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A lofty place for authors, writers, and readers to connect |
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Vol. 5 Issue 11 |
Writers in the Sky Newsletter |
November 2009 |
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Whether you are a published author or a
writer-wanna-be, this e-zine is for you. Here, you will find
articles, book reviews, announcements, poetry, and information
about the craft and business of writing, publishing, and book
marketing written by our readers. Our goal is to connect the
writing and publishing community through networking. |
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Editor's Corner |
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A word from WITS owner Yvonne Perry |
Five Writing Tips for All Levels of Writers |
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by Robert Medak |
The Publisher As Promoter: Small Book, Big Pay-Offs |
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by Dr. Marlene Caroselli |
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The Writing Life |
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by JJ Murphy |
Book With a View |
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Read this month's book reviews |
What Kind of Traveler Are You? |
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by Sybil Baker |
Poetry Corner |
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Poems from our readers |
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by Yvonne Perry
Welcome to the November issue of Writers in the Sky E-Zine. I hope
you will enjoy the articles, announcements, poetry, podcasts, and book
reviews we have for you this month. I appreciate the contributions
our readers make to this e-zine each
month. Our fourth grandson to arrive this year has been born in Summerville, South Carolina. My step-grandson, Payton Christian, is here!
He weighed in at 7.6 pounds and 19 inches long (see
photo of Payton on Halloween). We are
blessed in so many ways; it's easy to be thankful. I wish
you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. (See
photo of all four grandsons born in 2009.)
It's official! My body-mind-spirit children's book,
The Sid Series, is finally
published, but it will not be available on Amazon until late
November. I am conducting a virtual blog tour from November
20 to December 15 (see my
tour schedule). To
learn how a virtual book or blog tour works,
read this post.
If you are a parent, grandparent, or teacher with
a child who talks of imaginary friends, reincarnation, or
past lives, you will find guidance and inspiration in this beautiful full-color book.
Each of the twelve short stories focuses on life skills such as environmental awareness,
diversity, helping others, being true to one’s self,
overcoming fear, following inner guidance. These sweet
stories teach unique lessons about love, self-worth, caring for the body, dealing with change, experiencing the death of a pet,
and using spiritual gifts. The main character in The Sid Series is my first-born grandson, Sidney, who
was a guest on Writers in the Sky Podcast
in October.
This e-zine is edited and proofread
by Sarah Moore/Barbara Milbourn. I thank Sarah and
Barbara for their hard work an commitment to our team.
If someone forwarded this e-zine to you or if you
stumbled upon this Web page, you may
get your own
subscription for free!
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Five Writing Tips for All Levels of Writers |
by Robert Medak
Freelance Writer/Editor
http://www.stormywriter.com/
First, if the story is not believable to you, it will not be to the reader. It is fine to come up with plot, setting, characters, and such, but if it does not ring true, your audience will call you on it. If you are a new writer, you will most likely be rejected if you try to submit your manuscript
to a publisher.
Make sure you check your spelling, punctuation, and grammar. It cannot be stressed enough,
do not rely on spell check and grammar check in word processing programs. If you are weak
in this area, find a class and learn how to punctuate and use proper grammar.
Second is dialogue. If your characters are of a certain age and they use language that does not fit the age, your characters are not believable and the reader will put down the story and most likely not pick up anything else you might
write. If you are writing for yourself and never want to be published, wrong dialogue is probably ok,
not! If you are going to write something, make it the best you can every time you put words on paper.
Third is, make sure you use the right word. As Mark Twain said, “The difference between the almost right word
and the right word is really a large matter—it's the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning." I could not agree more. Spend the money and get a good dictionary and thesaurus. Do not let them sit on the shelf collecting dust;
use them!
Ray Bradbury mentioned in a lecture before Southwest Manuscriptors the fourth and possibly the most important tip:
Read! Read the classics, read everything you can get your hands on; read, read, read. Only by reading published books, can you get some idea of what works and what does not.
Read various authors in the genre for which you are writing.
Fifth, if you decide to edit your own work, set it aside for a minimum of a week. When you come back to it, come with a blue pencil. Take that blue pencil and take out the irrelevant junk. Make sure the meaning of what you want to say is clear. Does what you read while editing move the story along? Are your characters believable? Are they fully fleshed out?
There is more that can be said about writing well, but you get the idea.
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Listening to Writers in the Sky Podcast on a computer is
easy. Just click this link:
http://yvonneperry.blogspot.com
and go to my blog. On the right sidebar there is a list of
archived shows. Click on the interview you would like to
hear and it will open a post that has a link to open the
audio file. For information about being a guest on Writers
in the Sky Podcast, see
www.writersinthesky.com/writing-podcast.htm |
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November 6
Charles Toftoy will be joining the podcast to discuss his new book
It's in the Eyes. This novel, set in Washington, D.C., focuses on the murders
of four university co-eds whose killer uses the rituals practiced by a gang in India several centuries ago. Lars Nielsen, a college professor, brings
together his Alpha Team of private citizens to solve the crime. Mr. Toftoy will be discussing how he developed his characters, why he incorporated the idea
of ritualistic killing, and whether or not readers can expect more books involving the Alpha Team.
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November 12
Abe Rosa joins the podcast to share his new release titled
The Drummer. Mr. Rosa wrote this book as an extension of his Christian faith,
hoping to share with readers an example of strength in courage in convictions. The book focuses on a young woman who is the greatest drummer
in the world and who now faces the greatest challenge. Her mother has been captured by the government. Abe Rosa will tell the audience why he
chose a drummer as his voice in the book, what he hopes readers will take away from reading his work, and how he is marketing this new release. |
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November 13
Our younger listeners and their parents will want to tune in when Joseph Adegboyega-Edun talks about his new book
Succeeding in High School.
This new release takes readers through each step of the high school experience and offers practical advice for getting the most out of the academic
opportunities. Mr. Adegboyega-Edun also provides a helpful guide to the college admissions process as the second half of this handbook.
He is an experienced advisor at both the high school and college level who speaks as someone who knows what works.
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November 20
Author Mike Thompson shares another offering for our younger readers with his new book
Twinsational.
This work of children’s fiction shares one day in the life of eleven-year-old twins Mark and Michelle Johnson.
Young people will relate to the concepts of class bullies, demanding teachers, and first crushes. Through every moment,
the close relationship between the siblings is evident and heartwarming. Mr. Thompson will share how he developed the idea of
Twinsational, what he believes children can learn from his book, and if he has future plans for Mark and Michelle. |
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November 27
Julia Booker joins the podcast to discuss her book,
I’m Still Standing. This novel tells the story of a mother and daughter who are caught in a cycle of constant abuse,
including beatings, rape, and emotional cruelty. The mother uses drugs and alcohol to numb the pain, while the daughter fears that her life is headed for the same fate.
The book is based on a true story, which makes the abuse even more gripping. Ms. Booker and WITS author’s assistant Sarah Moore will discuss the difficulty in writing
such a painful and personal book, how the characters were developed from real individuals, and what lessons she hopes readers, particularly women, will take away from
her work. |
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Do You Want More for Your Marketing Dollars?
WITS publicity is an affordable and effective source for marketing your book or business.
Choose two or more services and get a 10% discount on the total project price
if you mention seeing this ad in our newsletter!
A great deal for anyone needing online publicity!
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The Publisher As Promoter: Small Book, Big Pay-Offs |
by Dr. Marlene Caroselli
In a contest between well-laid plans and fate, put your money on fate. Here’s my example of the surprises fate has up her voluminous sleeve. In 1984, I held a day job in Los Angeles and worked nights teaching courses at National University. Unbeknownst to me, the Department of Defense (DOD) called the university one day and asked them to recommend someone to teach business writing to federal employees. The university gave them my name, and not long after, I was asked to submit a proposal. Thus began a corporate training/publishing career—one I’d never intended to pursue but one that instead, has pursued me for the last quarter of a century.
The Los Angeles area, of course, is at the epicenter of aerospace industries and it wasn’t long before my university students were recommending me to their employers, companies such as Lockheed-Martin, Northrop-Grumman, Allied-Signal, and TRW Aerospace. It was time for me to start my one-woman firm—the Center for Professional Development.
Intent on succeeding in the professional big leagues—my background was high school English teacher, after all—I soon realized that if I could convert my
course material into small books, I’d have several advantages. And so, CPD Press was born. The process of turning my curricula into books for my students was a
relatively easy one; it has paid off handsomely.
I found an excellent printer, Bookmasters, whose fees are very reasonable (approximately $2 per 64-page book for a run of 1,000). My very first book, PowerWriting, set me apart from my competitors. Although essentially a work book for use in class situations, it was also a stand-alone purchase: quiz answers in the back of the book made it an excellent resource for any business person interested in improving his or her writing skills—inside or outside a classroom situation.
Assuming the content of the book is impeccable and the design, impressive, it doesn’t really matter if a books says CPD Press or McGraw-Hill. After all, if a client is considering using my services, seeing my Fortune 100 clients listed on the back cover carries more weight, I believe, than seeing the logo from a major publisher. (I also list the table of contents on the back as further evidence of my experiential “gravitas.")
The Book As Business-Getter
Whenever I respond to a request for a proposal, I include the book with my submission, knowing the recipient will immediately realize the extent of my qualifications to teach this program.
Also, the book is the curriculum—I don’t have to prepare anew each time I have a teaching assignment.
Another use: When doing keynotes, I like to engage the audience. I often pose a challenging question, relevant to the topic. The first audience member to share an insightful reply is given the book, my admiration, and the audience’s applause. This small gesture is another way of getting my books “out there."
And, because the small book is so inexpensive to print, I include it in my marketing materials or use it as a business card when networking. (It’s also easy to include in carry-on luggage.)
The Urgency of Trends
I’ve found the small-book format is the most advantageous for the work I do. Not only do printers offer a reduced price because of the number of pages, but mailing costs are minimized. Too, if the book does well, the limited number of pages means a sequel is very easy, very possible.
Finally, the small book allows for rapid response to emerging trends. To illustrate, I wound up doing temp work when I first arrived in California. Working as a secretary was interesting and led to numerous other opportunities. But, as a result of that year, I had enough fodder to offer secretarial seminars.
A professional perfect storm was brewing for me in the mid-80’s—TQM was emerging as a dominant force in the business world. That trend, coupled with my secretarial experience, led to a small book titled The Quality Secretary. It caught the fancy of numerous organizations, including Professional Secretaries International (since renamed IAAP). I was invited to speak to an audience of 6000 at their international convention. Of course, the organization had the books available for back-of-the-room sales. And, because the audience was international, it wasn’t long before I was speaking in Singapore, Brazil, and Canada. In fact, I sold the book’s rights to a training organization in Brazil just a few months after the conference.
The Small Book As Rainmaker for Any Small Press
The explosion of technology has created thousands of subject-matter experts (SME) or, at the very least, bloggers with opinions to share. For many e-writers, the continuous stream of wisdom-bites can be assembled into a seminar or program for delivery to a large audience. That seminar information can then easily be converted to self-published books.
Independent publishers will find these SMEs and bloggers a lucrative source of new titles and enhanced revenues from would-be authors.
Small specialized-knowledge books don’t belong to consultants or corporate trainers alone. Any idea-disseminator can use these small books as business-getters. The stigma of self-published content has been eclipsed by the marketability and profitability such books offer the small presses of our industry.
Dr. Marlene Caroselli is the author of 60 business books, many of them self-published, including Principled Persuasion, named a Director’s Choice by Doubleday Book Club.She can be reached at mccpd@frontiernet.net.
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Add your announcement or brag about your
writing accomplishment. Tell us about your book or business.
Share information and ideas or send articles or advertorial
for the next issue by contacting us on our Web site
www.writersinthesky.com/contact.php . Here are some
announcements from our readers this month: |
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November is National
Novel Writing Month. NaNoWriMo is a fun approach to novel
writing. Participants begin writing November 1 with a goal
to write a 175-page (50,000-word) novel by midnight,
November 30. Learn how you can participate at
http://www.nanowrimo.org/
During the month of November, we will launch a virtual book tour with a unique new book by professor, poet and author Deborah DeNicola
titled The Future That Brought Her Here: A Memoir of a Call to Awaken. In this poetic memoir, she describes her metaphysical experiences
which began as she struggled with depression stemming from her father's breakdown and death during her adolescence. We are starting to
schedule hosts for this tour and would like to share more details with you about this book and the author. Please
visit the Web site for more details.
Blood. Guts. Pride. Wrath.
The ancient clash of armies outside the walls of Troy is a cornerstone of Western
literature. In The Rage of Achilles, Terence Hawkins brilliantly reimagines that
titanic encounter. His stunningly original telling captures the brutality of the battlefield,
the glory and the gore, in language that never relents.
Raw and compelling, The Rage of Achilles tells the story of Achilles, a monstrous hero, by turns vain and selfish, cruel and noble; of Paris, weak and consumed by lust for his stolen bride; of Agamemnon, driven nearly to insanity by the voices
of the gods; and of Trojans and Achaeans, warriors and peasants, caught up in
the conflict, their families torn apart by a decade-long war. The Rage of Achilles
is an exhilarating story that has captured the imaginations of readers for thousands
of years restored to immediacy.
“The Rage of Achilles is that rare thing—a genuinely fresh take on a classic text. Terence Hawkins’ modern retelling of The Iliad has the paradoxical, invigorating
effect of making Homer’s epic feel oddly familiar, and of highlighting its deep
strangeness at the same time." – Tom Perrotta, author of Little Children
“In this masterful account by Terence Hawkins, the Trojan War is infused with all
the immediacy of a current event." – Richard Selzer, author of The Doctor Stories
The Rage of Achilles goes on sale nationwide November 2009.
For further information or to arrange an interview with the author, please visit
www.terencehawkins.net or e-mail publicity@casperianbooks.com.
Art, Drawing, Designing and Writing have been a passion for Christine Ballano, born and raised in New York City. Dating back to her childhood in school she remembers always doodling and getting in trouble in school. She was always drawing, when she was a supposed to be studying. Many a time she was cracked on the knuckles for not paying attention to the teacher. (smile)
Her desire to publish a book came late in life, when she reached 69 in 2008. Her friends including herself managed to always misplace notes they had made, computer log-ins and passwords or telephone numbers they have scribbled on little bits of paper. Along came the idea to create a book that they could store all this information. Not only had that but encompassed information that would take too much time to retrieve such as medical advice, airlines, government agencies etc. Of course her cover design had to be attractive and easy to find among all the mess on their desks.
Her dream is to complete her fashion designs and remake of vintage jewelry and revise her ‘Personal Internet DeskBook Organizer ‘ before she reaches 75.
http://outskirtspress.com/webpage.php?ISBN=9781432734220
Ebooks for Radio Guests
Searching for radio programs that match your specialty is time-consuming and often does not provide all the relevant information to make an informed decision about which host to contact about an interview.
“Talk Radio Advocate" Francine Silverman has taken the hassle out of your search by offering e-books in conjunction with her book, Talk Radio Wants You: An Intimate Guide to 700 Shows and How to Get Invited. (McFarland & Co. 2009).
“The shows in the e-books were discovered after Talk Radio Wants You went into production," explains Fran. “The shows in both the book and e-book are both on the Internet and/or on the air and contain everything a potential guest needs before contacting a host, including the most important information: the show theme and guest criteria.
Thus far, only those e-books in the Business and New Age categories are ready to be launched. More will become available as soon as at least 20 completed questionnaires in health, sports, food, travel, technology, military, paranormal, politics and other categories are received.
The New Age e-book features 23 shows and is $15; the business e-book has 36 shows and is $20. Purchasers will receive five free updates.
The e-books are available from Francine Silverman at franalive@optonline.net. Payment may be made through PayPal to franalive@optonline.net., or by check payable to Francine Silverman, and mailed to P.O. Box 1333, Riverdale, New York 10471. Upon receipt of payment, your ebook will be emailed to you in an attachment.
Please visit my Web site for more information: http://www.talkradioadvocate.com
Pierette Simpson shares her experience on WGN TV:
My interview on The WGN Midday News was October 12 in Chicago. WGN stands for “world’s greatest newspaper" since the station is owned by the Chicago Tribune. It’s the only superstation left in America. Weeks and days of anticipation culminated in five minutes. But I was very thankful for those precious moments to share about my book and my new audio book.
The interview only played mostly in Illinois, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Missouri. So if you were outside of those states you can watch it on the WGN Web site: http://www.wgntv.com/news/middaynews/ .
I’ll be blogging about the experience. You can check out my blog at www.pierettesimpson.com/blog for details about the interview. While you’re on my Web site, check out the special offer for purchasing my new audio CD book: Alive in the Andrea Doria. It’s a special two-for-one deal that you find worthwhile.
To celebrate the audio CD book release, I’m making a special offer on my Web site www.PieretteSimpson.com. With the purchase of my audio book, you will receive a FREE UNABRIDGED eBook of my award-winning best-selling book, Alive in the Andrea Doria. Borders members can receive 40% off on my print book, Alive on the Andrea Doria.
All of these special offers add up to a lot of savings, especially for the upcoming holidays.
We posted an article, "15 Podcasts That Will Make You Smarter" (http://www.collegecrunch.org/), and thought that readers might find it interesting.
Nancy White
The Dream Quest One
Poetry & Writing Contest is open to anyone who loves
expressing innermost thoughts and feelings into the
beautiful art of poetry or to write a short story that is
worth telling everyone! And to all who have the ability to
dream. Write a poem or short story for a chance to win cash
prizes. All works must be original.
http://www.dreamquestone.com
Your announcement could be here. Check out the
submission guidelines
and send us your blurb.
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An Author and Her Dog Ask a Favor and Give a Gift to You
Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Dog and Barbara Techel are asking for your help. It really is quite easy to do… and for helping them, you get a gift! Here’s a message from them:
We are now offering Virtual Visits with Frankie, the Walk ‘N Roll Dog! We are now able to do our Frankie presentations that we currently offer to our local schools in person (and rolling dog!) via the free software of Skype and a webcam, but these are done… well, virtually!! Here is a video clip explaining:
Video explaining a Virtual Visit
Would you be willing to let elementary teachers or librarians know about this? Just email us that you have sent someone the link to our virtual visit page and we will send you a link to download Frankie’s Activity E-book. It is that simple! When you share this with any teachers or librarians let them know that the first one to contact us will receive their Virtual Visit for FREE!
Thank you so much for your help and for helping us spread Frankie’s message of hope and inspiration!
Joyfully,
Barbara & Frankie
http://www.joyfulpaws.com
http://www.frankiethewalknrolldog.blogspot.com
Literary Publicist Stephanie Barko (TX) www.authorsassistant.com/Barko.htm reports that her client, Bob Fussell (NY), received the 2009 Will Rogers Medallion Award for Western Nonfiction. Bob edited and published his grandfather's memoir, Unbridled Cowboy (Truman State University Press, 2008).
http://tsup.truman.edu/item.asp?itemId=392
The book was cited by the Award Committee as being "a valuable contribution to the history of Texas".
Forge recently released volume II of Mike Cox' definitive history of the Texas Rangers.
Time of the Rangers http://us.macmillan.com/timeoftherangers is wrapping up
a virtual tour this month. Catch up with the tour and its giveaways at www.lonestarbooks.blogspot.com.
Caridad Pineiro is excited to announce the release of her first single title paranormal romantic suspense Sins of the Flesh on October
27 from Grand Central Publishing. Sins of the Flesh has been lauded as “(A) chilling scientific thriller"
and “a sexy adventure with a luscious hero and an amazing heroine." Caridad is the NY Times Bestselling author of over
twenty novels and Sins of the Flesh promises to be another hit! For more information on Caridad and an assortment of
writing resources, please visit www.caridad.com.
Just in time for the holidays, author Susan M. Heim is pleased to announce the publication of two new Chicken Soup for the Soul books!
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Devotional Stories for Women and Chicken Soup for the Soul: All in the Family are now available. Both books
contain 101 stories that warm the heart and tickle the funny bone. Visit www.ChickenSoup.com for details
and ordering information.
Self-Publishing Workshop
Saturday, November 7, 2009, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Hermitage Community Center, Nashville, TN
If you have a strong passion to write a book, then this workshop is for you.
Learn about the traditional and self-publishing industries
See your book published in 90 days
Identify simple steps for approaching bookstores, libraries, and chain stores
Create an effective marketing plan that sells books
Understand why the editorial process is so critical to a successful book
Program Details
When: Saturday, November 7th , 9 am–1 pm
Where: Hermitage Community Center
3720 James Kay Lane
Hermitage, TN 37076
Cost: $75 (includes training manual, resource directory, handouts,
and lunch)
Program presenters include:
Renee Bobb, Self-Publishing Consultant with RBI Enterprise.
Renee is the author of The Self-Publishing Process: The Beginner’s Guide to Book Publishing
Success. She is the host of The Renee Radio Show and TV talk show The Authors Review
Send registration info via
Email: Bobbrenee@yahoo.com
Ph: 615-753-5647
Mail: PO Box 583, Hermitage, TN 37076
Checks payable to: R.B.I. Enterprise
VISA/MasterCard accepted online at:
http://thequeenofpublishing.eventbrite.com/
Dear Friends,
Finally, I have a new post on my blog. I know it has been awhile. Thank you for all your encouraging words and nudges. The numbness has finally worn off. After hearing the shocking news that my husband's 20-year position along with over 400 of his co-workers jobs are being outsourced in March, and then to have one of my long-time young friends try to commit suicide last week, I realized I must focus on the positive in my life. Enjoy...
http://storiesbyjb.com/
Love, JoAnne
I still see many emails using the standard method of putting all email addresses in either the “To" and/or “Cc" line. This practice leaves all who receive and forward such emails with multiple email addresses exposed to spammers. If you are already using the “Bcc" line then you can disregard this message.
I am by no means a guru and I’m only repeating what a guru told me and it works quite well for me. I have been using email for many years and can count the number of spam emails I get each week on one hand (for me that’s five or less).
The issue is some folks have spam virus programs on their computers and do not know it. When they receive emails with volumes of email addresses in the address lines and in the body of the emails, they can be picked up by others and used in spam emails. You can see the odds of this happening when you think about the thousands of times some emails are passed around. Every time one is forwarded, another group of email addresses are added to the email. This is a spammers dream come true.
The best way to avoid this is to put your own email address in the “To" line and then put ALL other addresses in the “Bcc" line when doing a mass email to members of your club, business, friends, etc. Beyond that, if you need to forward an email that has large lists of emails in the body, you should delete those as well before you forward it; leaving ONLY the body of the email message you want to forward. You might even go as far as deleting the “Fwds" in the
subject line if you wish.
I hope you find this helpful.
Max Sanders,
A Magical Wish, www.amagicalwish.com
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by Yvonne Perry
I am putting together a blog tour for Allison Maslan
and her book, Blast Off! The Surefire Success Plan To Launch Your Dreams Into Reality,
and will be sharing information on a variety of topics you may be interested in:
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Why losing your job could be the best thing that ever happened to you
Career Transformation Tapping into your passion Removing barriers to realize your dreams Why people settle in life, career and relationships, and what to do about it Running your business from the soul level An excerpt from Allison’s book Book reviews How she published with Morgan James How she wrote the book Written question and answer interview
Allison’s message is for anyone wanting to create positive change in their lives at any age. Blast Off! weaves together motivational stories, strategies and specific action plans to help people to tap into their life purpose and manifest it in ALL areas of their lives, from business, to health, to finding the love of your life.
Allison is an author, speaker, homeopathic physician, and serial entrepreneur. She has successfully started nine of her own businesses and now helps others infuse their passions into an inspiring career and personal life. Her holistic approach to success comes as a culmination of many years of her own personal experience in helping people reach their full potential. But most of all, she has personally applied all the principles in her book to reach her own personal success. She even found her own soul mate, Mike, using the simple principles in the Blast Off! book.
I am really enjoying working with Allison. I hope you will drop by her Web site
http://www.myblastoff.com/booklaunch/ and register your interest to be reminded of the tour and her January book launch.
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Succeeding in High School—A Handbook for Teens and Parents plus a College Admissions Primer
Author: Joseph Adegboyega-Edun
ISBN: 978-1-4327-1229-7
Publisher: OutskirtsPress.com, 2009
Genre and Target Market: reference; education
Pages: 137
Reviewed by Sarah Moore for WITS
I spent nearly a decade of my professional life working on either a high school or college campus. I was a high school teacher of government and history for three years and the rest of my tenure in education was spent as an academic advisor for several large universities. I have seen first-hand the difference that good information and thoughtful advice can mean to a student who is eager to succeed in the classroom. It always was disheartening to encounter students who would not reach their potential due not to lack of intelligence or interest, but because they could not figure out how to operate within the system that is found in any high school. In his new book, Succeeding in High School, author and educator Joseph Adegboyega-Edun helps both high school students and their parents prepare for the four difficult years of high school as well as the educational and career plans that may follow.
Adegboyega-Edun is an experienced counselor and college advisor who uses this new book to combine his obvious wealth of knowledge concerning education with his ability to capture important points in a way that is neither condescending nor simplistic even though the material is geared to a younger audience. Instead, Succeeding in High School is a wonderful primer that covers just about any topic that may be going through the minds of high school students or their parents. I imagine that these concerns will sound familiar to you. Should I pack on as many Advanced Placement courses as possible in order to impress college admissions counselors? When should I plan on taking the SAT? How do best organize a busy schedule that includes studying, sports, and family responsibilities? What do college admission counselors really look at when reviewing my application? Succeeding in High School tackles these questions and so many more.
One of the greatest strengths of Adegboyega-Edun’s writing is his ability to make the material apply to every person who is reading the book. The chapters are written with clear language and divided into subtopics with appropriate headings, making it easy for readers to find the specific advice they may be seeking. Also, as an educator myself, I particularly appreciated how the author chose to end each chapter. In each instance, he includes “Questions for Students," “Things to Do," and “For Parents," which challenge the readers to apply the information to their own situations. Adegboyega-Edun also strengthens the content of his book by introducing each chapter with a quote from an actual high school student. Teenagers who read the book will recognize themselves in these students and hopefully will find greater focus in their reading as a result.
As someone who has worked extensively with students who are in the target demographic for this book, I strongly recommend Succeeding in High School for any young person who is about to enter high school. Being aware of how grades are calculated, the amount of homework to expect, and how each year should be used towards college preparation will be reassuring to students who are entering this new stage of their schooling. Also, parents who are wondering how to work with their kids to get the most out of their education should grab a copy of this book right away. Moms and dads certainly will appreciate the critical information needed to move through the college admissions process and likely will learn a few tips for making the home environment more conducive for learning. Even though I am no longer directly in an academic setting, I still have a passion for education and seeing young people make the most out of opportunities. For this reason, I am excited to find a book such as Succeeding in High School, a handbook that I believe holds information for any high school student who desires to have a great academic experience.
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It’s in the Eyes
Author: Charles Toftoy
ISBN: 978-1-4327-1196-2
Publisher: OutskirtsPress.com, 2009
Genre: Thriller; fiction; criminal psychology
Pages: 312
Reviewed by Sarah Moore for WITS
You know that you’ve hit the literary jackpot when you find a novel that combines several of your interests into one great story. For example, someone who enjoys reading about both sports and romance may be intrigued by a book that features the long-distance relationship between a football star and his girlfriend. Or, perhaps you prefer a book with a science-fiction focus that also includes military confrontations. For me, I found a great synthesis of setting and plot in the new release It’s in the Eyes by Dr. Charles Toftoy. This thriller is set in my hometown of Washington, D.C. and features academia, action, and suspense. Knowing this information gave me high expectations before I even read the first page, and I was not disappointed.
It’s in the Eyes grabs the readers immediately by placing us at a crime scene that is central to the entire plot and whose victim returns posthumously throughout the book to motivate the self-proclaimed detectives to solve her murder. Readers quickly learn that there is a series of murders of young women who attend universities in the Washington, D.C. area. These crimes have created uneasiness among the population and a sense of urgency in the Arlington Police Department. Lars Neilsen, a college professor with very personal reasons for wanting to catch the predator responsible for these gruesome deaths, assembles his “Alpha Team" of experts to piece together clues and hopefully end the violence.
One of Dr. Toftoy’s greatest strengths in his writing is his ability to select language that creates a sense of tension in the readers. While the murderer remains anonymous for most of the novel, we are let into his mind periodically as the story unfolds. His narcissism and lack of emotion for any of the pain he has caused is quite disturbing. As he ponders the fate of his next victim, you want to find the woman yourself and warn her before it is too late. The author maintains this sense of discomfort by revealing just a little more about the criminal and his motivations with every chapter. With such a well-developed mystery, I often found myself nervous as I turned the page because the next event was either so shocking or revealing. And, I will simply say that I did not see the ending coming at all. It’s in the Eyes is a suspense novel from beginning to end.
For those who have not been to Washington, D.C., Dr. Toftoy does a wonderful job of illustrating everyday life in that world capital. By providing details like the traffic reporter of the local news station, favorite eateries, and the feel of the diverse neighborhoods, you really get a sense of the environment in which the characters live. And, the decision to include what Lars Neilsen and the other members of his Alpha Team prefer to eat at the local Silver Diner or drink at the Capitol City Brewing Company drives home the idea that these are ordinary private citizens with whom all of us can relate. It just so happens that they are choosing to put themselves in extraordinary circumstances.
The author of It’s in the Eyes, Dr. Charles Toftoy, brings a wealth of academic and business experience to his writing. I hope that he finds the opportunity to put this great background into another novel soon. It’s in the Eyes is a complex thriller that combines history, action, strong character development, believable dialogue, and a plot that will keep you guessing. If you enjoy curling up with a compelling mystery, this is most certainly a book for you.
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Twinsational
Author: C. Michael Thompson
ISBN: 978-1-4327-3033-8
Publisher: OutskirtsPress.com, 2009
Genre and Target Market: children’s fiction
Pages: 116
Reviewed by Sarah Moore for WITS
I have been a voracious reader my entire life, spending hours combing the stacks of books in the kids’ section of the library as soon as I was old enough to get my own card. It was not unusual to find me sitting in my favorite tree with a book in hand on a Saturday afternoon. As a child and young teenager, I loved finding stories in which kids my age were involved in adventures into which I could easily transport myself. I had no need for outlandish plots or exaggerated characters. Just give me a great book about average kids and the crazy situations they manage to create. I am now well into my thirties but, through my work in the writing industry, still enjoy the discovery of a book to which kids can really relate and enjoy reading. I have found such a novel in Twinsational, the new release by author C. Michael Thompson.
Twinsational shares one day in the life of Mark and Michelle (known to most as Shelly) Johnson, eleven-year-old brother and sister twins who have each other’s back no matter the situation. The book has all of the elements that most preteens can expect to encounter on a daily basis—the class bully, good friends, demanding teachers, and first crushes. The day begins with the first of many confrontations that the twins have with their nemesis, Bubba, as they walk to school. Once they arrive on campus and meet up with friends, a series of events causes Mark and his friend David to elude the watchful eye of teachers and the new principal, with sister Michelle and her friend Kianna acting as accomplices. As the story unfolds, readers get a real sense of the loyalty shared between the characters in this book and a lesson in making the decision to do the right thing.
For me, the greatest strength of Thompson’s writing is his ability to capture a genuine sense of the way in which preteens interact. Young people who read Twinsational will not feel as if the author is condescending in his depiction of Mark and Michelle, nor will they find the characters written as adults before their time. Instead, you really feel that you are being placed into a typical middle school and I am certain that readers in this demographic will love reading a fun story about such a realistic group of peers. Mr. Thompson spent several years as a teacher, and even though his students were younger than the ones depicted in Twinsational, his ability to capture the language and priorities of the preteen population is obvious.
We all know that when our children read on a regular basis, they are increasing their chances for success in many areas of life. This is why I am so pleased when a new author comes along who offers a book that will get kids excited about the written word. Twinsational by C. Michael Thompson is a wonderful novel that I know will get kids talking about the experiences had by the brother and sister team. With the last page of the book implying that there are more adventures ahead for Mark and Michelle, I hope there will be great “twinsational" conversations among young readers for a long time to come.
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Let’s Find You
Author: Jeffrey D. Barbieri
ISBN: 978-1-4327-4365-9
Publisher: OutskirtsPress.com, 2009
Genre: fiction; family relationships; coming-of-age
Pages: 207
Reviewed by Sarah Moore for WITS
As someone who works in the writing and publishing industry, I am asked to read books by new authors nearly every day. While I am thrilled when anyone makes the decision to express themselves through the written word, I sometimes am left wondering why a writer felt the product they handed me was ready for public consumption. The message is jumbled and the mechanics are messy. Other times, the writing may be admirable but the author is simply rehashing a literary approach that has already been done. While imitation is supposed to be the sincerest form of flattery, it does not get me excited about a new author’s work. However, there are those instances in which I am presented with a book that captures me from the first page and has me reach the last sentence with an eagerness to share my discovery with others. Such is the case with the new release Let’s Find You by Jeffrey Barbieri.
Let’s Find You offers its readers the first-person account of Benjamin, a boy who shares both trivial and life-changing moments of his life through the pages of the novel. The book is divided into chapters that each read like a short story, but also come together seamlessly to provide an emotional depiction of Benjamin’s life from the time that he is a young boy through the point that he is on the verge of manhood.
While many of the stories that Barbieri shares through the perspective of his character Benjamin are light-hearted and remind us all of incidents from our own childhoods (playing pranks on our siblings, spending hours dreaming about our first love), the undercurrent of Let’s Find You is heart-wrenching. There were instances in this book during which I felt a kick in my gut, and that is a testament to powerful writing. Benjamin must face life with no father, an emotionally absent mother who moves frequently in order to avoid this absent dad, and no one with whom he can share the difficult insecurities of adolescence. Although it sounds a bit clique, the statement holds true in this instance – you will laugh, you will cry.
One unique feature of Let’s Find You is the integration of poetry throughout the novel. It seems that Barbieri uses these pauses to let us into an even deeper level of Benjamin’s emotions. For example, when a tragic moment involving a family member happens right in front of his eyes, Benjamin wonders why there is a ridiculous need in his home to remain strong and show no emotion. Readers then find the following: “The storms that surround me/Block me in,/Seeking some shelter/Dying within." After that interlude, we move right back into the storyline. Most of Barbieri’s poetic offerings are quite short, and therefore offer the perfectly succinct summation of his character’s thoughts and fears at any particular moment. I loved this component of the novel.
If you are interested in reading a novel that beautifully captures difficult emotions and also offers amusing anecdotes to which any of us with siblings can relate, I highly recommend that you find yourself a copy of Let’s Find You. This book is the first offering by new author Jeffrey Barbieri, and I look forward to the promise of future novels in the series.
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| I’m Still Standing
Author: Julia Booker
ISBN: 978-1-4327-4263-8
Publisher: OutskirtsPress.com, 2009
Genre and Target Market: memoir, abuse
Publication Date:
Pages: 125
Reviewed by Sarah Moore for WITS
Books certainly have the ability to transport you into the lives of their characters, which may be a thrilling adventure, a terrifying experience, or something in between. A period piece can whisk the reader away to the royal courts in Europe or the frontiers of the Wild West. As you turn the pages of a science-fiction novel, you may be able to close your eyes and envision yourself exploring a new galaxy. And then, sometimes, there are those books that just hit you in the gut with raw emotion … plain and simple. You are handed the heartbreak and pain that a supposedly fictional person is living and the feelings could not be more real. Such is the case with the first release by author Julia Booker, entitled I’m Still Standing. The gripping story shared within its pages will affect you long after the final words are read.
I’m Still Standing tells the story, primarily, of a mother and daughter who find themselves caught in lives of constant abuse. Jenny Baker gives birth to her daughter, Erin, when she is just a young teenager and soon begins to numb the regrets of her life through drugs and alcohol. The men who Jenny brings into her home are abusive in all possible respects to both her and her daughter, as the reader is brought into scenes of beatings, rapes, and emotional cruelty. As Erin develops into a young woman, she is dismayed to find herself in danger of following the same path in life that her mother has chosen.
Julia Booker’s writing is so powerful because each word seems to come at the reader from a place of genuine and enduring pain. The author mentions on the back cover of I’m Still Standing that her book depicts a true story, which makes each episode of abuse and neglect even more compelling. There is no attempt to sugarcoat the harsh reality that exists in the lives of both Jenny and Erin. The scenes of violence are graphic, the language used between those who should be in loving relationships is explicit and hurtful, and all of the shattered pieces of Erin’s life are not brought back together with a shiny bow by the end of the book. Yet, through it all, the reader is also given a sense that there is reason to have hope. After all, as the title points out, Erin remains standing and growing stronger through her ordeals.
If you are looking for a light read to enjoy while on vacation, I’m Still Standing is probably not the right book for you. If, however, you are ready to make an emotional investment in women who are repeatedly told they are not worth the time, you should check out this initial release by new author Julia Booker. I’m Still Standing is a gut-wrenching literary experience that sends an important message to all of its readers, but especially women, about the damage of staying in an abusive situation. Hopefully, as the author encourages in her introductory letter to her readers, the words of I’m Still Standing will result in at least one reader deciding to leave an abusive situation. I cannot imagine a more important impact for a book to have.
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What Kind of Traveler Are You? |
by Sybil Baker
In fall 2007, I had an essay published in the women’s travel anthology
A Woman's World Again titled “The Kind of Traveler I Am." For me, the
question, “What kind of traveler are you?" cannot be separated from
“What kind of writer are you?"
A traveler does not have to leave her yard to explore some kind of
landscape. Many writers excavate their past and their memory of it for
all the material they’ll ever need. I grew up in the professional
suburbs of Fairfax Virginia, went to a public high school where 80
percent of
us went on to college, and was profoundly miserable—for no reason
except that I found the suburbs stifling. Yet my family was solid,
without drama, and my stories of suburban angst don’t interest me
right now as subject matter because I’ve read many novels and short
stories where it’s been done well and been done to death. For the
moment I don't feel I have anything new or especially illuminating to
say about that world.
Each summer though we’d spend a week or two in the station wagon
towing our pup tent camper up and down the east coast, exploring a new
State, even making it one summer into Canada. I was thirty before I
went to another country again, but shortly after that I moved to South
Korea and lived there for twelve years, devoting three or four months
a year to travel. It was living abroad and seeing how much of the
world—a world much poorer than the States—lived that has influenced
what I’m interested in writing about for now at least.
I made the transition in subject matter in a linked short story
collection I wrote that chronicles that Virginia suburban angst for
the first half, before taking my character to Asia. My novel The
Life Plan (Casperian Book, 2009) mostly takes place in Thailand. The novel
I’ve just finished editing takes place in DC and Williamsburg, but
even that deals with travel—the main character must leave her DC city
life and become a nanny in the suburbs. My next novels, though, will
return to the theme I’m most interested in (they’ll take place in
South Africa and South Korea)—the American (female) abroad.
So, those of you who are finding your voice, your subject matter—what
kind of traveler are you? Are you a traveler of your soul, of memory?
Are you an explorer of your backyard, your neighborhood, your town? Or
do you hop in a car and drive, see where you’ll end up? Do you strap
on a backpack, get on a plane, land in a country where you can’t read
the language? All are valid and important ways of traveling. All may
influence or reflect the heart of your writing, the world you want to
explore.
Sybil Baker's novel, The Life Plan was published by Casperian Books
in March 2009. Her short stories and essays have appeared in numerous
journals and anthologies including "Upstreet" and "The Writer’s
Chronicle." Her linked short story collection THAT GIRL is forthcoming
from C&R Press in late 2010. After living in South Korea for twelve
years, she returned to the States in 2007. She is an Assistant
Professor of English at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
Her blog is at http://sybilbaker.blogspot.com.
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Survive Alive
They ‘jacked her from the fast food drive-through.
Car-jacked the Lexus from the drive-through.
Then the ATM; they needed cash, too.
You know, the ATM; they needed cash, too.
They drove through a parking lot full of kids.
Parking lot full of screaming, shouting kids.
Showed her off; that’s what they did.
Showed off her and the Lexus; that’s what they did.
Quiet little voice inside her head,
Quiet little voice inside her said,
“Make them like you or you’re dead."
“Better make them like you or you’re dead."
“Guess that waltz sounds funny to you."
“Probably the opera would sound funny to you."
“Just let me out; keep the car and money, too."
“Please let me out; keep the car and money, too."
They drove to the lake in the bright moonlight.
Down to the boat ramp, moon was shining bright.
They pushed her out, drove away; she was alive.
They pushed her out, drove away; she had survived.
A screaming, laughing voice inside her head,
Screaming, laughing voice inside her said,
“They must have liked you a little, you’re alive."
“They must have liked you enough, you survived."
I know that woman; her name is Julie.
She’s smart and strong, and sweet.
Because she’s smart and strong and sweet – she survived.
She’s smart and strong and sweet, and she’s alive.
Jan Bossing © 2007; Joelton, Tennessee
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Boy’s Night Out
Spend the whole week waitin’
Just anticipatin’
One night a week that I can bust loose,
Where the rooster is a’crowin’
And testosterone is flowin’
And a guy can give the devil a goose.
It’s a ritual demand
That the girls don’t understand,
They can’t figure out what it’s all about.
It comes on like a fever
And there’s only one reliever
When it comes around to boy’s night out.
Ooohh, I got to get it goin’
Got to have a little fun.
Got a few seed left that still need sewin’
Put the devil on the run,
In a place that’s void of inhibitions
Where I won’t be afraid to shout.
Just keeps the beer flowin’,
Don’t care where I’m goin’,
Cruisin’ by on boy’s night out.
I’ve been workin’ for a dollar
Til it makes me wanna holler
And give the boss a piece of my mind,
But I try to hold it in until Friday night and then
I’m able to relax and unwind. We play a hand or two,
Maybe shoot a round of pool
And complain out loud til there’s no doubt.
Every challenge that we air,
Every problem, every dare,
We solve it all on boy’s night out.
Dennis S Martin
Web site: www.iwritesome.com
Blog: www.iwritesome.blogspot.com
Storefront: www.lulu.com/dsmartin
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Finding Myself in a Sugar Bowl
My Wedgwood sugar bowl
burgeons with scraps, crumpled,
stuffed with promises. Sad,
limp fragments, unused,
phrases forgotten
or pencil-faded. A recycler
at heart, I think I must use
them, know a lifetime
not enough to make poems
of them all. The future of cold
is infinite. Poetry an uneven
equation, one shredded
idea not another's equivalent.
One only. One hope. One that pops
itself from the pot, makes me
retrieve it,
unfold it
maybe you'll be like your dad
maybe you'll be better than your . . .
Carolyn Howard-Johnson, Award-winning author of the HowToDoItFrugally
Series of Books for writers http://www.HowToDoItFrugally.com
Ode to Autumn
Trees show off a new wardrobe
of red, yellow and orange leaves.
Pumpkin pies beckon to you
to take one home on Thanksgiving Day.
And a turkey filled with apple & cranberry stuffing
is waiting to be carved.
It's that time of year
To say thanks for all we have
To remember those who have less
To tell someone "I love you"
To live life to the very fullest
To be the very best you can be!
Most of all, on that lovely Autumn day,
remember to pray!
Irene Brodsky, Author of Poetry Unplugged
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Full Moon
One Moon Leaps From A Jar
Filled With Honey
Now Covered In Bees
It Becomes A Center
I Spin Like A Spoke
To See My Self
As Another Moon
Wanders Through
Yesterday
Caught In A Milky Way
Another Moon Drips In Carmel
Licking Its Lips In Silence
As Energy Splits A Hair
With Independence
Filtered Dreams Bake
A Moonlit Shadow
While Oceans
Make Waves
Of Themselves
Conscious Fragments Protrude
From Sun Spots
While Numbers Crack
Meaning On Half Moon’s
Other Half
Full Moon Drifts Alone
With Nothing
But Threads
Of Consciousness
To Smile About
http://www.shortsleeves.net
http://halmanogue.blogspot.com
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© 2009 Yvonne Perry
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