blades of the Psyccagon, the action is
relentless, the story line complex but logical, and the nonstop events
make The
Last Resistance hard to put down.
It's unusual
to
recommend a military-style fantasy for readers of alternative history
and even
non-fantasy action thrillers; but The Last Resistance: Dragon
Tomb promises
many unpredictable twists and turns, creates strong characters, adds
cultural
encounters, and flavors all with high tension that makes for a top
recommendation holding the ability to cross genres from fantasy to
thriller
audiences. Anyone who relishes the staccato action of an Indiana Jones
piece
will find its equal in The Last Resistance: Dragon Tomb.
Return to Index
Zyklon
John Hazen
Black Rose Writing
blackrosewriting.com
Zyklon provides a fine sequel to the
previous story Fava, and will be
especially appreciated
by prior fans, who will find it a logical and absorbing continuation of
the
story of TV news reporter Francine Vega, who has been promoted to
co-anchor of
a morning news show, but misses her more active role as an
investigative
reporter. The background provided from Fava
will make Zyklon quite accessible
to
newcomers, however, who will find this story compelling enough that a
later
pursuit of Fava will be a desire
more
than a requirement.
Though
Francine found
her personal and professional life changed by her experiences in Fava ("In
addition, I, working side-by-side with FBI Special Agent Will Allen
(who would
subsequently become my husband and the father of our daughter, Rosa)
and Alan
Westbrook, a brilliant but quite unstable genius/computer nerd, saved
the city
of Mecca from being destroyed and kept the world from plunging into
world war.
In the process, I was nearly killed a half dozen times. If that isn’t
“earning
my stripes” I don’t know what is."), she's about to find
everything
changing yet again in Zyklon.
She must
learn to
adapt, behave differently, and go back to a world where she not only
reports
live news, but is immersed in it, receiving the kind of challenge she
thought
she was forsaking with a big promotion and a quieter back seat to the
main
action.
Francine
does more
than report on the news. She thinks about the conflicts she's
documenting and
the personalities who cross her desk: "I
thought it strange not only how easily they caught Aaron Kaplow, but
the
reports I read indicated he had been extremely sloppy, leaving copious
amounts
of evidence seemingly out in the open. In New York and the other cities
where
he committed his crimes, on the other hand, he scrupulously covered his
tracks.
I passed it off as his getting cocky or perhaps his mental condition
had
deteriorated to the point where he could no longer adequately cover his
tracks.
Or maybe he was just tired of it all and wanted to get caught."
Her
ability to move beyond reading reports to analyzing their
inconsistencies takes
her on a journey which brings with it misgivings about the case she's
focused
on, the appropriateness of execution, and threats to her ability to
move freely
through society based on her newfound minor fame.
As John
Hazen adds
depth and detail to Francine's character, thinking processes,
ambitions, and
decisions; readers become immersed in her life and the consequences of
her
reporting. Francine evolves from being a reporter to becoming involved
in
code-cracking, the deadly Zyklon Killer's puzzles, and a possible case
of
mistaken identity and injustice.
All these
elements
introduce far more speculative intrigue and insights into the tale than
expected. As Francine reconsiders what she's long known to be truth and
reaches
a frightening conclusion about what's really happening, the tension is
exquisite; both in the investigative mission and in the challenges to
Francine's approaches to and belief system about life in general and
her work in
particular. It's this added element of moral, ethical, and
psychological
reflection which adds depth to a tense story and elevates it to a level
many
intriguing tales can't reach.
The result
is a tense
thriller that builds upon its predecessor, but demands no prior
introduction to
prove thoroughly engrossing to newcomers to Francine's life and skills.
Return to Index
Black Child
to Black
Woman
Cheryl Denise Bannerman
AuthorHouse
ISBN: 978-1-4520-3580-2 (e)
$5.49
ISBN: 978-1-4520-3578-9 (sc)
$16.99
ISBN: 978-1-4520-3579-6 (hc)
$24.99
https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003YVCJ74
Tara Walker
is nine
years old when she begins a diary in Black
Child to Black Woman: an effort that follows her emergence
into adulthood,
sweeping readers into her perceptions and interpretations of life from
first a
child's eye, then from an adult perspective.
Tara's voice
notably
changes as she matures, and this is just one strength to a powerful
presentation
which succeeds in imparting a realistic sense of progressive growth as
it
follows the fictional evolution of a girl to womanhood.
Another plus
is that
the story doesn't stereotype black experiences. Tara comes from a
loving,
supportive home environment that faces challenges ranging from
addiction to
molestation despite the efforts of her parents to build a sheltered,
supportive
environment for their kids. This experience rings true as life serves
up a
mixed bag of tests and Tara considers choices on how to respond to them.
Tara
observes things
differently as she ages. This, too, is nicely captured and linked to
references
about her age, allowing readers to easily follow the progression of her
insights. For one example, her twelve-year-old journal entry reflects
thoughts
as she realizes new truths about her family ("I’m
learning a lot about my brothers now. Things I didn’t
understand when I was younger. Darrell is on drugs. That’s what makes
him act
weird.") as well as her hopes for changes, upon graduation ("It’s over. My family brings me roses
and takes a million pictures. I just want to go back home and out of
this town
for now. Maybe I’ll come back to visit my friends in the nearby towns
one day
or maybe I will never see them again. Who knows?").
Plenty of
stories
center upon coming of age experiences from a black child's perspective;
but by
employing a chronological journal of changing insights and events and
taking
care not to stereotype her characters, Cheryl
Denise Bannerman succeeds in creating a compelling story of life
transitions,
changing attitudes, and a sense of choice that runs through the story
line,
lending it a depth that competing stories can't touch.
Readers of
contemporary romances and coming of age fiction will find Tara's story
of her
evolution and life experiences are astute, compelling, and hard to put
down.
Return to Index
Bloodline
Secrets
Barbara Taylor
Sanders
Ambassador International Publications
Print:
978-1-62020-600-3
$15.99
ebook: 978-1-62020-670-6
http://ambassador-international.com/books/bloodline-secrets/
Laci Ann is
used to
keeping her royal roots secret with a long-used tactic she's used while
living
abroad and even during her two brief marriages. She's also more than
familiar
with the strategy of toying with the men in her life, playing various
roles
involving taking risks as she plays the part of a commoner courting a
man. So
why would she find attractive a hard-to-get and often rude bachelor who
works
in her father's company; and why would she marry him?
As the story
progresses, readers come to realize that Laci is well into repeating
the
mistakes of her past, marrying loser after loser. Her younger sister
Justine
can't understand the purpose of her game, while oldest sister Claudette
deliberately avoids her two siblings and fails to bond with their very
different personalities.
These
disparate
themes come together in Bloodline Secrets,
a powerful exposé of family ties, wealth, long-kept secrets, and the
struggles
of the privileged to live consequential lives with meaningful
connections.
In the first
few
chapters, readers might believe they are involved in an edgy romance;
but as
events unfold and the very different personalities of the three sisters
emerges, mystery, intrigue, and danger take over. A boating accident, a
groom
who may have an identical twin or his own secret life, Laci Ann's
confrontation
with a terrible responsibility for her actions, and the truth about
Claudette's
heritage (which changes everything) are just a few of the subplots
governing a
swift and engrossing story. Events lead readers in a seemingly
predictable
direction; then abruptly and satisfyingly introduce new elements of
drama.
Bloodline Secrets is about far more than
heritage, inheritance, or
anguished hearts over either family or marriage relationships. Its
readers are
in for a treat as they follow a progressively building saga that takes
a family
mystery and introduces themes of changing values, stormy encounters,
and the
kinds of psychological changes that lead to a real homecoming in more
ways than
one.
Stealthily
gripping,
mercurial in its approach to unexpected relationship changes and
challenges,
and satisfyingly specific in its considerations of how disparate
personalities
undertake different journeys to recognize, acknowledge, and reach their
real
selves, Bloodline Secrets is a
highly
recommended read for anyone who likes their stories replete with
psychological
depth and the process of self-discovery.
Return to Index
Bonnie and
Clyde: Dam
Nation
Clark Hays and
Kathleen McFall
Pumpjack Press
978-0-9974113-6-2
$15.95 Print/$4.99 ebook
www.pumpjackpress.com
Bonnie and Clyde: Dam Nation provides the
second book in the
speculative fiction series; but newcomers need no prior familiarity
with Resurrection Road, the first
book, in
order to find it accessible.
It's 1935,
and
America is deep in the Depression; but hope is blossoming over the New
Deal's
focus on rebuilding the nation's infrastructure. Who would want to
literally
blow up this process?
Bonnie and
Clyde,
saved from death and put to work as secret agents of the government,
are called
into action when a construction site informant who reveals a plot
involving
treason and the sabotage of the Boulder Dam is found murdered.
Only two
powerful
people can pick up the pieces of this discovery and move forward to
prevent
disaster. Bonnie and Clyde's combined special skills can change the
future, and
Clark Hays and Kathleen McFall capture not only a sense of action and
adventure, but the atmosphere surrounding American feelings of despair,
hope,
and strength in the 1930s: "How did
you feel seeing Boulder Dam, now called Hoover Dam, for the first
time?”
“Small,” she said, eyes clouding over with memories. “Small? How so?”
“Part of
it was just the sheer size of it all, like it literally made me feel
small. But
then there was another part, how each of us—me, Clyde, Jimmy,
Claudette, the
workers—each one of us had this tiny part to play in this big,
important thing.
We were all tiny cogs in a giant machine, and each one on their own,
none of us
mattered a whit, but working together made us all part of something
grand and
exciting and useful.”
The sense
that Bonnie
and Clyde are cogs in the relentless wheel of history, affecting a
series of
events that push ever closer to disaster, lends an engrossing ambiance
to a
story that includes social struggles and worker rights issues as well
as
efforts to rise above devastation and fear.
Many of the
elements
and scenes in Bonnie and Clyde: Dam
Nation will resonate with modern-day readers: "President
Roosevelt is giving us a chance to have a voice, and we have
got to take it,” he said. “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity and we
can’t
mess it up. When we organize, we can ask for whatever we want. Is it
right that
all the profits go to fat cats in their big fancy houses up on the
bluff
looking down at our sweat and suffering?” “No,” shouted the room. “Tell
me why
not!” “Because we built that dam,” the group yelled."
From the
deep,
ongoing affection between Bonnie and Clyde to their greatest challenges
both
together and apart, the plot reveals characters who teeter on the edge
of being
working citizens and criminals and who don't always take their skills
and
heists in logical directions, even to each other: "We
ought to give that money back,” she said. “Now that we accomplished
what we set out to accomplish, doesn’t seem right to keep it to
ourselves.” He
raised his head to look at her incredulously. “Bonnie Parker, have you
lost
your ever-loving mind? We don’t ever give money back to the people we
steal it
from. That’s like the first rule of bank robbing.”
The result
is a rollicking
good read that adds additional flavors to the Bonnie and Clyde legend
with
action, humor, social issues, and a hearty dose of adventure, for good
measure.
The real history of the rise of unions and worker rights against the
backdrop
of a nation recovering from the Great Depression provides a realistic
backdrop
to a vivid read that blends fiction with nonfiction elements in such a
way that
makes it logically engrossing and hard to put down.
Return to Index
French Quarter Artists
Vivian Marie Westerman
CreateSpace
9781977779533
$7.99
Kindle; $35.73 Paper
http://a.co/1bIv1Ww
French
Quarter
Artists follows the daily living, inspirations, and culture
of the French
Quarter in New Orleans, tracing these experiences through the eyes of
Vivian
Marie Westerman's alter ego, protagonist Ivy,
a French
Quarter artist who returns to New Orleans for the fourth time to live
in the
city and find her muse.
As she captures the
sentiments, sense, and sights and
smells of the art colony and its relationship to the city, readers are
brought
on a tour of the French Quarter with her; to places such as Jackson
Square, "...the only place in America where
you
can see the work being done. Everything else is done in China." The result of such
observations and travels
is a more intricate sense of art, artists, and art communities than the
usual
New Orleans observational piece imparts. Perhaps that's because the
insights
come from a fellow artist in a work that's more an insider's
documentary of the
art world than an outside critic's dispassionate analysis.
Ivy's education lies not
only in New Orleans culture and
art, but in the business of marketing street art to buyers who each
have their
own personalities. Eventually she becomes involved in street artistry
and in
New Orleans political affairs.
Part of what makes Ivy's story so compelling is
Westerman's ability to bring the French Quarter to life, from the
Mississippi
River that is one of the city's life forces to its iconic hurricane
drinks, bar
culture, Mardi Gras embellishments, and the economic fragility of
freelance
street artists.
As Ivy's portraits capture
her customers' quirks and
lives, so her observations deftly paint a picture of all manner of
French
Quarter affairs. Readers aren't limited to written description, either:
color
photos throughout capture the street artists and their productions,
enhancing
the story line with a visual touch that accents the historical facts
sprinkled
into Ivy's story.
In focusing on Jackson
Square in particular, the
microcosm of New Orleans artistry becomes a focal point for a broader
examination of street artist lifestyles and concerns as
French
Quarter Artists follows a portrait artist's deeper
involvement in the
culture and personalities that make the French Quarter a unique world.
Plenty of nonfiction books
attempt to provide tourists
with a survey of the French Quarter; but few make it come to life like French Quarter Artists. This blend of
biography and fiction excels in capturing the visual, historic, and
physical
and psychological world of the Quarter's inhabitants.
Anyone with an interest in
New Orleans history and
culture or street artists will find the story a compelling highlight of
personalities, politics, history, and economics that grabs reader
attention
while capturing the visual artwork of Larisa Ivakina Clevenger and
others whose
works create friendships and connections within artistic and social
circles
alike.
Return to Index
The Juggler
Stan Freeman
Hampshire House
Publishing
9781983740598
$5.25
www.hampshirehousepub.com
The Juggler is a novella, which means its
diminutive size (83
pages) allows for a succinct, digestible format that even (and
especially) the
busiest reader will appreciate.
When the
famous juggler
Harry Riis, a serious professional, influences an Indiana farm boy
whose
teenage mind is impressionable and yet to be identified with any given
goal in
life, Richard develops an amazing talent that is challenged and changed
by the
advent of World War II. He comes to discover that singular pursuits
aren't
necessarily driving forces throughout the extent of one's life. The
challenge
lies in adopting flexibility to what life brings; and this is one theme
of The Juggler, a story that flows
between
honing ability and adapting to change.
As the years
pass,
Richard finds himself married, then divorced; his once-bright juggling
talent
set aside in the face of life's tribulations. The loss of his special
skill
places new challenges on his life's dreams and achievements, and
readers follow
the path of a broken juggler who now juggles life's ironies and
inconsistencies
as he attempts to forge a new identity.
Richard
thinks his
life is over. Could he have imagined a day would arrive when juggling
takes
back stage to something new?
Of
necessity, the
novella format demands tight prose, clear and succinct characterization
and
plots, and an approach that poses a key dilemma and provides solutions
in a
very short period of time. The best novellas achieve an identity and
feel that
do not leave readers wishing for a longer production. The
Juggler more than satisfies the craving for strong
development
and satisfying resolution by providing a story line that grabs reader
attention
from the start.
Replete in
reflections on growth, transformation, self-discovery, and adaptation, The Juggler offers a solid, first-person
reflection on how a boy grows into adulthood and hones new goals in
life. It's
highly recommended for any reader interested in a different coming of
age saga
presented in a compact, hard-hitting package.
Return to Index
Loser's Road
Kalan Chapman Lloyd
Rebelle Press
9781543033618
$7.99
www.losersroad.com
Loser's Road tells of Oklahoma cowboy
Cash Stetson, an obvious
loser (he's lost his position as a doctor, his medical license, and his
goals
in life) who nonetheless aspires to get the girl of his dreams. In this
case,
the girl is ER physician Maggie, who is savvy enough to recognize Cash
for what
he is; and to know that she's not in a position to rescue him or anyone
else.
Cash faces
some
choices about his future when he goes 'as far South as he could go' and
finds
himself on a beach, reflecting on his next steps ("Or
he could go home, sort out his shit, and try to find a life
again. That wasn’t an option he really wanted to consider, given that
it would
mean facing his bad decisions and all the people who’d been privy to
the crap
choices. It would be best to keep going, he knew. Best to pretend he
hadn’t
brought it all upon himself. Best to remain untethered for the rest of
his life
and just keep going where the wind blew him. There was a charmingly
deceptive
freedom in that option. Loser that he
was, God wouldn’t turn his ass loose."). Maggie, who is in Mexico at this moment, is also
at a very different
crossroads in her life.
Common threads brought each to this point: emptiness in their lives, a
lack of
connections, and a medical mission in Mexico that is supposed to be
punishment
and a learning experience for Cash even as it's a lifetime achievement
for
Maggie.
While Loser's Road includes romance between
unlikely candidates, to brand it a romance alone is to belay its
importance as
a psychological novel about building new connections in life and
overcoming
adversity to move into new growth areas.
Kalan
Chapman Lloyd
takes no easy routes in her delineation of the strengths and weaknesses
of her
characters, and this lends Loser's Road
both a realistic tone (as each assesses their lives) and a practical
focus (as
neither follows set, logical courses either before or after they
encounter one
another).
Where other
authors
might choose routes that are entirely predictable, characters Maggie
and Cash
harbor a solid individuality and unique perspectives on and approaches
to their
lives that clearly follows friendship into other realms ("She
liked him. It was a weird feeling,
liking a member of the opposite sex. For so long, Maggie had viewed
them as
someone to use, or fear. Or usually, both. But Cash Stetson, in all his
down
and out glory, was likable. Maggie hadn’t had a male friend, maybe
ever, save
for her brother, so the feeling was new, but good."),
explaining
motivations, background history, and psychological influences on the
evolving
feelings between them.
Cash's
process of
figuring out what he wants from his life apart from his goal of
impressing
Maggie is very nicely portrayed. The story line does a great job of
emphasizing
the evolving individuality of the two characters; not just how they
grow
together.
It should
also be
mentioned that a spiritual overlay is present, but does not translate
to a
drama for religious eyes only. All readers will find thoroughly
engrossing the
story of how a down-and-out loser finds that only when he loses
everything does
he really win, with both God and love on his side.
Return to Index
Paris Ever
After
K. S. R. Burns
Velvet Morning Press
978-0997767650
$4.99
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079H32ND3/&keywords=second+chance+romance
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/paris-ever-after
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/book/paris-ever-after/id1342981288?mt=11&ign-itsct=1342981288-1342981288&ign-itscg=0176&ign-mpt=uo%3D4
Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/paris-ever-after-sr-burns-k/1127913718?ean=2940155360216
Paris Ever After is a love story that
follows the results of Amy's
impulsive flight to a city far from home, and continues the adventure
she
experiences upon moving to Paris, far from her former life.
Amy told
nobody of
her goals and departure when she fled, and now she's building a new
life in the
city of dreams, and is pregnant at the age of thirty. She's enjoying
every
moment of new friendships, French culture, and a life that feels far
more
immediate than her old world.
Unfortunately
the
past has a way of swinging full circle into present-day affairs, and
Amy finds
her new life shaken when two visitors (one from her past; the other an
unexpected arrival bringing conflict into her world) show up. Is Amy
firmly
enough rooted and committed to her new Parisian persona to deflect
forces that
could tear apart what she's built? Would it be safer to leave Paris, or
smarter
to stay?
Readers with
a
special affinity for Parisian culture will relish a novel that is well
steeped
in French affairs, serving as an enthralling backdrop to Amy's ongoing
transformative process.
Paris Ever After excels in building the
kind of story that is
immediately absorbing and even, surprisingly, educational ("Yes, in France the cheese course comes with rules.
It’s
hilarious. Women are served first. Older people are served before
younger
people. If a cheese is round you carve out a wedge. If a cheese is
rectangular
you cut an even slice across the short side. Your pieces should be no
bigger
than the size of your pinkie finger. Do not take more than three
varieties of
cheese, and, whatever you do, serve yourself only once. I love stuff
like
this.").
Equally
powerful is
the human psychology that permeates Amy's changing relationships and
revelations: "In our few years as a
couple I’ve done the weeping for both of us. Even when I had the
miscarriage,
soon after our hasty wedding, all he did was look grave, and then, days
later,
inform me in a neutral tone that “one third of first pregnancies end in
miscarriage.”
Facts and data. They can serve you, and you can love them, but they’ll
offer
little love or solace in return. Anyway, information isn’t the same
thing as
knowledge. I said this to William once, not long after we started
dating. He
just looked at me."
It should be
mentioned that Paris Ever After is
also a touching and engaging read fueled by the compassion of its
characters
and by their realistic cross-cultural encounters and connections to
past and
present: "Here I am in a foreign
country, far from my humble upbringing in inner city Phoenix, but
suddenly, I
feel totally comfortable, totally at home."
Whether it's
passion,
compassion, romance, or confronting emotional ties, Paris
Ever After is the kind of captivating read
that can fling even armchair travelers
into another country into hearts and minds that are filled with
interpersonal
connections and beauty.
The result
is a story
that is emotionally heartwarming; filled with warm tea, giving, and
inter-relationships that feel compellingly familiar. As Amy makes some
tough
decisions and continues to cement her love for Paris, readers will find
themselves thoroughly immersed in the atmosphere and attractions of
French
culture in a highly recommended leisure story for a stormy night, a
stormy
heart, or an attempt to reconnect with the intrinsic goodness in people.
Return to Index
Pride’s
Children:
PURGATORY
Alicia Butcher
Ehrhardt
Trilka Press
Print: 978-0692589809
$21.99
Ebook: ASIN: 0692589805 $
8.99
http://www.amazon.com/Prides-Children-PURGATORY-Book-Trilogy/dp/0692589805
Ex-physician
Kary
Ashe is a reclusive writer being dragged into the limelight; Andrew
O'Connor is
a dashing heartbreaker; and schemer and aspiring Hollywood star Bianca
is ripe
for her next conquest. When these three disparate personalities come
together
to clash values and cross the country in an unlikely state of affairs,
all hell
breaks loose.
On one
level, Pride’s Children: PURGATORY,
the first
in a trilogy, is about movie stars, love, and thwarted passions and
purposes;
but look deeper and you'll find much more is going on here. A thread of
death,
resurrection, and revitalization affects each of the characters, along
with a
focus on abandonment, broken promises, challenging decisions, and the
lasting
consequences of bad choices.
While all
this might
sound like a romance conundrum, Pride’s
Children: PURGATORY is much more literary in its approach
than one might
expect from this description of its many themes.
Alicia
Butcher
Ehrhardt takes time to build her characters, winds a number of
different
challenges into their lives, and keeps tension high as her storyline
slowly
evolves. While this contrasts with and may prove challenging for
readers used
to plots with nonstop action, Pride’s
Children: PURGATORY is not based on thriller elements; but
upon the slowly
evolving relationships, personalities, and behaviors of a dissimilar
group of
individuals who come together during a project to find their lives
unexpectedly
entwined.
From descriptions of filming and the underlying relationships and social encounters of everyone involved ("He’d gotten used to the sense of royal progression whenever he crossed the set. Everyone had a job to do. Equals—but not.") to expressed values in life ("Children are the most important thing in the world.” Kary’s tone conveyed deep conviction. “Choices have consequences. Nothing else is as crucial as protecting the children.”), Pride’s Children: PURGATORY's real strength lies in Ehrhardt's ability to take the strings of emotion governing each character's choices and give them tugs that, in turn, tug at the heartstrings of her readers.
Twists of
plot keep readers guessing about some closely-held secrets that
dictate how the characters relate to one another, while fine
observations of
different perceptions of integrity and its impact on life choices
contribute
additional facets in a story that is hard to put down.
Readers of
women's
fiction and literature will relish the slow, methodical, involving
progression
towards change that each of the characters experiences along their
paths to
being true to themselves and those around them.
Return to Index
The Seasons
of Doubt
Jeannie Burt
Muskrat Press
9780989544658
$17.99
www.jeannieburt.com
Mary
Harrington lives
in Nebraska during the late 1800s, on a homestead she and her husband
got for
free after the railroad was completed.
Many were lured to this harsh environment where dreams and
land
ownership beckoned, but many also abandoned their dreams in the face of
Nebraska's harsh environment.
Mary's
husband is one
of them: when winter wipes out his crops, he leaves his wife and child
- and
this is where Mary's story begins.
The Seasons of Doubt is about
abandonment, survival, and a young
mother's determination to work on her land until her husband returns,
hopefully
to support them again. Her profound strength and courage in the face of
rain,
heat, devastation, and isolation in a world even the neighbors have
fled
contributes to a survival story firmly rooted in history, yet filled
with one
woman's obstinate determination to make a go of things against all odds.
Hungry,
broke, and
isolated, Mary must find a way to survive - and she must do so sans the
husband
who would lend her authority in the eyes of those who would judge her
efforts
and acknowledge that her land claim is valid and the property viable in
the
face of other interests who seek to come in and take her last remaining
possession.
The history
and events
in The Seasons of Doubt are real. The story is
fictional; but is a vivid
reminder not just of the hardships of homesteading, but the special
challenges
of being a hard-working, determined female always operating in the
shadow of a
male figure, even if that figure vanishes. On the face of it, Mary is a
hard-working survivor; but the undercurrent of a lie cuts through her
world and
complicates her efforts.
As Mary's
world
expands from working land to dressmaking and business, she finds the
courage to
accept what she cannot change and the determination to reinvent her
life in
this powerful, women-centric pioneer story that will resonate with any
readers
interested in Western history, women's experiences, and a fictional
journey
made by one special, feisty survivor who spends her life circling the
truth and
doing penance for the untruths she propagates.
Return to Index
Something
About Ann: Stories of Love and Brotherhood
J. Everett Prewitt
Northland Publishing
Company
ASIN: B076YHN84C
$6.95 Kindle/$16.95 Paper
http://a.co/8r5o7xx
Something About Ann's prologue opens in
June of 1969, with a
setting somewhere near the Cambodian border, making it evident this
story will
be about Vietnam. What isn't immediately evident is that its two
introductory
characters, Clarence and Ann, will keep readers riveted to the story in
this
novella through a series of encounters against the backdrop of a
conflict which
places this production a cut above the usual singular Vietnam War
scenario.
Six months
after
Vietnam, Clarence meets Ann at a party, and her obvious Asian heritage
brings
buried memories of the past to the forefront. After an encounter at a
party
where Clarence confesses his discomfort at how she reminds him of war,
they
part ways. Several
letters pass between
them; but they keep bumping into one another; and like a picked scab,
Clarence
finds his raw emotions tweaked each time. Soon the chance encounters
become
occasional planned meetings between the married woman and the Vietnam
veteran,
and things change between them.
More so than most
stories of Vietnam vets or postwar America, Something About Ann offers powerful messages about recovery
processes, relationships, healing, and a search for peace after
life-threatening challenges to survival and psyche.
As they move in and out of
each others' lives, Clarence
encounters other Vietnamese refugees, and his choices, from marriage to
Army
training and its civilian applications, change as well.
But this collection isn't
just about Ann and Clarence's
choices and confrontations. A host of other characters contribute to a
bigger
picture; each holding their own perspectives about Vietnam's lasting
effects on
their lives. These stories offer differing viewpoints, yet nicely
support one
another with messages that neatly dovetail to follow the evolution of
friendships, family, and a changing world that moves past the war's
politics
and into personal arenas.
Those anticipating a
military saga might be surprised at Something
About Ann's different focus on
domestic affairs postwar, but will find this novella succinctly
captures
changed individuals and lives, revealing their motivations and
impulses: "Even after Vietnam, it was not
like he
was ever comfortable or confident in his ability to discern what
happened in
peoples' lives, but when Myron was in the vicinity of the other
peppermint
candy people long enough, he began to connect, to feel-an unwanted, but
familiar feeling."
Readers seeking a
different kind of Vietnam piece will relish the messages and approach
of Something
About Ann, which
digs deeper
into the finer psychology of social change and individual choice than
most,
making it a special recommendation for those who like their
psychological
insights at the forefront of popular modern historical writings.
Return to Index
Ace Your
First Year
Teaching
Anthony D.
Fredericks, Ed.D
Blue River Press
9781681570457
$14.99
www.brpressbooks.com
Ace Your First Year Teaching: How to be an
Effective and Successful
Teacher should be in the welcome packets of every new teacher
who has
school training but is set to embark upon a real-world experience. Its
messages
come not just from fellow teachers or advisors; but from school
principals,
superintendents, and administrators, and it offers a range of
strategies
designed to get new teachers through their first learning experiences
in and
outside of the classroom.
Most new
teachers
learn many of their lessons the hard way, from first year snafus. Ace Your First Year Teaching seeks to
reduce or eliminate these surprises by covering them in advance; from
words of
advice for the first day and first week of class ("The
first days of school should be about routines. Teach
explicit behaviors/routines rather than content; this will save you in
the long
run. --Amy Glusco, former elementary teacher") to the basic
dos and
don't of classroom management, anticipating and preventing classroom
problems,
meeting all needs in an inclusive classroom setting, and more.
While many
of these
topics are covered in other educator guides, having them all under one
cover
with a narrowed focus on a teacher's first year encounters offers a
more
explicit discussion of special challenges and solutions during this
period of
time, reviewing everything from a teacher's subtle messages to students
to
incentives and strategies supported by research studies.
Sidebars of
ideas and
tips compliment case studies, analytics, and the specific guidelines to
tailoring classroom success that new teachers need in order to assure
success.
That's why Ace Your First Year Teaching should
be required reading for anyone new to real-world classroom management.
Return to Index
The
Archetype of the
Number and its Reflections in Contemporary Cosmology
Alain Negre
Chiron Publications
978-1-63051-438-9 -
paperback
$23.00
978-1-63051-439-6 -
hardcover
$47.00
978-1-63051-440-2 -
ebook
$ 9.99
www.chironpublications.com/shop/archetype-number-reflections-contemporary-cosmology/
A prior
interest in
philosophy, mathematics, and theoretical physics will lend to an
enjoyment and
appreciation of Alain Negre's The
Archetype of the Number and its Reflections in Contemporary Cosmology,
a
discussion of mathematics, physics, and psychology through
a transdisciplinary approach that does not confuse the different levels
of
reality.
In a
discourse which
surveys the extent of cosmology's evolutionary process, its foundations
in
mathematics, and the evolution of research trends, a historical piece
is
introduced that embraces Jungian archetypes, scientific rationalism,
philosophical discussions of reality, and fundamental objectives of the
scientific process.
With so many
complex,
multidisciplinary viewpoints coalescing in this book, it would have
been too
easy, under another hand, to have the discussion wind through avenues
that
eschew logic and progressive foundations of the building blocks of
knowledge in
favor of focusing on each approach. Under Alain Negre's hand, these
facets are
tempered by a smooth, linear discussion that successfully blends
history,
philosophy, psychology and science. The result is a purposeful and
steady read
that deftly moves from ancient to modern times as it provides close
inspection
of the meaning, rationale, and evolution of the archetypal number and
its
underlying theory.
Different
models of
the universe are contrasted in discussions that embrace the many routes
and
methods of exploring how the mind formulates truth. Chapters examine
consciousness, perceived time, ecological and cyclic processes, and how
theories of consciousness and these cycles directly link to brain
biology and
cosmological perceptions and interpretations alike.
The result
is a
scholarly discussion of cosmological cycles and their direct
relationships to
human perception, psychology, biology and math, presenting much
supportive
history, research, and a close inspection of evolutionary processes
that
dovetail nicely with the subject at hand.
College-level
physics, astronomy and mathematical readers will be the obvious
benefactors of The Archetype of the Number
and its
Reflections in Contemporary Cosmology, but this book is also
recommended
for libraries strong in psychology, philosophy, biology, and
evolutionary
theory.
Return to Index
First Tie
Your Camel, Then Trust in God: An American
Feminist in the Arab World
Chivvis Moore
North Loop Books
978-1-63413-953-3
$17.99
www.amazon.com
In 1978,
California carpenter Chivvis Moore decided to write to Egyptian author
Hassan Fathy, whose book Architecture for the
Poor had made a
deep impression on her. Little did she know that this decision would
lead her
on a journey to Egypt, an introduction to Muslim culture, and a 16-year
involvement in Arab lives and history which comes full circle back to
American
readers with the publication of First Tie Your Camel,
Then Trust in God.
The first
(and,
perhaps, the most important) thing to note about this story is that it
comes
steeped in the long-time experiences of a woman who lived in the region
for
many years; not a visitor on a limited holiday. This allows for the
kind of
depth and insight that comes from a special brand of familiarity with a
culture
that moves from a foreigner's perspective to that of a
resident.
Moore's
observations,
reactions to the people and culture around her, and the decisions she
makes
about woodworking and life in the process of adaptation and acceptance
hold
powerful personal messages and experiences that more casual surveys
would not
capture. Even more important, they capture the underlying nuance and
flavor of
the Egyptian and Palestinian culture; from Arabic words, which are
rendered in
English as closely as possible to the way they sound in Arabic to
feminists who
are striking contrasts to popular Western images of helpless and
down-trodden
Arab women.
A healthy
dose of
political insight compliments the cultural and social
observations ("The
US and USSR, it seemed, were using Third World countries like pawns on
a
chessboard.") as Moore carries readers through her encounters
with
many people, and journeys through 1970s Egypt and Occupied
Palestine.
Discussion
topics
range from prejudice to education as Moore is welcomed into a master
woodworker's shop to receive lessons on architecture, craft, and
life.
It's
important to
note that First Tie Your Camel, Then Trust in God is
anything
but a singular production. It will reach a wide audience with diverse
topics
that are unexpected for the genres it touches upon. For instance,
travel readers
will gain an important sense of place and culture, but might not
anticipate the
book's many social and woodworking insights; while those anticipating a
read
about Middle Eastern issues will find that Moore carries readers down
the dusty
streets and back roads of Cairo and other places with a sense of
immediacy
peculiar to a travelogue's approach.
What is it
like to
live in the Middle East as an independent American woman? What are some
of the
differences between Egyptian and Palestinian perspectives?
Moore
confronts and
dispels many myths about the experience during the course of her story
and
education process. Readers who want a wide-ranging discussion of this
region
backed by long-time personal experience will find First
Tie Your Camel,
Then Trust in God offers a powerful testimony to the
daily lives of
Muslims in two very different journeys -- through Egypt in the 1970s
and
Palestine in the 1990s-2008.
The "you are
there" feel, cemented by dialogue and examples of experiences with a
host
of Arab peoples, makes for a highly accessible, much recommended
journey.
Return to Index
Goodbye
Butterflies: The 5-Day Stage Fright Solution
Dr. David Lee Fish
CreateSpace
9781981587841
$14.99 Paper/$5.99 Kindle
http://a.co/4sxzOWA
Goodbye Butterflies: The 5-Day Stage Fright Solution
is for anyone
who has ever been required to appear before an audience yet suffers
from stage
fright, but it doesn't just come from a doctor who hands out advice.
It's
written by a fellow sufferer who well knows the mechanisms and
challenges of
stage fright, and who uses his personal experience and professional
knowledge
to provide tested solutions that work on many levels.
Dr. David
Lee Fish
readily admits that his suffering has not ended, and that his book
promises no
miracle cures. Instead, it's a well-reasoned approach to performance
anxiety
that points out that everyone experiences stage fright at different
degrees,
and his Zen approach to mindfulness and a detachment from over thinking
is one
of the keys to resolving many of the symptoms of stage fright.
Readers
should
therefore be open to the ideas and approaches of Zen and mindfulness
(although
no prior experience with either is required in order to use this book).
Zen
concepts aren't simple, but Dr. Fish adapted them not just for a
specific
approach to stage fright; but for newcomers to Zen's concepts.
It should be
mentioned that Goodbye, Butterflies
supports an online course Dr. Fish developed, of the same name. As
such, it's
both a stand-alone book and one that can be applied as a textbook, with
further
exercises on his website.
However, the
book
does stand well on its own pages without any online support or
references as it
makes the contention that stage fright is a natural, manageable fear
that can
be controlled and alleviated through mindfulness.
Chapters are
filled
with self-help exercises readers can use to identify their core values
in
performing, ideas for practicing mindful routines before a major
appearance,
and tricks in thinking that acknowledge nervousness but belay the
special
impact of stage fright. They include a healthy dose of psychological
insights
on shame, anxiety, perfectionism, and the limitations of other
approaches, such
as hypnotherapies.
Statistics,
case
studies, and real-world examples permeate a discussion that is filled
with
information on how the mind works both for and against its user.
The result
isn't an
idealistic coverage, but a practical assessment of the mechanisms of
stage
fright and how mindfulness can be applied to overcome the worst of
these
effects. It's not a miracle cure, but it nonetheless promises an
abatement of
fear to a manageable level and will prove a powerful tool for anyone
who finds
themselves required to confront their biggest fear in a public arena.
Return to Index
Learn to
Play Guitar
Gareth Evans
Intuition
Publications
978-0-9569547-4-9 eBook: $2.29/Paperback
$13.99
www.guitar-book.com
Learn to Play Guitar pairs free
downloadable web audio tracks (for
both demo and backing purposes) with exercises geared towards beginning
to
intermediate students, explaining the basics of technique, theory, and
fret
board layout using simple language to lay a basic foundation of
knowledge.
This focus
on
elementary-level basics creates a building block approach to
guitar-playing
techniques and knowledge which will serve as a solid refresher course
for those
with some prior background. The intention is to get all guitar players
on the
same page, assuming no prior understanding of any part of the process.
This
theory is accompanied by musical examples in various styles geared to
beginning
pickers, and is meant to be used in conjunction with the audio tracks
which
offer two versions of each song: a demo of how the guitar should sound,
and a
track with the guitar demo removed, which allows novices to play along.
Instructions
on
tuning and tablature move to sections of basic details about scales,
picking
and strumming choices, chords, exercises for playing by shapes,
beginning sight
reading directions, and more advanced techniques.
All this
lends to
better self-instruction. This is common to many other guitar books; but
the
reinforcement of the audio tracks combined with adaptation
opportunities, from
blank tabs to pencil in one's own version of the lesson to discussions
of hand
anatomy and how stretching exercises need to be part of the instruction
process, creates a different approach than most. Perhaps this is
because Learn to Play Guitar is
wider-reaching
in its playing opportunities, from beginning sight reading to
tendon-stretching
exercises, examples that can be played forwards or backwards, and
explanations
that explore not only 'how', but 'why': "Ties
can be useful for when a note lasts longer than the bar that it is in."
Too many
beginning
guitar player guides sacrifice the basics in favor of quick
gratification
without creating a foundation of knowledge, omit concerns or
explanations about
proper hand exercises to adopt when playing, or provide the 'how'
without the
'why'.
Learn to Play Guitar's attention to all
these details, combined
with black and white illustrations at every step and backed by audio
reinforcement, makes this book recommendable above most other beginning
guitar
instructionals on the market, presenting a clarity and logical
arrangement that
addresses multiple issues, concerns, and exercises that beginners need
to
master.
Return to Index
Manic Kingdom
Dr. Erin Stair
Gray Productions
9781984032959
$9.75 Paper; $3.99 Kindle
www.bloomingwellness.com
Manic Kingdom: A True Story of Breakdown and
Breakthrough is based
on a real-life story and tells of Becka, who is about to become a
doctor,
treating illness even as her own mental health falters. Though med
school takes
its toll on all its students, Becka finds that the rigors of
medical training cruelly
expose some rocky parts of her own life, in which she feels like an
outsider
and an intruder.
It's a long
way down
from a near-perfect life to one which results in living on the street.
How does
an aspiring young doctor get from the highs of Point A to the lows of
Point B?
As Becka
explores her
medical school experiences and influences, her boredom, exhaustion, and
daily
life in 'Zombie Land', and her road to homeless and helplessness,
readers are
carried along for a ride into mental degeneration that is both a
page-turning
saga and a sobering glimpse into the fine line between sanity and
insanity.
Dr. Erin
Stair has
changed all the names and many facts to craft a blend of fiction and
nonfiction
in Manic Kingdom; so portions of
the
story won't feel like one or the other. Some contentions (such as the
power to
self-recover from mental illness) seem unlikely; but the actual
feelings of how
a mental illness is experienced are raw, real, and immediate.
Readers
seeking an
account of such an experience that sets aside the heaviness of
supporting
nonfiction references and statistics will find Manic
Kingdom a powerful read that blends fiction and nonfiction
trappings into a journey that's hard to put down. It's especially
recommended
for psych students and those who would better understand mental illness
from
the inside out rather than from the usual outside observer's
perspective.
Return to Index
Planet on Purpose
Brandon Peele
Hay House/Balboa
Press
978-1504392471
$21.99
www.balboapress.com
Planet
on Purpose:
Your Guide to Genuine Prosperity, Authentic Leadership and a Better
World
explores the concept of life, how it works, and the science,
psychology, and spiritual
aspects of the idea of being purposeful. Although it advocates leading
a more
purposeful life, Planet on Purpose
avoids any singular focus in favor of a wider-ranging examination of
not just
individual purpose, but its incarnation in society as a whole.
Chapters begin with a basic
definition, quickly moving
into considerations of global applications, the human race's overall
evolutionary process, the notion of collective purpose, and the
influence of
political, cultural, and social forces on life purposes.
These are all facets that
similar-sounding titles
typically don't examine, making Planet on
Purpose a bigger-picture piece that builds upon smaller-scale
thinking.
From awaking one's
compassionate impulses and opening
one's mind to the idea of planetary identity and purpose, Planet on Purpose cultivates the kind of
language and thinking that
makes it particularly accessible to modern leaders, presenting
purpose as a scientifically-validated best practice that
moves us into an integral worldview. These
readers will find many new ideas here, such as becoming a
'Shambhala Leader' who is amenable to committing to ongoing,
transformative
change beyond the level of individual pursuits.
In order to successfully put
the ideas in this book to
use, a concern for global impact, inner transformation and
human
flourishing will be helpful.
Modern professionals and
social issues readers ready to
move from individual to global thinking who harbor a special interest
in
leadership and
systemic change will find Planet
on Purpose is right there with
them, ready for the transition and the journey.
Return to Index
Rare
& Exotic
Orchids
Joel L. Schiff
Springer
ISBN:
978-3-319-70033-5 (Hardcover) $37.85
ISBN:
978-3-319-70034-2 (eBook)
$29.99
http://www.springer.com/us/book/9783319700335
At first glance, Rare
and Exotic Orchids: Their Nature and Cultural Significance seems
yet
another science book discussing the botany and natural history of
orchids; but
Joel L. Schiff's added focus on their cultural importance and why
international
communities around the world take special note of orchids adds an extra
dimension to the subject.
Orchid aficionados will find
Rare and Exotic Orchids's different
approach eschews the more common
attempt to classify and cover thousands of species in favor of a more
concentrated profile of selected exotics which represent some of the
rarest
plants on Earth.
An opening history of
orchids from ancient to modern
times moves into botanical discussions of orchids, those who grew,
studied, and
wrote about them, and their place in a range of international societies.
From discoveries of new
exotic orchids and how individual
plants captured different hearts and minds to early explorers who
ventured into
unknown territory in search of new species ("Frederick
Sander had read extensively about the southern Philippine
island of Mindanao and long held a fascination for it, believing that
it was an
ideal habitat for as yet unknown species of orchids. After steamship
sailings
were extended to the island in 1879, Sander dispatched traveler Carl
Roebelin
to Mindanao in search of the red Phalaenopsis."),
Joel L. Schiff brings to life not
just the science surrounding orchids, but the human process of
recognizing, cataloging,
and appreciating them.
While
science readers
will appreciate the wealth of visual illustrations and technical
discussions
that reveal controversies as well as insights into orchid biology ("It should be mentioned that either
way, the well-established biological concept of coevolution is not
affected by
the validity of the preceding Darwin and Wallace nectary/proboscis
explanation,
and a further instance of it will be discussed in the next chapter. But
clearly, further research needs to be done regarding the evolution of
long
nectar spurs and the corresponding lengthy proboscis of its pollinator."),
technical details are juxtaposed with lively debates, discussions,
history, and
facts that even casual orchid fans or newcomers to the topic will find
surprisingly
easy to understand.
Schiff's
high-quality images of exotic orchids (many of which are
unique to his orchid book) nicely supplement facts that include the
latest DNA
research on orchids and their deceptive evolutionary behaviors, nicely
complimenting
the discussions of historical and scientific conundrums.
It's this approach,
combined with lovely close-up color photos throughout, which makes Rare
and Exotic Orchids a
recommendation not just for professionals or botany libraries, but for
general-interest
readers who will enjoy a highly accessible study that invites an
in-depth
interest in orchids and their importance to human affairs.
Return to Index
While
Psychiatry
Slept
Dr. George Mecouch,
D.O.
Belly Song Press
Paperback:
978-0-9966603-6-5
$18.95
PDF:
978-0-9966603-7-2 $14.99
Kindle/Mobipocket:
978-0-9966603-8-9 $14.99
EPUB:
978-0-9966603-9-6 $14.99
www.bellysongpress.com
While Psychiatry Slept: Reawakening the Imagination
in Therapy
collects stories based on real-world cases seen by Dr. Mecouch. He's an
osteopath and a board-certified psychiatrist who considers the state of
imagination in modern psychiatric practice, analyzing the effects of
imagination gone awry in the advent of brain science and new
discoveries about
mental health, illness, and biochemistry.
Too many new
doctors
emerge from medical training with a focus on causality and not on
alternative
paths and approaches that adopt a more holistic view of psychiatric
treatments
and patient symptoms. Moreover, concepts of the soul's influence are
typically
set aside in favor of a focus on brain development and the role of the
brain as
an integral part of the psyche. In a nutshell: psychiatry has forgotten
the
importance of dreams. And in doing so, it's missing a golden
therapeutic
opportunity and approach.
While Psychiatry Slept employs a
fictional structure to return the
profession to the ideas of soul, imagination, and a consideration of
"...a middle way that mediates between the
mind
and body by its language of simile and metaphor, dreams and fantasies,
imagination and the as-if. It is from here that all creativity begins."
Its purpose
is
clearly stated: "Its title, While
Psychiatry Slept, is meant to draw
attention to the fact that while psychiatry attempts to make its
science about
body, reality, and facts, it has fallen asleep to the realm of soul.
Psychiatric and psychological training has turned against fantasy and
dreams,
and except for occasional writings of analysts, dreams are rarely
included in
psychiatric case reports."
As readers
peruse
case histories that illustrate psychiatry's focus on treating symptoms
only
with drugs and the idea that shamans, spirit helpers, and ideals of
healing
patients in all states of consciousness can be better served with a
broader
view of psychiatric approaches and applications, they gain insight into
professional approaches that digress from the traditional medical
school
program.
Various
characters in
the story lend introspective and studied views of their training and
its
applications in discussions which take the tenants of modern psychiatry
and
lends a critical eye to their actual enactment: "Could this
lecturer really
represent the current ego ideal in analytic circles? he
wondered. Were
his reductive and confining interpretations truly what freed patients
from
their soul’s wounding? Was the love that I had for Jung, which had
drawn me to
apply for analytic training, now being swallowed down the same
theoretical
black hole?"
From recurrent dreams and their analysis to
dream cases and their reflections of connections between body, mind and
spirit,
this collection holds much food for thought; particularly for those
whose work
embraces psychiatric processes in clinical settings.
Though these pieces will be enjoyed by lay
readers with any degree of prior interest in psychotherapy and
psychiatry, they
will prove especially accessible and thought-provoking works for those
training
or working in the field, offering a perspective and focus that
challenges
conventional psychiatric thinking even as they illustrate dilemmas in
the
dreams and daily lives of ordinary individuals.
Return to Index
All About
Steve
Wozniak
Paul Freiberger and
Michael Swaine
Blue River Press
9781681570976
$5.99
www.brpressbooks.com
All About Steve Wozniak is a short,
100-plus page biographical
sketch directed to young readers in 5th-8th grades, and reads like a
chapter
book with excellent-quality black and white line drawings that spice a
survey
of 'Woz' and his achievements.
All the
elements that
make this book recommendable for report assignments are here: an index,
glossary, timeline, bibliography, and an approach that offers insights
about
Steve Wozniak's entire life and times.
Perhaps the
most
memorable mention is the fact that Steve had computers figured out as a
fourth-grader; but though he was a 'tech nerd' in many ways, he was
also an
extrovert and an outgoing personality, participating in events and life
in a
way that belays the usual portrait of nerdy creators as isolated
introverts.
From friends
who
encouraged him in the engineering hobby he worked on in his spare time
to his
development of the Basic computer language and its display at his
Homebrew Club
meetings, a well-rounded portrait of Wozniak is provided that covers
not just
his achievements, but his philosophy and personal relationships and the
influencers that changed his life.
The result
is one of
the few biographical approaches that lends equally well to leisure
reading and
school reports, peppered with excellent-quality black and white
illustrations
by Amber Calderon and enhanced by a dramatic flair designed to keep
kids
reading and thinking about not just Wozniak's life and the birth of the
computer, but their own approaches to creativity.
Return to Index
The Borrowed
Princess
Steve Underwood
Warren Publishing
978-1-943258-55-0
$14.95
www.warrenpublishing.net
Book 1 of
the
'Daughters of the Lost King' series for middle grades 4-6 tells of
Princess
Campanulis (nicknamed “Tic”), the seventh and last daughter of
Azarule, who
is last of her lineage and more of a tomboy than a proper princess.
Despite this
hidden
agenda, Tic is supported by friends and allies her own age, and her
journey
brings with it a series of encounters and changes that challenge her
heart and
mind with new perspectives and choices.
The Borrowed Princess excels in
presenting a feisty, headstrong,
yet generous girl who is brave, determined, and well-equipped to
undertake what
proves to be a perilous journey indeed.
Young
readers receive
a fine introduction to Tic's personality and viewpoints which drive the
story
line as a host of issues arise to test her abilities and determination.
They
also receive an unexpected dose of insight into the wiles and methods
of those
who would manipulate others: "The
count was in a good mood. He joked with Sir Norman and Sir Winston. In
his
diplomatic missions, he had learned that if something didn’t go his
way, he
simply made the best of it.
Though he knew Winston and Norman had once been great soldiers and
defenders of the king, he worried about their age and their dedication
to the
mission. He decided he would befriend them by bragging about their past
heroism
and ply them with promises of greater glory if they succeeded. Plumdom
believed
the men would respond and prove boon companions. But first he had to
establish
a working relationship with them..."
Such adult
approaches
are too often omitted from children's reads because they may be deemed
overly
complex for young minds, but their presence here imparts no great
challenge and
helps educate kids about the methods and systems of major forces
affecting
Tic's choices, kingdom, and the political interactions around her.
From choices
in
language and communications ("Sweet?”
he snorted, barely moving his head. He hated being called ‘sweet.’ It
seemed
like a variation on the way the Queen called him a ‘cook.’ Tic
crossed her arms and drew back. “Yes, sweet.
What’s wrong with that? What would you call it?”) to Tic's
friendships with
playmates who are called upon to support her in new ways, The Borrowed Princess offers surprising
depth and insights
unexpected in a leisure fantasy read for middle graders.
The result
is an
invigorating, complex story that pairs action with insights that middle
graders
will find both entertaining and thought-provoking.
Return to Index
A Boy like
You and Me
Eva Maria
Schwarz-Pretner
CreateSpace
978-1978477063
$8.90 (Paperback)/$3.68 (Kindle)
https://www.amazon.com/Boy-like-You-Me/dp/1978477066/
Fatima
Aldarmaki's
colorful drawings enhance this picture book story of a boy whose only
claim to
being special is that he lives in a far-away country. He's as ordinary
as any
other boy—until a movie snafu results in a wish that, when granted,
causes
trouble.
But trouble
doesn't
stop there; because the boy hasn't learned his lesson. A second wish
results in
further transformation and yet another problem ... and so the story
goes, as
the wishful child is carried further and further away from who he is by
a
series of wishes that keep changing him.
It should be
noted
the Kindle version of this book includes a simple quiz which takes
advantage of
the Kindle’s text pop-up function.
Good reading
skills
(or, even better, adult read-aloud assistance) will enhance this gentle
story
of a boy who learns a hard lesson about wishes and being himself. While
some of
these themes have appeared elsewhere, the compelling fantasy woven into
the
tale makes A Boy like You and Me especially
inviting and thought-provoking, and a highly recommended read for
picture book
readers and their adult read-along helpers.
Return to Index
Cassie's
Marvelous
Music Lessons
Sheri Poe-Pape
Mayhaven Publishing,
Inc.
978-1932278361
$14.95 Hardcover/$8.99 Kindle
http://a.co/0oyK09n
Young
newcomers to
the picture book pup Cassie will find her latest adventure needs no
prior
introduction to be immediately accessible and entertaining, while prior
fans
will delight in yet another Cassie story; this one revolving around the
pup's
introduction to music.
Cassie's new
owner,
Mrs. Applebaum, teaches music. Cassie feels she's in an exceptional
home
because, after all, she learned music as a puppy, running across the
piano
keys, and believes she's a musical prodigy herself. Obviously, she's in
the
perfect place to appreciate her talents!
The trouble
is, she
speaks a language humans don't understand. The young students she
admonishes to
play such classics as Bow Wow Black Dog and Twinkle, Twinkle Little
Bone don't
seem to know the tune or understand her instructions on how to play
piano. How
can Cassie assist the venerable music teacher's job when all the humans
hear is
incessant barking?
This picture
book
tale will require good reading skills or parental read-aloud
assistance, but
offers an unusual dog's viewpoint of matters and outlines events in an
engaging, thought-provoking manner.
Pet/human
communications, a small dog's burning desire to be helpful, and music
lessons
gone awry intersect in a story that is delightfully fun, nicely
capturing a
spirited little dog's efforts to be an asset.
Kids and
parents will
relish Cassie's upbeat and enthusiastic personality, creative ideas,
and a
savvy and kind teacher's solution to what could have been a major issue.
Any child
who loves
dogs will find Cassie's Marvelous Music
Lessons a lively, entertaining read that holds a message
about creative,
positive problem-solving and communication.
Return to Index
The Reading
Parrot
Named Darwin
Mary Sage Nguyen
Mary Sage Nguyen,
Publisher
9780996256179
$9.99
www.marysagenguyen.com
The Reading Parrot Named Darwin reaches
kids ages 2-12 with a story
that enjoys lovely colorful drawings by Marvin Alonso as it tells of
would-be
writer Lana, who suffers from writer's block and waits for words that
will not
spill onto paper.
Interrupted
in her
frustrating endeavor by the delivery man, Lana receives a mysterious
box that
contains an African gray parrot, an odd gift from her aunt.
What
transpires when
Darwin wears his special glasses makes for an engaging tale as Darwin
proves
his prowess in more than just flying and Lana discovers her writer's
block has
been cured by inspiration from an unexpected source.
Girls and
women who
aspire to literary success will find much to like about Lana's efforts
and the
surprising interruption that turns her life around, providing new
changes that
spark her creative impulse.
The story
moves in an
unforeseen direction in a stimulating tale that is both fun for leisure
readers
and inspirational for would-be writers searching for their muses.
Return to Index
The
Staircase of Fire
Ben Woodard
Miller-Martin Press
HC: 978-0-9973448-9-9
• $21.99
PB:
978-0-09773448-8-2 • $13.99
Ebook:
970-0-9973448-5-1 • $6.99
http://miller-martin.com
The Staircase of Fire opens with Rose
Lincoln on a mission to
exercise her newfound right to vote and Tom Wallace's worry that she'll
be
injured in the process of making her demand at city hall. Two features
of the
story immediately become apparent: this is a teen read, and it's set in
the
early 1900s. Rose is not just a woman, but a Negro in Mercer County,
Kentucky,
where being a black woman already poses two strikes against her.
James and
Rose's
white friend Tom is too afraid to support them. It's not just the riled
and
prejudiced townspeople who have him quavering in fear; but an
innocuous-looking
staircase that brings back dreadful memories from four years earlier.
And
Rose's effort opens the door for far more than bad memories, changing
Tom's
life and his ability to remain in Shakerville.
As
fourteen-year-old Tom
and his cousin Will undertake a search that could save not only Tom but
the
town itself, events from past and present drive him ever further into
conundrums that challenge the course of his future.
The Staircase of Fire is about teens who
seek more from their lives
than their heritage has handed them. It's about fear and excitement in
the
course of facing seemingly-impossible circumstances and it's about
embracing
courage and flexibility as everything changes.
Although set
in the
past, the dialogue at times feels contemporary in nature: "Will set down his iced tea and stood up. “Yeah,
because you are
one stupid shit.” While the social setting neatly
incorporates the events
and sentiments of the 1900s ("Tom
found Will lazing on the side porch drinking sweet iced tea. Two
skinned
rabbits soaked in a tub. The sun lowered itself into the West pasture."),
Tom and Will's adventurous spirits seem almost modern in their approach
to
daily life, whether it be farm work, solving mysteries, or seeking
exciting
activities to spice up their lives.
That noted, The Staircase of Fire succeeds in
offering dramatic action, mystery, social insights, and a story line
that
evolves from pure adventure to something deeper as Tom confronts his
past and
the world-changing nature of his choices. This vivid immediacy combined
with
the story's ability to change from a mystery/adventure to a social
inspection
piece makes it a highly recommended pick for teens looking for
something
different which stands on the cusp between a historical novel and an
adventure
story.
Return to Index
Tenth Grade Angst
Bruce Ingram
Secant Publishing
9781944962463
$12.95
www.secantpublishing.com
Tenth
Grade Angst
follows Bruce Ingram's 2017 debut story Ninth
Grade Blues and features the same four teens as they enter
the second year
of high school and confront many changes.
Shy Luke is growing braver
with the encouragement of Mia,
finding his muse and comfort in nature and outdoors activities even as
his
relationship with his father worsens and demands a kind of courage he
never
imagined he had.
Meanwhile, Mia, a straight-A
student on track with her
dream of becoming a pediatrician, faces the conundrum that her goals
and future
move are interfering with her present-day high school connections. The
idea
that she, a Mexican-American girl, would date white boy Luke introduces
further
controversy into a family already rattled by her choice of career over
marriage.
Marcus is a sports star
experiencing doubts about his
projected athletic future even as he also faces challenges to the ways
he's
been forming relationships with girls; while overweight and insecure
Elly loses
some weight but discovers that dating challenges are even more
complicated for
attractive girls.
All of them face new
challenges, from a parent's
increasing alcoholism and terminal illness to Luke's realization that
he's not
like his father, and can make something of himself in life.
As the disparate group grows
into their mental and
physical abilities, they discover new connections and meaning in their
lives
and from their encounters with each other.
Plenty of teen novels hold
some of these same themes; but
what sets Tenth Grade Angst apart
from many is its focus on closely examining the different perspectives
of four
selected teens who find their lives intersecting and changing.
Alternating
chapter perspectives are clearly identified, the individual characters
are
nicely detailed both before they meet and as they begin to interact
with the
world and each other, and readers receive a satisfying study in
adaptation and
change both with individual characters and the group as a whole.
The result is an involving
perspective that keeps young
adults avidly involved in the different perspectives and experiences of
all the
characters. Tenth Grade Angst is highly recommended
as a revealing leisure read
that high schoolers will relate to and learn from.
Return to Index
Who She Is
Diane Byington
Red Adept Publishing, LLC
978-1-948051-07-1
$2.99
Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Who-She-Diane-Byington-ebook/dp/B079KGXB7W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1519484904&sr=8-1&keywords=Diane+Byington
Faye Smith's family works
the Florida orange groves, the
migrants are back in town for work, and Faye once again must face a new
school.
The opening paragraph deftly captures Faye's ongoing and latest dilemma
("October 4, 1967. My first day at Valencia High started with a
bloody nose. I had physical education class right after homeroom, and I
wandered around the sprawling school, looking for the gym, for ten
minutes."), setting the stage for a predictable 'new girl in
town' or
migrant family story.
However, readers will
discover something different in Who She Is,
because Faye defies the
limitations of her epilepsy to try a new sport, which she loves, and
even
crafts a plan to escape her family's poverty until life shifts again,
bringing
into question her newfound identity and purpose in life.
That's one pleasing aspect
of Who She Is, which sets the stage
for a semi-predictable course;
then makes a complete about-face with digressions that are completely
unexpected and satisfyingly different.
Within the backdrop of
newfound dreams and hopes for her
future lies a family secret and a hidden heritage. Faye's brand new
goals are
challenged almost as soon as they are conceived. Realistic details
depict a
young girl's life, from smoking a joint and a first kiss that
progresses too
quickly into something else to a landmark birthday when Faye drinks her
first
coffee and contemplates the freedoms a driver's license will bring.
Other than the spells which
overtake her, Faye seems to
be a normal teen ... or, is she? And if she is lying about some of her
experiences, isn't her mother doing the same?
From her participation in a marathon to her goal of
obtaining a college
scholarship, Faye has her hands full; and readers are treated to a
fast-paced,
first-person narration of events.
Faye's character and her
concerns are nicely drawn, the
twists of plot are unpredictable and different, and the story line is
thoroughly engrossing. Teens and adults who choose this leisure read
expecting
another story of a migrant lifestyle or a new girl's struggle with
school will
find much, much more taking place. Readers will appreciate Who She Is for its multifaceted approach
to life and one girl's
discovery of who she really is (and can be) in the face of bullying,
betrayal,
and abandonment.
Return to Index
Audiobooks
Olivia Turner's Amazing
Amazon Adventure
William Graham
Amazon Audible
ASIN: B079TG725R
Audiobook: $6.95; Paperback:
$6.99; Kindle: $3.99
Audible link: https://www.audible.com/pd/Teens/Olivia-Turners-Amazing-Amazon-Adventure-Audiobook/B079THBCW3?ref=a_a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=e81b7c27-6880-467a-b5a7-13cef5d729fe&pf_rd_r=R007665W14RDJRMSKWY8&
Stephanie Quinn's
youthful, enthusiastic voice is the perfect match for narrating Olivia
Turner's Amazing Amazon Adventure, a vibrant story set in Ecuador that captures the
culture and atmosphere
of the Amazon jungle.
14-year-old Olivia Turner
has dreamed about the Amazon
even while at home in Vermont because she and her Spanish language
class are
slated to visit the jungle in an upcoming field trip which she's been
looking
forward to for months. She's lucky to be part of a small group of five
students
slated for a once-in-a-lifetime journey that seems perfect, given her
determination to excel in everything she does. Little does she know
that her
trip will be even more adventurous than she anticipates.
After a grueling, long plane
trip and a harrowing bus
ride, Olivia is at last in the Amazon jungle, where the dire warnings
of a
fisherman portends dangers Olivia and her group hadn't expected.
Stephanie
Quinn's
voice guides readers all the way, capturing Olivia's excitement, the
lower-voiced and firm admonitions of Paco ("The
mosquitoes are your welcoming party...get used to them...it is their
jungle;
not yours...") and the other people Olivia encounters as part
of her
group and in the course of her Amazon encounters.
As Olivia and her friends
help build the first school in
Ascension, they face a brutally hot sun, a river filled with harmful
creatures
large and small, the lure of playing hooky and breaking the rules to
have fun,
and the consequences of rash actions and spontaneous invitations.
Is the old
man right?
Are they facing dangers certain to harm them despite the watchful
attention of
Paco and other adults?
The Amazon
environment comes to life in an engrossing combination of Stephanie
Quinn's
vivid rendition and William Graham's descriptions of high adventure
rooted in a
solid sense of place. This spirited, highly recommended audio story
pairs
action with realistic observations of the Amazon and its environmental
and
social challenges. It will thoroughly engross young readers seeking the
vivid
immediacy of an audio narrative paired with a heroine's determination
to
survive against all odds as she faces a series of encounters with
deadly,
unforgiving jungle denizens.
Return to Index
Film, Stage & Television
Black vs.
White vs.
Brown
Trisha Sugarek
Writer at Play
978-1985369856
$6.50
www.writeratplay.com
Black vs. White vs. Brown is a one-act
play designed for classroom
use, and joins a series of stand-alone 10-minute plays by Trisha
Sugarek that
require no props, costumes or sets; making them perfect choices for
budget-stretched classrooms looking for short, affordable drama pieces.
This short
work is
#32 in the series and features nine characters, a 'Greek Chorus' of
texters,
and is introduced by production notes to the play director. These
specific
suggestions for crafting a successful result ("Texters
should be assigned lines based on gender/sentiment of the
line. Example: Text #3. I’d smash me some of that. This would
be an A male African-American. Text #2. Duh…Tyron
of course. This would be a female.") makes it
easy to assign roles that make sense.
As for the
content of
this piece itself: expect conversations filled with acronyms, slang and
local
lingo and an attention to realistically depicting a high school scene
that is
spicy, interactive, and revealing. This approach offers students a
satisfyingly
realistic scenario of interpersonal interactions based on familiar high
school
culture.
A drama
class's
interactions and objectives creates insights on the acting process, as
well, as
students encounter discrimination, experience school challenges, and
explore
the shake-up of a school prom turned into a lesson in prejudice and
tolerance.
The
contemporary
flavor of this one-act play will not only educate drama students on how
to
depict the scenes and emotions of characters, but teaches acting in the
course
of a drama that teens will easily relate to. Black
vs. White vs. Brown is a wonderful blend of honest portrayal
and useful drama student scripting!
Return to Index
You’re Fat, You’re
Ugly, and You Dress Weird
Trisha Sugarek
Writer at Play
978-1479175680
$6.50
Paper/$3.99 Kindle
www.writeratplay.com
Adding to the 'Shortn'Small'
series of one-act classroom
plays that require no special sets, props, or costumes is You’re
Fat, You’re Ugly, and You Dress Weird: a play about a girl
who faces
bullying when a new girl affects her friendships at school.
Dakota's
reaction to
Aanya is unkind and as her friends begin to follow in Dakota's
footsteps, Aanya
suffers. Her major problem involves how to respond to Dakota's prods;
but a
secondary problem is how readily those she thought were friends are
following
along in their new mentor's footsteps, teasing Aanya about her weight,
clothes,
and appearance.
When Dakota
takes to
social media to torture Aanya online, the cruelty gets even more
vicious.
There are
many good
features to note about this play: its strong message about bullying and
cyberbullying and its insights into daughter and mother relationships.
emotions.
There are
only six characters in this short piece; but its impact is powerful,
nonetheless.
As young
actors read
through emotional scenes and learn how to depict these strong forces,
they also
absorb lessons both about bullying and representing dramatic
encounters.
Tolerance and compassion are outlined as the maligned Aanya finds her
life and
reputation being systematically destroyed by cruel and nasty online
postings
attacking her character and ego.
You’re Fat, You’re Ugly, and You Dress Weird
is more than just a
one-act play for aspiring actors: it's a lesson in choices,
consequences, and
school culture that's a highly recommended pick for drama teachers
seeking
affordable lesson plans holding wider-ranging educational attributes.
The
result is a powerful and wonderfully wrenching story that will lend
perfectly
to drama classes.
Return to Index
No Means No!
The Tale
of Four Super Hero Girls
Trisha Sugarek
Writer at Play
978-1979195157
$6.50
www.writeratplay.com
No Means No! The Tale of Four Super Hero Girls
is a short one-act
drama for classroom instruction, requires no sets, costumes, or props,
and
features characters ranging in age from 13 to 22 as it explores the
dilemmas of
Emilee and her girlfriends, who are facing pressure from their male
peers to
engage in sexual activities.
The 'G'
rating of
this play comes from its focus not on explicit sexual encounters, but
in the
emotional confrontations, choices, and social interactions between
girls and
boys in the early stages of adolescence, making for an appropriate and
satisfyingly revealing piece that teachers and parents will find
acceptably
educational.
The 'G'
rating is
reinforced by author notes in the beginning ("Scene
1: it should give the illusion of
heavy necking and petting (at the
director/educator’s discretion"), which help guide educators.
As the story
unfolds,
emotions between teens are explored, from love and 'proving it' to
girls caught
between parental admonitions and romance's promises and pitfalls.
Teens
receive lessons
in more than acting abilities as they explore a play that deftly
outlines
dilemmas, choices, consequences, and peer pressure. Teachers receive a
wonderfully compelling story line paired with an attention to dramatic
embellishments that teaches kids about acting, life and love,
simultaneously.
Return to Index
Love Never Leaves
Bruises
Trisha Sugarek
Writer at Play
978-1478176282
$6.50
www.writeratplay.com
Physical
domestic
violence is explored in Love Never Leaves
Bruises, a one-act play designed for budget-minded classrooms
interested in
contemporary themes and productions that don't require sets, props, or
costumes.
Megan knows
her
boyfriend loves her: so why does he lose his temper and hit her?
Three
characters (the
couple and Megan's mother) interact in a short drama that explores a
topic too
many high school students may personally be familiar with: relationship
violence among teens.
Jealousy,
anger, and
a daughter's fear of telling her mother exactly what's going on with
her
boyfriend provide realistic encounters and outline the results of abuse
and
protecting one's abuser.
Kids receive
more
than just a lesson in drama through an inviting, refreshingly
true-to-life
one-act play that provides fine keys to surviving typical life
challenges. Very
highly recommended as a strong addition to Trisha Sugarek's excellent
set of
acting lessons!
Return to Index
Spirituality
Clive Johnson
Labyrinthe Press
978-1-9997885-2-0
$7.95 Print/$3.99 Kindle
http://labyrinthepublishers.com/beingspiritual.html
Being Spiritual: What This Means, and Does Religion
Matter? closely
inspects the nature of spirituality, its meaning and impact in human
lives, and
how different aspects of spiritual beliefs are reflected in diverse
religions,
and is a top recommendation for those who are not only spiritual, but
who enjoy
religious and philosophical reflection.
Chapters
delve into
what 'being spiritual' means to different people, examining shared
themes of
belief, its connections to and reflections in behaviors and approaches
to
living life, and social, psychological, historical, and theological
influences
on both traditional and alternative religious thinking processes.
Adding a
multidisciplinary approach to the subject lends Being
Spiritual a scholarly yet accessible flavor that translates
to a thought-provoking, lively piece that invites debate and discussion
as well
as self-analysis and reflection.
There are
many
aspects to the notion of being spiritual that translate not only into
actions,
but into society-wide choices and perspectives that support civilized
behavior:
"Being spiritual necessitates us to
have an interest in our fellow humans, to be political and motivated to
want to
change what’s wrong in the world that we experience. It should
encourage less
aggression, fewer wars, calmer people, reduced brokenness among
families and
communities. Indeed, the healing that occurs inside of a
spiritual person can
directly impact on healing the world–what is inside every person
affects the
vibration and equilibrium of everything around."
Discussion
follow
religious groups that embrace the 'spiritual but not religious' concept
and
people who hold these beliefs, examining how they can offer support for
not
only reflection and discussion but "...promote
happy, co-operative and self-respecting communities" in the
process of
promoting inclusiveness. The book adds very accessible insights on
special
challenges to the public face of religion in modern culture. Being Spiritual uses all these
approaches to support an inquiry and debate into the nature of not only
spirituality, but the religious groups that support various notions of
beliefs
and actions.
The result
is a
thought-provoking and key guide for modern times; especially for
religious
thinkers interested in promoting a form of spiritual thinking and
acceptance
that is wider-ranging than many groups would embrace. No religious
philosopher
should be without this consideration of the nature of spirituality and
its
reflection in social and religious circles.
Return to Index
Find the Seeker!
Genro Xuan Lou,
Laoshi & Clifford Stevens
Gatekeeper Press
ISBN: 9781619848566
$11.63
eISBN: 9781619848559
$ 9.99
www.GatekeeperPress.com
Find
The Seeker!
The Pathless Path to Fulfillment and Happiness offers
spiritual readers a
road to enlightenment that doesn't take the usual paths of other
approaches, but creates its own original creative
course based on the age-old pathless path and encourages its readers to
do the
same.
While readers especially
well-versed in Zen writings
might therefore anticipate a familiar supportive stance, they will be
pleasantly surprised to discover that Find
the Seeker! holds something new in that it supports (but also
challenges)
readers while maintaining that there is no singular guide (even this
book) to
personal success.
The challenge lies in
identifying and 'unlearning' past
routines and rituals which no longer serve a purpose, recognizing
dysfunction
and delusions which are reinforced by life choices and making different
choices.
Find
the Seeker!
eschews how-to approaches and the
absolute necessity of mediation in favor of a
focus on spiritual foundations underlying life, encouraging
self-inspection, self-reliance, and a sense of self that moves beyond
ego into
higher-level thinking.
Readers should anticipate a
good number of admonitions
about life, spiritual living, and choice. These offer opportunity for
reflection and should ideally be read in snippets; not sped through on
a madcap
quest for a meaning too often rooted in ego: "We
frequently have the opposite impression, namely that we are
often unaware and unhappy, that life is full of ups and downs, and that
it
consists of “having and wanting.” You know by now that there is
something in us
(yes, the ego) which makes it seem that this is the case. If the Divine
no
longer seems to be worth striving for, then this something robs us of
divine
grace, our Being, Conscious Being and Bliss. Accordingly, we dwell in a
state
of being unaware. It is our present-day reality, and is thus completely
normal
to us. Existence accepts this. Who are you to quarrel with all of
Existence? Moods
and behavioral patterns—the functions of the ego—come and go, and have
no basis
or reality in the Eternal. Your ego is NOT you!"
Zen readers used to concepts
of the Oneness and its power
will be particularly intrigued by a presentation that charts the
perils,
pitfalls, and potentials of moving toward a different level of being.
Find
the Seeker!
is as much about the journey as the destination, and is especially
recommended
for readers already familiar with Zen perspectives who want a concrete
set of
insights into better understanding its basic principles and connections
to
daily living.
Return to Index
God's Gift
Within:
The Story of the Joshua Quilt
Gail Howard Gibson
Marylee MacDonald,
Publisher
ISBN
978-0-9962503-6-8 (trade paper) $14.99
ISBN
978-0-9962503-7-5 (hardcover)
$21.99
ISBN
978-0-9962503-9-9 (Kindle)
$10.99
https://www.thejoshuaquilt.com
God's Gift Within: The Story of the Joshua Quilt
pairs a Christian
inspirational piece with quilting insights as it explores the
connections
between quilting efforts and Bible study, and how each can reinforces
the
other.
From designs
inspired
by scripture to quilting tools and techniques that Gail Howard Gibson
employed
while constructing a quilt inspired by the Book of Joshua, God's Gift Within creates a satisfying
balance between needlework
guide and spiritual reflection piece, and will especially satisfy
Christian
Bible readers who want a quilter's visual rendition of sacred matters.
Readers
expecting the
usual 'how-to' approach should note that God's
Gift Within reads more like an interview conversation than a
project guide.
The reason for this unusual approach is explained from the start: "This book was originally created as a
live interview with my friend and fellow author Marylee MacDonald.
That’s why
it reads as a conversation rather than a traditional “book” that talks
“at”
you. I wanted you to feel as though I am talking “with” you, much like
a close
friend or relative."
This choice
allows
for more of a feeling of dialogue and engagement with the reader,
providing
personal and spiritual reflections through a Q&A format that
nicely
complements the author's personal and spiritual growth. Chapters move
from when
she first learned to sew in junior high school to scintillating and
thought-provoking descriptions of how her spiritual quilts were
created, both
physically and idealistically: "Gail: Originally,
I just thought I’m not going to spend a lot of money. I’m going to use
remnants
that I have, pieces of fabric leftover from previous sewing projects,
and to
make it representative of the Israelites. They were a remnant people,
so I
thought the remnants would be a good representation. I was planning to
make 12
squares, or 12 representations to represent the 12 tribes of Israel.
Originally, each of those would be represented by a single color."
As her
projects
evolve, so do color swatches throughout that display her projects and
quilting
techniques, adding a solid foundation to her descriptions of choices in
color,
style, patterns, and religious representations.
The result
is a
striking production that should be in the collections of quilters and
spiritual
readers, who will appreciate God's Gift
Within's solid and outstanding connections between quilt
creation and
religious studies.
Return to Index
Words Never
Spoken
Cheryl Denise
Bannerman
AuthorHouse
ISBN: 978-1-5246-2266-4 (sc)
$13.99
ISBN: 978-1-5246-2264-0 (hc)
$23.99
ISBN: 978-1-5246-2265-7 (e)
$ 3.99
https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003YVCJ74
Words Never Spoken is a powerful account
of ambition and hope,
despair, and rejuvenation and introduces its subject with a succinct
observation of the process that receives deeper inspection in chapters
to
follow: "I wanted what every girl wants: to fall in love and
live
happily ever after. But after one failed marriage and with forty
quickly
approaching, I had given up."
While many stories chronicle this same
process, what sets Words Never Spoken apart from
most others is its
attention to rendering these experiences in verse, accompanied by black
and
white line drawings that, together, capture the process of wading
through the
lies and obstacles to togetherness and a happy life.
Readers should anticipate a gritty,
determined, street-wise voice to these poems which reflect candid
observation
and move from inner soul-searching to outward life depictions with a
deft hand
that pulls no punches in the process: "Why can’t you be who
you say you
are?/Live close to me and not so far./Not have 10 kids and baby
drama./Have a
job and not live wit yo mama."
Sometimes the most powerful experiences come
not just from the heart, but from the power of the pen and a writer's
ability
to capture the moments that hold life-changing impact. As readers wind
through
the verses in Words Never Spoken,
they receive emotional tugs that come from soul-searching moments as
potent as
a brush with suicide and the one thing that prevents final disaster
from taking
shape.
It should be
cautioned, if it isn't already apparent by now, that this is no light
read; no
cursory brush with a life in flux; but an often-troubling, wrenching
discourse
into the depths of despair and how the character rebuilds her life from
that
depth, including her relationship with her child and God.
Exactly how
one moves
from a failed marriage, a miscarriage, and crushing depression to
overcoming
all with a little help from God makes for an engrossing, vivid shout
from the
pages of Words Never Spoken, highly
recommended for readers who want psychological, spiritual, and social
reflections wound into the struggle of a life not only saved, but
reborn.
Return to Index