June 2015 Independent Press Profiles
Where Angels Prey
Ramesh S. Arunachalam
Authors Upfront
9789384439378 $9.95
http://www.whereangelsprey.
http://www.amazon.com/Where-
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/
The world is facing one of its greatest financial crises yet, but only in one country - India - is a boom happening in an unlikely industry: microfinancing. It's this fact which comes to the attention of Robert Bradlee, senior correspondent with The New York Post, who decides to personally investigate these strange facts; only to discover that what seems like a wonderfully successful altruistic business of providing financial services for small business in poor or rural communities in reality hides a deadly truth.
What Robert discovers isn't financial opportunity or social grace, but a program that holds devastating implications for India's poor.
The frightening part of this story doesn't lie in the fact that this novel is a realistic financial thriller with a global setting so much as that it's loosely inspired by real life in Andhra Pradesh, India, and holds alarming implications for business and social causes alike.
For this reason alone (in addition to the fact that the story is an edge-of-your-seat compelling read), Where Angels Prey is a recommended pick for thriller readers looking for something slight different: a realistic saga which will strike a little too close to home for many cognizant of Wall Street involvements in the lives of Third World residents.
Where Angels PreyReturn to Index
Understanding
and Preventing AIDS: a
Book for Everyone
Chris Jennings
Health Alert Communications
P.O. Box 65, Hudson, NH 03051
Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C5HZX8U
ePub: http://www.healthalert.net/Understanding_and_Preventing_AIDS.html
PDF: http://www.healthalert.net/Understanding_and_Preventing_AIDS.html
Spanish Version: Qué es el SIDA y cómo prevenirlo: Un libro que todo el mundo debe leerKindle:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/
ePub:
http://www.healthalert.net/
PDF:
http://www.healthalert.net/
The message contained in Understanding
and Preventing AIDS: a Book for Everyone is so valuable that it
appears in a Spanish-language edition, has been favorably reviewed by
the New
England Journal of Medicine, and has received much acclaim from
hospitals,
medical institutes, and schools adopting it as a textbook.
With so many books on the market discussing nearly every imaginable aspect of AIDS, it may initially be difficult to understand why Understanding and Preventing AIDS is a standout - but evidence to support this fact begins with a table of contents that lends especially well to at-a-glance information with subject headings that are specific and well-done ("Humans-The Host", "Types of HIV Infections", "Catching AIDS", "Preventing HIV Infections", and more).
There's a lot of science and health information - much of it quite detailed; but all of it accessible to lay readers. There are charts, illustrations, and color photos - in other words, any kind of informational visual needed to explain a system or a medical point is employed. Finally, there's a candid attention to discussing everything from sexual method to why there is a reluctance to consider condoms, leaving nothing to wonder. Simple language is used that is direct, scientific, and easy to understand, making Understanding and Preventing AIDS: a Book for Everyone a 'must' for any collection looking to blend the latest scientific and health facts with an approach accessible to lay audiences and medical personnel alike.
Understanding and Preventing AIDS: a Book for EveryoneReturn to Index
Chris Jennings
Health Alert Communications
P.O. Box 65, Hudson, NH 03051
9780936571089 $25.00 www.healthalert.net
HIV/AIDS in
South Africa: The Facts
and the Fiction was recently awarded the 2014
Will Solimene
Awards for Excellence in Medical Communication - an award which
recognizes
outstanding achievement in medical, biomedical and health
communications
published in the prior two years - and it's easy to see why.
At first glance the title might seem directed to an elite and narrow audience of health professions concerned about AIDS and HIV, but closer inspection shows that it's actually a review of some 3,000 medical articles which synthesize and document the story of AIDS over some thirty years and provide a startling account of medical policy mismanagement and flawed statistics.
The details are synthesized in a summary of statistics and facts about how HIV/AIDS has spread around the world, and refutes commonly-held beliefs, demonstrating that scientific literature clearly shows New York City as the epicenter of the AIDS epidemic, and that the idea that HIV came from monkeys is false.
Jennings' weightier, primary book, HIV/AIDS: The Facts and the Fiction, offers support of his premises and investigations into scientific statistics and literature. This shorter companion volume narrows the focus to South Africa, offering data listing raw numbers of reported AIDS and actual deaths and providing an opportunity to contrast these figures with computer estimates and data from the U.S.
College-level collections looking for a solid gathering of statistical evidence surrounding HIV and AIDS will find this volume and its companion to be essential references.
HIV/AIDS in South Africa: The Facts and the FictionReturn to Index
The Warming
Lorin
R. Robinson
Mill
City Press
322
First Avenue N.,
5th Floor, Minneapolis, MN 55401
9781634133128
$16.95 www.millcitypublishing.com
The Warming: Speculative Fiction about the Human Impact of the Climate Crisis presents the world of 2047, when hundreds of millions are suffering from drought, rising oceans, and unpredictable, violent weather. Against this backdrop of disaster is Dr. Jonathan Carver, a marine scientist whose work offers hope of offsetting some of the potentially devastating effects of the warming.
The novel offers several approaches to the subject matter. First of all, the story is presented using a 12-chapter narrative that begins in 2047 and ends with an epilogue, with seven short-story flashbacks journeying around the world to present first-person stories of warming catastrophes and with a series of video news reports.
It's not usual to have a subset saga within the main story line, but while these short pieces take place beyond the main story, they enhance that effort by adding extra dimensions of understanding and human experience into the mix. The fictional short video news stories (in the form of flashbacks presented in broadcast script form) further consider the political, social and economic effects of the growing global crisis.
This three-step process is confusing only if readers anticipate (and need) a linear approach. In reality, these devices work together to add levels of complexity and insight to the story to paint an overall bigger picture of the climate crisis and its various challenges. Philip Wylie accomplished something similar (without quite so many approaches) in his classic End of the Dream. It's satisfying to see a similar attention to detail used here to create an absorbing and multi-faceted story line capturing the nuances of global warming and all its implications for the survival of the human race.
The WarmingReturn to Index
Send More Idiots
Tony
Perez-Giese
Archway Publishing
1663 Liberty Drive,
Bloomington, IN
47403
9781480813496
$19.99 www.archwaypublishing.com
Also available though
amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Send-
Barnes
& Noble
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/
Send More Idiots is a novel by an award-winning journalist who experienced life on both sides of the border in El Paso, Texas, and Juarez, Mexico. Steeped in this background, the novel is thus able to capture the culture and feel of the region far more than any outsider could have accomplished, presenting a blend of intrigue and social insights as it delves into the mystery of a vanished American real estate broker and his brother who becomes involved in a complex world of cartel warlords and danger trying to find him.
As the narrator becomes increasingly immersed in the atmosphere of the border and the drug wars that both invigorate and frighten him, he draws ever closer to the truth about what happened to his brother - and what might happen to him if he stays.
Exquisite tension and a dance of deadly forces emerges against the backdrop of social and political border town tensions in Send More Idiots, recommended for any who would absorb a strange new world living along a unique American frontier dream.
Send More IdiotsReturn to Index
Across
the Pond
Michael
McCormick
CreateSpace
9781508537199
$11.58
http://www.amazon.com/Across-
Dedicated to the veterans of the Vietnam War, Across the Pond tells of a young man who fought for his country in Vietnam, returned home, and faced abandonment and hostility because of his actions overseas. This subject might not be a new one to many, but the heart of any story lies in the way it's told - and Across the Pond is an enlightening, moving saga that explains not just one young man's changes, but how America changed because of Vietnam.
One might anticipate a weighty survey, but the pleasure in this book, in contrast to similar-sounding discussions, lies in its brevity, which succeeds in packing a punch using only 50 pages.
So if it's an in-depth tome that is appealing, look elsewhere. Across the Pond is more of a quiet statement, based on the author's personal experiences, and proves that one need not be excessively wordy to capture the emotions and power of the aftermath of war and the plight of war veterans who received little or no support upon returning home.
Across the PondReturn to Index
Pinnacle Lust
Michelle Dim-St. Pierre
BookLogix
9781610055727
$26.95 www.stpwriting.com
Pinnacle Lust is an unexpected story that tells of a 'kosher good girl' born in Israel who happens to be a secular Jew with no religious interests or desires to be radical. One might expect from the novel's title and cover art that this is to be a story of sexual discovery; but it also is a story of a daughter discovering her mother's deepest secret, which began before Leigh was born and is steeped in stories of relationships that break boundaries, religious roots, and heritage alike.
Yes, readers can expect a lusty story; but that doesn't mean it's packed with steamy sex scenes: it also comes filled with cultural observation, psychological revelations, and accounts of military training discussing the finer lines between bravery and stupidity.
Will her mother's lies repeat in her daughter's life? Will erotic choice translate to the ability to overcome adversity and betrayal to reach new pinnacles of achievement? Be forewarned: there are affairs between professionals, discussions of the positive and negative forces of love, Israeli culture and Jewish religion, and everyday life in an Israeli young woman's world: multifaceted matters that weave a satisfyingly complex yarn of passion, redemption, and exploration against the backdrop of a nation at war.
Pinnacle LustReturn to Index
'The After
Series'
1. Fallen
2. Cold Light
Traci L. Slatton
Parvati Press
$16.99 each
www.parvatipress.com
Two titles in 'The After' series provide a gripping story of apocalypse and its aftermath, starting with Fallen (9780989023290), which documents what happens when deadly mists kill billions on Earth, leaving the survivors struggling in a chaotic new world.
Here a woman with a strange healing ability leads eight children to safety where Arthur offers them all a haven - and Emma falls in love with him. For a woman whose world has ended and whose heart has shattered, all this seems nothing short of a miracle - but within the miracle lies danger, and when she comes to understand Arthur's closely-held secret, everything falls apart once more.
Fallen is about faith, disaster, and redemption. It's also about love, betrayal, and uncovering hope in the face of the end of all good things. At the heart of it all are children and the truth behind a natural phenomenon which has changed the world: a truth that will either rebuild or finish breaking Emma's heart and world.
Cold Light (9780986061103) continues the saga of Emma, Arthur, and other survivors of the apocalypse. Here the fight for survival and love continue as Emma and Arthur become part of a group that continues to face challenges and changes in a post-Apocalyptic world.
It's encouraging to think that in even the bleakest of worlds and circumstances, not only hope but love can still exist. It's about saving lives, handling underlying judgment, embarking on a mission to raise children in peace and safety, and organizing survivors. It's also about burying the dead and accepting the fates of those who cannot be reached in time.
As in any dystopian story, it's the protagonists and their reactions that 'make' the saga, and the 'After' series proves a compelling, involving survey of what it means to be a survivor, both initially and in the ongoing progression of challenges that makes up a new life.
The After SeriesReturn to Index
Legendary Safari
Guides
Susie Cazenove
Bookstorm
P.O. Box
4532, Northcliff 2115, Johannesburg,
South Africa
9781920434946
www.bookstorm.co.za
US Distributor: Midpoint Trade Books: www.midpointtrade.com
Many dream of exploring Africa, and so there are safari companies and extensive books written about these possibilities; but Legendary Safari Guides isn't just another travelogue or guidebook, but a collection of writings from a safari travel promoter which charts the experiences of nearly thirty safari guides who are more than a cut above the ordinary.
Armchair readers and Africa-bound travelers alike will discover stories of adventure and passion that provide riveting insights into how guides operate, how they introduced their guests to a different kind of African experience, and how they presented some truly remarkable wilderness adventures.
African destinations vary from South Africa to Tanzania, Rwanda, Kenya and Namibia. The guides approach tourism and safari work from very different vantage points and discuss licensing, safari camp experience, motivations for becoming involved in more than casual guide experiences, and more.
Legendary Safari Guides is so much more than another 'guide to Africa', and tells what it means to get the most out of a wilderness encounter, using the diverse eyes of selected extraordinary individuals to capture some truly amazing moments. The result is perfect for readers of biography, African adventure, armchair travel, or even travel industry insider information.
Legendary Safari GuidesReturn to Index
A More Perfect
Union
R.W. Richard
WEB Press
9780980080469
http://romancetheguyspov.
To begin with, it's important to point out that A More Perfect Union is a work of fiction: it's not a book about history, social justice, or even psychology, but a saga centered upon former Miss Cherokee Nation Ayita Starblanket, who is running against Florida Governor Arturo Arnez.
An unexpected focus in what looks to be a story of women in politics is a romantic twist that pits two opponents in a struggle to win hearts and minds not just of their constituents, but of each other.
At the intersection of romance and politics is a story that's witty, fun, and with a healthy dose of satirical observation on life, romance, and the stormy relationships between political figures and men and women alike. Any who enjoy novels that examine love and politics will find A More Perfect Union to be a witty, fun saga.
A More Perfect UnionReturn to Index
Secrets
of a
Nun: My Own Story
Elizabeth Upton
Twin Star/Santa Barbara Press
9780972272100
$13.99
http://www.elizabethaupton.
Email: Info
@ ThreeGirlsMedia.com
Secrets of a Nun: My Own Story tells of Elizabeth Upton who, at the age of fifteen, gave up her Olympic dreams to become a nun, leaving her family in the pursuit of a spiritual life.
What seemed like a clear choice actually was more challenging than she had imagined: her spiritual journey and psychological development didn't sync, and Elizabeth spent the next twenty years struggling with the restrictions of convent life. It was a forbidden love affair that eventually forced her to not just leave the Order, but experience true spiritual change.
Secrets of a Nun: My Own Story offers a vivid, first-person account of convent life, interactions between nuns, and the challenges that come with living in such an order. Anyone who wants a vividly personal saga embracing psychology, religion and social perspectives will find this a riveting read.
Secrets of a Nun: My Own StoryReturn to Index
Sustainable
Energy - Without the Hot
Air
David JC MacKay
UIT (Independent Publishers Group, Distributors)
P.O. Box 145,
Cambridge CB4 1GQ,
England
9780954452933
$49.95 www.uit.co.uk
There are so many books about sustainable energy and alternative energy on today's market that one might wonder about the need for yet another; but Sustainable Energy - Without the Hot Air offers something different - and that's a notable achievement in a genre overloaded with too many revamps using the same approach.
Given that there are many contradictory statements in the industry coming from official sources, special-interests lobbyists, and the media, the need for Sustainable Energy is apparent: it's a book that focuses not just on statistics, but how they relate to consumers who want both clear understanding of renewable resource options and details on how these facts apply to lifestyles and national interests alike.
Chapter headings and topics such as "Nuclear power comes in two flavors." "Other things that cost a billion." "Living on other countries' renewables?" focus on clarifying facts, offering mathematical relationships that readers can easily understand, and connecting these statistics to the real indicators of energy consumption, sustainable uses, and broader issues of energy plans for the world.
Add extensive bibliographic references, data and studies, and charts and illustrations throughout and you have a clear model for understanding the entire sustainable energy industry, making it a top recommendation over others.
Fat Girl: How To
Let Go Of Your
Weight And Get On With Your Life
Susan Bodiker
Publish Green
ASIN: B00S8REA9O
$2.99
Website: www.Onegirlwellness.com
Email: susan@onegirlwellness.com
http://www.amazon.com/Fat-
Author Susan Bodiker is a former 'fat girl' who understands the challenge of image and weight, and struggles with both; so her Fat Girl comes not from a medical perspective and not from an outsider's vantage point, but from personal experience.
It's a call for change and for a better understanding of the social and psychological ramifications of weight, and it's a recommendation for any who might benefit from a blend of autobiographical insights and discussions of body image.
As such books go, Fat Girl holds no miracle formulas, no revolutionary new information, and no easy answers. What it does present is an accessible story that chronicles a mother/daughter relationship, abuse, habits that stemmed from an uncertain self-image, and close connections between weight and emotional processes.
While it may not promise miracles, but it does invite girls and women to learn from Bodiker's story, and to recognize how weight issues often thwart an active engagement with the world: all this bound into an accessible autobiography that's both revealing and inspiring.
Beginner's Guide
to Digitalpainting
in Photoshop
Nykolai
Aleksander, Richard Tilbury and 3DTotal Team
3D Total
9780955153075
$49.99 www.3Dtotalpublishing.com
Beginner's Guide to Digitalpainting in Photoshop is a rich winner that presumes no prior familiarity with Photoshop, and which focuses on the basics of digital painting - not the entire program. This narrowed approach makes for an invaluable tutorial reference to those who come to Photoshop with a specific goal in mind: to produce superior paintings in a digital format. Color screen shot examples throughout accompany a discussion that pairs step-by-step techniques with artwork examples.
But first, a review of Photoshop basics: just enough to enable newcomers to the program to easily navigate its menus and tools. Then, keys to customizing the program - something many Photoshop books only address much later in the process, after the user has struggled with cumbersome pre-set options.
Finally - and quickly - the tutorial discusses how to create a superior digital painting. Don't expect a photo gallery of amazing examples so much as a lesson that packs in written directions and provides just enough visual examples to reinforce its concepts: this is the final excellent feature in a guide that represents one of the most in-depth, effective discussions of digital painting in print.
Cold Heart
Chandler
McGrew
Astor + Blue Editions
ISBN: 978-1-941286-44-9
$4.99
www.astorandblue.com
The killing spree has begun, it's taking place in a remote Alaskan village, and it is drawing the attention of a burned-out ex-cop who only wanted to leave violence behind, and who lacks all his former tools and resources for stopping murders.
As if this wasn't enough, Cold Heart also offers up a healthy dose of psychological suspense as Micky first faces a stalker who has dominated her life, then the reality of a murder who has somehow made it to one of the most remote outposts of human civilization.
While she survived a shootout that claimed her partner's life and many violent encounters, she may be up against her final challenge in Cold Heart, which opens with a bang and keeps readers involved with gripping, edge-of-your-seat thriller action.
It's not just the chill of the far North that enters the reader's bones, here: it's the chill of death and the relentless contrasts between brutalities of past and present. In the end Micky faces one of the greatest challenges of her already-tumultuous life and career - and readers face one of the most satisfying, twisting, and unpredictable mysteries in print.
Dead Woman
Talking
Tarona Gail Hawkins
CreateSpace L5.98
Email contact: psychictarona@btinternet.com,
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dead-
Author Tarona Gail Hawkins is a hypnotherapist, a psychic and a psychotherapist who has communicated with many famous personalities over the decades, and who narrows her focus here to Marilyn Monroe, offering insights on Monroe's life, death, and Hollywood politics and intrigues as learned posthumously from Marilyn herself.
There have been plenty of books about Monroe's life and death; but this different approach offers something more: the only prerequisite for its enjoyment is a belief in psychic communication beyond the grave and a particular interest in Monroe and Hollywood happenings.
Chapters cover everything from her lost childhood to interactions with famous figures, showing how she was programmed by the government to carry out operations as a secret agent by sleeping with suspected double agents and top scientists, and delving into the specifics of a mind control method which dictated many of her actions.
All this was channeled through the psychic connection between Marilyn and Hawkins and provides a fascinating series of events that are narrated through both Marilyn's eyes and Hawkins' observations and investigations. Believe it or not: the read is fascinating and offers up much food for thought for Marilyn enthusiasts who think they have 'read it all' about the actress and her stormy life.
The Spotted Hyena
Hans Kruuk
Echo Point Books and Media
9781626549050
$21.95
www.echopointbooks.com
The Spotted Hyena: A Study of Predation and Social Behavior provides an in-depth study that considers the spotted hyena's behavior and ecology and makes a case for the animal's role not just as a scavenger, but as a predator that blends its habits with a social structure designed to fit in with ecological surroundings and group needs.
An analysis that considers their hunting techniques and their communities, this book covers facts about hyena's behavior that are unavailable in other studies.
If it sounds familiar, that's because The Spotted Hyena was originally published in 1972. The fact that it remains a unique reference earning it a 2014 reprint is testimony to its classic contents, which include nearly 2,000 scientific citations and many supplementary discussions on topics such as the characteristics of animals killed by hyenas and statistics relating to hunting behaviors. College-level students of natural history will find this compelling.
Chainsaw
Lumbermaking
Will Malloff
Echo Point Books and Media
9781626548442
$39.95
www.echopointbooks.com
There are several prerequisites to appreciating the wealth of information contained in Will Malloff's Chainsaw Lumbermaking: one of them is access to trees, another is familiarity with a chainsaw and an interest in learning new techniques. With these requirements met, readers will appreciate learning about a method that is the culmination of Malloff's thirty plus years' experience felling trees and making lumber. To clarify, this is about logging everything from giant redwoods to all types of timber from major forests in North America.
The author invented several chainsaw mills, perfected an easy method of chainsaw lumbering described in this book, and packs his step-by-step tutorial with black and white photos throughout.
From modifying chainsaws and using equipment in the woods to the author's quartersawing system, precision milling techniques, and provisions for woods safety, this book is a treasure trove of information. Be forewarned: chainsaw lumbering is hard work: that's a given for this type of endeavor. That said, any who want very specific keys to success will find Chainsaw Lumbermaking a winning approach.
In the Line of
Fire
Jan Arnow
Butler
Books
P.O. Box 7311,
Louisville, KY
40257
9781935497967
$29.95 www.butlerbooks.com
In the Line of Fire: Raising Kids in a Violent World blends a collection of case studies and true stories with tips that adults can use to protect kids from everything from bullying and school shootings to violence in television and video games, and is a fine gathering of statistics, stories, and insights on the world's increasing violence and its threats to kids.
This is where most books end, but In the Line of Fire goes a step further, packing in over four hundred solutions to stopping the effects of violence: methods school administrators, parents, psychologists and pastors alike can employ.
From how boys and girls are adversely affected by gender bias and gender teachings to common signs indicating bullying or abuse, checklists for rating school climates, history timelines, and sidebars of at-a-glance information, In the Line of Fire is a solid guide packed with invaluable blends of data, case histories, and actionable recommendations. No parent, teacher, or childcare worker should be without this unique reference.
The Adventures
of Young Walt Disney
William Silvester
Theme Park Press
9781941500187
$14.95 www.themeparkpress.com
The Adventures of Young Walt Disney provides the lively story of Walt Disney's youth and family roots, going back to the early 1800s when Walt's grandfather emigrated from Ireland and continuing the family saga to pinpoint Walt's early influences and the paths that led to his creation of a Disney empire.
It's surprising to find such an extensive family history: most biographical sketches only return to early childhoods - but in this case, understanding Walt's family's heritage is key to appreciating how he came to be so heavily involved in the entertainment industry. This provides an in-depth survey that moves from 1901 Chicago to Kansas City in the 1920s, following those who had early faith in Walt and his vision, and who contributed to his achievements.
Any with a prior affection for Disney who want a clear discussion of how his dreams came true and, more importantly, their origins will find The Adventures of Young Walt Disney probes the true origins of magic.
Bridging the
Gap: A Simple Guide to
College
Chelsea L. Dixon, MS, MAT
Open Door Publications, LLC
2113 Stackhouse Dr.,
Yardley, PA 19067
9780996098533
$12.95 www.bridgingthecollegegap.com
Bridging the Gap: A Simple Guide to College comes from the founder of GamePhox Unlimited, LLC, a company involved in creating educational opportunities for underprivileged and minority youth. This book reflects that approach, going where few other college guides can by offering an application guide and discussion geared not to college-bound high-level performers, but to underrepresented students.
Where other books make the assumption that readers have long been on college-bound, Bridging the Gap begins with middle school and assumes no prior knowledge of the application process. It provides students and their families with basics and a planning guide that takes the usual resources and discusses them using easy, simple language.
From student-athletes and their different approaches to college to a middle school checklist for future plans, this is a solid reference that takes a potentially complex topic and creates an accessible, useful approach to the many possible paths of achieving a college education.
Imaginary Things
Andrea Lochen
Astor & Blue Editions
419 Lafayette St.,
Fl 2, New York NY 10003
9781941286111
$15.95 www.AstorandBlue.com
Imaginary Things is a warm novel about a young single mother who moves to her grandparents' rural home for the summer with her four-year-old son David: a move that leads to her sharing the visions of shadowy dinosaurs with her young son, revealing a disturbing new world of possibilities.
Are imaginary creatures stalking her son, are they real, and can Anna do anything about them? Add romance into the mix and you have further confusion over what is real, what is illusion, and what can hurt or heal.
Imaginary Things is an invitation to believe in visions, dangers, the power of imagination, and the possibilities of love. It's a story of closely-held secrets, magic, and a haunting set of circumstances that not only affects Anna's son, but her own history with her mother. Readers who enjoy evocative, winding stories replete with emotional connections and revelations will find Imaginary Things an inviting leisure read.
The Art of Real
Estate
Debbi DiMaggio & Adam Betta
HalfFullPress
1814 Franklin Street,
#902, Oakland, CA 94612
9780985503666
$19.95 www.HalfFullPress.com
http://www.amazon.com/The-Art-
http://theartofrealestatebook.
The Art of Real Estate: The Insider's Guide to Bay Area Residential Real Estate considers all kinds of influences on Bay Area residential real estate trends and trends by top 1 percent Realtors in the US, who share their best practices to help buyers, sellers and Realtors.
It comes packed with tips and checklists for home buyers that include how new buyers can assess a neighborhood, seek out agents who specialize in the kinds of property desired, and understand the entire home purchase process from handling inspects to making a bid.
On the other side, sellers are treated to insights on what's involved in home staging, how to obtain a seller's agent, understanding the multiple listing service resource, and the tax ramifications of selling a home.
All this information is in other real estate how-to books; but having both buyer and seller concerns under one cover, adding specifics for the San Francisco Bay Area's volatile market and encouraging this book's use in conjunction with working alongside a professional real estate agent, makes for a guide that features an easy symbol system for at-a-glance references and an approach that relies on explanations of procedures on all sides to smooth out transactions and address common questions.
The Problem Was
Me
Thomas Gagliano with Abraham J.
Twerski, MD
Gentle Path Press
P.O. Box
3172, Carefree, AZ 85377
9780982650578
$16.95 www.gentlepath.com
A single negative message in childhood can have lifetime implications - and none are more damaging than the messages we experience while growing up. Most have received such messages, and many adults remain damaged by them.
This motivational guide for adults who haven't achieved their full potential because of such messages tells how to identify self-doubts and fears and how to turn these messages into positive, life-affirming admonitions for success. The book comes from a successful life coach, public speaker and relationship expert involved with self-help therapy and it pairs ideals of defeating negativity with practical approaches that range from identifying damaging messages and their ongoing impact to understanding such diverse issues as abandonment, struggles with authority figures, and how to give and receive criticism in a better manner.
There are plenty of motivational self-help books on the market which address negativity and its effects. Gagliano offers a concrete approach to assessment, identification, and reworking such criticisms to revise one's own reactions to others in life. Thus, the buck stops with the reader's enlightenment and changes, which avoid passing on the negativity - as it should.
Escape the
Madness
Gena Lofton
CreateSpace
9781505891195 $24.99
http://www.amazon.com/Escape-
Escape the
Madness: 10 Steps to Get
Out of the Rat Race is about
becoming financially independent,
and is for everyone seeking financial education tips, including
parents,
spouses, government entities, and businesses.
There are two audiences who will find much food for thought and many riches here: those who are new to the idea of escaping the 9-5 work world to achieve success from passive income sources, and those who want a basic introduction to the concept to begin their own planning processes.
Escape the Madness isn't for the financial advisor who already has years of experience working with alternative financial options, but it's absolutely perfect for those who have been plodding through the 'rat race' for a while and who are newly considering alternative options. Chapters offer keys to assessing where you are in life, where you want to go, and how to get there, and focus on potential sources of 'passive income' and how these can contribute to a better income stream.
Anyone looking for a solid starting point that is understandable and easy will find all the tools needed in this introduction.
The Ultimate
Guide to Sex After 50
Joan Price
Cleis Press
2246 - 6th Street,
Berkeley, CA 94710-2219
9781627780964
$22.95 www.cleispress.com
The Ultimate Guide to Sex After 50: How to Maintain - or Regain - a Spicy, Satisfying Sex Life provides a sexuality self-help focus for seniors who want to understand how aging alters sexual drive and how to enjoy sex despite medical challenges and loss of libido. Chapters use interviews with couples, singles, and all kinds of people to consider the common problems of sex after 50 and how to overcome them.
One might expect this to focus on physical changes, but there's plenty of psychology, also; from long-term relationships and dating to how to maintain different kinds of relationships - including friends with benefits, swinging, and boundary-stretching fantasizing. From negotiating a change from monogamy to returning to sex after a long-time absence, this book covers a lot of ground.
These focuses set The Ultimate Guide to Sex After 50 apart from other sexuality books, offering wide-ranging discussions of mental and physical influences on sexuality for seniors and providing a positive set of messages and information for revitalization.
The Herb Lover's
Spa Book
Sue Goetz
St. Lynn's Press
P.O. Box 18680,
Pittsburgh, PA
15236
9780989268868
$18.95 www.stlynnspress.com
The Herb Lover's Spa Book: Create a Luxury Spa Experience at Home with Fragrant Herbs from Your Garden comes from a herb gardener and spa enthusiast who provides the basics of both growing and preparing therapeutic herbs for a home spa, and pairs color photos with step-by-step directions throughout for using nearly twenty herbs from the harden. Recipes cover teas, masks, scrubs and more, and directions include everything from herb garden layout and container gardening to herb measurement guidelines, producing soak and scrub herb collections, and more.
While the 'recipes' are the foundation of this title, accompanying details also cover how to apply herbs to common problems, from counteracting jet lag to building your own oversized tea bags from cotton muslin.
Handmade notes, DIY projects, and keys to growing plants and designing a home spa make The Herb Lover's Spa Book more wide-ranging than one might expect (i.e. there's even directions for designing the ambiance of the physical spa itself!), but perfect for herb gardeners who want to put their harvests to full use.
A Beautiful Life
Cut Short By Early
Onset Alzheimer's: Marcia's Journey
Denver D. Smith
Trafford Publishing
9781490747835
$21.10 www.trafford.com
A Beautiful Life Cut Short by Early Onset Alzheimer's: Marcia's Journey at first glance may look like another memoir about an Alzheimer's patient; but the focus here is a little different and comes from a husband whose wife was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's when she was just 49. Where most Alzheimer's stories recount those who are decades older, this surveys his wife's decline over a period of thirteen years as he cared for her in their home.
There are daily reflections as both struggle with the progressing disease, there are insights on not just possible timelines but special challenges faced by early onset Alzheimer's patients and their families, and there are stories of coping with each change and its ramifications.
Most of all, it’s a celebration of Marcia's journey and her family's daily experiences: because of this journal approach, this book (more than others about Alzheimer's) provides a clear picture of what happens, what changes, and how to cope and adds not just a personal touch, but a daily perspective not seen elsewhere.
Letting Go Again
Kimberly Smythe
Inner Sight Press
9780988576063 $14.95
http://www.amazon.com/Letting-
Letting Go Again: A Birth Mother's Tale of Adoption, Reunion, Separation and Growth provides a birth mother's story of how she gave up her baby daughter for adoption, only to face the new challenges of a reunion and a troubled relationship two decades later. It's a fine recommendation for any reader of adoption stories looking for something different.
When teen Kimberly first gave up her daughter, her life changed. Her relationships with her parents, the child's birth father, and her husband changed and when she reunited with her daughter, it wasn't the happy ending so commonly depicted in the movies, but unleashed a storm of contention.
This moving story documents the efforts Kimberly went through to gain a relationship with the child she gave up, and how the years of separation lead to wounds and emotional damage that it seemed nothing could heal. Part of the struggles came in redefining a relationship that fluctuated between friendship, distant acquaintance, and a mother/child connection. Part of them accompanied the growth mother and daughter experienced both together and separately.
The result is an emotional roller coaster exploring a stormy mother/daughter relationship and the lasting effects of adoption and reunion from the eyes of the birth mother, and is recommended for any reader interested in adoption's long-range impact on everyone involved.
A Deeper
Perspective on Alzheimer's
and Other Dementias
Megan Carnarius, RN, NHA, LMT
Findhorn Press
117-121 High Street,
Forres 1V36 1AB, Scotland, UK
9781844096626
$18.99 www.findhornpress.com
A Deeper
Perspective on Alzheimer's
and Other Dementias is unlike most other books on the
subject in that it doesn't relate the
predictable progression of Alzheimer's or the strain on caregivers, but
focuses
instead on how to create an improved quality of life for everyone
affected, at
each stage of the disease. It's highly recommended for caregivers and
families
dealing with dementia and shows how to cultivate a sense of love, life,
and
support in the process of caregiving, right up to the final stages of
the
disease.
Megan Carnarius has a professional background in caring (as a registered nurse, licensed nursing home administrator, and massage therapist with some 25 years' experience running memory care facilities) and links the different stages of dementia to different aspects of its care, offering tools that embrace the spiritual implications and challenges of illness as much as the physical and psychological stresses involved.
The result is far more wide-ranging than most, and a top recommendation (above most others) for the position of 'most practical, useful' guide, packed with tools caregivers need to know about.
Historically
Black Colleges and
Universities: What You Should Know
Alphonso W. Knight Sr.
Xlibris LLC/Bohlsen Group, Publicity
9781499044966
$19.99
www.amazon.com
Historically Black Colleges and Universities: What You Should Know comes from a former college administrator who provides an authoritative reference guide with the idea of encouraging Afro-Americans to learn more about these universities, and is a recommendation for education and college-bound readers alike.
What should one know about such institutions? For one thing, a large number of blacks are simply unaware of the presence and opportunities of such institutions across the U.S. Profiling them under one cover allows for cross-comparison of everything from histories and notable alumni to tuition fees, school size, athletic affiliations, and more.
But don't view this as a review of special programs: its purpose is to outline historically significant black institutions and provide introductory overviews suitable to narrowing areas of interest for further research. Understanding each school's history, campus makeup and culture is step one to moving into further research on program offerings.
American
Travelers on the Nile
Andrew Oliver
American University in Cairo
Press
9789774166679
$44.95
www.aucpress.com
American Travelers on the Nile: Early U.S. Visitors to Egypt, 1774-1839 opens with two eighteenth-century travelers to the Nile and proceeds to chart the evolving presence of Americans in Egypt, documenting the increasing popularity of college-age students on pilgrimages to the area and covering their influence on Egyptian history and culture.
More a cultural encounter history than a travelogue, American Travelers on the Nile presents a lively collection of relationships between cultures and documents the early American experience in the Middle Eastern world and its effects on both sides of the ocean.
Unpublished letters, diaries, lesser-known newspaper articles, and other source materials were used to present these stories, while over thirty illustrations embellish traveler tales and enhance a read that covers journeys, but is at its strongest when viewed as an absorbing early history of cross-cultural interactions accessible to travel readers and students of Middle East history and culture alike.
Caregiving
Full-Time and Working
Full-Time
Dr. Keith Washington
WestBow Press
1663 Liberty Drive,
Bloomington IN
47403
9781490856636
$13.95 www.westbowpress.com
Finally! A book that addresses the special challenges of caregivers who must juggle two jobs simultaneously, in Caregiving Full-Time and Working Full-Time: Managing dual Roles and Responsibilities! There have been many books discussing caregiving challenges; but too few address the majority of caregiver scenarios where a caregiver is also a breadwinner.
The costs of such efforts are apparent in statistics which show that some seventy percent of working caregivers suffer work-related difficulties and face major impacts on their careers, savings, and health insurance.
Dr. Washington doesn't just approach this from a physician's standpoint; he cared for his parents when his father was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and had to make some hard decisions about his career versus his family, realizing in the course of events that caregiving's real cost is more than economic.
His book reviews these costs, explores options available from family, government and employer sources, and blends his personal experiences with studies and concrete game plans for reducing the impact of caregiver/worker struggles.
Who's Going to
Watch My Kids?
Rachel Levy Lesser
Turning Stone Press
665 Third Street, #400,
San Francisco CA
94107
978161852944
$17.95 www.redwheelweiser.com
Who's Going to Watch My Kids? Working Mothers' Humorous and Heartfelt Struggles to Find and Hold on to the Elusive Perfect Nanny provides an unusual focus on the working relationships between nanny and parent, and gathers stories from the author's own life and the lives of fifteen other working mothers to recount such encounters.
Her experiences are poignant, funny, and also pointed as she addresses common points of concern between nanny and mother and outlines common mistakes and how to identify and overcome them.
From the nanny who wants to move in and take over to those who fail in their duties, Who's Going to Watch My Kids? reflects on the typical struggles parents face as they look for in-home childcare assistance. The result is a fun, accessible, and solid read for any struggling with childcare.
'Bobby and
Mandee Children's Safety'
books
Deputy Sheriff Robert Kahn
Future Horizons Inc.
721 W. Abram St.,
Arlington, TX 76013
$6.95
each
www.FHautism.com
Bobby and Mandee are the child heroes of a fun series of books that blend activities such as coloring with information directed to children on the autism spectrum, and two additions to the series emphasize basic safety in a manner accessible to these kids and their parents.
Too Safe for Strangers (9781885477750) has been credited with foiling numerous stranger abductions and uses Bobby and Mandee to explain 'stranger danger' in a way that makes sense. Parents can use it as a read-aloud as pages emphasize the differences between strangers and friends, discuss what it means to 'know someone well', and teaches kids the warning signs of danger.
Too Smart for Bullies (9781885477767) uses Mandee's first-person experience to explain what bullying means and how to handle it. Parents, again, are encouraged to read this book to kids and use it to discuss important points. A question and answer test included here provides further positive reinforcement for adults looking to be certain kids understand.
Both safety books can be used for role playing and provide basic instructions central to safe living, and both appear in color with drawings and realistic encounters accompanying advice on how to handle threats.
Healing the
Western Soul
Judith S. Miller
Paragon House
9781557780174 $14.95 www.paragonhouse.com
Healing the Western Soul: A Spiritual Homecoming for Today's Seeker considers how social and political tensions are slowly pulling people away from Judeo-Christian roots and spiritual beliefs, creating what is ultimately a confusing and difficult spiritual journey for many.
It analyzes how millions of people from Judeo-Christian backgrounds experience spiritual emptiness and how these seekers often eschew the spiritual intuitions and mystical visions that come to them through prayer, dreams and daily living; and it considers why the religious, psychological and social systems of modern society and even the New Age movement have failed to address these problems.
A description of the three stages of the Western Spiritual Path and how these might lead to a more spiritually-fulfilling life contributes to a discussion designed for modern seekers of all faiths who want to get a handle on their lives and purpose.
Intrusion
Lanayre Liggera
Xlibris
9781499094817
$19.99 www.xlibris.com
www.bohlsengroup.com
Intrusion presents a multi-faceted and unusual read with a theological thriller that focuses on a judge who battles the supernatural, and is recommended for readers with more than an inclination to believe that occult forces are inherently evil.
Sir Carter Braxton is the judge in a complicated case, American widow Valerie is a courtroom spectator who becomes too involved in his life, and a U.S. satellite tracking system being tested by NASA becomes the dangerous impetus for bringing not just these two together, but sparking a spiritual journey of discovery.
Anticipate apparitions, Arabs, and intrigue as a Sidi legend comes to life and challenges each protagonist. Also anticipate a healthy dose of spiritual reflection and revelation in a thriller that uses a gang and a dangerous force to bring different faiths together with an unexpected, shared purpose.
Accidental
Droning
Pete Liebengood
Xlibris
Email: ccainkar@bohlsengroup.com
9781503537590
$17.27
http://www.amazon.com/
Accidental Droning provides a riveting story of Bo Granger, who encounters a political murder while flying his drone. And that's only the opening salvo of the encounter: he faces not just murder, but blackmail and ongoing confrontations.
One doesn’t expect political overtones from a murder mystery. One doesn't expect a high-tech witnessing of a murder to turn into a series of misadventures as Bo struggles with invading another's privacy and the ethics behind keeping a video witness of a drowning murder. One doesn't also expect encounters that cross the line from dirty politics to dangerous confrontation.
It's all here in a mystery that is packed with unexpected twists, turns, and influences throughout: a delightful change from the usual linear mystery approach, and highly recommended for genre readers looking for something different.
Jock Talk
Beth Noymer Levine
Greenleaf Book Group Press
P.O. Box
91869, Austin TX 78709
9781626341715
$19.95 www.gpgpress.com
Jock Talk: 5 Communication Principles for Leaders as Exemplified by Legends of the Sports World takes insights from the world of sports and teaches leaders how to shape communication strategies to become more effective leaders.
There have been a host of books on communication which have addressed issues on business speeches; but athletes do more public speaking than most and thus, surprisingly, have honed styles and approaches that can teach executives a thing or two.
Their stories are contained in a gathering of public comments of athletes, coaches, and team owners and illustrate the basics of five communication principles that will provide best results for business purposes. Any business speaker needs this framework; whether they're addressing media or conventions, or making presentations to staff members.
Mad Dogs
I.B. Gumnut
Balboa Press
1663 Liberty Drive,
Bloomington IN
47403
9781452504506
$10.95 www.balboapress.com
Two sheepdogs, Red and Blue, take their motorbike out for a spin after a hard day of sheep herding in the Australian Outback in Mad Dogs, a saga that adds to the "Stories from Down Under" series for kids that focuses on adventure, innovation and fun.
A little under 20 pages features full-color, full-page whimsical and fun illustrations paired with six sentences of rhyme describing the dogs and their motorcycling prowess.
The result is a compelling and easy story read, perfect for kids with some rudimentary reading skills who are interested in lively rhymes.
The Adventures
of Chloe Zoe Young:
Chloe's Surfing Adventure
Carol Young
WestBow Press
1663 Liberty Drive,
Bloomington IN
47403
9781490846125
$13.95 www.westbowpress.com
The Adventures of Chloe Zoe Young: Chloe's Surfing Adventure is designed for a short attention span and a young reader interested in interactive formats, and provides a rhyming adventure story based on a surfing dog's experiences.
Chloe the dog loves her beach run and experiences, but particularly enjoys watching the surfers and dreaming of riding the wild surf herself. So when a surfer asks her to join him, she jumps at the opportunity, and learns much about the sport.
The fun illustrations appear in full color and opposite the rhyme, which follows Chloe as she realizes her dream.
Kids interested in dogs, water sports, surfing, or just a light read of experiential accomplishment will delight in the simplicity and appeal of The Adventures of Chloe Zoe Young: Chloe's Surfing Adventure.
The Adventures
of Blue Ocean
Bob: A Challenging Job
Brooks Olbrys
Childrens Success Unlimited LLC
521 - 5th Avenue,
27th Floor, New York NY 10175
9780982961353
$12.95 www.blueoceanbob.com
The Adventures of Blue Ocean Bob: A Challenging Job is recommended for picture book readers grades 1 and up with good reading skills who will appreciate some thirty pages of detail in this sequel to The Adventures of Blue Ocean Bob: A Journey Begins. No prior familiarity with its companion is needed to appreciate this basic introduction to achievement principles, which uses a fun story about oceans and marine life to involve young readers.
Blue Ocean Bob, a island boy who loves adventures and new experiences, decides to protect and involve himself in his island's natural worlds, interacting with creatures from hummingbirds to dolphins. His animal friends aid him as he carries out his duties and overcomes obstacles; and with this team's involvement, a better life evolves for them all. The ideas may sound very adult for a reading level just barely out of the picture book easy reader category; but the concepts are nicely presented, even if they do require a more advanced thought process from picture book readers.
Bright color illustrations by Kevin Keele contribute to a story line that introduces grades 1 and up to concepts of life ambitions, hard work, teamwork, and an awareness of the environment, couching all this in a lively and compelling story kids will readily learn from.
When it Hits the
Fan
Larry Mullins
Hobble Creek Press/Cedar Fort
2373 W. 700 South, Springville
UT 84663
9781462114986
$15.99 www.cedarfort.com
When it Hits the Fan: A Handbook to Surviving Anything comes from an author who spent sixty years in law enforcement teaching survival classes. He shares the results of these teachings on how to survive one projected emergency: the power grid's crash. From deciding whether to stay at home or leave to identifying edible food sources, making tools, obtaining shelter and fire, and facing down civil unrest, this handbook joins others on the topic of survival - with a difference.
First is its focus on making the kinds of decisions that go beyond shelter, food, and safety to consider what's involved in staying put or leaving.
Second is a 'bigger picture' view of what the 'end of the world' might entail and strategies to survive long term primitive conditions rather than short-term outages: the kinds of emergencies that change cultures, not just daily lives.
Third is a solid focus on what it means to be strong enough to survive long-term. These facets go beyond examining possible disasters to analyze the heart of choices involved in the survival process, making for a different approach and a highly recommended addition to any who would prepare for the worst.
The Wizard and
the Quient
T.J. Lemmer
Trafford Publishers
9781412056861
$21.48
www.trafford.com
The Wizard and the Quient is a fantasy adventure centered around fifteen-year-old Thomas Wisby, who finds himself in a foreign world of wizards, dinosaurs, and other oddities. Thomas was enjoying his summer on a ranch, where he lives alone with his mother - but his focus on soccer changes in an instant when he stumbles upon a magical world that could answer questions about his past.
The Quient ('Quasi-Energy', or Stellar Oracle) is a black orb that chooses its own master - and Thomas just so happens to be the lucky recipient of its attentions. The Quient forms a symbiotic relationship with whomever it chooses - but Thomas not only knows nothing about magic, but hasn't had any intention of being kept by anyone or anything. But the Quient is never wrong, it's tasked with "…choosing someone with a good heart, who was kind, and noble, someone with great promise….", and Thomas is deemed that rare soul.
Adventures explore the relationship between the two and while the beginning of the story bogs down a little in detail and requires some getting used to, readers who persevere are soon immersed in a fantasy filled with twists, turns and action centered on developing magical abilities to have "…a wonderfully successful and magical life."
Teens with an affinity for fantasies will find this a fine saga of a boy who is coming to grips with who he is and where he's going in life.
Sacred Space
John D. Duncan
Austin Brothers Publishing
306 Los Colinas, Georgetown,
TX 78628
9780990347743
http://www.
Sacred Space: The Art of Sacred Silence, Sacred Speech, and the Sacred Ear in the Echo of the Still Small Voice of God comes from a pastor and scholar who advocates slowing down to make room for sacred space - a sacred breathing space, if you would - to renew life's vision and purpose and reconnect with Christ.
It's a reader's guide on where to find (or how to create) this space and what to do with it when you have it: as such, it's a particular recommendation for Christians who feel overwhelmed and who want methods for counteracting the modern world's pressures and the church's tendency to marginalize the religion very it promotes.
Chapters consider how a damaged soul can recover to discover a renewed spiritual connection to God, and provide close inspection of the nature of distractions that create pressure and distance believers from God. The author's own struggles synthesize with reflections on the process of belief to create an important reflection on the value of sacred space and how to build it.
The Singer and
His Songs
Deke Rivers
iUniverse, Inc.
9781450217941
$25.95 www.iuniverse.com
Email: dtharp@bohlsengroup.com
The Singer and His Songs is a novel telling of Chris, who falls in love with the guitar the first time he sees it, but who abandons his beloved music career in Australia to move to the United States - only to see his songs become big in both countries.
A new home, a new music environment, and even a new romance challenge Chris as he struggles with increasing fame and all the changes it brings. Trips to New York, new record deals, midnight jam sessions, recordings, and the very different musical environments of the West and East coasts in the U.S.: all these contribute to a vivid saga of a young musician on the move in more ways than one.
While Chris may serve as an icon of achievement to fans around the world, he still struggles to find his own satisfying path in life - and The Singer and His Songs thus shows how both his worlds collide as one of its focal points - romance - becomes all too complicated. A powerful saga emerges; perfect for readers who love stories about musicians, success, and the rise to fame.
The Song of My
Father
Christine T. Hall
Plain Sight Publishing/Cedar Fort
2373 W. 700 South, Springville,
UT 84663
9781462116164
$12.99 www.christinethall.com
www.cedarfort.com
The Song of My Father comes from a girl who grew up hearing positive messages from her father: "Things will work out. Good will come from this." All well and good; but as an adult she faced something she couldn't explain as an event from which any good could possibly spring, and she came to question this belief.
The Song of My Father is at once an autobiography and an inspirational piece, exploring loss, grief, faith, and the means by which acceptance and positive attitudes are built. It covers the early impetus for belief systems and the later challenges to them, and it pays tribute both to a father's lessons and the lessons of life and healing.
The result is a first-person story that is, in itself, a song of hope, faith, and recovery.
Here Comes the
Sun
Leza Lowitz
Stone
Bridge Press
P.O. Box 8208,
Berkeley, CA 94707
9781611720211
$16.95 www.stonebridge.com
Here Comes the Sun: A Journey to Adoption in 8 Chakras follows the life of a single woman who travels the world, grew up in Berkeley during the sexual and feminist revolution of the 1970s, and moved to Japan where she met the man of her dreams. She opened a yoga studio in Tokyo, made the country her home, and continued to travel, feeling a hint of emptiness until she returned to Japan to discover that a connection with a child was the key to changing struggles into joy.
Plenty of memoirs cover adoption; but few adopt the tone and background of a spiritually-minded woman whose connections to meditation and community turn into a different kind of love than one that stems from blood ties or even the adoption process alone.
Fueled by Lowitz's deep connection to the yoga process, it offers a warm story not of idealistic new age thinking; but of a life in transition, and how this succeeds in transforming other lives in the process of pursuing motherhood.
Freaks I've Met
Donald Jans
Shebeau Publishing
Bohlsen Group email: ccainkar@bohlsengroup.com
9780996175609 $16.00
http://www.amazon.com/Freaks-
Freaks I've Met features a college graduate who is tempted into the money-hungry world of finance, only to land in jail, and follows Jack Fitzpatrick in his move from Washington to California in search of riches. While he's on a mission to prove that he can become happy through achieving wealth, Jack finds that life hands him more than one lemon and his job-hopping leads to increasing ethical dilemmas in the process.
Freaks I've Met is a satisfying tour de farce that is surprisingly humorous, pointed, and fun as well as a serious, pointed survey of the institutional bond market, based on author Donald Jans' own background in this financial sector.
It perfectly captures the dreams of new college grads who might think success is in the palm of their hands, only to field a host of challenges handed down by tough choices about the best ways to live. It's unexpected to discover a sense of fun in bond trading, but Freaks I've Met does a fine job of juxtaposing humor and serious issues; all couched in a lively story.
From Working to
Wisdom
Brendan Hare
Joppa Flats Publishing
9780996003407 $16.95
www.fromworkingtowisdom.com
Email: anita@smithpublicity.com
http://www.amazon.com/Working-
For From Working to Wisdom: The Adventures and Dreams of Older Americans, Brendan Hare asked older Americans to reveal their dreams and feelings about retirement and aging, and created a book to offer enlightenment to those prepared to leave the work force. Some participants were retired and some were still working: Hare interviewed forty-six older Americans about their lives and the process of aging, and their answers are guaranteed to provide rich insights.
While its purpose is to describe how 'wisdom' is achieved, this book focuses on individual stories of work, retirement, and psychological change, and imparts inspiration as well as insights to readers interested in leading more purposeful lives and planning for the future.
Be forewarned: this isn't a book about how to retire or manage money: it's all about attitude, redefining the concept of retirement, and investing in happiness and new directions rather than financial focuses so common of many retirement books.
And this approach to the 'wisdom' piece is exactly what makes From Working to Wisdom a standout.
A Voyage in the
Sunbeam
Annie Brassey
One Peace Books
43-32 - 22nd Street,
#204, Long Island City,
NY 11101
9781935548423
$18.95 www.onepeacebooks.com
A Voyage in the Sunbeam: Our Home on the Ocean for Eleven Months tells of an 1876 voyage made by Annie Brassey to circumnavigate the world - the first to be accomplished in a steam-powered yacht - with her husband, four children, and a host of pets. Originally published in 1878 as a collection of her writings, this was a best-seller in its day, but was almost regulated to obscurity before its reprint here.
The writing remains as lively and interesting as it was back in its time, capturing a sense of adventure and nautical experiences from an author who died at sea of malaria at the age of 48.
Full moons, burning mountains, stormy weather and amazing experiences ("Whilst I was standing on deck at night a flying-fish flew against my throat and hung there, caught in the lace of my dress.") - it's not often that writing lively enough for yesteryear remains compelling in modern times; but A Voyage in the Sunbeam certainly fits this bill and is highly recommended for readers of nautical history and adventure.
The Sound of
Water
Joshua K. Linden
Turning Stone Press/Red Wheel Weiser
9781618520883
$15.95 www.redwheelweiser.com
http://www.amazon.com/Sound-
The Sound of Water: A Psychology of the Soul follows the author's seven-year journey of reflection on soul, ego, and his place in the world, and represents not just the process of his self-examination, but the wellspring of 'living in the moment' to connect with what resonates in the self (in this case, water). It's best described as a 'meditative self-examination' that considers the process of soul-searching and, as such, it's a recommendation for new age and spirituality readers alike.
While The Sound of Water is based on psychology, philosophy and religion, it's meant to be a synthesis of influences that considers such diverse topics as the essence of reality, states of unreality, and the individuation process of the ego.
With its first-person blend of autobiographical experience and exploration, it invites readers to embark on similar journeys, fueled by shared experience. The result is a gentle consideration of process, especially recommended for self-help and new age readers alike.
The Me I Never
Was
Francine C. Still Hicks
Balboa Press
1663 Liberty Drive,
Bloomington, IN
47403
9781452598239
$18.99 www.balboapress.com
The Me I Never Was is an inspirational autobiography which provides readers with the experiences and tools needed to discover the person they need to be, and uses personal experiences as well as Hicks's background as an activist artist, inspirational speaker and lecturer to consider how people evolve and change.
It's about identifying and honing one's personal energy to supercharge life itself, it's about considering how "…thoughts of love have been conditioned by a conforming, egotistical world to a simulated imitation of what 'true love' is meant to be.", and it's about overcoming such conditioning through an attention to conquering darkness, doubt, and negativity to choose paths that lead into the light.
It's spiritual writing at its best, includes some poetic reflections along with its spiritual focus, and is recommended for new age readers who want to understand the various paths and choices involved in transitioning to higher levels of being.
Space Helmet for
a Cow
Paul Kirkley
Mad Norwegian Press
1150 46th Street
Des Moines,
Iowa 50311
9781935234173
$14.95
http://www.madnorwegian.com/
Space Helmet for a Cow: The Mad, True Story of Doctor Who Volume 1: 1963-1989 is recommended for any prior fan of the Doctor Who television series and provides a vivid behind-the-scenes story of how the British science fiction show evolved.
There have been many books written about Doctor Who's various incarnations; but few adopt the perspective of examining some 50 years of TV history to consider the major forces behind its shows and how a novel story of interplanetary war, aliens, and strife was achieved on a slim budget that barely covered production costs.
A show-by-show approach outlines these highlights, including friendships, conflicts, struggles, innovations, character uncertainties and challenges to continuity as actors arrived and departed. Virtually any insight into how show directions were chosen or honed is presented here with an eye to explaining personal and political influences on the show's evolution.
This attention to detail places Space Helmet for a Cow far above the usual biographical examination of actors and probes its underlying social and political influences, making it a 'must' for any Doctor Who viewer and fan.
The Man Who Saw
the Future
Catherine Blackledge
Watkins Publishing, UK
Email: enquiries@watkinspublishing.
9781780288000
$24.95 www.watkinspublishing.com
The Man Who Saw the Future: The 17th-Century Astrologer Who Changed the Course of the English Civil War considers the life of William Lilly, who was born in 1602 and whose involvement in politics and prophecy provided forecasts of the future that changed the course of the English Civil War.
Readers who want a book that skirts the line between a history and a discussion of astrology's impact on the future will find this an intriguing, different perspective that takes historical fact and weaves it into a discussion of spiritual and new age perspectives.
Perhaps the most fascinating part of this history, which reads with the drama and intrigue of a novel, is the fact that by his beliefs and actions, Lilly literally changed the course of a war: food for thought for practicing astrologers who will find here a lively tone and presentation requiring no prior familiarity with British history, culture, or even astrology.
The Mark on Eve
Joel Fox
Bronze Circle Press
Email: Joel@joelfox.com
9780682306192
$13.99
http://www.joelfox.com/
If it's a political thriller that's desired (especially considering the upcoming Presidential elections), then The Mark on Eve more than fits the bill, providing a compelling contemporary saga that opens with a female governor on the fast track to becoming President. Her ambitions are nearly ended by an attempted assassination - and that's where Eve comes in.
Eve may have foiled the attempt, but she's no ordinary heroine: under a spell from an 18th century witch, she doesn't age and is cursed to remain on Earth until she fulfills an impossible requirement. And so she's always on the move and never lets anyone get close - until now.
Suddenly in the spotlight and more than involved, Eve's secret is threatened even as her endless life is injected with a new and different purpose: helping a woman become the first female President of the country. And a witch may, once again, be the key to her changes. A riveting story line with unexpected twists makes The Mark on Eve a top recommendation that will keep readers engrossed, enchanted, and surprised to the end.
Gun Needle Spoon
Patrick O'Neil
Dzanc Books
5220 Dexter Ann Arbor
Rd
Ann Arbor,
MI 48103
9781936873579
$14.95 www.dzancbooks.org
Gun Needle Spoon creates a memoir of Patrick O'Neil's life: as a worker at the Mabuhay Gardens in San Francisco, the City's premier punk rock venue during the movement's heyday in the 1980s, O'Neil was in the perfect position to observe the social and political nature of events. When he become a roadie and eventually road manager for the Dead Kennedys and Flipper, he become even more immersed in punk culture.
But all of this spiraled out of control when he became a heroin addict and spent the next eighteen years of his life immersed in crime. Now thirteen years sober, O'Neil returns to look back at his life in general and the punk movement of the times.
Expect candid, often graphic descriptions of drugs and deprivation. Anticipate a gritty memoir packed with insights on how the punk rock dream became a nightmare. No punches are pulled, and his examination captures a spirited and terrifying descent that also details how recovery was finally made. Under his hand, the punk rock movement (as well as its accompanying drug culture) is revealed in all its complexities.
Wild Turkey in
Colorado and the Central Plains
J. Michael Geiger
Trafford Publishing
1663 Liberty Drive
Bloomington,
IN 47403
9781490754512
$19.39 www.trafford.com
Wild Turkey in Colorado and the Central Plains is designed to provide a region-specific guide for both novices and experienced hunters of wild turkey in the Colorado region - and if readers think hunting techniques should be similar everywhere, this book proves that they are not.
Chapters discuss different habitats (including winter shelter and critical habitat issues for small landowners) and integrates wildlife management issues with discussions of hunting specifics. From methods of killing a wild turkey at different ranges to seasonal hunting specifics, this is most decidedly a specific guide for hunters, not wildlife preservationists: as such, it's packed with the specifics to land management and turkey habitats, as well as the 'harvesting' techniques that will be needed to successfully hone the sport in Colorado's mountains and the central prairies.
Surfing the
Border
Serge Dedina
Wildcoast
925 Seacoast Drive
Imperial Beach,
CA 91932
9781941384107
$17.95
www.surfingtheborder.com
Surfing the Border: Adventures at the Edge of the Ocean is all about surf culture and travel, and comes from a longtime surfer, conservationist, and the Mayor of Imperial Beach, who travels around the world to consider how surfing connects its participants to nature.
Dedina co-founded Wildcoast, an international conservation organization, and has devoted his life to protecting the California and Mexico coastline: his book is at once a travelogue, an autobiography, and a conservation piece that draws important connections between the sport of surfing and the underlying ideology of coastline conservation.
It's a pick for both California and sports collections alike - particularly those which already hold surfing books but which seek a more integrated approach linking such disparate facets as coastal fishing, surfing, beach movies and culture, and habitat preservation.
Out on the Water
Tessa Duder
Libro International, New
Zealand
9781877514753 $20.00
Email: peter@oratiamedia.com
www.librointernational.com
Out on the Water: Twelve Tales of the Sea provides a fine new collection of sea stories for young people and captures the thrill of being on the water, from participating in a boat race to sailing on a tall ship, working shipping cattle on a scow, and more.
The idea is to gather a diverse range of nautical adventures to demonstrate that no two boats, no two adventures, and no two journeys are alike. The sea holds many moods, and those who travel upon its water do so by different means. Out on the Water captures the experience of being out at sea, pairing full-page black and white images by Bruce Potter, who is a noted book illustrator, with first-person accounts of young people on the water.
The fact that most nautical adventures involve a single perspective or type of boat, and most are written by and for adults, sets Out on the Water apart from the majority of nautical writings and makes it a top recommendation for middle school readers into adult circles.
Just Maagy
Virginia Burton Stringer
Archway Publishing
1663 Liberty Drive
Bloomington,
IN 47403
9781480811218
$21.99 www.archwaypublishing.com
Just Maagy tells of a spoiled Crown Princess, one Melania Abigail Alice Grace, a spoiled thirteen-year-old who insists on always having her own way. She often gets it, but her aging father knows he'd better change her ways, or his kingdom will suffer.
So he takes her to the Summer Castle, hoping its caretakers, an elderly couple rumored to be enchanters, will teach Maagy about kindness and patience. Nobody can teach this willful child anything; but as she explores her new home, she uncovers mysteries and challenges that provide her step-by-step paths to becoming a better person.
It's unusual to find a fairytale for middle readers - most are directed to younger audiences - but Just Maagy succeeds in providing an involving plot based not just on magic, but on a spoiled princess's journey to becoming a leader and gaining maturity. This compelling story will reach from middle school into high school grade levels with its feisty protagonist and a host of problems surrounding her growth.