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Small Press Bookwatch

Volume 7, Number 12 December 2008 Home | SPBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Religion/Spirituality Shelf Jobs/Careers Shelf
Parenting Shelf Fiction Shelf Poetry Shelf
Business Shelf Self-Help Shelf Biography Shelf
Political Science Shelf Judicial Studies Shelf Money/Finance Shelf
Mystery/SuspenseShelf Science Shelf Cookbook Shelf
Social Issues Shelf Art Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Environmental Studies Shelf Theatre/Cinema Shelf Christian Studies Shelf
Philosophy Shelf American History Shelf Photography Shelf
Civil War Shelf Health/Medical Shelf  


Reviewer's Choice

How to Find A Good Weather Forecast
Tony Pann
Maven Mark Books
1288 Summit Ave., Suite 107/115 Oconomowoc, WI 53066
9781595980687, $10.000, www.mavenmarkbooks.com

Weather forecasts can be stereotypically inaccurate, but that's a stereotype that's dying. "How to Find a Good Weather Forecast" is a guide to the world of weather predictions. Explaining meteorology, the careers behind it, how a weather forecast is produced, and the titular concept of finding a solid and reliably accurate weather forecast. "How to Find a Good Weather Forecast" is informative and educational, and accomplishes more than it sets out to do.

Adoption Records Handbook
Teresa Brown
Crary Publications
405 Lehman Street, Las Vegas, NV 89110
9780974343860, $15.00 www.CraryPublications.com

Teresa Brown is a retired paralegal, a reunited birthmother, the daughter of adoptive parents, and the sister to an adoptee. She draws upon her many years of personal experience and professional expertise to write a definitive instruction manual for those adoptees who seek to identify and locate their birth parents or their children given up for adoption in "Adoption Records Handbook: Birth Family Searches Made Easier With Self-Help, Tips, Registries, Search Angels, Pro Se Legal Forms, etc." A 133-page compendium of sound information, practical instructions, and real-world advice, "Birth Family Searches Made Easier" truly lives up to the promise of its title and should be considered an essential reference on how to obtain non-identifying information, locating a specific adoption court, providing both conventional and unconventional searches, petition the court to open sealed adoption records, finding where a birth child was placed, and accessing relevant public records. Simply stated, "Adoption Records Handbook" should be a part of the reference collections of every community library in the country.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

Symphony of Your Karma
Rachel Madorsky
Avanty House
PO Box 427, 2460 Dundee Rd, Northbrook, IL 60062
9780970534958, $19.95, www.avantyhouse.com

Many people have heard of Karma. But what is it, really? "Symphony of Your Karma: Healing Destiny of Soul" looks to define the universal law of Karma, explaining that both bad and good luck are all repercussions of Karma. Encouraging readers to manage their own karma for the betterment of their lives, Rachel Madorsky has a positive message, making "Symphony of Your Karma" worth the time to read for those looking to get deeper in touch with spirituality.

The Mystical Seductress Handbook
Tannis Blackman
Alight
PO Box 846, Cathedral Station, New York, NY 10024-0846
9780965254052, $9.95, www.myalight.com

There's more to spirituality than simply becoming one with the universe. "The Mystical Seductress Handbook" takes a walk on the wilder side of spirituality, the kind that embraces love and sex between a woman and her man as the most raw and pure spirituality there is. Looking at the many aspects of sexual spirituality and many tips for a woman to be her man's own highly sensual seductress, "The Mystical Seductress Handbook" is a must for any who value the ingredient of sex to their harmony recipe.


The Jobs/Careers Shelf

Practice Dentistry Pain-Free
Bethany Valachi
Posturedontics Press
PO Box 25552, Portland, OR 97298
9780980077803, $39.95, www.posturedontics.com

Dentistry and Pain are related by people in a way that they would rarely expect- pain to the dentist. "Practice Dentistry Pain-Free: Evidence-Based Strategies to Prevent Pain and Extend Your Career" focuses on ergonomics for the Dentist, little known to non-dental professionals. In order to practice, a dentist is usually in an uncomfortable position, for potentially hours at a time. With tips on making one's dental practice more comfortable for oneself so that one's body isn't worn out before the Dentist's mind, "Practice Dentistry Pain-Free" is a must for any dental professional who cares about more than their patient's teeth.


The Parenting Shelf

The New Magic Bookshelf
Janie McQueen
Fine Lines Publishing
11770 Haynes Bridge Road, #205-326, Alpharetta, GA 30004
9780981611433, $19.95

Finding the right book for one's child is absolutely essential for promoting a life long love of reading. "The New Magic Bookshelf: Finding Great Books Your Child Will Treasure Forever" is a guide for parents and educators in matching children with the right books that will spark that love for literacy teach them that reading can be as fun as any toy or video game. Listing many solid children's titles with notes on what each book is about, what's the cream of the crop critically, and much more, "The New Magic Bookshelf" is a solid acquisition for anyone seeking to promote literacy in their own or other's children.

Joyous Child, Joyous Parent
Connie Allen
Metacreative Press
15329 SE 49th, PI, Bellevue, WA 98006
9780979666902, $10.00, www.joywithchildren.com

Children often take traits after their parents, including their demeanor. "Joyous Child, Joyous Parent: How to Have More Fun and Joy with Your Child" tells of Connie Allen, a family and education coach, and her idea that happy parents have happy children. Many parents are burdened with how to treat their children, and Allen gives advice on finding the sweet spot between being the good guy and the bad guy. The advice can make a child happy, which in turn makes the parent happy, reinforcing the child's own joy. "Joyous Child, Joyous Parent" is solid and recommended reading for confused parents.

The Resilient Child
George S. Everly
DiaMedica Publishing
150 East 61st Street, New York, NY 10065
9780979356452, $14.95, www.diamedicapub.com

The skill to deal with all of the problems life throws at you: Resiliency. "The Resilient Child: Seven Essential Lessons for your Child's Happiness and Success" is advice for parents to prepare their children for the harsh world that seeks to destroy their mind and bodies. Advice on helping children form strong relationships, find Integrity, and make responsible decision making actions, "The Resilient Child" is a strong recommendation for parents who want to prepare their child in the best way possible.


The Fiction Shelf

Blood On The Prairie
Steven M. Ulmen
Eagle Entertainment USA
130 Teton Lane, #2, Mankato, MN 56001
www.EagleEntertainmentUSA.com
9780615247960, $14.95, www.amazon.com

Steven Ulmen is a master storyteller as evidenced by "The Revenge of Little Crow", his highly praised and self-published historical novel of the Great Sioux Uprising in Minnesota that took place in 1882. Now Ulmen has fine-tuned and re-edited that superb novel to make it even better. It has now been enhanced with respect to historical accuracy and published as "Blood On The Prairie: A Novel Of The Sioux Uprising". A novel of clashing cultures fought out in the closing decades of the 19th century, this is western historical fiction at its best and recommended for personal reading lists and community library collections.

Deja Vu Dream
Virginia Nygard
Fiction Publishing
5626 Travelers Way, Fort Pierce, FL 34982
9780979675287, $15.00, www.pardiselostnovel.com

Guilt is something terrible to deal with, even when it's irrational. "Deja Vu Dream" tells of Jennifer Jenssen and feeling that she is responsible for the accident that claimed her husband's life. Thinking she has visions and lacks the power to interpret them, she continues to blame herself, and Dan Summers gives her a shoulder to cry on. But is it enough for Jennifer to face her fears? "Deja Vu Dream" is a psychological tale of dealing with the past while dealing with the future.

Christmasville
Michael Dutton
Linden Park Publishers
51 Bateman Avenue, Newport, RI 02840
PublishingWorks, Inc. & Revolution (publicity)
60 Winter Street, Exeter, NH 03833
0978665503, $18.95, www.lindenparkpublishers.com

Everyone loves Christmas. But Christmas time is not a year-round thing...or is it? "Christmasville" tells the story of Mary Jane Higgins and her town of Christmasville. Concepts such as Spring, February, and getting older are all unknown things. No one suspects a thing in Mary's town, after all, you never know what you're missing until you find out. Only Mary suspects, and she seeks to break the town's taboos of the train tracks to just find out if there's more to the world than a white Christmas. "Christmasville" tells a unique story of how paradise is not always what it seems.

Identity Theft
Dean Barrett
Village East Books
Countryside, #520, 8775 20th Street, Vero Beach, FL 32966
0978888812, $12.95, www.deanbarrettmystery.com

Sometimes a dream is so good that one simply doesn't want to wake up. "Identity Theft: Alzheimer's in America, Sex in Thailand, Tangles of the Mind" is a strange blend of story elements which come together in one unique and highly entertaining novel. Dan Richards has Alzheimers, and his lack of desire to deal with the fact has his caretakers going mad. A novel filled with morally ambiguous priests, Thai go-go dancers, and Revolutionary War patriots, "Identity Theft" is highly recommended reading for any fiction lover.

The Legacy of the Crook'd Staff
Peter E. Roller
Tiyospaye Publishing
8965 Hwy. 12, Suite #44, Fall Creek, WI 54742
9780978503550, $18.96

There are stories behind every family. "The Legacy of the Crook'd Staff: An Irish-American Family's Discovery" tells the story of two sisters who go to uncover their family legacy. Their ancestors were Irish settlers who came to the country with the early Europeans and lived among the native Americans. The story of their forefathers educates them about history and teaches them quite a bit about themselves. "The Legacy of the Crook'd Staff" is quite the story and solidly recommended fiction.

The Tsar's Dwarf
Peter H. Fogtdal
Hawthorne Books & Literary Arts
1221 Southwest 10th Avenue, Suite 408, Portland, OR 97305
0979018803, $15.95, www.hawthornebooks.com

Love can come in all shapes and sizes. "The Tsar's Dwarf" is the tale of young Sorine, a Danish dwarf sent to serve in the court of Tsar Peter the Great. Depressed with her life, she is cynic towards the court around her, but her mind lets her earn her way into many a heart including a fellow dwarf named Lukas. All good things come to an end though... "The Tsar's Dwarf" is tragic, yet intriguing, revealing the human side of those who have all to-often been written off as sub-human.

The Dog of the World
S. E. Karsnick
Breathing River
4423 Sheridan 712, Chicago, IL 60640-8941
9780615202297, $15.00, www.breathingriver.com

Depression has been defined as an illness by some, but could such an epidemic cause more damage than any other widespread illness? "The Dog of the World" takes a look at world wide spread of depression as many people throughout the globe choose their demise through suicide, losing their will to carry on. Esther is left to consider why so many would choose such an act and slowly begins to learn to understand it. "The Dog of the World" is a unique concept, masterfully executed.

The Lost Episodes of Beatie Scareli
Ginnetta Correli
Marshmallow Press
1305 Latigo Dr., Henderson, NV 89002
9780615213842, $16.95, www.beatiescareli.com

There's more than one way to tell a story."The Lost Episodes of Beatie Scareli" is a novel told in the fashion of a television script. A parody of Nickelodeon-style sitcom, the style begins to warp into a twisted tale sure to delight readers. Entertaining and fast moving, "The Lost Episodes of Beatie Scareli" is a fresh story that will please plenty of readers.

Two Weeks Since My Last Confession
Kate Genovese
Libros International
2 Whispering Hill Road, Woburn, MA 01801
1905988133, $17.99, www.kategenovese.com

The best upbringing in the world doesn't foolproof one from a terrible life. "Two Weeks Since my Last Confession" follows Molly O'Brien, daughter of a senator and raised by a devout catholic. To the public, she had the perfect upbringing. But at thirty, she has a crippling heroin addiction and her life is on the rocks. What went wrong? Her family holds deep secrets, and only they can come to terms with them to set Molly on the right path in life again. "Two Weeks Since my Last Confession" is a moving novel of dealing with one's dark past, recommended.

Twisted Consequences
Irie Parker
Hendrick Media
22476 East Ridge Trail Drive, Aurora, CO 80016
9780615236278, $10.99, www.Hendrickmedia.com

The Internet has made the world smaller, people from different corners of the planet can communicate as easy as two friends on a school yard. "Twisted Consequences" is a story of such a relationship. Tyson, a thirty-something year-old man from Romania meets Michaela, a Romanian woman. What seems to start off as a harmless chat turns into something much more. "Twisted Consequences" tells about the new brand of twenty-first century romance, cleverly composed and highly recommended.

The Girls
Sundee T. Frazier & Collaborators
Blooming Tree Press
PO Box 140934, Austin, TX 78714
9781933831169, $6.95, www.bloomingtreepress.com

Five contest winners with five stories about five sets of girls. "The Girls" are stories from winners of SmartWriters.com's Write It Now! Competition. The five stories tell of girl's relationship with her grandfather, the last chance to trick or treat, just starting out Junior high, finding one's meaning with poetry, and memories of a lost mother. "The Girls" is full of fine stories especially appropriate for young female readers -- something to consider as a gift from parents.

Steal Stuff From Work
Jasper Pierce
Spineless Books
PO Box 17191, Urbana, IL 61803
9780980139228, $11.11, www.spinelessbooks.com

Rebellion - some think it's cool, some take it too far. "Steal Stuff from Work" is a book about such types. Following Cyrus as he deals with his own minor rebellion, be it vocational kleptomania and rebellion in his own way as a waiter in a job he hates. Consequences follow every action Cy soon learns. "Steal Stuff From Work" tells a story that many will empathize with.

The Magi Of Futurity
Judy Mezen
Radiance Unlimited Publishing
PO Box 2150, Yelm, WA 98597
9780982037607, $12.50, www.amazon.com

A work of deftly written, reader engaging, and conceptually entertaining metaphysical fiction, "The Magi Of Futurity" by Judy Mezen is the two part story of Anita. Part one introduces her as a young girl of fourteen living with her rural family during America's Great Depression. By repeating a simple prayer, Anita finds herself in communication through dreams with a 'soul group' and for two remarkable weeks in 1932, Anita learns the secrets to living a happy life. Part two shows Anita as a grown woman of 33 years, just emerging from a divorce and seeking to recapture that elusive state of happiness she discovered as a child. Anita opens a conscious channel of communication with her spiritual counterpart and once again is blessed with a metaphysical knowledge of how to live, how to enjoy, how to cope and overcome the vicissitudes of life. "The Magi Of Futurity" is recommended to everyone who enjoys a unique and well crafted novel, but is of special recommendation to readers with a metaphysical interest.


The Poetry Shelf

Deniability
George Witte
Orchises Press
PO Box 320533, Alexandria, VA, 22320-4533
9781932535198, $14.95, www.amazon.com

Poetry is as ancient as language. It ranges from the simple pun to the complex metaphor. And at its best it is nothing less that music for the mind. Such is the caliber of poetry by George Witte that is now compiled into "Deniability". This is Witte's second anthology and is particularly notable for his deft skills in creating memorable verse. 'Just Cause': A line is crossed, unnoticed by command/But photographed in fame's amoral flash./Bodies piled, trophy game atop which rests/One boot; smiles of shy surprise, unabashed.//Another line and wilderness surrounds/Us, humid aisles where everything's displayed/Conscripted to absolve our choices God/Deserts to find a new identity.//We bushwhack through thick scrub, directionless/The way's degraded, markers overgrown/Where filthy water swamps the lowest place/We lost crusaders kneel, and choke it down.

When The Labyrinth Is Deciphered It Will Disappear
Elizabeth Hellman
Serious Ink Press
PO Box 292, Church St. Station, NY, 10008
9780979698521, $12.95, www.seriousinkpress.com

The very best of the poets are those who can deftly weave enduring words into the well-crafted and imaged fabrics of our imaginations and emotions, affecting our perceptions and influencing our lives. Such a poet is Elizabeth Hellman as judged by the 92-page collection of her work comprising "When The Labyrinth Is Deciphered It Will Disappear", newly published by Serious Ink Press and recommended to the reading lists and personal collections all contemporary poetry enthusiasts. 'Pink Lamp': I know you want to touch me and I'd lie/down with your where parquet/shimmers like black ice, without preliminaries./These days we pretend/we're all kissed out though I've stretched/on your piano bench, a perfect/fit from shoulders to overhanging knees./I've stretched out/where you sat to touch the keys, flesh/and blood, heartbeat, breathing, keeping time./Come away, come away, to the caves/in yonder mountains, where the robbers retreat./Ridiculous, I've lugged my pink/lamp across boroughs, since it tires me/to sing the notes unshaded,/over-exposed, and bundled it home again/quenched, brown cord strangling its throat.

Pointing at the Moon
Bill Wunder
WordTech Editions
PO Box 541106, Cincinnati, OH 45254-1106
9781934999127, $17.00, www.wordtechweb.com

Prolific author and Pushcart nominee Bill Wunder brings his expertise to reader's eyes in "Pointing to the Moon". A Vietnam Veteran, Wunder reflects on his times and the atrocities he has witnessed and the poignant sights he has seen throughout the conflict. "Pointing to the Moon" is worth a poetry fan's time. "Sniper": It's not the tap-tap-tap/of the dead sniper's blood//dripping. Not the electric hum//of excited flies/drawn to his wounds.//Not the shrill caw/of a Green Hornbill complaining,/that awakens/me at 3 am.//It's the sniper's face, mouth/wide open, trying to//breathe back/his last gasp.

Poems Against War
Gregg Mosson, director
Wasteland Press
P.O. Box 925, Shelbyville, KY 40066
9781600472343, $10.00, www.greggmosson.com

Poetry can carry a strong message just like any other art form. "Poems Against War: A Journal of Poetry and Action" is a collection of poems dedicated to protesting war in its many forms, focusing on poems from poets in the last decade or so. With additional poems on poetry's role in the media, "Poems Against War" is very much recommended reading for poetry fans everywhere. "Paramecium Messiah Gesticulation" by Antler: A paramecium gesticulating as a cosmic prophet/in a drop of pondwater/warns other paramecia to beware/of delusions of grandeur...

Circular Stairs, Distress in the Mirrors
Peter Klappert
Six Gallery Press
PO Box 90145, Pittsburgh, PA 15224
9780981009117, $18.00, www.sixgallerypress.com

With six anthologies of poetry to his name, no one is going to call Peter Klappert inexperienced. "Circular Stairs, Distress in the Mirrors" is his latest collection of poetry. A book of contrasts and opposites, it examines the very duality of human nature. "Circular Stairs, Distress in the Mirrors" is well worth the price of admission. "The Spider, Unsurprised": Four months content. to mend the depredations/of the wind, while the great sphere/became a small sphere/and I, wound out, inside/cataleptic, six legs/on the graph of my season,/sensed your flurried wings/and registered a gradual/descent.

Wrong
Laurie Blauner
Cherry Grove Collections
PO Box 541106, Cincinnati, OH 452541
9781934999264, $18.00

With two novels and five books of poetry under her belt, there's no denying that Laurie Blauner knows how to write. "Wrong" is yet another anthology of poetry, channeling her experiences in day to day life and analyzing the little things in life. "Wrong" is the work of a master of prose and verse, recommended reading. "All Talk": My apology is a ghostly accident.//Words slipping out remind me of a moon on an unlikely sea.//See what you want,/but what's heard is a wet confession.//I didn't do what you think I did.//Your body a pale, perforated landscape/that expects so little.//I did something different. I//slid past bad weather, collided,// trees with their sad rustling was one example.//I don't know what else to do.//Intention is a lonely leaf/that happens and happens.

Savage Machinery
Karen Rigby
Finishing Line Press
PO Box 1626, Georgetown, Kentucky 40324
9781599242873, $14.00 www.finishinglinepress.com www.karenrigby.com

Panama-born creative writer and poet Karen Rigby presents Savage Machinery, a flat-spined chapbook of free-verse lyrics describing the flawed, impure world of today. A vividly emotional portrayal of the darkness and emptiness that mar the beauty of life and natural wonder, Savage Machinery is an unforgettable collection that deserves to be pondered at length. "Bread": Pitas swell, parachutes / in their ovens. On holidays, wreaths / braided with raisins. / I like a simple loaf best. / No olives greasy as pennies, / just dry crust flaking / in my hands, torn magnolias / clean and odorous / as bodies after love. / Salt spills like constellations / on my tongue. The first time a man / fed me bread, the pockets of air / were shutters opening.

Restless Astronomy
Michael Gilmore
Dalton Publishing
PO Box 242, Austin, TX 78767
9780981744308, $12.95, www.daltonpublishing.com

A man who can't stay in one area for too long, Michael Gilmore has much experience to draw upon. "Restless Astronomy" is him drawing upon that assortment of experience to produce powerful, yet entertaining poetry that readers of offbeat and varied assortments will love. "Restless Astronomy" is worth the price of admission, and the ride is something to be savored. "Brown Trout": I love/Rush Limbaugh/when he smokes a cigar/And lifts the thick brown rolled leaf/To his lips//It is like watching/A turd/Leap/Into the ass from which it came.

A Stranger Here Myself
Niki Nymark
Cherry Pie Press
PO Box 155, Glen Carbon, IL 62034-2905
9780974846873, $10.00, www.cherrypiepress.blogspot.com

A resident of St. Louis for all of her life, prolific and award winning poet Niki Nymark truly knows the St. Louis spirit. "A Stranger Here Myself" is a volume in the Midwest Women poets, channeling the spirit of the American heartland. A strong taste of St. Louis in verse form, "A Stranger Here Myself" is worth the time to enjoy. "In Praise of Prose": Forsake poetry./Prose is better--/more dependable,/less dangerous,/like that nice boy/ your parents hoped/you'd marry.//Poetry is the one/you'd climb/out the window/to meet at midnight.

Horse Playing the Accordion
Elizabeth Smither
Ahadada Books
3158 Bentworth Drive, Burlington, ON, Canada L7M 1M2
9780978141486, $12.50

With over twenty books of entertaining fiction to her name, Elizabeth Smither shows much of her experience in "Horse Playing the Accordion". Reflecting on many subjects, such as her life, tragedy, and even adding a degree of absurdist humor, "Horse Playing the Accordion" offers much for readers to appreciate. "Making Tarte Tatin": The apples, halved and cored and golden/sit in the caramel like big-bottomed nudes/before the pastry, like a big bath sheet covers them./Is this a new method of writing recipes? Transcribing/by imagery. The next then is fake violence./Upend the tin with a firm slap of the rolling pin.//and out come eight golden breasts/swimming through gold silk with a touch of/severe wrist-crust propriety.


The Business Shelf

Strategic Entrepreneurism
Jon B. Fisher, Gerald A. Fisher, Wallace Wang
Select Books
1 Union Square West, Suite 909, New York, NY 10003
9781590791899, $21.95, www.selectbooks.com

There's a lot of advice out there, but which is the right kind to heed? "Strategic Entrepreneurism: Shattering the Start-Up Entrepreneurial Myths" seeks to dispel the myths that society has laid out for the aspiring businessman who's just getting started in the game. Laying out strategies for business men trying to cut through the jungle and climb the mountain that is start up, Fisher offers much sound advice, making "Strategic Entrepreneurism" a must for business people just starting up.


The Self-Help Shelf

Living Life
R.L. Wysong
Inquiry Press
7550 Eastman Ave., Midland, MI 48642
9780918112125, $27.95, www.inquirypress.com

The greatest muscle of the human body, the mind, so often goes neglected. "Living Life As If Thinking Matters" seeks to help readers start to use their mind and question everything. So often people just simply accept what is laid out in front of them, and accept opinions that are not their own. Pushing readers to do heavy duty thinking when it comes to every aspect of life and use their thinking to improve upon it for themselves and everybody else around them, "Living Life" is a solid acquisition for anyone who's looking to stop living their life mindlessly.

Real Power
David Lieberman
Viter Press
1072 Madison Avenue, Lakewood, NJ 08701
9780978631338, $15.00

Insecurities and under-confidence are what keep people from their full potential. "Real Power: Rise Above Your Nature and Never Feel Angry, Anxious, or Insecure Again" is a guide to overcoming emotional shortcomings to realize one's full potential and keep that potential. By using this confidence, one can make major changes in one's life, no longer restrained by the fear of rejection and failure. Shutting out fear is something everyone can do, and "Real Power" is a guide to how, recommended.

A Passion for the Edge
Tim Tyler
Edenscape Publishing
PO Box 110650, Anchorage, AK
9780978978617, $21.50, www.edenscapepublishing.com

Someday..., After I..., I'm going to... All are common words to make excuses for why one isn't doing what they want to do now. "A Passion for the Edge: Living Your Dreams Now" is a different sort of self-help book, telling readers that the best way to live their lives is to jump right into doing what they want to do. Everyone has different hopes and dreams, and there is no universal method that will get readers to their goals outside their own path to it. "A Passion for the Edge" tells of Tyler's story on the edge and how his story can help many readers.

Survivor's Guide to Grief
Patricia Luce Chapman
Chapman Works
6 Spoonbill Lane, Rockport, TX 78382
9780976520719, $14.95, www.patricialucechapman.blogspot.com

Grief doesn't have to overwhelm one's life. "Survivor's Guide to Grief: Meeting It, Managing It, Mastering It" is a guide to dealing with the flood of emotions that is grief. A therapeutic guide, it will walk readers through the stages of loss and teach them to overcome the feelings and turn the energy that depresses them into the energy that drives them on, honoring the memory of their lost loved ones. "Survivor's Guide to Grief" is a solid gift to anyone who is coping with a recent and crushing loss.

Open Your Heart with Quilting
Kelly M. Smith
Dreamtime Publishing
6860 Gulfport Avenue South Suite 950, South Pasadena, FL 33707
9781601660145, $14.95, www.dreamtimepublishing.com

There are many activities that can be therapeutic, and Dream Time continues to show people how. "Open Your Heart with Quilting: Mastering Life Through the Love of the Patches" discusses how quilting can be used as meditation and help readers settle themselves after stressful activities as simple as a day at the office through this craft. With advice on connecting with one's community, family, and immortalizing other memories through knitting a quilt. "Open Your Heart with Quilting" is a must for anyone who wants to unlock the mental benefits of quilting.

The Wings of Possibility
Eleanor Carty
Wheat Mark
610 East Delano Street, Suite 104, Tucson, AZ 85705
9781604941319, $15.95

Potential is something that never really goes away, even in adult-hood. "The Wings of Possibility: Creating Your Life from a Higher Point of View" draws from the personal experiences of Eleanor Carty, who brings readers a powerful, poignant, yet sensible message. One can live their life to the best possible extent they can, regardless of what harshness life has presented them with. "The Wings of Possibility" has many positive and potentially life-improving pieces of advice, highly recommended.


The Biography Shelf

Sixty Five Roses
Heather Summerhayes Cariou
McArthur & Company
322 King St. West, Suite 402, Toronto, ON M5V 1J2, Canada
9781552786789, $16.95, www.mcarthur-co.com

If "Sixtyfive Roses: A Sister's Memoir" was about a boatload of roses, it would have been a happier story. Sadly, it's about a sister coping with her sibling's fate with cystic fibrosis. Sixtyfive roses was what her childhood understood of the disease that was going to take her sister away far too soon. The chain of events eventually led to the founding of the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis foundation. A tale that is both heartwrenching and heartwarming, "Sixtyfive Roses" is a must for anyone with a relative who is dealing with such an illness.

Salt in Our Blood
Michele Longo Eder
Dancing Moon Press
PO Box 832, Newport, OR 97365
9781892076441, $16.95, www.saltinourblood.com

The life of a fisherman can be a treacherous one filled with peril and potential death. The life of a fisherman's wife may be worse due to the unknowing and non-stop confusion one faces. "Salt in Our Blood: The Memoir of a Fisherman's Wife" is the reflections of a homemaker when the family business is doing a job with a shockingly high mortality rate. The daily worry, the daily challenges, and the unfortunate event of what they fear most occurring. "Salt in Our Blood" is very much recommended for anyone with family in the commercial fishing industry.

Two Years in Poland and Other Stories
Lawrence Brane Siddall
Pelham Springs Press
129 Strong Street, Amherst, MA 01002
Micablue Creative (publicity)
48 Conway Road, West Whately, MA 01039
9780981529707, $16.95, www.lawrencesiddal.com

Many people spend their retirements sitting back and enjoying life. Lawrence Siddall couldn't stand the inactivity and joined the Peace Corps. "Two Years in Poland and Other Stories" is the story of a retiree who is among one of the four hundred and fifty senior citizen volunteers. He speaks as an older man adjusting to a new language and culture with plenty of anecdotes through his life that will intrigue many a reader. "Two Years in Poland" is a work of poignant and entertaining story telling, highly recommended.


The Political Science Shelf

Zionism, Militarism, and the Decline of US Power
James Petras
Clarity Press
Ste. 469, 3277 Roswell Rd., NE, Atlanta, GA 30305-1854
9780932863607, $16.95, www.claritypress.com

For something which is politically an infant, Israel has played big time on the world politics field. "Zionism, Militarism, and the Decline of US Power" is a no-holds barred examination of the relationship between Israel and the United States, and its effects on the United States pushes for a more peaceful Middle Eastern region. Arguing that the close relationship between the two could have disastrous long term effects, "Zionism, Militarism, and the Decline of US Power" has a dissenting opinion to the populous, and backs it up well.


The Judicial Studies Shelf

Unjust Justice
Chantal Delsol
Intercollegiate Studies Institute
3901 Centerville Road, PO Box 4431, Wilmington, DE 19807-0431
1933859075, $28.00, www.isibooks.org

Knowledge is power, and power can be used for tyranny. "Unjust Justice: Against the Tyranny of International Law" looks at the growing flaws in international law. Aiming at pretension, hypocrisy, and other notorious things so-called progressive minds have manipulated international law for in the name of peace, Delsol pulls no punches in being honest and frank about the misdeeds of those in charge. "Unjust Justice" should be required reading for anyone studying international law.


The Money/Finance Shelf

Stop Debt Collectors
Gerri Detweiler, Mary Reed, and John Ventura
Credit.Com
550 15th Street Suite 37, San Francisco, CA 94103
9781424335114, $29.95, www.credit.com

Debt is something that no one wants to be in. "Stop Debt Collectors: How to Protect Your Rights and Resolve Your Debts" is a guide for those who in debt who want to stop it from controlling their life. Outlining one's rights to privacy and other topics, it gives the indebted what they need to protect their credit scores and slowly get their debt under control so that one can some day be free of the problems of debt. "Stop Debt Collectors" is a strong choice for those in debt.

Pay for College Without Sacrificing Your Retirement
Tim Higgins
Bay Tree Publishing
PO Box 70236, Richmond, CA 94807-0236
9780972002189, $18.95, www.baytreepublishing.com

The outrageous costs of college are what scare many a potential student off, unwilling to work until the day they die. "Pay for College Without Sacrificing Your Retirement: A Guide to Your Financial Future" is a personal finance future says that the two can coexist quite well. Outlining financial aid, scholarships, tax shelters, personal savings, and other things that those looking towards college must consider, "Pay for College Without Sacrificing Your Retirement" is the companion guide these students need.

Right Before Your Write
Jonathan O'Brien
Sandy Point Ink
PO Box 6847, Santa Barbara, CA 93160
9780981621609, $16.95, www.sandypointink.com

Asking nicely is more than a skill just for young children to get what they want. Adults have to ask nicely too. "Right Before You Write: The Groundbreaking Process Used to Win More than $385 Million in Competitive Grant Awards" is a guide to crafting the ideal and most effective grant one can, in order to get the money one needs for their science, or other important project that wouldn't be possible without funding. A step-by-step process is outlined, giving the in-need what they need to get the money, without being a professional grant writer. "Right Before You Write" is an absolute must for any organization that depends on grant money to survive.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Baby Shark
Robert Fate
Capital Crime Press
PO Box 272904, Fort Collins, CO 80527
9780977627691, $14.95, www.captialcrimepress.com

Vengeance isn't something good girls seek. "Baby Shark" is the debut novel in the titular series by Robert Fate. Her father murdered, herself used and abused, and almost murdered herself, she sets out to get the justice she wouldn't get otherwise in the world of the 1950s. Kristin shuns the society that shuns her, in order to get vengeance. A fast paced and exciting start, "Baby Shark" is well worth reading, as are the followups. The second book, Baby Shark's Beaumont Blues (9780977627622, $14.95) are Kristin's continued adventures, and the third, Baby Shark's High Plains Redemption (9780979996023, $14.95) is just more of the excellent thriller for those who couldn't get enough of the first.

Death of the Mystery Novel
Robert Underhill
Delicti Press
6593 Omigisi Beach Rd, Northport, MI 49670
9780979852619, $22.95, www.delictipress.com

Murder isn't an honor that any writer wishes to receive. "Death of the Mystery Novel" is a story of a new University Chairman, Henry Beasley, declaring that books should be regarded by their commercial viability instead of artistic or literary merit. Outrage erupts, and Beasley announces honors for the best sellers, who happen to be Mystery writers. With their new success came death, as they soon start to turn up with the fates of the characters they crafted. "Death of the Mystery Novel" is a mystery that delves into the inner feuds of authors against themselves, recommended.


The Science Shelf

Who's Who of the Brain
Kenneth Nunn, Tanya Hanstock and Bryan Lask
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
400 Market Street, #400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
9781843104704, $19.95 www.jkp.com

Any interested in the science of the brain and how it works usually faces a daunting task wading through technical scientific literature, so it's refreshing to see WHO'S WHO OF THE BRAIN, a survey which enlivens the approach by adding names and descriptions to a lively treatise. A series of 'characters' including Frederick Foresight (the frontal cortex) and others interact, with connections made between brain functioning and basic personality and operations. Perfect for general-interest, non-technical libraries.


The Cookbook Shelf

What Else is to Eat?
Linda Marienhoff Coss
Plumtree Press
PO Box 1313, Lake Forest, CA 92609-1313
9780970278524, $16.95, www.foodallergybooks.com

When one has allergies, one faces a different sort of challenge when facing something as common as dinner. "What Else to Eat?: The Dairy-, Egg-, and Nut-Free Food Allergy Cookbook" is a cookbook aimed at those who face dairy, egg, and nut allergies. With recipes on everything from soups and pasta, to Fish, Beef, and Chicken, to sweet treats like cookies and cake, "What Else to Eat?" is a must for allergic chefs or chefs who cook for allergic audiences, recommended.


The Social Issues Shelf

Notes on Democracy
H.L. Mencken
Dissident Books
PO Box 20547, New York, NY 10021-0070
9780977378814, $15.95

The more things change, the more they stay the same. "Notes on Democracy" was written well over eight decades ago, but much of its wit and insight draws striking parallels to the modern world of today. This new edition is brought up to today's quality of books, but Mencken's original message remains strong, enhanced with an afterword from Pulitzer Prize-winner Anthony Lewis and an introduction from a biographer on Mencken biographer Marion Elizabeth Rodgers. "Notes on Democracy" is timeless and highly recommended reading.


The Art Shelf

Artists' Guidebook to a New Creative Life
Alice Harrison & Susan G. Hammond
Art Press Publishing LLP
PO Box 554, Sparta, NJ 07871
9780615216188, $21.95, www.artpresspublishing.com

For artists, the hardest part of the job is getting their work noticed. "Artists' Guidebook To a New Creative Life: Produce, Exhibit, and Sell Artwork" is a guide for artists to getting their work noticed and beyond. Going over a step by step process of exhibiting one's art and how to turn that into profit and more, such as earning grants and other deals that many artists dream of. An essential for any who want to make their art their career, "Artists' Guidebook to a New Creative Life" is highly recommended.

Digital Animation
Andrew Chang
Ava Academia
1130 West 8th Street, Plainfield, NJ 07063
9782940373567, $29.95

Digital animation has taken the world by storm, surpassing traditional animation in today's big budget animated features. "Digital Animation" turns towards the history of digitized animation, including well before the personal computer gained acclaim. It also introduces the basics and fundamentals of digital animation for those interested in getting started in the field, and how one should pursue their education in this art. "Digital Animation" is an absolute must for fans who want to turn their fandom into a hobby or even a career.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

The Crown Conspiracy
Michael J. Sullivan
Aspirations Media, Inc.
7755 Lakeview Lane, Spring Lake Park, MN 55432
9780980003437, $11.99, www.aspirationsmediainc.com

A thief yes, a traitor, no. "The Crown Conspiracy" tell of Royce & Hadrian, thieves and mercenaries for hire. Making a good life doing what they do, they soon find themselves the accused of murdering their king. Dragged into a conspiracy they want no part of, they have to find someway to clear their names and save their own hides. A fast paced and riveting fantasy, "The Crown Conspiracy" is well worth reading.

Mystic Publishers
850 South Boulder Highway, Suite 436, Henderson, NV 89015-7561
www.mysticpublishers.com

The collaborative writing team of J. A. Wilkins and R. R. Draude have created what will be a five-volume science fiction action/adventure novels. Amanda Callin and her privateers who hold hostage a lost world which serves as the home of a hitherto unknown colony In "Tyranny's Outpost" (9780972784009, $15.95) and only Elise Danion and the crew of the cargo ship Capricorn hold out any hope for the oppressed. In "Tyranny's Prisoner" (0972784020, $15.95) Callin is out for revenge as she kidnaps a key computer developer for his knowledge of colonial security. Once again it's up to Elise Danion and her crew to save the day. In "Tyranny's Alliance" (9781934051177, $16.97) Elise Danion must deal with the gangster planet Bountiful and this Amanda Callin machinations are complicated by Daniel Smith who may have his own diabolical motives. Elise must deal with a complex array of problems and personalities if she is to get her ship and crew safely back to Earth. This highly entertaining and deftly written series is recommended to science fiction fans and will culminate with "Tyranny's Shadow (scheduled for release in 2009) and "Flight From Tyranny" (scheduled for release in 2011).


The Environmental Studies Shelf

The Buzz About Bees
Jurgen Tautz
Springer
333 Meadowlands Parkway, Secaucus, NJ 07094
9783540787273, $39.95, www.springer.com

It is said that if Bees were to suddenly disappear from the earth, a mass extinction would occur. "The Buzz About Bees: Biology of a Superorganism" is a complete and comprehensive study on this fascinating species. Offering his own revolutionary opinion, Tautz does not describe the bee hive as a group of creatures living socially, but instead a single superorganism spread over many bodies. Arguing his unique stance, "The Buzz About Bees" is utterly intriguing and a very high recommendation for both etymologists and non-specialist general readers alike.

Everglades Betrayal
Monika Mayr
Two Harbors
Pemberton Station, PO Box 821536, Vicksburg, MS 39182
9781935097044, $15.95, www.twoharborspress.com

The Everglades is an endangered area, neglected by the government. "Everglades Betrayal: The Issue That Defeated Al Gore" tells of how mismanagement and neglect by the government overall, and how Al Gore, pandering to the development that threatened the area, lost Floridian Environmentalist's vote, lost Florida, and lost the election. Looking at the problems with the management of the Everglades as a whole on multiple levels of government, "Everglades Betrayal" is a vivid picture of a land in turmoil, not getting the help it needs.


The Theatre/Cinema Shelf

Mythic Plays
Conrad Bishop & Elizabeth Fuller
WordWorkers Press
c/o The Independent Eye
502 Pleasant Hill Rd., Sebastopol, CA 95472
0974566438, $19.95, www.independenteye.org

Classics are classics for a reason, and interpreting them to theater doesn't make them lose much of their impact. "Mythic Plays: From Inanna to Frankenstein" is a collection of four fully-scripted plays of historical purpose reworked for the modern era. The four tales are based off the classics, but have a twist injected into each of them. The stories are Descent of the Goddess Inanna, Medea/Sacrament, Ragnarok: Doom of the Gods, and Frankenstein. All are intriguing reading, making "Mythic Plays" a solid acquisition.


The Christian Studies Shelf

The Eagle
Ron Lavin
CSS Publishing Company
517 S. Main Street, Lima, OH 45804
9780788025556, $13.95, www.csspub.com

Any Christian can find much comfort from the Holy Bible. "The Eagle: Don't Despair Passages in the Gospel of John" takes a look at using the Gospel of John for comfort and release in times of turmoil. Usable as either personal support or Bible study piece, "The Eagle" is there to brighten worshiper's days and give them much optimism for the future.

If You Want a Harvest, You Have to be Willing to Cultivate the Soil
T. Darnell Saunders
Jones Harvest Publishing
5400 East State Road 45, Bloomington, IN 47408
9781603880008, $11.95

There is no effect without a cause. "If You Want a Harvest, You Have to be Willing to Cultivate the Soil" is the work of a highly educated and devout Virginian pastor of Dr. T. Darnell Saunders. A self-help book that draws heavily from the motivational and encouraging passages from the Holy Bible, "If You Want a Harvest , You Have to be Willing to Cultivate the Soil" is an absolute must for any Christian who has been facing a long chain of gloomy days.

Sex Addiction in the Church
Steve Steele, editor
Quarry Press
PO Box 181736, Dallas, TX 75218
9780971495876, $12.75, www.quarrypressbooks.com

Very few people in the world hate sex. But too much of a good thing can be just as destructive as a bad thing. "Sex Addiction in the Church: 12 Christian Men Share Their Stories of Recovery" is the story of a dozen men who have faced addiction with sex related topics such as pornography and the act itself and how the Church has helped them overcome their addiction to get their lives back on track and mend the fences they broke from their addiction, just like a drug addict. "Sex Addiction in the Church" is recommended reading for any man who may be realizing an addiction of sex of his own.

I'm Saved, Now What?
Nyesia Mehta
A Ready Writer's Ink Publishing
PO Box 2287, Brookfield, WI 53008-2287
9780981791135, $13.95, www.areadywritersink.com

Salvation isn't a one time thing. It's a lifestyle. "I'm Saved, Now What? A Biblical Roadmap to Victorious Living" is a guide for those who are on the second step of turning their life around, after accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Outlining the definition of salvation, how one is saved and stays saved, and how one should take advantage of those out to assist them, "I'm Saved, Now What?" is a must for those who are confused about just what they are supposed to do next.


The Philosophy Shelf

Epicureans and Stoics
Axios Institute
Axios Press
PO Box 118, Mt. Jackson, VA 22842
9781604190007, $12.00, www.axiosinstitute.org

Philosophy and religion are different creatures, but philosophy served as religion for some in the time of classic philosophy. "Epicureans and Stoics" is a collection of passages from several legendary philosophers from the times of the Greek and Roman Empires, their brilliant thoughts of the time and how they impact today's world. Much food for thought about how humanity moves and how the people of the time thought, "Epicureans and Stoics" is a must for any with an interest in the classical world.


The American History Shelf

Power, Passion, and Prejudice
Barbara Brooks Wolfe
Imago Press
3710 East Edison, Tucson, Arizona 85716-2912
9780979934179, $12.95

Arizona native and history buff Barbara Brooks Wolfe presents Power, Passion, and Prejudice: Shootout in the Galiuro Mountains, the true story of a legendary Arizona shootout in 1918. The press reported that German sympathizers had murdered a federal posse; though misinformation about what actually happened was widespread, the incident incited so much anger that the death penalty was reintroduced to the state. Ten years of research have gone into Power, Passion, and Prejudice to accurately reconstruct what happened that bloody day and its long-lasting repercussions, and it shows. Especially recommended for Arizona state history and true crime shelves.

Wetter than the Mississippi
Robbi Courtaway
Reedy Press
PO Box 5131, St. Louis, MO 63139
9781933370378, $22.95 www.reedypress.com

Wetter than the Mississippi: Prohibition in Saint Louis and Beyond is a close study of America's Prohibition era, with particular focus on the greater St. Louis, Missouri area, though true stories from a 150-mile radius (including Illinois) are also included. Vintage black-and-white photographs pepper this amazing history, which blends absorbing anecdotes seamlessly with an overall picture of the progression and ultimate demise of America's notoriously ineffective attempt to make alcohol illegal. A bibliography and an index enhance this superb addition to public and college library Missouri history shelves.

Presidential Education
Barbara J. Olexer
Joyous Publishing
9752 SE 43rd Avenue, Unit D, Milwaukie, OR 97222
9780980051407, $24.95, www.joyouspub.com

There are thousands of biographical books on and about the presidents of the United States of America. But "Presidential Education: Prelude To Power" by Barbara J. Olexer is the first to focus specifically on their educational backgrounds. There are no educational requirements to be eligible for the presidency. Some of our past presidents have been quite limited in their education as in the case of Abraham Lincoln who had less than a year of formal schooling and Andrew Jackson who had no formal schooling at all. Still others of our presidents were college graduates. Education is broadly interpreted to also include parental guidance, religious training, travel, sports, hobbies, and military service. A wealth of miscellaneous biographical information on these outstanding political figures includes such facts as George Washington having once been an officer in the British Army; John Quincy Adams having failed his first Harvard entrance exam; Woodrow Wilson having dropped out of three colleges; Franklin D. Roosevelt having been arrested in Germany four times in one day when he was fourteen years of age; Ronald Reagan having saved seventy-seven lives when working summers as a life guard, and so many more. Informed and informative, "Presidential Education" is anecdotal and engaging reading, a seminal work of painstaking research, and a highly recommended addition to school and community library collections.


The Photography Shelf

Rock Gods
Robert M. Knight
Palace Press International
180 Varick St. 10th Fl., New York, NY 10014
9781933784717, $50.00 www.palacepress.com

Rock Gods: Forty Years of Rock Photography is a coffee-table collection of black-and-white and color photography capturing rock stars at their peak from 1968 to the present day. Snapped by expert music industry photographer Robert M. Knight, Rock Gods features portraits of legends ranging from Jimi Hendrix to The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, Elton John, Van Halen, Green Day, and many more. A small amount of text offsets this largely pictorial gallery. Highly recommended especially as a giftbook for rock music enthusiasts.

Chicago Neon Signs
Dan Zamudio
Wicker Park Press
PO Box 5318, River Forest, IL 60305-5318
9780978967628, $24.95, www.wickerparkpress.com

Once a ubiquitous feature of Chicago's landscape, the neon sign is gradually disappearing because of the deleterious impact of Illinois winters. The result of the harsh climate and the entropy of neglect, the neon signs of neighborhood businesses are decaying, fading, rusting, and manifesting empty spaces where colorful glass tubes used to be. Chicago librarian and artist Dan Zamudio photographed many of Chicago's neon signs with a camera called 'Diana', which is made of plastic (including the lens) and thus produces as slightly blurred focus that creates beautiful and memorably surreal images. In "Chicago Neon Signs", Zamudio has compiled sixty of these black-and-white photographic images that will prove to be enduring monuments to this once great commercial advertising art form to be found in every Chicago neighborhood but which is now, year by year and decade by decade, disappearing from the scene. "Chicago Neon Signs" is an original compilation which is highly recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library Photography reference collections -- and would serve as an excellent template for similar photographic studies with respect to other American cities.


The Civil War Shelf

A Strong And Sudden Onslaught
John T. Krepps
Colecraft Industries
970 Mt. Carmel Road, Orrtanna, PA 17353
0977712575, $14.95, www.colecraftbooks.com

The Union Calvary played a critically important but often under-appreciated role in the June/July campaign of 1863 that saw what was to prove the pivotal battle of Gettysburg. Beginning on June 30, 1863 (the day before the battle of Gettysburg began), Union Calvary forces were deployed and were able to deflect Jeb Stuart's main Confederate Calvary units away from the impending battle and prevent them from uniting with the forces under General Robert E. Lee's main troupe positions. Civil war historian John T. Krepps lays out this critically important cavalry action in "A Strong And Sudden Onslaught: The Cavalry Action At Hanover, Pennsylvania" is great detail. His informed and informative text is enhanced with the inclusion of period photos and maps, making "A Strong And Sudden Onslaught" an impressive and seminal contribution to the growing library of American Civil War literature.


The Health/Medical Shelf

Uncommon Cures For Everyday Ailments
Bottom Line/Health Editors
Bottom Line Books
c/o Boardroom Inc.
281 Tresser Boulevard, Stamford, CT 06901
0887235034, $59.95, www.bottomlinesecrets.com

There is a wealth of home remedies that have a proven, 'real-world' value in treating commonly occurring illnesses. "Uncommon Cures For Everyday Ailments" is a compendium of just such tried and tested do-it-yourself cures and remedies for everything from arthritis, leg cramps, genital warts, and osteoporosis, to infertility, prostate troubles, and sunburn. Beginning with an informed and informative instructions on such diverse issues as acupressure, biofeedback, herbal medicine, pilates, yoga, and 'alternative treatments', "Uncommon Cures For Everyday Ailments" is organized into chapters on staying fit and healthy; an alphabetically presented roster of treatments for everyday ailments ranging from alcoholism to whiplash; remedies for ailments specific to women; remedies for ailments specific to men; and the financial aspects of health and wellness. Enhanced with Online Resources, general resources, and a 'user friendly' index, "Uncommon Cures For Everyday Ailments" is confidently recommended for personal, family and community library Health & Medicine reference collections.


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
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
http://www.midwestbookreview.com


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