and my daughter Amy picked
a
fine young man who is a great addition to our family. And now my first grandchild is on his way.
A
boy, to be called Justin Michael. As you can see I am a very excited Grandmother to be :>)
Michael
will continue to do the illustrations for the Suzy Q books.
That is wonderful Barbara and congrats on the soon blessed event. Being a Grandma is
wonderful!
Q: Since you have both a fictional novel and a children's series going, are you one of those
'talented'
authors that can write in any genre?
A: I would like to think so. I'd like to be able to write in any genre.
Q: What is your favorite genre to write?
A: So far, it's children's. LOL!
I have to admit, I enjoy writing for children as well! Thank you Barbara!
Q: Tell the readers this, do you find the words for your works flow easily or do you have
days/weeks where you have writers block?
A: Both. Some days it flows quickly and swiftly and other days I can stare at the blank page for
hours and get nothing done.
You are a very talented lady! Do you have other works in process at this time?
A: Yes I do. An adult Historical novel, Choices of the Heart. So, there goes the 'genre' switching
again. But, I do have to say, this is my favorite piece of work so far. :)
Q: Did you find it difficult to find a publisher for your works?
A: Regular print publisher, yes. Epublisher, no.
Q: Tell us please Barbara, what do you think the advantages and disadvantages of epublishing
are?
A: The biggest advantage to epublishing, in my opinion, is more writers are being heard from.
There
are a lot of great novels available for people to read that w/o epublishing probably would have
never
been published. The greatest disadvantage is with epublishing being in its infancy we are all having
to learn the business the hard way.
Q: Will The Disappearance of Livvy and Suzy Q be available in hardcopy at anytime in the
future?
A: Yes, both of them. Synerge books is in the process of reformatting Livvy now for print. I have
no
release date for the print version as of yet.
Q: Barbara, do you find it difficult to promote your books?
A: Yes.
Q: What tips could you give other authors in this area.
A: To learn as much about marketing and promotion as they can.
Q: What advice would you give to new authors and those seeking publication?
A: Perseverance. "There is no place where success comes before work, except in the dictionary."
Donald Kendle. Pepsi CEO.
Q: If you could speak to Publishers directly what would you tell them?
A: They have the power to make writer's dreams realities. And, I pray they use that power
wisely.
That is so true Barbara. Publishers are you reading those words?
Q: What are your short term and long term goals?
A: To finish the Historical novel I'm working on now. For my long term, I'd like to be able to
make
a living with my writing.
Barbara please use this space to share with us your free thoughts on publishing and writing.
Anything you wish to tell the readers about your books/ yourself or writing in general.
A: As a writer, I may not be able to cure the world's ills. As a writer I hope to be able to
enlighten, if
not enlighten, at least to entertain.
Thank you so much Barbara for a wonderful interview. I believe you have a bright future ahead of
you. I wish you much success in your writing endeavors! Checkout Barbara's books, you'll be glad
you did!
Shirley Johnson, Interviewer
Midwest Book Review
Laurel's Bookshelf
Boatswain's Mate
Pat Johnson
PublishAmerica
PO Box 151, Frederick MD 21705-0151
ISBN 1588514897, 330pp, $24.95, paperback
From first page to last, Boatswain's Mate is one helluva read, driven by a super powered engine
fueled with testosterone, adrenaline and patriotism. To say this book is a keeper doesn't begin to
cover it. Pat Johnston writes in first person and does it in a superbly masculine style, with gusto.
Everything is documented so realistically, I had trouble believing it was fiction.
Jake Rickmeyer flees a drunken, abusive step-father and joins the Navy in 1944 at age 16. The
Navy
is an ideal home for Jake. He loves the sea and everything it stands for, including the ideals of
serving home and country.
His career spans World War Two, Korea, the Cuban missile crisis, two tours in Viet Nam, and
Black
Ops for the CIA. The reader sees each action through Jake's eyes as he serves aboard destroyers,
cruisers, amphibious ships, and anything else the Navy throws at him. Jake is the best of the best
in
everything he does, from rigging for a stormy ocean to piloting through murky Vietnamese rivers,
to
pleasing females every chance he gets in foreign ports. Along the way he makes some influential
friends who give him a leg up in rank. Such boosts are always more than earned.
Life aboard ship is described lovingly: "...the cooks baking tomorrow's bread, the comforting
smell
of cigarette smoke and coffee...the smell of men, machinery, fuel oil, grease and paint in every
pore
of her." Jake's women, also, add to his persona. A failed marriage that gets a second chance in
later
life, unrequited love, whores and sex-starved foreign women all help define Jake as a man, a
patriot,
a warrior, an often decorated man of courage, a typical American male giving his best and
grieving
the death of friends in battle. Jake has no political agenda, no deep hidden philosophy except to
be a
man and gut it out no matter what. He takes in stride rescuing fallen flyers in frigid oceans,
covering
night landings on enemy held beaches, and gunning after kamikaze planes that fill the sky like
wasps.
Be prepared to wave the American flag in spirit as you read this rouser of a book. Pat Johnston's
writing is powerful, visceral, as he communicates duty and honor. And don't be surprised at the
chilling end to Boatswain's Mate. Somehow I doubt that Jake Rickmeyer was. Boatswain's Mate
is
for mature adults, not children or young adolescents. I recommend it.
The Tattered Coat
Stephen R. Sulik
PublishAmerica
PO Box 151, Frederick MD 21705-0151
ISBN 158851921X, 196 pp, $19.95, paperback
The Tattered Coat is an enigmatic and often starkly sensual tale. Romantic and frightening,
intriguing and violent in turn, the author weaves a mystery of lost love and a vicious serial killer's
madness.
Sean Jamison is a loner, a dinosaur, a decidedly unmodern male. His profession as police
detective
in the Houston Metro area has burnt him out in every way a man can be. Deliberately celibate and
achingly lonely, Det. Jamison has waited all his adult life to find the one woman he can ever truly
love. He's beginning to fear that no woman would want the ragged burned out gumshoe he's
become. Still, he hopes for a woman of substance. His tortured mind imagines having the kind of
love he witnessed between his parents. Sean dreams of unconditional love, of loyalty and
commitment with no doubts, He desires a one man woman, one that will be soul mate, lover,
companion, and anchor. If that woman ever materializes, Sean is prepared to be that much to her
and more.
A cunningly evil serial killer is stalking the women of Houston. His cryptic statement to each
victim
after death and before taking a lock of their hair is, "Yet each man kills the thing he loves..." Det.
Jamison and his co-workers scramble in their efforts to get into the perpetrator's brain before he
kills
again. Sean's efforts are almost derailed when unexpected buried memories resurface.
One morning on his way to work, the sight of a refinery's huge smokestacks belching smoke
nearly
incapacitates Sean. He feels as if he has spontaneously combusted just before unconsciousness
sets
in. Suddenly, he knows who he was in a past life, remembers how he died in Nazi-infested
Europe,
and knows the lover he's been searching for. And then he spies a tattered double breasted coat at
an
outdoor flea market. HIS coat, the coat his sweetheart died in. The search begins for his lost
lover,
a search that crosses paths with the serial killer who stole that first love from him.
In this haunting tale of murder, reincarnation, and timeless love, Stephen Sulik resurrects the
characters from a previous book, Random Ransom. I plan to read that previous book in hopes of
learning more about Det. Roman Addison and Capt. Virginia Schaffer. All characters are well
developed and the dialogue is realistic. Gritty everyday scenes that greet policemen on the job are
believable and harsh. But it is with the reincarnated lover, the desperately lonely Sean Jamison,
that
Mr. Sulik shines. Romance readers as well as action thriller fans should find The Tattered Coat
pleasing fare. This is not a book for children or early adolescence.
Pregnant And Blown Off (When Abortion is Not an Option)
Sheila E. Schmidt
PublishAmerica
PO Box 151, Frederick MD 21705-0151
ISBN 1588518787, 140 pp, $19.95, paperback
What options are available to a woman who gets pregnant by a man whose first suggestion on
hearing the news is to "get an abortion"? And if her love for him far surpasses anything he ever
felt
for her, what then? The author's prose is pragmatic, sometimes painful, often humorous, and
always
sensible. She writes in a no-nonsense style, taking each dilemma head on from the viewpoint of
practicing physician and woman.
What kind of man would dally with a woman, speak love words with a lying tongue, then dump
her
when she has his baby growing in her? What sort of man would want his progeny aborted to
make
life simpler, at least for him? What type of man would turn his back and walk away without a
backward glance or thought for mother or fetus? From her knowledge of human frailties, Ms.
Schmidt documents in straightforward language and style the types of men who work such
anguish
on unsuspecting women. This reader understood the message clearly: Any man who lies to get
his
way in bed, and then abandons a baby he created - not to mention the woman who trusted him - is
no kind of man at all. The author laid that message on the line without mincing words. Such men
are cowards, pure and simple, and their women are better off without them.
Having babies and struggling to raise them is difficult without a loving and supportive father in the
picture. Most single mothers work hard at a full time job to feed and raise their child alone. Even
those fortunate enough to get child support from the father have their trials. With child support
comes demands from a usually spoiled, childish, unpredictable and unreliable man.
Ms. Schmidt covers all the bases in this honest chronicle of fatherless children and husbandless
women. Her advice is always practical, and often poignant. She writes of pregnancy, newborns,
toddlers, and school age children with a knowledge that comes only with experience. Her advice
on
fielding common everyday problems is a primer every woman faced with single motherhood
should
read.
I liked the author's forthright way of stating facts and presenting information. But this book is not
a
how-to manual, although it easily could be and maybe should be, for women who see abortion as
a
non-option. Pregnant And Blown Off is much more than that. It's a personal account, written
from
the heart of a woman whose belief in God and herself reversed a horrid situation through sheer
faith
and courage.
Resurrecting Paul
P.E. Blais
PublishAmerica
PO Box 151, Frederick MD 21705-0151
ISBN 1-59129-280-8, 206 pp at 19.95 paperback
Since 9/11/01, Americans have looked at their world with eyes and hearts that have a greater
understanding of tragedy. But that was not the first time Americans have been attacked.
Pre-dating
9/11 by several years was was a cowardly attack on patriots, housed on what they thought was
friendly soil. In 1996, American servicemen died in Khobar Towers, Dharan, Saudi Arabia. And
many of those who lived are still fighting battles to reclaim lives so swiftly snatched away. P.E.
Blais writes of one such survivor, his only son, Paul.
I had to read this book twice, over a long period of time. The author is so skilled, and writes with
such searing realism, that I could not bear to read it all at once. Perhaps I'm just a pansy, or
maybe
those horrifying scenes of 9/11 were still too fresh in my mind. Resurrecting Paul might not have
borne such impact if written by a lesser writer, but Mr. Blais is anything but mediocre. His pain
and
denial, his raging at this unkind fate that killed so many young men and almost took his son was
burned indelibly into every page.
Resurrection does not come easily or soon. Young Paul's dreams are shattered, and at first no
one
believes he can survive, let alone overcome the obstacles he faces. Each hard won
accomplishment
is documented in vivid detail. His responses to physical and mental failings no young man should
have to face are intensely personal and documented honestly by his father.
Surrounded by loyal friends and supportive family, Paul fights, fears, lashes out, falls, crawls, and
stumbles his way to some semblance of his former life. He has written his own book about the
incident in Dharan and the aftermath. I have not read Tragedy to Triumph, but if his work is
anywhere near the calibre of his father's, it will be well worth reading.
I enthusiastically recommend Resurrecting Paul to those who appreciate good writing and
emotions
that draw the reader in. As far as I'm concerned, this book falls under the category of must have
must read.
Cat Book
Emily Eve Weinstein
Beau Soleil Publishing
PO Box 2395, Huntington WV 25724
ISBN 0966608585, 124 pages, $16.95, hardcover
Ms. Weinstein is a woman blessed with many gifts. Several of these gifts are skillfully applied in
Cat
Book. Her monoprints in oils capture the essence of each feline featured, and the accompanying
prose clearly reveals this author's passion. The artwork is pleasing to the eye, and each story
pairing
cat and human is either humorous, heart warming, or touching. Ms. Weinstein's insights into
taming
feral felines, cat behavior, and maintaining optimum health are priceless. If you count a cat lover
among your family or friends, or if you are a cat lover yourself, Cat Book would be an ideal gift
for
any reason or season. I highly recommend it.
Red And His Fur Hat
Shirley Johnson and Michael Bogert, Illustrations by Susan Brown
SynergE Books
1235 Flat Shoals Rd., King NC 27021
ISBN 0-7443-0453-0, 16 pp at $5.00 for electronic download, www.synergEbooks.com
Red And His Fur Hat is a simple story, delightfully told in rhyme and colorful hand drawn
pictures.
Listed for age five and up, I feel that younger children would also enjoy having this rhyming story
read to them while looking at the eye-catching illustrations.
Red is a happy man who lives with his wife in their house by a river. His pet dog and cat follow
him
everywhere. Colorful fish swim in the clear blue river, and brightly hued flowers and plants bloom
on the riverbank. Red, his wife, their pets, and even the fish in the river are happy and smiling.
When Red's hat blows away in a strong wind, his pets go in search of it and finally bring it back.
As
their reward, the dog and cat get to lay inside the house by a warm fire.
All the messages are positive in this charming little book. Older children will see, read, and
understand these messages without prompting. For younger children, this book can be a learning
experience driven by simple messages and happy pictures if read to them by an adult. Children
will
see Red working in his garden, fishing in the river, interacting with his pets and his wife in
everyday
activities. I was enthralled by the rhymes and drawings that were geared to intrigue a child's
mind.
Check this one out!
Jur: A Story of Pre-Dawn Earth
Tom Johnson and James Reasoner
NovelBooks, Inc.
PO Box 661, Douglas, MA 01516
ISBN 1591050359, 169pp, $13.00, paperback
When Odette-Aimee St. Claire travels to central Africa searching for archeological signs of
ancient
civilizations, she finds more than she bargained for. Even a liberal education at the University of
Poitiers is insufficient when she stumbles through a portal that whisks her back in time. There in
the
ancient heart of Africa, the oxygen she breathes is pure, the water clear and sweet. And the
flowering plants are massive, loaded down with flavorful fruits. Towering trees, the likes of
which
she's never seen, grow unhindered towards the sky, surrounded by plains of grass as far as eye can
see. The only living creatures she encounters at first are those of the Jurassic Period, long extinct
for eons of time. She is alone, perhaps the only human alive. She calls this ancient time and place
Jur.
Aaron-Colden Jameson had set off to find adventure when the Great Depression began. Traveling
the world was not what it was cracked up to be, leaving Aaron jaded, unamused. When bush
pilot
and friend Jack Richards runs across him in a backwater bar and tells the tale of a missing French
girl, Aaron hopes for an adventure. As they follow Odette's trail into a cavern, Aaron stumbles
onto the same portal and finds himself transported back through time. At last, he experiences the
ultimate adventure, lost in time with no way back.
Aaron and Odette join forces in their efforts to survive. Violent weather changes, active
volcanoes,
and stalking prehistoric beasts are just the beginning of their struggles. Fur covered intelligent
cannibals are bent on capturing and eating the hapless pair. And then they meet the tribal Pits -
sworn enemies of the cannibals - and their leader Ogul. Ogul is also an intelligent but furry beast
who has no concept of modern man. Despite his fear, the three form an alliance to ensure
survival.
When their travels reveal signs of modern but deserted civilizations, their explorations lead to
capture by an evil alien race bent on destroying earth and every living creature on it. Despite the
danger, and the fear that they might never return to modern times, Aaron and Odette fall in
love.
Jur is an imaginative tale, with a style reminiscent of Indiana Jones and adventurers of that era.
Lyrical passages describing an as-yet-unsullied earth were poignant and sometimes thrilling. A
cryptic prologue and epilogue leaves readers with the hope that further tales of Aaron and Odette
might be forthcoming. If you like fantasy, you should find this one appealing.
I wanted to interview Marshall Thomas because I so enjoyed his sci fi novel, Soldier Of The
Legion,
recently released by Timberwolf Press.
LJ for MBR: Joining the ranks of published author has not happened overnight for you,
Marshall.
Tell us about your writing history, and the years that came before this. I ask that question
because I
believe sharing your history will provide hope for authors who think their work will never be
published.
Marshall: Thanks, Laurel. I sure fit the category of authors who thought their work would never
be published. I've just turned 60 and recently retired from the Foreign Service after serving many
years overseas. My first science fiction novel is just now being published. It was a long hard road
that started when I was a teenager. I discovered science fiction in 1958, fell in love with the genre
and consumed all the pulp SF I could find. Ever since then I've wanted to write SF. I was never
interested in writing short stories. I just wanted to write an exciting SF novel. I started many
stories when I was younger but didn't persist and never finished any of them. At that age I didn't
have the writing skills or the determination to persevere. However I kept scribbling every chance I
had. My girl friends were impressed by my love letters, but that was the only literary feedback I
received in those days.
My career kept me quite busy and my writing ambitions didn't re-emerge until 1982 when I was
40
and serving in Bangkok. By that time I wasn't reading SF any more but I was still interested in
writing SF. I decided I wanted to write a good SF story, and finally finish something. I made the
decision to avoid reading any more SF stories because I did not want to be influenced by them. I
wanted my story to be mine alone. When I started writing, the computer revolution was just
emerging. I bought some Apple and IBM clones and had the usual adventures. It was a little
discouraging when I deleted my entire novel, but I eventually learned how to deal with the
computer. Despite the computer revolution, I wrote and edited my novels long-hand , then typed
them into the computer later.
I was originally writing because I loved to write. I really enjoyed it, putting it all down on paper
and
finding the right words and phrases to inspire emotions, thoughts, maybe even tears. I wanted to
write action scenes that drew the reader right in; I wanted the reader to feel all the emotions that
my
characters did. Of course I had no readers - only me. This was in the old days when being on the
other side of the world meant you were almost totally isolated from the States. There wasn't any
e-mail then, and if you wanted to communicate with anyone you wrote a letter. It could take
weeks
or months to get a response. I didn't know who to write to anyway. I didn't know any other
writers
to advise me. So I read my own work, totally isolated. At first I didn't want to show my work to
anyone. I was kind of like Gollum in The Lord Of The Rings. My novel was 'My Precious' and it
was mine, all mine, and I didn't want anyone else even looking at it. I had a lot of blood, sweat
and
tears invested in it and I thought it was good. My fear was that somebody might read it and say
"That's really awful." I wasn't quite ready for that, at the time. I learned later that accepting
constructive criticism is the only way to grow as a writer.
When I finished my first novel, Soldier Of The Legion, I was so inspired that I immediately began
writing a sequel, Slave of the Legion. I was doing this in the little spare time that I had, generally
between 10 and 11 at night, or at odd times on the weekends. I kept writing frantically during
four
years in Bangkok and four years in Manila. I was still isolated from the writing community. I had
no idea how to structure a novel. I had no idea what the rules of writing were. I didn't have any
writing books to guide me in building my novel. I just wrote it, and discovered what was
effective
as I wrote. In my next assignment, Canberra, I did the third book, Secret of the Legion, and in
my
last tour, Kuala Lumpur, I finished the fourth story, Cross of the Legion.
Publication wasn't on my Things To Do Today list when I started writing. It wasn't until 1992, in
Canberra, when I was 50, that I decided to look for a publisher. I had put all that work and
emotion
into these stories, and I thought they were good, but I didn't know they were good. I slowly
came
to realize that the only sure proof I'd have that they were good - the only way I'd know I was a
good
writer - was if I could get them published. If I could get a publishing professional to bet real
money
that my novel would sell, that was a pretty good indication that I was a good writer. That was my
motivation for publication - I wanted to know if I was a good writer. I began submitting the first
story, Soldier of the Legion, to every SF publisher I could find.
I learned quickly that rejection letters were part of the game, and decided that I was going to
continue submitting query letters and sample chapters until somebody said yes. I knew that it
didn't
matter how many rejection letters I accumulated. The trick was not to get discouraged. I knew I
needed only one acceptance letter - just one. I was determined to never give up. I was prepared
to
submit indefinitely.
When I returned to the States in 1998, I started to improve my writing. I did this by getting into a
small on-line unpublished writers group headed by Nancy Mehl. We exchanged chapters and
critiqued each others work. I was amazed at the things I learned. When you stare at the same
novel
for 20 years, you stop seeing it after awhile. The fresh eyes in the writers group pointed out some
serious mistakes I was making. I corrected the mistakes. The novel improved. My submissions
got
better. By the time I fixed it up, Soldier of the Legion was quite different from what it had been.
I
shudder when I think of how bad some of those early versions were.
In October, 1998, I spotted Timberwolf Press on the web and queried. After a very lengthy
correspondence and quite a bit of re-writing, I signed a contract in July, 2000. Two years of
editing
followed. It's now September 2002 and my novel is just seeing print.
Final score card: Rejections from Agents: 32 Rejections from publishers: 52 Acceptances from
publishers: 1. That last one is the only one that's important.
Best Advice: Never give up! Keep improving your skills, keep submitting and never lose hope.
With
a little luck, you'll do it a lot faster than I did.
LJ for MBR: My goodness! What a terrific testimonial to perseverence your answer is! So
many
writers get discouraged after years of rejections. I'm happy you weren't one of them.
You mentioned that Soldier of the Legion is the first in a series. How soon can we expect the
second to appear? Are you currently working on it, or is it already in the publication
process?
Marshall: The full series includes Soldier Of The Legion, Slave Of The Legion, Secret Of The
Legion, and Cross Of The Legion. All four books are finished. I plan to stay with Timberwolf
Press
as long as they like the stories. I've sent them the outlines for all four stories but have not yet
submitted the second one in the series, Slave of the Legion. As soon as the first story is officially
in
print, I'll begin editing and slightly re-organizing the second one. It shouldn't take too long. When
that's done I'll formally submit it to Timberwolf. Since I now know what Timberwolf is looking
for,
publication of the second one in the series shouldn't take as long as the first one. I can't estimate
how
long it will take. Hopefully people are going to buy the first and second books and if they do we'll
move on to the third and fourth books.
I love these stories and I hope that others will love them too. There is a wide-ranging cast of
characters, and they undergo perilous adventures in a very hostile galaxy. These experiences have
a
profound effect on them.
LJ for MBR: Well I loved the book and I was never a fan of the genre. But I am now!
You mentioned Timberwolf Press. I interviewed Patrick Seaman of Timberwolf this month and
found him to be quite personable as well as savvy. Tell our readers more about the editing process
you went through with Soldier of the Legion before Timberwolf signed off on it.
Marshall: This was an interesting and educational process for me. Not having been published
before, I had no idea what to expect. Here's how it went. I queried Timberwolf in early October
1998, sending a summary. They responded in late October saying their calendar was full but
suggesting that I try again in six months. I think that meant they liked what they saw, otherwise
they
wouldn't have encouraged me to try again. In early January 1999 they e-mailed me, saying their
calendar had opened up and asking me to send them three chapters. I did so.
In mid-May they asked me to send the manuscript, which I did. In mid-August they asked if the
novel was still available. I answered on the same day, at light speed, that it was. In early
September I
sent a plaintive e-mail asking if anyone was there. I learned that publishers are busy - months can
roll
past with no contact.
In early December I received an e-mail saying the book needed more hard science and asking if I
could do it. I told them I could, and sent proof. In early February 2000 Timberwolf suggested I
stick
to one POV, change some annoying tense shifts, cut 25 to 50,000 words and resubmit. I
murdered
several of my beloved chapters and sent the revised manuscript in late February. In May they
asked
for a character summary and another outline and I sent them.
In July they asked if the work was still available. I answered YES! YESYESYESYESYES! On
18
July, 2000, they sent me a contract. I was overjoyed. I had done it! Now I could relax, and wait
for
the money to roll in. Wrong! The hard stuff hadn't even started!
I was lucky to sign with Timberwolf. They take a very hands-on approach to their stories and as a
result I learned a lot. The editing process, in this case, took two more years. They certainly
weren't
working on my book for two years, but it was two years before the task was over. They had other
books to publish and didn't turn their attention to mine until the earlier books were launched. I
worked closely with the Publisher, Patrick Seaman, and the Chief Editor Carol Wood, answering
their questions and sending them lots of material to explain the SF world that I had created. We
edited that book so many times that I lost count. First Timberwolf would edit it, line by line,
looking
at every word in the story to make sure it was right. Plenty of changes were made during the
process. Then they'd send it back to me and I would edit it, line by line, every word. Then I'd send
it
back to them and they'd again edit it. Then they'd send it back to me. By the time the process was
over, a whole lot of knowledgeable people had been through the text, repeatedly. And with
Timberwolf it wasn't just the paperback text, They were also making my story into audio format.
They were using actors to record the full text of the story in audio and then producing cassette
tapes, audio CD's and e-books besides the paperback. That meant more editing, of the audio text.
When I considered how much money they were pouring into the effort, I decided they must like
my
story.
Writing is fun. Editing is not fun - at least for me, and I suspect for most other writers. It's very
important, however. Good editing can turn a wordy, overblown, meandering, sleepy chapter into
a
focused, precise instrument to hit the reader right between the eyes. That's what you want - but
you
have to be tough. You have to cut out that extra verbiage like a surgeon. Sometimes you have to
cut
it out like a butcher. Sometimes you have to drop entire chapters - that hurts. I could hear my
characters screaming in agony as I ripped them out of the book. Nobody at Timberwolf ever told
me
to make it longer. They always wanted it shorter.
One point I'd like to make for first-time authors: when a potential publisher asks for changes to be
made to your story, you would be wise to comply. They have a lot of people sending stories in for
publication and if you're not cooperative, I strongly suspect your story will go right into the
wastebasket.
LJ for MBR: Thanks for that explanation, Marshall. I doubt that many authors have experienced
editing of the calibre your book went through. Like you said, it's a learning experience many of us
would find beneficial. Such focused and concise editing surely showed in the finished product and
added an intensity that might not have been possible otherwise.
You've told us about your background, but I would like to know what lead you to embrace the sci
fi
genre. Have you loved sci fi all your life, and who are your favorite authors in the genre?
Marshall: I discovered science fiction in 1958, when I was 16, and spotted a book called Star
Bridge by Jack Williamson and James Gunn. I thought it was an amazing and imaginative story. It
inspired me to read more SF. In those days they would publish pulp SF with two novels in one
paperback book. I bought a whole lot of them, or at least all I could find in the Panama Canal
Zone,
which is where my Dad was stationed at the time. I thought one of the best was Starship
Troopers,
by Robert Heinlein, although I liked everything he wrote. I read most of the great SF writers of
that
era, people like Isaac Asimov, Arthur C Clarke, Lester del Rey, Poul Anderson, Robert
Silverberg,
Harry Harrison, and many, many more. Of course I also read all the earlier masters like Jules
Verne,
H.G. Wells and George Orwell. I can't resist adding J.R.R. Tolkien, even though he did fantasy
and
not science fiction. These people were magicians, to me. They'd create their own worlds, and
drop
you into them. I decided quite early on that I wanted to write SF, although I didn't start writing
seriously until decades later.
When I did start writing my own SF stories, I consciously avoided reading any new science
fiction.
That may sound strange, but my thought was that I wanted to write my own story in my own way
and I didn't want to be influenced by what other SF writers wrote.
Why science fiction? I've written other kinds of fiction but to me, science fiction is most
challenging
and satisfying. You have to invent your own worlds, project scientific possibilities to come up
with
believable scenarios, and create realistic, human characters to grapple with the problems arising
from
your story. You are only limited by your imagination. I love writing SF, and I don't think I'm ever
going to stop.
LJ for MBR: You said you'd written other kinds of fiction. Anything published? And if you
WERE
to work in another genre, what would it be?
Marshall: I've written a few short stories but I haven't tried to publish any. This may be a project
for the future. I've spent a good deal of time in East Asia and some of the stories have Asian
themes.
One is Lotus, the story of a Vietnamese refugee. Another describes a Vietnamese wedding in the
States. I've also done travel journals of trips to China and Vietnam. Some of my politically
incorrect
output includes a fiction piece on an embittered Vietnam vet, a look at the Los Angeles of the
future
and some observations on public art.
I enjoy writing fiction. My other interests include American and world history, the rise and fall of
civilizations, East Asia, the Vietnam conflict, genealogy, photography, art, cutting-edge science,
military history and firearms. I'll certainly continue writing about non-science fiction topics. I
enjoy
creating believable characters and putting them in challenging situations. Personal experiences and
interpersonal relationships are at the heart of most interesting stories and that's what I like to write
about. I like adventure stories and will probably be doing more of them. Science fiction is always
there, however. I just finished a short story on time travel. I can't seem to resist these stories. I get
an idea and it consumes me, and I have to write it down. Once I get myself better organized I may
try to publish some of these short stories.
Incidentally if anyone wants to see examples of my art, go to timberwolfpress.com, click on my
book and click through the various categories. I've included illustrations of the characters and
sketches of scenes from the book. Click on the pictures to enlarge them.
LJ for MBR: It's obvious that you have lived a fascinating life and have a curious facile mind.
All
those qualities shine through in your writing.
We've covered a lot of ground in this interview. Is there any question you wish I had asked, or
any
information you'd like our readers to know about you?
Marshall: I hope your readers have as much fun reading Soldier of the Legion as I had writing
it. I
can promise the sequels will knock your socks off. I'd like your readers to know that I really love
to
write, and I hope they enjoy my writing. They can order the book on-line at
timberwolfpress.com.
If they prefer e-books or the audio version, they can order that too at the same place.
Thanks very much for this opportunity to connect with your readers, Laurel. Best wishes to you,
to
Midwest Book Review and to all your readers.
LJ for MBR: It's been my pleasure, Marshall. And I look forward to learning the fates of
Thinker
and his intrepid group in Slave of the Legion!
As a reminder, readers can read more about Marshall Thomas, his book, his art, and his publisher
at
www.timberwolfpress.com.
I wanted to interview Patrick Seaman, founder of Timberwolf Press, because of his clearcut
philosophy, submission guidelines, and unique business model.
LJ for MBR: I simply must say first off that the review packet I received from Timberwolf Press
was most impressive from a professional standpoint, as if you run a very tight and efficient ship.
That mailing made an indelible impression on me. It was an excellent marketing tool. Who plans
and expedites your marketing strategies at Timberwolf?
Patrick: Thanks! It is a collaborative effort, and one that has evolved over the last couple of
years
based on feedback and liberal study of other publishers marketing materials. It also stems from
our
extensive and varied background in the business world outside of publishing. The bottom line is
that
we're always re-evaluating, tweaking and changing our marketing materials.
LJ for MBR: Timberwolf not only publishes print versions in paperback and e-book, but also
creates dramatizations on cassette, audio CD, and MP3 CD. If there are other small presses
offering
such choices, I am unaware of them. Tell our readers why you offer so many options, and which
versions are most popular.
Patrick: To my knowledge, Timberwolf is the only U.S. publisher that dramatizes original
fiction
books. You see, Timberwolf officially launched back in 2000, when we opened our office and
built
our recording studio. However, back in 1995, I was helping start-up a company called AudioNet
which later became Broadcast.com. We needed content, so I talked (conned) a friend of mine
into
creating an audio adaption of his then unpublished science fiction novel (A SMALL
PERCENTAGE, by Jim Cline). He decided to produce it as an audio drama with amateur talent
and
we broadcast it on-line in 16 abridged "episodes." It was insanely popular and quickly built a
global
fan-base. In 1999 we re-recorded ASP and released it in 42 unabridged weekly episodes --
breaking
audience records every week. The market-data we gathered from ASP taught us a great deal.
Listeners were used to "single reader" audiobooks and were totally blown away by our (amateur!)
dramatic production.
After Yahoo! bought-out Broadcast.com, I left to launch Timberwolf Press. We've incorporated
the
lessons-learned from ASP by dramatizing our titles instead of doing the "traditional" single-reader
audiobook adaptions. In 2000 we released our first title on paperback, CD, tape, MP3 CD and
digital download. The MP3 CDs are popular with the "palm-top" demographic (who also
download
audio in MP3 and Windows Media formats). The tapes seem to go to the more traditional
audiobook consumers, while CDs are currently the most popular audio format. We release the
titles
in multiple formats because we believe that each format corresponds to a different (overlapping)
customer demographic.
LJ for MBR: Your website also says you use webcasts as a marketing tool. I thought that was
an
intriguing idea. Tell our readers how that works.
Patrick: Rather than 5 minute "clips," we put up half-hour "episode" samples. Listeners can
either
listen to a streaming-media version, or download nine to ten megabyte MP3 file.
(http://timberwolfpress.com/titles/audio_samples.shtml)
Lots of publishers produce audiobooks, however, since Timberwolf is unique in producing
dramatized editions of its books (with a cast of twenty to twenty-five actors), one of our biggest
problems is getting customers to understand the "Timberwolf difference." Longtime audiobook
listeners are "indoctrinated" to the idea of a "reader." The on-line audio helps listeners better
understand what we do. Generally, once they listen and hear the difference for themselves, they're
hooked!
LJ for MBR: Now that we've covered the technology you use to publicize your books, tell us
what
Timberwolf looks for in a writer and manuscript. Your website clearly states submission
requirements as to genre. I'd like you to go beyond that and tell us what grabs you in a query or a
manuscript submission.
Patrick: Well, the packages that look as though they're from a Unibomber wannabe can be a
little
scary sometimes -- as are the query letters that look as if they could stand-in as a TV prop for a
ransom note. It is somewhat depressing how many queries make it to our "hall of shame." For
example, the following is an excerpt from a query letter we received:
"We observe as Powers moves about the country with his 'gypsy like' family. His social status and
comfort zones altering with every mile, every city, every faucet of American culture." or, "This is
a
first novel.... I am a member of the . League and have attended many of their workshops on
creative
writhing."
While these examples make you groan, frankly, I'm happy when I see a query letter from someone
who has done their homework and knows what we're looking for. I'm thrilled when they can
actually communicate in one or two sentences what their book is about, then go on to convince
me
of why I should care! Honestly, there is no magic trick. The query needs to be clean and lucid,
then, if it is something that sounds interesting, we'll go to the next step.
As far as manuscripts go, we look for material that will translate well to the dramatic. We will
create an audio script and in some cases a screenplay, based on the manuscript. Things need to
happen in the story. I don't want to just be told about it. We look for stories with lots of good
dialog, solid research, and characters that are more than just three-dimensional. We want
interesting
characters that we care about -- love them or hate them, but I never want to be indifferent about
them.
LJ for MBR: So you seem to have your priorities in order, and Timberwolf Press presents as an
efficient business model. Do you have any goals for changes or additions in the near future, or is
that a secret?
Patrick: As a young publisher, we're focused on developing a reputation for quality and
innovation. We began that by being the first (back in 1995) to broadcast an audiobook on-line
and
later by being the first (that we know of) to put an audiobook on a CD-ROM in MP3 (&
Windows
Media). The two recent Book of the Year Awards (Bronwyn: Palaces & Prisons, ISBN
1-58752-059-1 and our Writing Exciting! seminar series) were immensely gratifying and helped
provide some confirmation that we're on the right path.
We've also begun to diversify the business by adding a production services wing
(http://www.timberwolfproductions.com). When we're not using our editors, engineers and
studio
for our own work (the fun stuff!), we're doing audio production work for other publishers and
businesses.
LJ for MBR: Tell us more about the Writing Exciting! seminars. What exactly does it entail as
related to the authors who may be considering a Timberwolf submission?
Patrick: The Writing Exciting! seminars started out as events we were doing at bookstores and
writer's conferences. It occurred to us to go ahead and start recording some of them, with the
thought that we might sell a few "back of the room" copies. We've packaged individual seminars
individually, or, more recently, in a "six-pack" combining #1 through #6.
We cover a lot of ground in the seminars, ranging from legal and copyright issues to research, plot
design, how to build characters, getting published, distribution, and promotion. We originally
planned it as a nine-part series, however, future seminars are scheduled to include more topics and
I
think at last count we were planning twelve editions. We bring in one or two published writers on
each seminar panel to provide a writer's practical perspective. We also add one or more editors,
the
occasional attorney, and others, as needed. I've participated in several of the seminars and we
have
a lot of fun with them. Probably the hardest part, for us, is editing it down to fit the 74 minute
format (that's the length you can put on a standard audio CD).
We wanted to keep the price low and make the series convenient for writers, so we put individual
seminars on CD in a sturdy DVD-style vinyl package. We distribute the series alongside our
books
and audio titles. You can imagine that it came as quite a pleasant surprise when the series won
our
other Book of the Year Award (audio nonfiction).
Of course, prospective Timberwolf authors aren't expected to buy the series. Someone from
Timberwolf participates in one capacity or another in each seminar, so the series certainly reflects
our editorial "bias." Anyone who wants to know how we feel about a particular issue can get an
earful from it!
LJ for MBR: You've mentioned the awards and nominations Timberwolf books and authors
received, and also awards won by Timberwolf Press. Tell us about those in greater detail.
Patrick: Sure, the audio editions of Calculated Risk (mystery/thriller, based on our paperback by
Denise Tiller) and All The Tea (techno-thriller, based on our paperback by Ken Carodine) were
both
finalists for the 2001 Golden Headset Award. Calculated Risk audio was also a finalist for the
2001
Violet Crown Award for best fiction audiobook, which Bradamant: The Iron Tempest won. Both
Calculated Risk and Bradamantfeatured a full cast and starred Kathy Garver,
http://www.kathygarver.com/, (numerous Hollywood movies ranging from Ten Commandments
to
Apollo 13 as well as numerous TV shows including Family Affair ("Cissy"), Nash Bridges,
Matlock,
etc.). All The Tea's full cast starred Walter Koenig, http://www.walterkoenig.com/, ("Chekov" -
Star TrekT Paramount and "Bester" - Babylon 5T Warner Brothers, etc.).
Our two Book of the Year Award (Foreword Magazine) winners were the paperback fantasy
novel
by Ron Miller, Bronwyn: Palaces & Prisons and the non-fiction audio series edition Writing
Exciting! #1 Writing 101. Bronwyn is the first in a 4-book series, beautifully illustrated by the
Hugo
Award nominated author and artist Ron Miller. The Writing Exciting! seminar series features
panelists that include Timberwolf editors and authors as well as the New York Times bestselling
author Bill Baldwin (the Helmsman series) and Lillian Stewart Carl (Wings of Power, Garden of
Thorns, and Along the Rim of Time). I should note that the 2nd book in the Bronwyn series,
Bronwyn: Silk & Steel, is hot off the press. Production on the dramatic audio edition of
Bronwyn:
Palaces & Prisons is scheduled to wrap up in November.
LJ for MBR: That was an impressive list of awards for one year! I wish the same for
Timberwolf
this year.
I really appreciate you taking time out of your no doubt hectic schedule to participate in this
interview, Patrick. Is there any other question you wish I had asked, or any other information you
would like to share with our readers before I bring our time together to an end?
Patrick: It's been a pleasure, Laurel. When we were contemplating the launch of Timberwolf,
we
wanted to find a way to distinguish our products from the crowd. When we did our web
broadcasts
of the dramatized audiobook back in 1995 we discovered that whole generations had never
experienced audio drama of any kind -- including Old Time Radio which seemed to be known
more
by reputation than by experience. We decided to differentiate the audio adaptions of our books
by
dramatizing them with an eye to tap into this largely unexplored market. My opinion on this has
been strengthened as Audio Publisher's Association statistics have shown that around 11% of
audiobook consumers prefer a full-cast production. Since no other domestic publisher, that I'm
aware of, is doing full-cast audiobooks for contemporary adult genre fiction, it seemed like a huge
opportunity for Timberwolf. My mission in life these days is to spread the word that "we're here!"
LJ for MBR: And thank you, Patrick, for allowing me to help "spread the word" in some small
way.
Readers can learn more about Patrick Seaman, Timberwolf Press, and submission information by
checking www.timberwolfpress.com.
A friend referred me to BookCrossing. The website is soothing, intriguing, and gratifying. I
wanted
to interview the man who took this simple premise of "setting a book free" and running with it.
To
my delight, Ron Hornbaker graciously consented to an interview.
LJ for MBR: On your website, you state state simply that BookCrossing is a "labor of love".
Would you care to expand on that statement?
Ron: We've decided to keep memberships free, and not annoy members with banner or popup
ads. This means that paying for the site is a challenge, particularly as we grow. The site is
currently
losing money, but fortunately our software company, Humankind Systems, has been successful
and
is footing the bill. We feel like BookCrossing is a worthwhile project long-term, and we're
committed to keeping it going regardless of its cost.
LJ for MBR: Regardless of your reasons, literacy is surely an admirable cause! Your website
reveals an impressive roster of media coverage, from Australia to Omaha, from Italy to LA, from
Holland to New York, and all points in between. BookCrossing is showing 11.2 million hits a
month. I don't know much about the internet, but that seems like a LOT of hits to me. In your
opinion, what about BookCrossing has created such a stir around the world?
Ron: More technically, 11.2 million page-views a month. I think the fact that our idea is a
little
bit radical--even subversive--has helped it get attention. I mean really - give away your books?
Release books "into the wild"? That gets people's attention.
LJ for MBR: Give our readers some background on BookCrossing, such as when it was
founded,
what gave you the idea, and why it's so important to you. What would make a busy and
successful
executive commit time, talent, and money to a labor of love?
Ron: I thought of BookCrossing in April of 2001, after stumbling upon a website called
PhotoTag.org which releases disposable cameras "into the wild" and tracks their whereabouts and
posts the resulting pictures. That site made me think of WheresGeorge.com, which tracks dollar
bills. Then the old familiar creative gears started turning in my head, and I started to wonder what
else might people enjoy tracking? After a few minutes of thought, the idea of books came to mind,
and I immediately took a liking to it -- I've been a booklover all my life. Two hours of searching
on
the internet for someone already doing it came up with nothing (to my satisfaction), so I
immediately
picked a name, bought the domain, had my wife Kaori help me with the logo, and went to work.
Four weeks later I lauched the site. I had always wanted to build a website community that was
a)
unique, b) friendly, and c) would have the potential to grow in an exponential fashion and spread
worldwide. It looks like BookCrossing has fulfilled that goal.
LJ for MBR: Personally, as an author, I liked the idea of my book on a mysterious journey.
But I
can envision authors and publishers reading or hearing this interview and thinking, "Hey! This
guy is
potentially taking away from our sales with this BookCrossing deal!" If someone said that to you,
what would your answer be?
Ron: I don't have any hard data to back this up, but I strongly believe that BookCrossing
increases book sales. Every author and publisher that has contacted me has been strongly
supportive
of BookCrossing. Anything that gets people excited about reading will increase book sales. And
I've heard from many members that they've started buying 2 copies of every new book now, so
they
can release one and keep the other. Finally, consider how many people view a dialog between
members about a certain book on our site, vs. the number of people who actually touch that
book.
LJ for MBR: You said your wife is co-founder of BookCrossing and created that delightful
little
walking book logo. You both must be talented and creative people. What other part does she
play
in maintaining BookCrossing?
Ron: Kaori is starting to work on the Japanese version of the BookCrossing site. We don't
have a
launch date in mind yet, since it's a lot of work, but she believes it will go over quite well in Japan.
LJ for MBR: You are a man of many interests - a typical American, all-around guy so to speak
-
but with international connections. You should write a book. Have you ever thought about it?
Ron: Yes, authoring has always appealed to me. Someday, given enough time, I'll attempt a
work
of serious--and likely twisted--fiction. In the nearer future I might warm up with BookCrossing
for
Dummies.
LJ for MBR: BookCrossing for Dummies. Now that's a book whose time has come! If you
don't mind my asking, what genre would your serious, yet twisted fiction be?
Ron: Modern literature with a sociological message. I'd like my writing to have characters like
Jonathan Franzen, language like Tom Robbins, and over-the-top, maniacal plots like Chuck
Palahniuk.
LJ for MBR: Your philosophy and ideals shine through quite clearly in the content of
BookCrossing. But for those who have not yet checked your website, before I bring this
interview
to an end. is there any question you wish I would have asked, or any bit of information you'd like
our readers to know?
Ron: Our parent company, Humankind Systems, has been in the internet business for several
years, so we know what makes a website easy to use, and friendly. We also care deeply about the
privacy of our members, and realize that many people are wary of websites where registration is
required. I'd like to assure your readers that BookCrossing is free, and always will be, and more
importantly it's private - we do not share our members' personal information with anyone. If
you're
intrigued by this idea of releasing books into the wild, you have nothing to lose by visiting
BookCrossing.com, joining, and setting your books free.
LJ for MBR: Thanks for agreeing to this interview, Ron. I look forward to releasing many
good
books into the wild in the future.
Read more about Ron Hornbaker, his labor of love, and the business that makes BookCrossing
possible at www.bookcrossing.com and www.humankindsystems.com.
I wanted to interview Stephen Sulik because his book, The Tattered Coat, surprised me. Its
content
was different from any other book I have read so far.
LJ for MBR: Stephen R. Sulik the man is a police officer in Texas. How long have you been in
law
enforcement and are you a native Texan?
Stephen: I've been in law enforcement for twenty-eight years, getting close to retirement,
and
a Texan for twenty-four years. I was born and raised in Youngstown, Ohio. I can remember,
while
growing up, the fall season being my favorite time of year. In silent reverie, I enjoyed watching
the
leaves turn their magnificent and radiant colors, dance their way to the ground and carpet the
earth.
I also enjoyed taking long walks around the neighborhood with my mom in the cool, late October
breeze. Those were good and simple times back then. A lot has changed in the world since those
days. I miss Mom, the fall season, the many talks of enlightenment we had, the walks around the
neighborhood, and in the park we used to share together. The sweet apple pie is also gone.
LJ for MBR: That answer, much like your book The Tattered Coat, reveals how you think and
feel, what you value. "The Warrior's Creed", for example, was displayed prominently before your
book's preface. That creed states, "Honor is a gift a man gives himself. Without honor a man's
handshake means nothing." In this scrambled modern world, it's rare to see honor, loyalty, fidelity
displayed or documented as openly as you do in your writing. Do you mind telling potential
readers
of your book why and how you came to prize honor as you obviously do?
Stephen: It is the way I live my life. It is with purpose, and with free will. It was the way my
parents
lived theirs - simple, honest and free.
LJ for MBR: Reincarnation is a strong thread throughout The Tattered Coat, and in fact, pulls
every aspect of this mystery together. Your main character, Detective Sean Jamison, is the
reincarnation of a man who died in a Nazi concentration camp after his wife was raped and
murdered there. Tying those past lives into present day characters added depth and emotion to the
suspense. Tell us why you chose a reincarnation theme to drive your book. Do you believe in past
lives?
Stephen: The timing for such a book is right. I wanted to do something different than what
everyone else is doing out there. It is time to change 'the way we think' - before we annihilate
ourselves in the very near future -and get back to the basics of simple, honest living and the
Truth.
Yes, I do believe we all have had past lives. But knowing our past lives is not important in the
present. What is important is that we evolve to a higher level of spirituality, and forget about all
this
materialism, so that we can become whole and completed spirits and return home to our Creator.
The devil's plan is to keep us from evolving and becoming completed spirits and returning home,
by
tempting us to do things that are not right and for us to create as much chaos in our world, as he,
along with us, can 'whip' up. For his sick pleasure, he wants to watch us destroy ourselves. Honor
and common sense have been replaced by dysfunctional mentality syndrome. You can see it
everywhere. It plasters newspaper pages and is on the daily news. I can no longer tolerate
watching
TV or reading the newspaper. Every day it seems to get worse and, at present, humanity is taking
a
great beating and sinking to the bottom of the cesspool. We have created and are living in our
own
hell here on mother-earth. To have true freedom, is to have self-discipline and control over our
individual lives. We have lost control. To have peace in the world, one must begin, by being at
peace
with himself, before he can be at peace with someone else or with another country. Freedom,
without self-discipline and self-restraint, leads to total chaos and that... is not Freedom. We
cannot
evolve in one lifetime. It takes several for our spirit to become whole and complete. We must
travel
around the spectrum of life and come completely around - Full Circle. We must experience all
aspects that life has to offer, the good with the bad. Before my mother died of cancer and during
our
final walk we shared together around the neighborhood, she mentioned something tome that I will
never forget, and it was the way she said it that turned the 'light switch' on in my mind. She simply
said, "I hope you will never forget me when I'm gone. I want you to know that I love your father,
and I love my three sons. If I had to do all over for you three again, I would." I believe she was
my
mother in a past life and lives and has given me a solid foundation and building blocks that have
survived through time to this present day. From that moment on, and with the 'light switch' turned
on in my mind, I live my life with honor and by my own code of ethics as I assume nothing...and
question everything, to find and learn the truth.
LJ for MBR: I said at the beginning of this interview that your book was different from any
other I
had read. Your answer helped expand on that statement. Love, honor, integrity, and the
determination to overcome evil by leading an exemplary life are themes that run strong through
The
Tattered Coat. Thank you for that straightforward answer.
At the beginning of your book I noticed that it was not your first. You wrote a previous book
featuring the same characters - Random Ransom. I'm eager to read this prequel. Will you give us
a
synopsis?
Stephen: Well Laurel dear, if you watch your mailbox, my personal copy will arrive shortly for
you
to read. I would like it returned, after you have had time to read it. I'm currently trying to find a
publisher to republish Random Ransom - self-published in 1991 in limited quantity and sold only
locally in the Houston, Texas area. The publisher is no longer in business - and give it a second
breath of air. Random Ransom is the brother novel, and The Tattered Coat, the sister. Both books
are original stories and different from the norm. They are a two book series and offer a one-two
punch. In Random Ransom, Detective Roman Addison's pregnant wife, Julie, is kidnapped at
'random,' by the same demented psycho as in The Tattered Coat. The kidnapper sends cryptic
clues
to the Houston Police Department's Homicide Division as to where she can be found, by using
Oscar
Wilde's poem, "The Ballad of Reading Gaol (Jail)". The kidnapper always manages to stay one
step
ahead of the ensuing detectives as he plays out his game of cat and mouse. The detectives must
solve one clue before getting another clue, before time runs out. When time does start to run out,
a
frustrated Detective Addison is able to get into the kidnapper's mind and begins to think like
him...and...as he does, finds himself on the verge of insanity and almost becomes a cloned copy of
the psycho he's after. The kidnapper demands a 'ransom' before giving his final clue to where
Roman's wife, Julie, can be found...The unique thing about Random Ransom is that where it
leaves
off, The Tattered Coat, picks up and where The Tattered Coat, leaves off, Random Ransom,
picks
right back up again - symbolizing our criminal justice system going around in circles... like a
revolving door...and going nowhere....fast.
LJ for MBR: In that synopsis, as in The Tattered Coat, you feature detectives and police
officers
as main characters. The crimes these officers must investigate are violent and frightening. Their
world is haunted by unspeakable evil and you make clear the toll it takes on them. After hearing
your philosophy, your personal beliefs about the world, one thought occurs to me. You are a
policeman yourself. How can you bear to face each day in law enforcement? What gets you
through
it? If you'd rather not answer the question, that's OK.
Stephen: I will answer it and not shy away from it. After close to thirty years on this crazy and
demanding job, I have observed time go by at a much quicker pace, due to all the modern
technology that is now available in the world. People no longer have time to stop and smell the
roses
along their paths. If we would slow down, and listen to ourselves think, we wouldn't have so
many
damn problems to deal with that we now have. Our families are being neglected. People who don't
know me, consider me to be rude, obnoxious and belligerent. I get that way at times when I'm
frustrated with the way 'modern technology' is changing the world. It is evolving faster than we
are,
and that, is very dangerous. We are over-stepping boundaries where we have no business to do
so.
We are beginning to think we have all the answers. We fail to realize that even with ALL our
consciousness together - it still fits only on the point of a single needle, whereas, the One's
conscious, is the size of our total universe. He and only He has All the answers. We are only
fooling
ourselves. We will never be able to put all the pieces of the puzzle together. It is not meant for us
to
do so. We must learn to Love one another and get along with one another. That is the main
reason
we are here. To make mother-earth better for all of us. I believe, many centuries ago, we use to
be
on Mars, and we screwed up and destroyed our civilizations there and are now on earth and have
a
second chance of not repeating history. But, we are getting very close to repeating history again.
We
have a very bad habit of not learning from our past mistakes and keep repeating them over and
over
again. Someone once said, 'Beware of Technology.' Be-aware, of what technology is turning us
all
into. Like every officer, I get my daily dose of dealing with the inconsideration of others and the
way
they treat another human being, of dealing with the total madness and stupidity of the rat race we
have placed ourselves in. The dysfunctional mentality syndrome seems to be evermoe prevalent as
we enter the end times, better known as, the Phoenix days. Ask the Hopi elders and they will
speak
the truth, we are very close to losing it all again. I am human, and if I make a mistake, I try to
learn
from it and not make the same mistake twice. Like everyone else, at times, I get very tired and
discouraged dealing with people's same ol' day to day personal problems and listening to their
belly-achin'. People are the cause of their own problems. It is time to change the way we think.
Turn
negatives into positives. Set an example to the highest degree so our young can have good strong
role models. Only we can change, if we want to. Police officers try their best to give people good
solid, sound advice, and people in turn, must decide for themselves to change their lives around
for
the better. We cannot make them do it. We have no magic wand to wave to cure societies ills. If
we
can only learn to say 'No' to smoking, drinking and becoming drug addicts, than maybe we can
say
'No' to Rape, Murder, War and Chemical and Biological warfare. Now then, to answer your
question of what gets me through each day - my answer is a simple one - I Fight Back ! Two
years
ago, when I felt myself beginning to slip and going over the edge...I pulled myself back up and
began
to write The Tattered Coat, and am back fighting every day for what I think is right and again,
walking the straight line. I thought of my father. I am his legacy. I must carry on, the best way I
know how. The coat on the front cover of The Tattered Coat, is my father's and I put it on when I
feel down and out. It gives me strength to carry on now that he is gone. Someday, we will meet
again and I want him to be proud of me and my accomplishments. My father's first name is
Stephen.
In Honor of my father, I use my middle name, which is also Stephen, when I write. When my
father's, father, Stefan (which is Stephen in Czech) came over to America from the old country, he
along with everyone else learned to speak the English language and were proud o become
Americans. They did not come to this great land to tear it up and destroy it. They wanted to make
it
even better than it already was. They wanted a piece of the American dream. They wanted a piece
of
America's apple pie. English became the primary language for them and the Czech language
became
secondary. They wanted to speak English and become a part of our great culture. They did not
bring
aggression to our country. They learned to speak English fluently. Like I said, Laurel dear,
...Stephen is 'Stefan' in Czech...when you remove the 't' and 'f' in Stefan...you are left with the
name..................Sean................................................
LJ for MBR: We've discussed The Tattered Coat and Random Ransom. Are you in the process
to
writing a follow up, or maybe something different altogether?
Stephen: It's all over if Random Ransom gets left behind. Random Ransom is the brother novel
to
its sister, The Tattered Coat. I have another original and different story in mind. Random Ransom
deserves a second chance at life. They are a two book series. The End.
LJ for MBR: If that's the case, I hope someone picks up Random Ransom soon!
You've provided intriguing subject matter, Stephen, much like your book. Before I bring this
interview to an end, is there any question you wish I had asked, or anything you'd like our readers
to
know about you?
Stephen: Should readers be interested in obtaining an autographed copy of my book, The
Tattered
Coat, I will be at Books-A-Million at the Katy Mills Mall #221, in Katy Texas, on Saturday &
Sunday, October 26 & 27, 2002, from 2pm - 4pm, both days. Should they request additional
information, please contact Joanne Gochioco at either 281-644-2665 (ofc) or 281-644-2663 (fax)
or
832-647-0867 (cell). At the book signing, for those who purchase The Tattered Coat, they will
receive an artificial blue rose, like the one on the front cover of my book.
In closing, I would like to give everyone a short story on Indian Wisdom -
The old Cherokee chief sat in his reservation hut, smoking the ceremonial pipe, his suspicious
eyes glued on the two U.S. government officials sent to interview him.
"Chief Two Eagles," one official began, "You have observed the white man for many
generations.
You have seen his wars and his products, you have seen all his progress, and all his
problems..."
The old chief nodded.
The official continued. "Considering recent events in our country, in your opinion, where has
the
white man gone wrong?"
The chief stared at the government officials for a long moment, shook his head, and in a calm
voice replied.
"When the white man found our land, Indians were running it. No taxes. No debt. Plenty
buffalo.
Plenty beaver. Good clean waters to drink. Good clean air to breathe. Medicine man free. Indian
men hunted and fished all the time. We keep mother-earth clean. We raised our young to have
respect and honor and live in peace with one another..."
The chief's eyes narrowed and he finished by saying,
"White man dumb enough to think he could improve simple system like that?"
Thank you Laurel dear for your time and patience. To you and all I say,
"May your spirits, find true peace."
Stephen R. Sulik , Author / The Tattered Coat & Random Ransom, 18 September 2002
Laurel Johnson, Interviewer
Midwest Book Review
Yager's Bookshelf
October offers numerous educational opportunities for writers and publishers seeking to learn
more
about book promotion, publishing, or the craft of writing.
If you missed the world renowned Maui Writer's Conference that annually heralds the end of
summer, not to worry. This year, you need not wait till next spring or summer to avail yourself of
the information you can gain, as well as the new and old contacts you may form or renew, by
attending a seminar to advance your writing or publishing career. Throughout the month of
October,
seminars on book promotion, publishing, or writing are being offered in California, New York,
Colorado, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
I compiled a list of ten educational opportunities (including the book promotion seminar that I am
offering) that cover book promotion, publishing, or writing that may interest published writers
(nonfiction and fiction), aspiring writers, editors, publicists, speakers, consultants, and publishers.
Within the categories of book promotion, publishing, and writing, each seminar or conference is
listed in chronological order with a brief description followed by a website address for additional
information, including the cost and how to register.
BOOK PROMOTION SEMINARS:
EXPRESS YOURSELF
Thurs., October 3-Sunday, Oct 6th (Sheraton Park Ridge Hotel, Valley Forge, PA)
Sponsored by Infinity publishing, presenters include Shel Horowitz, Dan Poynter, John
Kremer, Mary Westheimer, Brian Jud, Jim Donovan, and Literary Agent Jennifer DeChiara.
http://www.infinitypublishing.com/conferences1.htm
Jan Yager's ALL-DAY BOOK PROMOTION BOOT CAMP
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18TH, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., midtown Manhattan.
Led by 20-book author and consultant Jan Yager, Ph.D. (who has been on Oprah, The Today
Show,
The View, NPR, etc.); guest speakers include book publicists and TV and radio producers.
http://www.janyager.com/writing/bookpromotionseminar.htm
.PUBLICITY MAXIMIZATION Seminar
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18th and SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19TH, Manhattan
Two-day seminar with these book promotion experts:
Speakers: Steve Harrison, Rick Frishman, Paul Hartunian, Alex Carroll, Raleigh Pinskey, and
Fred
Gleeck
http://www.publicityseminar.com
Dan Poynter's BOOK PROMOTION WORKSHOP
OCTOBER 19-20th, SATURDAY-SUNDAY (Santa Barbara, California)
Led by book promotion expert Dan Poynter, author of The Self-Publishing Manual.
http://www.parapublishing.com
PUBLISHING CONFERENCE
Introduction to Publishing (AAP headquarters in NYC, 15th Street and 5th Avenue)
September 30 - October 1, 2002 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
An annual 2-day conference, organized by the Association of American Publishers (AAP), a trade
association of 300+ publishing companies. Guest speakers are publishing professionals covering
acquisitions, interior design, jacket art, editing, sub rights to sales, marketing, and promotion.
http://www.publishers.org/confpub/093002more.htm
SPAN (Small Publishers Association of North America) 7th annual conference OCTOBER 18-20,
Friday through Sunday (Denver, Colorado)
Organized by SPAN founders Marilyn & Tom Ross with 15 separate sessions.
http://www.spannet.org/2002
WRITER CONFERENCES:
TAKE YOUR WRITING TO THE NEXT LEVEL
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5, 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. (Irvine, California)
Southern California Writers Conference co-sponsored by the American Society of Journalists and
Authors (ASJA) and the University of California, Irvine
A dozen panels with best-selling author Joseph Wambaugh as keynote luncheon speaker.
http://www.asja.org/calendar/irvine02.htm
BIG APPLE WRITING WORKSHOPS (October 12th and 13th, New York City)
Saturday: author Pat Carr
Sunday: Open House, Meet the Authors and Meet the Agents
Sponsored by the International Women's Writing Guild.
http://www.iwwg.com
BOUCHERCON 2002
OCTOBER 17-20 (Austin, Texas)
33rd Annual World Mystery Convention for authors, fans, editors, booksellers, and publishers.
Dozens of panels related to writing and promoting the mystery.
http://www.bouchercon2002.org
LA JOLLA WRITERS CONFERENCE
OCTOBER 18-20th, Friday through Sunday (La Jolla, California)
Panels addressing the craft of writing as well as publishing trends. Speakers include Greg Godek,
Jan Nathan, and Bob Goodman.
http://www.lajollawritersconference.com
Jan Yager, Ph.D.
Midwest Book Review Correspondent
http://www.janyager.com/writing
http://www.janyager.com/writing/bookpromotionseminar.htm
Donovan's Bookshelf
In The Footsteps Of Popes
Enrico Bruschini
Morrow
10 E. 53rd St., New York NY 10022
0688177565 $30.00 1-800-242-7737
Professor Bruschini, known as Vatican City scholar and former art curator of the American
embassy
there, takes an armchair tour through the galleries and museums of the Vatican, bringing to life
works by the artists and sharing descriptions of their achievements and the Vatican's treasures.
Destination-bound travelers will find In The Footsteps Of Popes to be an excellent handbook,
while
"armchair travelers" will have a you are there' feel as they explore the artistic and religious
connections of the Vatican.
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
1-800-972-6657
These new publications are winning choices for discriminating buyers. Charlene Geiss and
Claudia
Jessup's Inner Outings (1-57731-220-1, $24.95) is a beautiful gift choices offering a diarist's deck
of 33 cards along with a book of exploration in journal writing. The idea is to nudge journal
writers
and potential writers into exploring their innermost thoughts: the book explains how to start and a
set of over thirty cards serve as a foundation for evoking memories and encouraging writing. Tom
Morgan edits The Buddha (227-9, $29.95), a gorgeous coffee-table type compilation of writings
on
the Buddha by Hermann Hesse, Jack Kerouac, and others. Color photos and illustrations pack a
warm literary achievement beautiful in style and worthy of gift-giving. Joseph Cambell's
Baksheesh
& Brahman (237-6, $22.95) blends mythology and travel in a title which tells of Campbell's
journey
in search of the mysteries of India. His journal chronicles his disillusionment, revelations, and the
foundations which would eventually become the wellspring of this creative and spiritual
writings.
Llewellyn Publishers
PO Box 64383, St. Paul, MN 55164-0383
http://www.llewellyn.com
These new arrival packages are excellent celebrations of alternative and earth-based spirituality:
they
provide strong introductions that will appeal to both newcomers and readers with some prior
familiarity. Joyce & River Higginbotham's Paganism (0-7387-0222-6, $14.95) covers the
foundations of Paganism, from rituals and holidays to a Paganist's basic belief systems. Chapters
tell
how to use exercises and visualizations to become more familiar with paganist rituals. Steven
Scott
Pither's Complete Book Of Numbers (0218-8, $19.95) isn't just another numerology introduction:
it
covers the entire systems of math functions in Pythagorean numerology, from the symbols and
spiritual meanings of numbers to math processes. Much more depth than competitors would offer.
Kristin Madden's Mabon (0090-8, $14.95) covers the autumn equinox and celebrations associated
with this time. From Mabon myths and harvest customs from around the world to how to host a
feast, complete with recipes, this comes packed with celebration ideas. Two Tarot decks are
excellent and different choices: Verona McColl's Egyptian Pyramid Oracle (1-56718-448-0,
$21.95)
uses the Ankh and other Egyptian symbols in its system. Six cards are used for each reader, and
positioning, as always, has meaning. An intriguing, beautiful set. Tarot Of The Master (0236-6,
$19.95) provides over seventy images from Italy which provide an almost Medieval touch to
Arcana. Instructions for readings included in this package.
Creative Utopia
Theo Stephan Williams
How Design Books
4700 E. Galbraith Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45236
1581801734 $26.99 www.amazon.com
Creative Utopia: 12 Ways To Realize Total Creativity by Theo Stephan Williams encourages
artists
and individuals to maximize their creativity through awakening spiritual and underlying
subconscious
forces. From using color therapy and meditation to encourage creative flow to achieving mental
clarity through yoga and aromatherapy, this is packed with ideas.
Shade Of Swords
M.J. Akbar
Routledge
29 W. 35th St., New York NY 10001
0415284708 $25.00 1-800-634-7064
Any college-level collection strong in Middle East history will welcome the addition of Shade Of
Swords, which traces the origins of jihad in the struggle against oppression that has been part of
Muslim history across time. From early conflicts between Islam and Christianity to sources of
Islamic anger across the world in modern times as injustices and Western exploitation are
perceived,
this is packed with important insights.
Kesling Modern Structures: Popularizing Modern Living in Southern California 1934-1962
Patrick Pascal
Balcony Press
512 E. Wilson, Suite 306, Glendale, CA 91206
189044913X $24.95 www.amazon.com
The Kesling modern design form used in Southern California from 1934-62 is revealed in a strong
coverage that uses photos by Julius Shulman and David Sadofski to reveal the interiors and
exteriors
of model homes that made Kesling's design unique. Individual chapters explain the design choices
and explore the architect's controversial and unusual styles.
Dover Publications
31 E. 2nd St., Mineola, NY 11501
1-800-223-3130
Herbert Horris' Church Vestments (0-486-42256-9, $16.95) provides an unabridged republication
of the original 1950 Dutton edition, introducing new audiences to a scholarly text researching
Christian vestments and presenting over two hundred of the author's own illustrations 8 in full
color. Lore and facts blend in an excellent, in-depth coverage to intrigue any interested in
Christian
history. Charles Fort's classic Book Of The Damned (42133-3, $12.95) represents the 1919
classic
which was a contrary examination of connections between science and supernatural events even in
its time. "We've been damned by giants sound asleep", the author maintains in this lively
examination of inexplicable phenomenon. Abbe Dubois' Hindu Manners, Customs And
Ceremonies
(42115-5, $29.95) provides a classic, first-hand account of India in the early 19th century. Henry
Beauchamp edits and translates this classic and Dover reprints the 1905 edition, which will appeal
to
any who want an in-depth coverage of Hindu culture. All are recommended picks.
Clemens Kalischer
Norbert Bunge & Denis Brudna
D.A.P.
155 6th Ave., 2nd Floor, New York NY 10013
3775711295 $49.95 1-800-338-2665
Clemens Kalischer's photography has focussed on people around the world, especially refugees
and
photos of everyday scenes in New York. Clemens Kalischer gathers over a hundred selections
from
his body of work, spanning all his images and jobs and providing beautiful contrasts between
peoples
of Europe and America. Kalischer's photos of children are especially striking.
Tips: Ideas for Directors
Jon Jory
Smith & Kraus
177 Lyme Road., Hanover, NH 03755
1575252414 $16.95 1-800-895-4331
Those involved in drama and directing will find Tips: Ideas for Directors to be an excellent set of
invaluable insights into a director's work. Both novices and professionals will find Tips: Ideas for
Directors packed with years of experience, exploring the insights and direction of one of the
country's leading professional directors. A fine tool for directing and realizing a successful play
production.
Birkhauser/Princeton Architectural Press
37 E. 7th St., New York NY 10003
1-800-722-6657
Reflections on design, art, products and protest are revealed in Obey The Giant: Life In The
Image
World by Rick Poynor (3-7643-6565-X, $28.00), a set of essays by a design writer who explores
contemporary culture and art. From how designers and image-makers both collude with and resist
corporate control of the image world to innovative designers around the world, this comes packed
with insights and reflections. Dietmar Steiner, et.al.'s Stronger Opponents Wanted! (6463-7,
$29.95) explains how important cultural buildings were realized in the second half of the 20th
century. Architectural, political and economic concerns almost negated these projects:
architectural
vision and perseverance overcame all objection.
New Pages Books
Box 687, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
These new titles provide an excellent set of spiritual insights and are recommended picks for
readers
of tarot and astrology. The newly revised editions of Rachel Pollack's The Haindl Tarot are out,
and
worth picking up. The Major Arcana (1-56414-597-2, $13.99) receives its own book and covers
all
22 cards, exploring the images and meaning of each. Her Minor Arcana (598-0, $13.99) achieves
the
same, including a section on readings which goes into quite some detail on how to do Tarot
readings
and how to learn from them. A classic, excellent set for any interested in serious Tarot. Phyllis
Vega's Celtic Astrology (592-1, $13.99) provides insights into the mystical tree dryads which
represent the spiritual nature in humans. From discussions of the 'tree signs' to interpretation of
moods and others, this provides an excellent analysis of tree and sun signs. Ellen Cannon Reed's
Circle Of Isis (568-9, $14.99) covers ancient Egyptian magic and rituals for modern witches.
Chapters cover a host of tools for practicing new age rituals, from songs and details on
hieroglyphs
to explanations of new forms of divination and making oils and incense. All are excellent
coverages.
Gardener's Guide To Colleges For Multimedia And Animation
Garth Gardner, Ph.D.
Garth Gardner Company
2545 Sandbourne Lane, Herndon, VA 20171
1589650034 $29.95 www.amazon.com
This new, 2003 third edition of a classic covers accredited institutions for undergraduate and
graduate studies in the U.S., offering detailed profiles, insights on financial aid and scholarships,
and
coverage of programs of all types in computer graphics, games, illustration and fine arts. The
inclusion of requirements and contacts makes Gardener's Guide To Colleges For Multimedia And
Animation an essential choice for college-bound young artists.
Allworth Press
10 E. 23rd St. #510, New York NY 10010
1-800-491-2808
Four new titles are recommended picks for collections strong in the arts. Dina Appleton and
Daniel
Yankelevits' Hollywood Dealmaking (1-58115-228-0, $19.95) explains how deals are negotiated
in
Hollywood by entertainment professionals in the industry. From the roles of producers and writers
to how agreements are formed in the purchase of screenplays and rights, this makes for an
important
guide. Nicole Potter's Movement For Actors (233-7, $19.95) provides a complete survey of
modern
actor training, covering various techniques for movement and reviewing how exercises and skills
are
important to actors. Specific directions lend to easy understanding. Michael Bierut, William
Drenttel
and Steven Heller edit Looking Closer 4: Critical Writings On Graphic Design (235-3, $21.95),
an
important treatise on 20th century design which picks up where prior titles left off. Essays
published
from 1997-2000 provide critical reviews of major issues in graphic design. Drew Campbell's
Technical Film And TV For Nontechnical People (229-9, $19.95) details the equipment,
mechanics,
and processes involved in film and TV production. From the roles of producers, directors and
camera crews to how a script is interpreted and shot, this provides a wealth of specific details. All
are recommended, practical picks.
Billboard/Watson Guptill
770 Broadway, New York NY 10003
1-800-451-1741
Christopher Hart's Anime Mania (0-8230-0158-X, $19.95) will intrigue a wide audience: any who
are avid fans of anime and who want to learn how to duplicate and draw this unique cartoon style.
From transformations to teen characters, this is packed with color examples throughout, and clear
explanations for why and how the anime drawings differ from other techniques. Stephen Jones'
Creepshows (7884-1, $19.95) provides an excellent illustrated survey of Stephen King's horror
movies. Fans of King will find this packed with color shots from his many movies, along with a
detailed coverage of plots, actors, and how the movies were made. Andrew Sanderson's Night
Photography (5007-6, $29.95) simplifies the mechanics and drama of night photography, showing
how photographers use the night to create beautiful images. Beginners receive step-by-step
instructions on techniques necessary to produce these special images.
Best American Science And Nature Writing
Natalie Angier, Editor
Houghton Mifflin
222 Berkeley St., Boston, MA 02116-3764
0618134786 $13.00 1-800-225-3362
The finished version of this 2002 edition of a classic series hasn't been seen but promises much,
covering such diverse topics as the rise and fall of Islamic science, disappearing cancers, and
motherhood and cooperative breeding. An intriguing collection of essays not to be missed.
Alternative Medicine Sourcebook
Dawn Matthews, Editor
Omnigraphics
615 Griswold St., Detroit, MI 48226
078086050 $78.00 1-800-234-1340
Compiled and edited by Dawn Matthews, the Alternative Medicine Sourcebook provides basic
consumer information to alternative and complementary medical practices ranging from
acupuncture
and homeopathy to ayurveda and other non-Western medicine practices. Facts blend with
resources
and "user friendly" guidelines for use to make for an important alternate health reference; here
updated to its second edition.
The Ritalin Fact Book
Peter Breggin, MD
Perseus Publishing
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
073824501 $13.00 1-800-242-7737
Millions of children (and a great many adults) take Ritalin and other stimulants for ADD and other
problems- but these drugs are highly addictive, subject to abuse, and can cause many problems in
children. Learn about how they work in the brain in The Ritalin Fact Book, an informed and
informative guide for the non-specialist general reader and particularly geared to providing a clear
and accurate understanding how these drugs work in the kids they commonly are perscribed
for.
Health Of The Country
Conevery Bolton Valencius
Basic Books
387 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016
046589860 $30.00 1-800-242-7737
Health Of The Country is an informative survey of how American settlers understood the land and
their health blends original research with quotes from letters, journals, newspapers and doctors
reports. Issues of environmental health and changes come to life as they were perceived by the
early
pioneers of our country, making for an unusual and lively coverage of pioneer health concerns.
Suitable for community library general collections as well as specialized medical libraries.
Beyond The Deep
William Stone & Barbara Ende, et.al.
Warner Books
1271 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
0446527092 $26.95 1-800-759-0190
In 1994 a team of international cave explorers descended into one of the largest, most treacherous
caves in the world to ultimately spend 44 days underground, trying to chart its depths. Beyond
The Deep is a story of scientific investigation, obsession, and an ultimate brush with death: while
hard to categorize easily, Beyond The Deep entrances the reader with its powerful account of a
near-impossible investigation.
Encyclopedia Of Earthquakes & Volcanoes
David Ritchie & Alexander Gates
Facts on File
132 W. 31st St., New York, NY 10001
0816043728 $55.00 1-800-322-8755
The new edition of Encyclopedia Of Earthquakes & Volcanoes, updates a geologial studies
classic
and will provide students and interested non-specialist adult readers of all levels of expertise with
the
latest research on fault activities, earthquake swarms, geophysics, and volcanic activity. Over
seventy new illustrations from maps to diagrams pepper this informative edition, and the range of
new discoveries since the last edition makes Encyclopedia Of Earthquakes & Volcanoes a highly
recommended replacement for an aging school or community library basic refefence
collection.
M. Evans & Company
216 E. 49th St., New York NY 10017
1-800-462-6420
Two new blends of gardening and recipe guide are hard to easily categorize in Barbara Doyen's
"The
Farmer's Wife Guide" series. Running the gamut between cookbook and gardening book, and
highly
recommended for anyone who grows their own produce and eats from their own garden will
welcome these these two outstanding titles. Doyen's Fabulous Fruits & Berries (0-87131-975-6,
$21.95) provides all the basics of how to begin a fruit and berry garden, from selecting the right
varieties to picking the harvest and preparing for the yield. Doyen'sGuide To Growing A Great
Garden & Eating From It, Too! (0-87131-974-8, $21.95) covers all the basics of vegetable
gardening, from growing to freezing and using the vegetables.
Perseverance Press/Daniel & Daniel
Box 21922, Santa Barbara, CA 93121
1-800-662-8351
Two new publications provide satisfying California-based mysteries that involve readers in both
the
plot and the background of the Golden State. Nancy Baker Jacobs' Flash Point (1-880284-56-1,
$13.95) presents the realistic mystery of a San Francisco murderer who is using arson to murder
new mothers, after kidnapping their babies. Sleuth Susan Delancey takes on the baffling case
while
battling a bias against Asians. Lora Roberts' Another Fine Mess (54-5, $13.95) tells of writer
Bridgets Montrose, whose get-away writer's retreat becomes a nightmare of crime and
investigations. More than enough mystery tantalizes her efforts in this fast-paced story of a Santa
Cruz respite.
Better To Rest
Dana Stabenow
New American Library
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
0451207025 $23.95 1-800-847-5515
This Liam Campbell mystery revolves around an Alaskan trooper who represents both law and
order
and a solid foundation in his own chaotic life. When he discovers a downed World War II army
plane frozen in a glacier, military and personal history alike are challenged and his probe becomes
more complex. Better To Rest is highly recommended as a fine mystery with more than a dollop
of
twists and turns.
Prince Of Dreams
Curt Benjamin
DAW Books
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
0756400899 $23.95 1-800-847-5515
Prince Of Dreams is the second novel in a new fantasy series and familiarity with the former
Prince
Of Shadow will lend to an immediate appreciation of the complex fantasy plot and story of
Llesho,
who tries to find his family after an invasion. His search for his missing brothers and his journeys
into
peril make for strong adventure fantasy reading and enjoyment.
Earthrise
William Dietz
Berkley Publishing
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
0441009719 $23.95 1-800-847-5515
In three days an alien invasion destroys the greatest cities of Earth and enslaves what little of
humanity it doesn't annihilate. Jack Manning is one of these slaves who rises to become Chief of
Security in an oppressive office but his heart is with the human rebels and he vows to battle their
latest plan to further their hold on the planet. Earthrise is the sequel of, and conclusion to, William
Dietz's "DeathDay" and celebrates human resistance and will appeal to newcomers as well as prior
fans.
Baen Books
Box 1403, Riverdale, NY 10471
1-800-223-2336
Two new titles promise fans of alternative history and political fantasy a fine read. David Weber
and
Eric Flint's 1633 (0-7434-3542-7, $26.00) provides an alternative history of a tyrannical 17th
century European government against West Virginians who have been transplanted to the past
from
modern times. It's up to the technical skills of a modern man to affect the outcome of the greatest
naval war in European history in this satisfying story of transplanted values and broken dreams.
Robert Asprin and Linda Evans' For King And Country (3539-7, $24.00) tells of a captain who
thinks his mission is to follow a terrorist into the year AD 500 to stop a murder from changing the
course of history. It's not as easy as he plans: one man struggles to save his world and revise the
past alike in this thought-provoking story of change.
Calculated Risks
Gerd Gigerenzer
Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
0743205561 $25.00 1-800-223-2336
Math illiteracy presents a danger to both health and wealth, but how to tell when the numbers are
wrong? Calculated Risks: How To Know When Numbers Deceive You provides a set of simple
tools which helps in everything from understanding medical diagnoses and statistics to
comprehending probabilities and percentages. From risk management and misinformation to how
numbers may be both manipulated and misunderstood, this packed with examples from real
life.
Best Resumes And Cvs For International Jobs
Ronald Krannish & Wendy Enelow
Impact Publications
9104 Manassas Dr. Suite N, Manassas Park, VA 20111-5211
1570231834 $24.95 www.amazon.com
Create a resume not just for local eyes, but for world-wide communication: a focus on
international
job-seeking sets this apart from many others. From cross-cultural issues and using American-style
resumes to understanding web sites with international content and overseas job resources, Best
Resumes And Cvs For International Jobs: Your Passport To The Global Job Market is packed
with
both sample resumes and insights on how an international job market is approached. An
outstanding
set of professionally-authored resume examples packs this important guide.
Information Today
143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, NJ 08055-8750
1-800-300-9868
Two excellent new titles provide important information on the Internet and mis-information. J.A.
Hitchcock's Net Crimes & Misdemeanors (0-910965-57-9, $24.95) provides consumers with a
practical handbook of tips for spotting online opportunists, scam artists, and abusive practices.
From
laws and Web resources that can inform and aid victims to tips on how to conduct transactions,
business, and personal information on line, this is packed with important insights any computer
user
will appreciate. Anne Mintz edits Web Of Deception (60-9, $24.95) which covers the dark side of
the web world the spreading of misinformation and bad data on the Internet. Ten information
industry contributors provide insights on how to recognize and handle the flood of deception that
exists on the Internet. Both are important guides.
A Goose In Toulouse
Mort Rosenblum
North Point Press/FSG, dist.
19 Union Square W., New York NY 10003
0865476454 $16.00 1-888-330-8477
A Goose In Toulouse is both a travelogue and a culinary exploration of French fare, examining
the
history of French expertise and Rosenblum's journey to regional France in search of notable
signature dishes. His first-person account brings the French countryside, people and dishes to life
using a chatty, revealing tone that is inviting and fun.
Castles Made Of Sound
Larry Hicock
DaCapo Press
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
0306809451 $25.00 1-800-242-7737
Fans of jazz music and books will find this biography of Gil Evans to be revealing and engrossing.
Evans worked with a variety of artists from all genres; from the jazz greats to David Bowie and
Sting. While he's best known for his collaborations with Miles Davis, his touch is on a range of
styles and music and Castles Made Of Sound probes his life and art in fine color. Almost seventy
interviews form the foundations of this powerful read.
I Could Have Been A Cabdriver But I Became An Actor Instead
JoBe Cerny
Smith & Kraus
PO Box 127, Lyme, NH 03768
157525302X $14.95 1-800-895-4331
Plenty of books address how to act and how to find a drama group, but few address the nuts and
bolts of how to make a genuine living at acting. Enter Cerny's guide, I Could Have Been A
Cabdriver But I Became An Actor Instead, which differentiates acting ability from one's acting
career. The author has earned top dollar in the acting industry for over thirty years, without
having
to wait tables or take on demeaning side jobs: I Could Have Been A Cabdriver But I Became An
Actor Instead is packed with industry insights and advice gleaned from reality.
Copy Fights
Adam Thierer & Clyde Crews Jr., Eds
Cato Institute
1000 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20001
1930865252 $19.95 1-800-767-1241
Copy Fights is a very highly recommended survey of the rights issues involved in intellectual
property in the information age provides a fine assessment of how intellectual property has been
changing with the advent of the Internet. The pros and cons of such property are explored in a
guide
that includes contributors from both legal and consumer worlds: the issues involve how to
encourage artistic creation and scientific discovery while preserving intellectual property
rights.
SProfessional's Guide To Mining The Internet, 2nd Edition
Brian Clegg
Kogan Page/Stylus Publishing
22883 Quicksilver Dr., Sterling, VA 20166-2012
0749436557 $15.95 1-800-232-0223
Now in an updated and expanded second edition, Professional's Guide To Mining The Internet is
a
powerful handbook and a must' for any web researcher who would learn how to gather
information
and conduct research on the Internet. From going beyond the usual search engine to surveying
special indexes and search engines, this is packed with insider information to take the researcher a
step beyond Yahoo.
on Of Web Pages That Suck
Vincent Flanders, et.al.
Sybex, Inc.
1151 Marina Village Parkway, Alameda, CA 94501
0782140203 $45.00 1-800-227-2346
In Son Of Web Pages That Suck, web expert Flanders provides a new examination of the worst
web
sites; from the Mystery Meat Navigation cycle to splashy web pages which don't work. Nothing is
sacred from Flanders' critical eye: sites from Britney Spears, Century 21, and others all receive
critique for bad design but Son Of Web Pages That Suck is more than an just outline of
objectionable sites; for each chapter is packed with explicit instructions on how the problems can
be
cleared up or the site made more functional. An important guide packs color and humor with
practical nuts and bolts.
Highbridge Audio
1000 Westgate Dr., St. Paul, MN 55114
1-800-847-5515
Six new compact disc releases bring excellent variety to life in a form which lends to the newer
cars'
cd players and commuters' Walkmans. In Drs. Sampson Davis, et.al.'s The Pact (1-56511-651-8,
$32.95), three boys make a promise to change their lives and the world and succeed in keeping
their promises through adulthood. They overcome the odds of the lure of street life in the inner
city
to become doctors, and their unabridged voices bring their odyssey to life. Daniel Hays' On Whale
Island (666-6, $29.95) is narrated by Bruce Altman as it tells of a boy who dreams of living at sea,
away from civilization. As an adult he purchases an island and moves there with wife and son but
his year-long adventure away from the real world has its price in this gripping autobiography. Jack
Valenti's Speak Up With Confidence (739-5, $26.95) provides tips on how to speak in public.
Public speakers of all levels will find this packed with practical tips on how to prepare and deliver
effective speeches. Stories from the Yiddish Radio Project are presented in a 2-cd format,
returning
classics from radio in the 1930s to 1950s to modern format. The accounts have been restored for
this series and include commercials as well as Yiddish melodies, stories, and philosophical
reflections. Elizabeth Gilbert's Last American Man (653-4, $34.95) receives Patricia Kalember's
smooth and involving narrative style as it tells of Eustace Conway, who left a comfortable
suburban
home at the age of 17 to move into the Appalachian mountains. An excellent account of
wilderness
struggles and male archetypes. Mark Spragg narrates his own novel Fruit Of Stone (709-3,
$36.95),
set in Wyoming in cattle country and telling of a rancher who has loved one woman all his life.
When
she leaves town, two men follower her trail across the Midwest. All are excellent audios.
Power Phrases!
Meryl Runion
Power Potentials
PO Box 187, Cascade, CO 80809
0971443726 $21.95 www.amazon.com
Executives who want to polish and hone their communication abilities should look no further than
Power Phrases! . it's written by communications expert Meryl Runion,who provides key tips on
understanding what communications increase confidence, demonstrate professionalism, and tells
how to adjust language to achieve desired results. Packed with specific business examples,
converted phrases, and reflections on language effects.
Rethinking The Great Depression
Gene Smiley
Ivan R. Dee
1332 N. Halsted St., Chicago, IL 60622-2694
1566634725 $24.95 1-800-462-6420
The Great Depression of the 1930s led to expansions in the role of governments around the world
and bolstered socialist economic ideas for a while, yet led to a renewal of Keynesian economics.
We
are only just now beginning to understand the lasting effects of the Depression and the slow
recovery in its aftermath, with important data residing in scholarly studies and analyses. Smiley
uses
recent scholarship to probe the roots of the Depression in Rethinking The Great Depression,
providing new insights into its foundations.
Oasis Audio
289 S. Main Place, Carol Stream, IL 60188-2425
1-800-323-2500
Two new audio releases are narratives steeped in faith and self-discovery. Zig Ziglar's Zig
(1-58926-071-6, $17.99) tells of a man steeped in faith and family roots. Many may find his name
familiar he teaches how to be successful in life but this narrative focuses on his inspirations and
his beliefs and offers insights into his personality and roots. Nancy Guthrie's Holding On To Hope
(047-3, $11.99) tells how to hold to hope through spiritual faith despite all the conflicts the world
can dish out. An inspirational listen, both of these.
Audio Editions
1133 High Street, Auburn, CA 95603
http://www.audiopartners.com
Three fine new audio releases will attract readers of all types. Agatha Christie's Mirror Crack'd
(1-57270-277-X, $29.95) receives Rosemary Leach's British accent and clear style which lends to
the atmosphere of this Miss Marple mystery. A local fan is poisoned at a film celebrity's home and
it's up to the clever Miss Marple to solve the crisis which ensues over who did the deed. Alice
Munro's short stories come to life under the voice of Kymberly Dakin in Hateship, Friendship,
Courtship, Loveship, Marriage (291-5, $29.95), a collection of nine stories which focus on
male/female relationships. Professional actress/narrator Dakin lends a lively voice to this
coverage.
Harriet Chessman's Lydia Cassatt Reading The Morning Paper (288-5, $21.95) appears
unabridged
and spiced with the author's own voice as it tells of the Parisian world of Impressionist painter
Cassatt as told from the view of her older sister Lydia. Prior fans of Cassatt will find this
particularly revealing.
Scribners
1230 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
1-800-223-2336
The original Joy Of Cooking came in a thick one-volume book of Biblical proportions containing
just about all the kitchen facts a cook of any level could wish for. These contemporary reissues
are
much more accessible and managable, yet lose none of the appeal and authoritative commentary
of
the original. Prefaced with All About' in their titles and graced with colorful covers and color
photos of dishes, the new presentations Joy Of Cooking: All About Cookies (0-7432-1680-6,
$15.95), Joy Of Cooking: All About Pies & Tarts (2518-X, $15.95), Joy Of Cooking: All About
Party Foods (1679-2, $15.95) and Joy Of Cooking: All About Canning (1502-8, $15.95) each
hold a
little under a hundred recipes many presented for the first time ever, revamping the original
intent
of the Joy Of Cooking. Throought the collaborative efforts of cooking experts Irma S. Rombauer,
Marion Rombauer Becker, Ethan Becker, Irma Von Starkloff Rombauer, the format and vastly
revamped contents of these outstanding cookbook titles are a true delight for all kitchen cooks at
all
levels of experience and accomplishment.
Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
1-800-854-7859
These latest audio releases provide a diverse set of stories and readers, offering something for
everyone but particularly the leisure listener who enjoys a lively plot paired with solid narrator
embellishments. Perri O'Shaughnessy's Unfit To Practice (1-59086-104-3, $24.95) receives
veteran
Laural Merlington's smooth and quiet dramatic style as it tells of a successful attorney's life which
is
changed forever upon the theft of paperwork surrounding her most sensitive cases. Christopher
Reich is back with The First Billion (278-3, $24.95), pairing Chicago actor James Daniels' fine
style
with a story of betrayal, revenge, and redemption within an international financial consulting firm.
Packed with intrigue. Laurel Hamilton's Narcissus In Chains (208-2, $24.95) pairs romance with
sex, all heightened by Cynthia Holloway's gripping narrative style. A vampire hunter becomes
vulnerable to the thing she chases and fears in this chiller. Jennifer Crusie's Taking It (028-4,
$24.95) receives Aasne Vigesaa's lilting style and acting experience as it tells of a reformed art
forger who joins forces with a nearly-reformed con man to steal a painting against all odds. John
Darnton's Mind Catcher (223-6, $24.95) is a highly recommended listen for any who enjoy
medical
thrillers and who appreciate the long-time narrative skills of veteran Dick Hill. A child's brain
damage leads to an unorthodox experiment with computers which has startling results. Catherine
Coulter's Eleventh Hour (842-4, $24.95) receives Sandra Burr's excellent voiceover style as it
tells
of a priest's murder and FBI agents who find themselves baffled. Add family ties and complexities
and you have a fast-paced, many-faceted plot. Ridley Pearson's Art Of Deception (076-4,
$24.95)
also benefits from veteran narrator Dick Hill's experienced and quietly dramatic voice as it brings
to
life the story of an apparent bridge-jumper and possible murder. Nonfiction listeners who enjoy
biographies and memoirs will want to check out Toby Young's How To Lose Friends & Aienate
People (445-X, $24.95), telling of the author's ill-fated efforts at being a contributing editor at
Vanity Fair from British roots. Here is a hilarious account of his experiences in the US and his
unrequited search for love. All are involving listens.
Hands-On Senior Horse Care
Karen Hayes, DVM & Sue Copeland
Trafalgar Square
PO Box 257, Howe Hill Road, North Pomfret, VT 05053
1929164114 $29.95 1-800-423-4525
Hands-On Senior Horse Care will appeal to horse owners who need technical information on the
care of older horses; from basic management systems and adjustments in horse care to first aid. If
you're a horse owner and your house is 15 or older, Hands-On Senior Horse Care is the home
management book for you, covering everything from colic to lameness.
You Heard It Through The Grapevine
Stuart Walton
Aurum Press/Trafalgar Square
PO Box 257, Howe Hill Road, North Pomfret, VT 05053
1854107615 $17.95 1-800-423-4525
You Heard It Through The Grapevine isn't your usual anatomy of wine appreciation, but a fine
survey of how wine is bought and sold around the world; from wine consulting and writing to
marketing to both consumers and retailers. From questions about the quality of wine money can
buy
to realities about how wine is named and marketed, You Heard It Through The Grapevine is a
fine
blend of history and industry insights.
William Shakespeare
Anthony Holden
Little Brown UK/Trafalgar Square
PO Box 257, Howe Hill Road, North Pomfret, VT 05053
0316851590 $35.00 1-800-423-4525
Who was Shakespeare? Most coverages focus primarily on his literary achievements with only a
nod
to biographical background: Anthony Holden's William Shakespeare seeks a more integrated
portrait
of the poet and dramatist, reprinting a 1999 classic and including new images and ephemera to
illuminate his life and times. A recommended pick for students of the bard.
How To Restore Antique Furniture
Colin Holcombe
Crowood/Trafalgar Square
PO Box 257, Howe Hill Road, North Pomfret, VT 05053
1861264941 $24.95 1-800-423-4525
How To Restore Antique Furniture is a practical and "user friendly" manual for the repair of
antiques opens with a history of furniture construction methods, moving quickly to the basics of
given periods and the processes for dismantling and repairing older furniture. From repairs to
dowel
and tenon joints to tackling worn veneers, How To Restore Antique Furniture tells how to repair
many common faults while retaining an antique's value.
Collins Dictionary Of British History
HarperCollins UK/Trafalgar
PO Box 257, Howe Hill Road, North Pomfret, VT 05053
0007128061 $14.95 1-800-423-4525
The Collins Dictionary Of British History presents the revised, second edition of an important
companion for school and college students and history teachers. While its likely audience will be
British residents and schools, its compact encyclopedic reference to British history from Roman to
modern times, with over 3,000 entries and small maps and tables, will appeal to any audience
interested in quick reference material on the topic.
The Secret Scroll
Andrew Sinclair
Sinclair-Stevenson/Trafalgar Square
PO Box 257, Howe Hill Road, North Pomfret, VT 05053
0953739864 $35.00 1-800-423-4525
The Secret Scroll is the compellingly written story of the quest for a Holy Grail and how it came
to
Scotland provides a complete history of its early discovery, and its effects on the world. From lost
secrets and links between the Grail and other religious symbols to an in-depth coverage of the
Knights Templars, The Secret Scroll is a fascinating, lively coverage.
Hell In The Pacific
Jonathan Lewis & Ben Steele
Channel 4/Trafalgar Square
PO Box 257, Howe Hill Road, North Pomfret, VT 05053
0752219499 $29.95 1-800-423-4525
The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor awakened Americans to the dangers of staying out of the
Second World War: Hell In The Pacific accompanies an ouststanding television series that tells
the
story of the Pacific conflict in particular. Remote jungle stages, islands, and atrocity are examined
in
a title which considers the roots of wartime atrocities and the racism which existed on both
sides.
Catching The Killers
James Morton
Eubry Press/Trafalgar Square
PO Box 257, Howe Hill Road, North Pomfret, VT 05053
0091874106 $27.50 1-800-423-4525
Catching The Killers covers a wealth of detail on world crime-fighting techniques and their
development over the years, using key high-profile crimes to reveal the methods and discoveries
of
scientists and detectives who work closely on cases. Chapters focus on everything from examining
weapons of murder to considering informers and killers alike. Catching The Killers is highly
recommended as an intriguing account spiced with first-person observations and research.
Leisure Painter Projects
Collins UK/Trafalgar Square
PO Box 257, Howe Hill Road, North Pomfret, VT 05053
0007107730 $27.50 1-800-423-4525
Top professional artists reveal their basic secrets of how to paint popular scenes using a range of
media. Amateurs will find Leisure Painter Projects requires no prior knowledge or talents and
offers
a set of almost thirty practical painting projects suited to amateurs.
The Devil's Acolyte
Michael Jecks
Headline/Trafalgar Square
PO Box 257, Howe Hill Road, North Pomfret, VT 05053
0747269203 $28.00 1-800-423-4525
Fans of historical fiction and mysteries will delight in The Devil's Acolyte, a medieval mystery
novel
which adds to an already-strong series. A town's legacy of murders on the Abbot's Way involves
an
abbot in a search for the truth in this excellent and fast-paced story of intrigue.
Crown Of Lights
Phil Rickman
Pan /Trafalgar Square
PO Box 257, Howe Hill Road, North Pomfret, VT 05053
0330484508 $7.95 1-800-423-4525
A pagan couple purchases a derelict country church and the local minister reacts with a vengeance
in
Phil Rickman's Crown Of Lights. Ancient mysteries, local church interactions and rivalries, and
the
resurrection of a 18th century murder in play form add to the drama and mayhem in this lively
mystery.
Deborah Harry: Platinum Blonde
Cathy Che
Trafalgar Square Publishing
PO Box 257, Howe Hill Road, North Pomfret, VT 05053
0233999574 $8.95 1-800-423-4525
Deborah Harry: Platinum Blonde was written with the singer's cooperation and is the first book
dedicated to her life. Harry's flamboyance and aggressive pop style fostered a new generation of
female rock artists: this biography provides a bold mix of anecdotes and observations of the
maverick musician's life and times.
Madness Of Adam & Eve
David Horrobin
Bantam Press/Trafalgar Square
PO Box 257, Howe Hill Road, North Pomfret, VT 05053
059345498 $29.95 1-800-423-4525
The search for a treatment for schizophrenia has led to a new understanding of human evolution:
that's the underlying message of Madness Of Adam & Eve, a health title that considers who
schizophrenia shaped humanity. Medicine, evolutionary theory, and nutrition blend in a
consideration of what components make up a human, and how schizophrenia came to be
associated
not only with mental illness, but with gifted individuals.
The Origin Of Plants
Maggie Campbell-Culver
Headline/Trafalgar Square
PO Box 257, Howe Hill Road, North Pomfret, VT 05053
074727214X $37.50 1-800-423-4525
British residents and those who appreciate British botany will relish The Origin Of Plants, which
has
narrowed its focus to the people and plants who have shaped British history since Year 1000. A
thousand years ago there were only several hundred indigenous plants: today thousands of seeds,
bulbs and cuttings introduced by visitors from other countries contribute to a rich botanical
selection. Color illustrations liberally pepper this history.
Extreme Universe
Nigel Henbest & Heather Couper
Macmillan UK/Trafalgar, Dist.
PO Box 257, Howe Hill Road, North Pomfret, VT 05053
0752261630 $29.95 1-800-423-4525
Over a hundred dramatic astronomy photos contribute to Extreme Universe, an informative study
which focuses on the most violent phenomena in the cosmos; from wayward worlds on a possible
collision course with Earth to violent, unusual universes. Add liberal quotes from astronomers and
investigators and you have a lively dialogue about astronomy and the universe.
Monster Of The Madidi
Simon Chapman
Aurum Press/Trafalgar Square
PO Box 257, Howe Hill Road, North Pomfret, VT 05053
1854108409 $13.95 1-800-423-4525
A grainy photo in a London 1929 newspaper was enough to start people dreaming of a giant ape
rumored to have inhabited the jungles of northern Bolivia. Simon Chapman decides to investigate
and finds himself experiencing danger and natural beauty: Monster Of The Madidi tells of his
jungle
adventures in search of a mythical creature.
Diane C. Donovan
West Coast Editor
Midwest Book Review
James A. Cox
Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
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http://www.midwestbookreview.com
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