Return to home
page Book Reviews, Book Lover Resources, Advice for Writers and Publishers
Home / Small Press Bookwatch

Small Press Bookwatch

Volume 11, Number 5 May 2012 Home | SPBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Poetry Shelf Business Shelf
Cookbook Shelf Fiction Shelf Memoir Shelf
Mystery/Suspense Shelf Travel Shelf Humor Shelf
Christian Studies Shelf Self-Help Shelf Theatre/Cinema Shelf
Metaphysical Studies Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf Military Shelf
Fantasy/SciFi Shelf American History Shelf Money/Finance Shelf
Religion/Spirituality Shelf Law/Justice Shelf Holocaust Studies Shelf
Psychology Shelf Education Shelf LGBT Shelf
Political Science Shelf Autism Shelf Jobs/Careers Shelf
Multimedia Shelf Parenting Shelf Biography Shelf
Fashion Shelf Aviation Shelf  


Reviewer's Choice

Supercharged Retirement
Mary Lloyd
Hankfritz Press
PO Box 65587
University Place, WA 98464
www.sperchargedretirement.com
9780979831935, $16.95, www.mining-silver.com

A successful retirement requires more than just being able to pay the bills, it also requires reasons to get up in the morning, ways to satisfy the need to be of value to ourselves and to others, goals to strive for, and the ability to deal with life's inevitable challenges and tribulations. One very good way to plan for and implement a successful retirement is to give a careful reading to Mary Lloyd's 256-page compendium of ideas, suggestions, insights, and inspirations "Supercharged Retirement: Ditch the Rocking Chair, Trash the Remote, and Do What You Love". Whether trying to determine if and when to retire, creating and customizing a retirement lifestyle, determining essential elements and aspirations for our retirement years, keeping mentally alert and physically capable, and so much more, "Supercharged Retirement" is a welcome resource and continuing reference that is practical, 'user friendly', replete with illustrative anecdotes, exercises, humor, and vital information. Enhanced with extensive chapter notes and resource lists, "Supercharged Retirement" is very highly recommended for both community library, senior citizen center library, and personal reading lists.

A Taste of War
Alfred de Grazia
Metron Publications
PO Box 1213, Princeton, NJ 08542-1213
9781603770798, $27.95, www.metron-publications.com

To be torn from your life to serve your country can be both a curse and an honor. "A Taste of War" is a memoir from World War II veteran Alfred de Grazia as he shares his own story of going off to battle against Nazi Germany, leaving a pregnant wife behind with uncertainty on both the home front and in Europe. A personal and uplifting story, "A Taste of War" is a strong addition to any collection focusing on war memoirs.

The Games End
William Louis Gardner
Bald Eagle Publishing Co.
PO Box 195, Palm Desert, CA 92261
9780615456546, $11.99, www.amazon.com

National treasure is a status that won't protect one from greed. "The Games End" is a novel about Ahmed, a massive tusk elephant in Kenya who captivated Hollywood throughout the 1950s through 1970s. Although he was ordered to be protected from hunters, the allure of this giant prize would not protect him from those who saw only dollar signs. "The Games End" is a riveting novel of adventure, highly recommended.


The Poetry Shelf

Words Collected on the Road to Silence
Margaret Coyle Irsay
One Body Books
171 W. 116th Street, Carmel, IN 46032
9780978946814, $30.00, www.onebodyinc.com

We are the reflections of those around us, clashing against our own way. "Words Collected on the Road to Silence: Into the Fire" is a collection of poetry from poet and artist Margaret Coyle Irsay as she collects her thoughts in verse, expressing them alongside the movements of the body, offering a joined look into the soul. "Words Collected on the Road to Silence" is presented in full color, and is an original entry into any general poetry collection. "Now Listen Here": My husband dear I do declare/that fear has gotten in somewhere./And as I feel it wear my joints/with its angry bitter points/I feel my muscles pulling tight/to try and manage all the fright/I seem to feel when sensing disapproval.//My father dear it's rather queer/I'm finding my life hard to steer./It seems my power's gone astray./How or where it's hard to say?/Perhaps the power for my lunch/was stolen by an angry bunch/of bullies who decided I was disappointing.

The Principle Agent
Sarah Suzor
Black Lawrence Press
326 Bigham Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15211
9781936873142, $14.00, www.blacklawrence.com

Prolific and award winning poet Sarah Suzor brings fans of her work another volume with "The Principle Agent", bringing her unique brand of wit and view of the world to another outing. Asking questions of nature and our handling of it, "The Principle Agent" shouldn't be overlooked. "Item 1: Antidotes": Twenty-four inches of backbone and/the sun coming up over the Chilterns.//Before sleep,/before breakfast,/I take to pseudonyms-/a matter of vertebrae and possible outcomes.//And antidotes?/I hear they're housed in a tunnel beneath the Thames.//That means it's not an ocean./It's a tunnel beneath the Thames.

Wild in the Plaza of Memory
Pamela Uschuk
Wings Press
627 E. Guenther
San Antonio, TX 78210
9780916727925, $16.00, www.wingspress.com

With wide audience and wide publication, Pamela Uschuk has shown quite the success with her poetry. "Wild in the Plaza of Memory" is a collection of poetry continuing her reverence for the many levels of the world, with a new age and metaphysical twist on the many concepts within. "Wild in the Plaza of Memory" is a choice assortment, much recommended. "Nervousosity": Nervousosity, my nephew names the glittering/blade of his insomnia. I know/those flensed finches that chatter him awake, the way/their charred feathers snuff dreams/until they are blue as electric wires/clenched between his teeth/while the blind buffalo of the world slumbers on./Last night those beaks needled me/to read syllables of betrayal/snapped behind each constellation/of loss mapping night. What besides/love and its lack spans these synaptic gaps?/This is the labyrinth of desire,/fortune's singed edge,/and the trick to charm this austere metal/ to sleep.

The Swastika Clock
Louis Daniel Brodsky
Time Being Books
10411 Clayton Road
St. Louis, MO 63131
9781568091471, $15.95, www.timebeing.com

The pains of tragedy can be renewed by reminders of the past. "The Swastika Clock" is a collection of poetry from Louis Daniel Brodsky as he presents his own recollection of the tragedy, its events, and the pain that has followed in the past century. "The Swastika Clock" is a strong recommendation for poetry collections with a focus on history. "A Survivor's Shabbat Services": Friday creeps into his desolate pace,/Like a thief rifling a house/While its occupants are away on vacation./He never sees it coming/Or, at evening twilight, leaving the week behind,/Just as he misses,/For the swiftness of their elusive flights,/The days from Sunday on,/Which might be darting swallows/Weaving the sky into a shroud,/Or tines of lightning striking the air,/Like a snake's tongue tasting smells,/Instead of being empty cells/Defining the duration of his earthly incarceration./Regardless, as darkness descends,/His eclipsed heart starts its worship service,/Ascends Mount Sinai's Rocky Slopes,/Whispering, chanting, shouting, "Shabbat Shalom!" --/Home, again,/In the house God is building for him.


The Business Shelf

Customer Service is Free
William T. Pearsall
Customer Service is Free
PO Box 711, Lambertville, MI 48144
9780982832103, $19.95, www.customerserviceisfree.com

Good service has no price tag, and Good service is what keeps people coming back. "Customer Service is Free" is a business guide from William T. Pearsall as he advises reading managers and business administrators to embrace the power of good customer service in building a strong customer base and its benefits in any business. For those who want to learn just why customer service is so important, "Customer Service is Free" is a choice and very much recommended pick for business leaders.

Keeping Score
Frank Ryle
International Institute for Learning, Inc.
119 East 59th Street, 31st Floor, New York, NY 10022
9780983025702, $19.95

Keeping control over everything is vital to success in business. "Keeping Score: Project Management for the Pros" is a guide to better managing projects, as Frank Ryle, a manager and engineer offers his contributions on how to make everything run quickly and efficiency and get more effective results. "Keeping Score" is a strong pick for any manager who is struggling to keep it all together, very much recommended.

The Cure for Corporate Stupidity
Larry J. Bloom
Xmente
Suite 364D, 227 Sandy Springs Place
Atlanta, GA 30328
9781936678006, $19.95, http://curecorporatestupidity.com

So many businesses seem to be in a loop of stupidity. "The Cure for Corporate Stupidity: Avoid the Mind-Bugs That Cause Smart People to Make Bad Decisions" is Larry Bloom, former CEO who discusses the importance of debugging one's own mind to prevent bad decisions by making sure one's sources are truthful, their decision making is clear and without bias. "The Cure for Corporate Stupidity" is a powerful read with strong influence in clearing one's mind for a better business future.


The Cookbook Shelf

Celebrations with Carmela's Cucina
Carmela Tursi Hobbins, author
Erica Loeks, photographer
Nodin Press
530 North Third Street, Suite 120
Minneapolis, MN 55401
9781935666264, $19.95, www.nodinpress.com

"Celebrations with Carmela's Cucina" is a fabulous collection of special celebration menus and recipes with a fantastic Italian flair. These creative, lush, color -photographed meal themes and celebrations will linger long in the reader's memory and on the palate. Chapters include menus and recipes for 14 different holiday celebrations, including New Year's Day Buffet, Romantic Valentine's Day Dinner, Carnivale, Mother's Day Brunch and Father's Day too, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and even the Fourth of July. A special lunch in the garden and dinner at Tursi's Latin KIng (featuring angel hair pasta in amogio sauce, chicken speidini, and Latin King cannoli) are also included. A famous traditional Italian restaurant, The Latin King is a Des Moines, Iowa landmark established by close Italian relatives of the author. In addition, "a word about wine pairings" to accompany the celebration menus' courses is written by Robert Hobbins and included in the beginning pages of "Celebrations with Carmela's Cucina." To illustrate some of the blended American/Italian cuisine included, look at the menu for Fourth of July, which includes antipasti skewers, fried green tomatoes on Bibb lettuce with mustard dressing, shrimp boil, and red, white and blue lemon curd tart. All recipes are presented in paragraph form, with ingredients and standard measurements listed first, and helpful introductory comments, plus gorgeous color photos of finished recipes. "Celebrations with Carmela's Cucina" is a very user-friendly Italian cookbook, with many special touches and enhancements shared from the generous author and her family.

Chile Trivia
Dave DeWitt
Sunbelt Media
925 Salamanca NW
Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM, 87107
9781936744008, $15.95, www.sunbeltmedia.net

For those who seek the strongest spices, chiles are their obsession. "Chile Trivia: Weird, Wacky Factoids for Curious Chileheads" is a collection of trivia and facts surrounding the spicy legends of chiles and peppers, their uses in medicine as well as cooking, as well as the unique flavors from around the world. "Chile Trivia" is written by a longtime lover of chiles and peppers in Dave DeWitt, making it a strong pick for any fan of chiles in general.


The Fiction Shelf

Webs of Fate
Darlene Quinn
Emerald Book Company
PO Box 91869, Austin, TX 78709
9781608321728 $24.95 hc www.emeraldbookcompany.com

Webs of Fate is the 2011 "Readers Favorite" award winning prequel to Webs of Power (9781934572238, $14.95 pbk) and its sequel Twisted Webs (9781934572481, $16.95 pbk). Set in the burgeoning real estate boom of the greed-driven 80's, the Webs series follows the intelligent and determined Ashleigh McDowell, caught up amid the intrigue of cutthroat businessmen, corporate espionage, and high culture masking utterly ruthless empires of private enterprise. In Webs of Fate, Ashleigh and her fiance Mitchell Wainwright dare to embark upon a risky business venture that could make or break them; in Webs of Power, a hostile takeover threatens to uproot the lives of Ashleigh and two other fiercely strong women; and in Twisted Webs, Ashleigh, now a new mother, must cope with a parent's worst nightmare - the abduction of one of her twin daughters! A lavishly sumptuous epic, the Webs trilogy is a dramatic saga of modern jockeying for power, and utterly riveting from cover to cover. Highly recommended.

The Dog That Managed Hedge Funds
Nancy Parsons
Foursquare Books
8 Damon Street
North Reading, MA 01864
9780978539535, $14.95, www.nancyparsonspubs.com

When karma works, it works in mysterious ways. "The Dog That Managed Hedge Funds" tells the story of a corrupt hedge fun manager who gets knocked down a peg on the ladder of life as a heart attack claims his human form, recasting him as a dog. With his consciousness still intact, he is faced with his new place in life with the few people who can understand him. "The Dog That Managed Hedge Funds" is a strong pick for general fiction collections.

The Dark Days of Love
Alex Markman
Asteroid Publishing
PO Box 3, 21 Arnold St.
Richmond Hill, ON Canada L4C 4X9
9781926720210, $19.95, www.asteroidpublishing.ca

The bonds of monogamy can sometimes be broken quite easily. "The Dark Days of Love" is a collection of four short stories of romance as Alex Markman presents a down to earth collection of stories of threatened matrimony as Alex Markman explores the nature of love and the bonds that form, and how we are lured away. With various unique takes on it all, "The Dark Days of Love" is a strong pick for general short fiction collections looking for a touch of romance.

After the Fall
Glenn Meganck
Beachfront Entertainment
PO Box 373354, Raleigh, NC 27627
9781892339324, $27.95, www.beachfrontentertainment.com

A tragedy can destroy your spirit, and when you face multiple, it can seem beyond repair. "After the Fall" is a novel following Jeff Talbot, as he tries to face life with a comatose wife and his daughter's accidental death. With his son drifting away from him, Talbot yearns for the surreal days of his once beautiful life, and when all is lost, he doesn't know what's left. But the strangest things may allow him to find his way through. "After the Fall" is a strong pick for general fiction collections and for those looking for novels surrounding the pain of loss.

Oxford Messed Up
Andrea Kayne Kaufman
Grant Place Press
500 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 300
Chicago, IL 60611
9780984675104, $14.95, www.grantplacepress.com

A top ranking school doesn't mean it's all about the academics for the students. "Oxford Messed Up" is a novel following Rhodes scholar Gloria Zimmerman as he academic interests clash with one Henry Young as roommates and the friendship and something more that follow. Both face a rough past left behind them, and through their kinship they may find the power to overcome. "Oxford Messed Up" is a strong pick for general fiction collections, highly recommended.

The Whip
Karen Kondazian
Hansen Publishing Group, LLC
02 Ryders Lane, East Brunswick, NJ 08816
9781601823021, $15.00, www.hansenpublishing.com

The desire for vengeance knows no gender. "The Whip" is an old western novel inspired b the story of Charlotte 'Charley' Parkhurst', a woman living as man in the old west. Drawn out of her serene life in Rhode Island by the slaughter of her family, she chose to travel west and track the killer, dressing as a man and living as a man. Karen Kondazian brings forth a narrative flare to the story, making for a fun read that should prove all too difficult to put down, making "The Whip" a choice and much recommended read.

Silent is the Magpie
Vanita Oelschlager
Newburn Drive
1000 Woodhaven Blvd., Akron, OH 44333
9780982636688, $15.00, www.newburndrive.com

Our stories do not stop at one generation. "Silent is the Magpie" is the debut adult novel from Vanita Oelschlager, who is a proven and popular children's author. Following the journey of Jamie Barlow as she takes on what it means to be a woman, "Silent is the Magpie" is a read that will glue readers to the page and keep the pages turning.

Still Feenin
Sereniti Hall
Wahida Clark Publishing
60 Evergreen Place, Suite 904
East Orange, NJ 07018
9780975964644, $15.00, www.wclarkpublishing.com

Friendship can only go so far. "Still Feenin" follows Tanisha as she enters a friendship with Infinity and others, as secrets brew between them. Blinded by the term, when she finally realizes the truth, it hits her with the full weight of surprise, as she finds disloyalty and betrayal surrounding her every move. She realizes she has to watch her back to find the truth and strike back before they take her out. "Still Feenin" is an urban fiction novel sure to appeal to fans of the genre.

A Hobo Odyssey
Larry O. Nichols
Warren Publishing
13420 Reese Blvd. West, Huntersville, NC 28078
9781886057333, $19.95, www.warrenpublishing.net

With no money and no hope, you go wherever to find that next shot. "A Hobo Odyssey" is a novel set in the 1930s Great Depression following young men looking for their shot at a better life and finding conflict and potentially murder in their journeys. Humorous with memorable characters, "A Hobo Odyssey" rings the time period true and is very much worth considering for historical fiction collections.

The Silent Steps of Grace
Alan Mesher
Oversoul Communications
2589 Kalmia Ave, Boulder, CO 80304-1966
9780966029543, $22.00, www.oversoulcommunications.com

At the end of our ropes, we often try to bargain that we'd do anything for salvation, and occasionally something tries to call our bluff. "The Silent Steps of Grace" is a spiritual novel surrounding Grace the Redeemer, who answers those last resort calls of mercy. Her mercy is not what one would expect, demanding those who seek her helps to help themselves as much as anything else. "The Silent Steps of Grace" is an inspired novel, not to be overlooked.

The House of Order
John Paul Jaramillo
Anaphora Literary Press
163 Lucas Rd., Apt. I-2, Cochran, GA 31014
9781937536169, $15.00, www.anaphoraliterary.wordpress.com

The stories we see growing up only continue as we raise our own. "The House of Order" is a collection of short stories from John Paul Jaramillo, associate professor English, as he reflects on family and childhood and growing up and striving to get something better for ourselves as well as our future, and reflections on his unique uncle "The House of Order" is an enticing read that shouldn't be overlooked for those looking for a down to earth short fiction collection.

Deadball
David B. Stinson
Huntington Park Publications, Inc.
103 N Adams Street
Rockville, MD 20850-2256
9780983668909, $15.00, www.davidbstinsonauthor.com

The memories of those great games in history still remain. "Deadball" is an original novel from David B. Stinson as he explores the history of baseball and the cities those teams called home, as ball player and ball lover Byron Bennett finds the history he knew lived on in ways he couldn't quite fully understand, as spirits of the past approach him in many locations. "Deadball" is a riveting read for fans of baseball and its long and storied history. Also for sports and historical fiction fans is "Honour" (9780983668916, $15.00) by Richard O'Connor, focusing on the turn of the century and how golf was about to be changed forever.

An Apricot Year
Martha Egan
Papalote Press
PO Box 32058, Santa Fe, NM 87594
9780975588161, $25.95, www.papalotepress.com

A chance at a dream can make you realize why it has all become a nightmare. "An Apricot Year" follows Luli Russell as she tries to cope with her lost artist dreams with a trip to Santa Fe with her family. But nothing goes as it seems, as the fears of her family and the calls for help from another make her try to determine what she truly wants. "An Apricot Year" is a strongly recommended pick for general fiction collections, from award winning author Martha Egan.

Birdie
Tony Rosa
Jackpot Press
PO Box 594, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33302-0594
9780982822555, $9.95, www.amazon.com

A second chance can often come in the strangest of packages. "Birdie" is a story following troubled youth Mark Crowe as he is faced with the hefty reality of adulthood after teenage years spent on the fringe. His renewal of life seems to come on the greens, with a vision-impaired golfer who may guide Mark to the rest of his life. "Birdie" is a fine read, not to be overlooked.

Gothic Spring
Caroline Miller
Koho Pono, LLC
15024 SE Pinegrove Loop
Clackamas, OR 97015
9780984542499, $15.95, www.kohopono.com

Those with the knowledge that no one else has always rise a bit of suspicion. "Gothic Spring" follows Victorine Ellsworth, a young woman who knows the truth behind a church vicar's wife's murder. Faced with her own pressures of her recent rise to adulthood, "Gothic Spring" is a riveting novel of facing adulthood, and letting the truth be known without finding one's neck on the chopping block. "Gothic Spring" is a fine addition to any fiction collection.

The Good Fight
Matthew R. Horn
Brighton Publishing LLC
501 W. Ray Rd. #4, Chandler, AZ 85225
9781936587261, $12.95, www.amazon.com

At what cost is it worth it to go beyond the law in the name of good? "The Good Fight: A Fight for Truth and Justice" follows Jeffery Scott, a man who is born into a world that doesn't want him. Running into a vigilante who saves his life, he tries to do what he can for the world, but comes to a point where he find that the good he does isn't pure, and there may be consequences. "The Good Fight" is a riveting novel of this conflict and trying to understand how much Goodness is truly worth.

Lace Curtain Irish
P. L. O'Sullivan
Newcastlewest Books
810 Smith Avenue, Lake Bluff, IL 60044
9780983819516, $14.95, www.newcastlewestbooks.com

A family is supposed to stay together, but Julia never knew why she wasn't brought to America with the rest of her family. "Lace Curtain Irish" is a novel following the Hanlon family, in particular Julia who feels an outcast, reuniting with them thirteen years after the majority of them traveled to America. In search of contentment in her new life, she seeks the help of her family, hoping to find truth and something more to live for. "Lace Curtain Irish" is a thoughtful and much recommended pick, not to be overlooked.

Chattanooga
Chet Raymo & Dan Raymo
Platypus Multimedia
8 Old Post Road, North Easton, MA 02356
9780983681007, $14.95, www.platypusmultimedia.com

So many people in a small area is asking for trouble on many fronts. "Chattanooga" is a novel set in a home held between generations and races, the struggles between brothers, sisters, husbands, wives, and housekeepers in trying to keep everything moving as dissatisfaction builds. Set in 1944 as the war rages on overseas, "Chattanooga" explores the concepts of the war at home, centering around one matriarch and her desire to keep it all together.

However Long the Night
David Pereda
Eternal Press
PO Box 3931, Santa Rosa, CA 95402-9998
9781615725991, $24.99, www.eternalpress.biz

Our family history follows us no matter where we go. "However Long the Night" is a novel following Cid Milan as he tries to piece together his life in spite of his success. When his father drops old truths on him, he finds he must return to his homeland to find an old flame. A story of facing our past to create a better future, "However Long the Night" is a fine read that should prove hard to put down for romance and general fiction readers.

Heartland
Terri Sedmak
Vivid Publishing
c/o Smith Publicity
9781921787393, $25.95, www.vividpublishing.com.au

In the wilds of the American west, people must bond together in any way they can. "Heartland: On the Side of Angels" discusses the young adulthood of Kelley Keaton, who returns to Wyoming after living in big New York City for some time. In 1883, she learns about the Alliance connecting the families of Wyoming to bond to one another and protect another. When murder occurs, she must join them to find the truth and those responsible. "Heartland" is a fast paced and riveting read that western readers should love.

The Maltese Cross
Fritz Galt
Sigma Books
9781105305351, $16.95, www.amazon.com

In the pursuit of high fortune, one finds anything and everything in their way. "The Maltese Cross" follows Johnny Blade, American Banker as he travels to Europe to find the lost fortune of an African dictator. With a tinge of romance, Johnny finds he's not the only one out to find the lost riches, and the world may collapse around them before they can make their claim at wealth. "The Maltese Cross" is a strong pick for community library general fiction and thriller collections.


The Memoir Shelf

Commissioned in Battle
Jay Gruenfeld
Hellgate Press
PO Box 3531, Ashland, OR 97520
9781555717001, $17.95, www.hellgatepress.com

Everyday was a struggle for survival. "Commissioned in Battle: A Combat Infantryman in the Pacific, WWII" is the memoir of the author as he shares his stories of being on the front line, fighting through injuries until one finally put an end to his service. Fighting through the Pacific, he shares his stories of how he got by in spite of it all. "Commissioned in Battle" is a choice pick for those seeking an up close and personal military memoir.

No Lilies or Violets
Jonathan A. Hayes
Amethyst Moon Publishing
PO Box 87885, Tucson, AZ 85754
9781935354673, $17.95, www.ampubbooks.com

Far above the battle, the fight is a bit different. "No Lilies or Violets: Reminiscences of a Fighter Pilot" is a memoir from veteran Air Force pilot Jonathan A. Hayes, as she shares his tales of flying over Vietnam as a fighter pilot, sharing his war stories and what comes after the war for a fighter jet pilot. A personal and heart felt memoir that should prove difficult at times to put down, "No Lilies or Violets" is a strong pick for memoir collections focusing on veterans and war stories.

By His Own Blood
John Montandon
Rockford Brownstone Publishing
9780615604831 $14.95 www.byhisownblood.com

By His Own Blood is the true-life memoir of author John Montandon, who lost his father to an HIV infection from a tainted blood transfusion. Raised on a Texas farm in the 1950's and 60's, Montandon knew his loving father as a farmer of strong moral character and principles, fatally wronged by medical malpractice. Yet By His Own Blood is far more than a tragedy; it ultimately tells the tale of searching for meaning, accepting and coping with overwhelming emotions, and learning to forgive and remember the legacy a good man set by the example of his life. Highly recommended.

Broken Spirits
Michele L. Waters and Ontresicia Averette
Crystall Clear Publishing
25379 Wayne Mills Pl Suite #193
Valencia, CA 91355
www.michelelwaters.com
9780982867020, $17.99, www.brokenspiritsbook.com

Racism and discrimination live on in many forms in today's world. "Broken Spirits: A Letter to My Cousin Rodney G. King" tells the story of cousin of the famous police brutality victim and her perspective on the changes in the twenty years since the event and what she has seen as a black women leading up to the age of Obama. "Broken Spirits" speaks from the heart, a worthy read for those seeking a memoir discussing race.

My Dad is a Freak
Thomas Bell
A.F.F. & Sons
244 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2288
New York, NY 10001
9780984162702, $12.95

Living it up single makes for a fun time, but it doesn't prepare one for fatherhood. Nothing prepares one for fatherhood. "My Dad is a Freak" is a memoir from Thomas Bell who becoming a first time father just south of fifty. Dealing with the sudden implications of family and everything that comes with it, "My Dad is a Freak" is an enticing and much recommended read for memoir and parenting collections.

Betrayal and the Beast
Peter S. Pelullo
Only Serenity LLC
630 West Germantown Pike, Suite 180
Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462
9780615486253, $15.95, www.betrayalandthebeast.com

Even in success, we can come from dark beginnings. "Betrayal and Beast" is a memoir from Peter S. Pelullo as he shares his road to becoming a major recording studio owner and working with some of the biggest names in music. Sharing his story of how his scarred life of abuse led him to drug and alcohol abuse that almost destroyed his life, "Betrayal and Beast" is a powerful read on how the scars of youth can make you lose everything you've gained.

A Mother's Journey
Jennifer L. Scalise
Lakeland Press
PO Box 1175, St. Louis, MO 63366
9781936691005, $28.99, www.jenniferscaliseauthor.com

When you plan a vacation, you never expect tragedy. "A Mother's Journey: Of Love, Loss, & Life Beyond" is a Christian memoir from Jennifer L. Scalise as she shares her story of losing her daughter during a vacation to Costa Rica. With a struggle with the Costa Rican government, she shares her journey to finding peace, and connecting with her late daughter in beyond, finding the love to carry on for the sake of her other children. "A Mother's Journey" is a poignant and much recommended read for Christian mothers who are trying to cope with their losses.

Living Without Reservations
Barbara Elaine Singer
Katz Creative, Inc.
315 West 70th, Suite 6C
New York, NY 10023
9780984325412, $15.95, www.barbaraelainesinger.com

A search for happiness is a search never ending. "Living Without Reservations: A Journey by Land and Sea in Search of Happiness" is a spiritual and inspirational memoir from Barbara Elaine Singer as she shares her own lessons through her own journey after being faced with the hefty weight that life dumped on her to the point she couldn't take it any more. Choosing to live free, Singer produces insightful and driven reading, making "Living Without Reservations" humorous with much for many women to relate to on their own journeys to happiness.

Honk If You Married Sonja
Sonja Klein
Ambush Publishing
PO Box 192, Barksdale, TX 78828
9780615446356, $15.00, www.honkifyoumarriedsonja.com

As we crash through life, we change lives as we change our own. "Honk If You Married Sonja: The Travels and Essays of Sonja Klein" is a memoir from author Sonja Klein who shares her life's journey through Texas and everywhere else, finding her own adventure and experiencing life has to offer, sharing what's she's learned and what's she's failed to. "Honk If You Married Sonja" is a strong pick for general memoir collections, highly recommended.

Marietta's Stories
Marietta Younkin Showalter
Rayve Productions
PO Box 726, Windsor, CA 95492
9781877810954, $24.95, www.rayvepro.com

As we see the world, we never forget where we came from. "Marietta's Stories: From Kansas to California, Memories of My Life" is a memoir from Marietta Younkin Showalter as she shares the story of her near century of existence coming from the farm houses of Kansas to seeing much of the world and having her prime be the vicious nature of World War II. "Marietta's Stories" is a strong addition to any memoir collection.

Once Upon a Decade
Clark Zlotchew
Comfort Books
PO Box 6265, Concord, NC 28027
9781935361183, $13.99, www.comfortpublishing.com

The 1950s were a different era, but by no means perfect. "Once Upon a Decade: Tales of the Fifties" is a collection of stories from Clark Zlotchew as he presents story of an era free from terror and many of the diseases that have us in fear today, but were wrought with racism and sexism in its many forms. "Once Upon a Decade" is a thoughtful and strong pick for anyone who wants a honest depiction fo the 1950s.

The Legend of Shane the Piper
Rick Spier
Moon Donkey Press
3015 92nd Place NE, Clyde Hill, WA 98004
9780975439814, $14.95

The gauntlet of tragedy in our lives can often leave us affected in ways we don't fully understand. "The Legend of Shane the Piper" is a novelized memoir from Rick Spier who reflects on his own struggles with a family that didn't act like a family should and how that affected him through the rest of his life, as he tried to form his own way through life. "The Legend of Shane the Piper" is an intriguing and deftly crafted memoir that should ring true for others coming out of broken homes.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

The Cop with the Pink Pistol
Gray Basnight
Ransom Note Press
PO Box 419, Ridgewood, NJ 07451
9780977378784, $14.95, www.ransomnotepress.com

Few people join the police force for the thrilling paper work. "The Cop with the Pink Pistol" follows Homicide Detective Donna Prima as she goes against her sentence of desk work, brings a civilian with her as she takes it on herself to investigate a burglary that soon speaks to working on FBI cold cases and nuclear power plant theft. With something at every turn, "The Cop with the Pink Pistol" is a humorous and riveting novel that mystery fans will find hard to put down easily.

The Dunn Deal
Catherine Leggitt
Ellechor Publishing House
2431 NW Wessex Terrace
Hillsboro, OR 97124
9781937844974, $14.99, www.ellechorpublishing.com

When the professionals go down, the hobbyists take the next line of defense. "The Dunn Deal" is an entry into the Christine Sterling mystery series, as the amateur sleuth seeks to find the truth behind a murder of a friend in Baxter Dunn. Clashing with the strange forces that make up her hometown, as she butts head with the media as well as the police force. "The Dunn Deal" is a fine read that should prove difficult to put down.

The Righteous
Michael Wallace
Thomas & Mercer
PO Box 400818, Las Vegas, NV 89140
9781612182186, $14.95, www.amazon.com

Quarantined from the world, the truth can be buried very deep. "The Righteous" delves into a death in the remote regions of Utah where a young woman turns up dead, and the closed polygamous sect doesn't want to turn to the outside to lest their tabooed culture be known. One of their own, Jacob, is charged with investigating the incident, working with his sister. But even staying within their own group, the truth that may come may shake their foundation. "The Righteous" is a read not to be overlooked.

The Last Mercenary
Lee Schomaker
Dog Ear Publishing
4010 W. 86th Street Ste H
Indianapolis, IN 46268
9781457508387, $15.95, www.dogearpublishing.net

Anything for money and fame. "The Last Mercenary" is the plot of the enterprise of Drago Hawkwood, a man who thrives on his legend as a mercenary, following his ancestors own legend. As a lawyer settles into his life and finds his connections to Drago, Marco finds that he will soon be caught in a whirlwind of legacy, violence, and cruelty, as he searches for something to live for. "The Last Mercenary" is a page turning thriller that shouldn't be overlooked.

No Dice
Mar Preston
Pertinacity Press
PO Box 6751
Pine Mountain Club, CA 93222
9780984495207, $12.95, www.amazon.com

For money and power, murder is often no object. "No Dice" is a mystery novel from Mar Preston as she explores the nature of gambling as it consumes Santa Monica, as detective Dave Mason has to find who is out killing those who oppose the Casino, and stop them before they reap the profits of their blood work. "No Dice" is a gritty and fast paced novel that shouldn't be overlooked.

Kidd Black
Harvey Black & Jonathan Levine
Laddin Press, LLC
70 Cornehlsen Drive
Huntington Station, NY 11746-1133
9780983943303, $15.99, www.amazon.com

Death is a condition more easily overcome than one would think. "Kidd Black" is a thriller novel from Harvey Black & Jonathan Levine as they present the ventures of confidential agent Kidd Black, a man who has bee labeled dead for almost two decades, and finds himself charged to face another who has been labeled as dead for along while, with nasty intents for the world of the living. "Kidd Black" is a read that should be hard to put down for those who love spy fiction.

If Walls Could Scream
Laura Burke
Eloquent Books
c/o Strategic Book Group
PO Box 333, Durham, CT 06422
9781609117092, $16.50, www.strategicpublishinggroup.com

The winds of winter can bring blood with them as well as snow. "If Walls Could Scream" is a murder mystery from Laura Burke, as she creates a mystery over the course of a winter in the south, as detectives and the FBI find themselves in a race against time to save lives and before nature covers any attempt to find the truth. "If Walls Could Scream" is a riveting read that prove very difficult to put down, highly recommended.

Dead in Small Doses
John Dandola
Quincannon Publishing Group
PO box 8100, Glen Ridge, NJ 07028
1878452428, $16.95

A chance meeting can turn into so much more. "Dead in Small Doses" follows the meeting of Marjorie Reynolds & her bodyguard Tony Del Plato as they hit it off on a movie set, but their curiosity turns them into finding trails into the past surrounding the scientific history and knowledge of the era. With plenty of twists and turns, "Dead in Small Doses" is a choice read for mystery collections.

The Seer and the Scribe
G. M. Dyrek
Luminis Books
1950 East Greyhound Pass #18, PMB 280
Carmel, IN 46033
9781935462392, $16.95, www.gmdyrek.com

In medieval times, murder for power was all too expected. "The Seer and the Scribe" is a murder mystery set in Medieval Germany, as Hildegard uses her gift of seeing beyond reality as she seeks those responsible for the murder of a monk at the monastery at Disibodenberg. Communing with a scribe, a plot to take the temple's relics becomes apparent, and Hildegard and Scribe Volmar must work together to find the truth or pay with their lives. "The Seer and the Scribe" is a fine pick for historical fiction and mystery collections.

These Violent Delights
Sharon Linnea
Arundel Publishing
PO Box 377, Warwick, NY 10990
9781933608600, $14.95, www.arundelpublishing.com

Going down the credits seems to be the name for this serial killer. "These Violent Delights" is the first book in Shannon Linnea's Movie Mystery sights as a killer seems to be targeting those involved in the shooting of the classic film "Tristan and Isole", as the lead actress realizes how many in those twenty years have met unusual deaths. "These Violent Delights" is a riveting read that should prove so very difficult to put down.

The Mile Marker Murders
C. W. Saari
Boutique of Quality Books Publishing Company
204 Industrial Drive, Cumming, GA 30040
9781937084257, $16.95, www.bqbpublishing.com

Evil has unusual ways of crossing paths. "The Mile Marker Murders" follows FBI Agent Tyler Bannister as he seeks to hunt down an extortionist who threatens thousands of lives. As he searches for the villain, he finds a friend close to him has vanished, and the discovery of his body brings a whole new element to his investigation. With twists and turns at every corner, "The Mile Marker Murders" is a fine read that should be hard to put down, highly recommended.

The Dampness of Mourning
Lee Thompson
DarkFuse Publications
PO Box 338, North Webster, IN 46555
9781937771133, $6.99 ebook / $50.00 hc, www.darkfuse.com

The horrors of the past can become a memory, but those memories can return. "The Dampness of Mourning" follows two men of Division as they dig through the horrors that the town faced five decades ago, and the cursed memory that floats around the town and threatening its peace of mind. "The Dampness of Mourning" is a riveting thriller from Lee Thompson, channeling the bizarre horror of old for the modern day.

Trusting Evil
Mary Leo
Books We Love Ltd.
192 Lakeside Greens Drive
Chestermere, Alberta, T1X 1C2, Canada
9781927111666, $11.95, www.amazon.com

The system can allow Evil to enjoys its success unpunished. "Trusting Evil" is a novel following Carly Rockett as her life brushes her life with notorious serial killer Richard Speck, enjoying his life in prison in luxury, twenty years after his crimes. Carly fights against the system to try to make sure Speck pays for his crimes, but finds this is easier said than done. "Trusting Evil" is an original story of crime and punishment, recommended.


The Travel Shelf

Lots to Do in Line: Disneyland
Meredith Lyn Pierce
Intrepid Traveler
PO Box 531, Branford, CT 06405
9781887140973, $12.95, www.intrepidtraveler.com

Lines can quickly make amusement parks not worth the time. Lots to Do in Line: Disneyland is a unique travel guide for those planning a trip the amusement park mecca of Disneyland. A game and trivia-filled book that draws upon Disney's own visuals to amuse and entertain while waiting for one's turn, Lots to Do in Line: Disneyland transforms frustration into fun! Lots to Do in Line: Disneyland is worth considering for those anxious about visiting the Disneyland theme park, or about keeping children entertained while waiting.

Midnight Sun, Arctic Moon
Mary Albanese
Epicenter Press
PO Box 82368, Kenmore, WA 98028
9781936347170, $14.95, www.epicenterpress.com

Alaska is the biggest state in the union, and seeing all of it can prove quite daunting. "Midnight Sun, Arctic Moon: Mapping the Wild Heart of Alaska" is a memoir from Mary Albanese as she shares her story of deciding to head north and see as much of the state as she could, mapping remote areas of the region and seeing all that she can. "Midnight Sun, Arctic Moon" is a riveting addition to travelogue memoir collections, highly recommended.


The Humor Shelf

The Lowbrow Reader Reader
Jay Ruttenberg, editor
Drag City Press
PO Box 476867, Chicago, IL 60647
9781937112042, $19.95, www.dragcity.com

Toilet humor gets a bad rap - humor is humor, no matter how you get the result. "The Lowbrow Reader Reader: Writings and Drawings from World-Renown Comedy Journal" is a collection of articles and interviews from the thoughtful and highly sophisticated Lowbrow Reader magazine. From interviews with Boxing legends to scholarly interpretations of classic thespian Adam Sandler's timeless masterpiece Billy Madison, "The Lowbrow Reader Reader" is an excellent pick for anyone who enjoys humor in its more pure uncut form.


The Christian Studies Shelf

King of Glory
P.D. Bramsen
ROCK International
PO Box 4766, Greenville, SC 29608
9780979870675, $9.95, www.one-god-one-message.com

The events of the Bible shape faith, and shape much of our culture. "King of Glory" is a collection of art and Biblical inspiration as P. D. Bramsen presents a collection of colorful paintings depicting many events all throughout the Bible, tracing the story of God, the King, and the stories throughout the Holy Bible. For Christian readers, "King of Glory" is a fine and well crafted pick for those seeking a colorful collection of faith driven art and prose.

The Sun Inside Closed Eyes
Stephen L. Avard, Jr., J.D.
Avard Enterprises, LLC
9780615543796, $7.49, www.steveavard.com

The obsession with the outside world weighs heavily on many Christians. "The Sun Inside Closed Eyes" is a novel encouraging meditation and deeper thought in Christian's lives, asking them to channel their faith and mysticism everyday to remember their connection with faith and God instead of the superficial aspects of life. "The Sun Inside Closed Eyes" is a strong pick for those who want to adopt a stronger faith in their lives.

Surrendered Sleep
Charles W. Page
Camino Real Publishers
1303 Raguet Street
Nacogdoches, TX 75961
9780983138105, $14.95, www.surrenderedsleep.com

On average, humans spend 33% of their lives asleep, yet it often comes with much misery. "Surrendered Sleep" discusses with faith and wisdom on how to better approach sleep and what to consider as a Christian when seeking better sleep. From facing many sleep disorders and how approach these issues in a giving way, "Surrendered Sleep" is a strong pick for those who want to fully understand sleep and want faith to guide them through the night.


The Self-Help Shelf

Permission Slips... For Your Heart & Soul
Patricia J. Mosca
StoryPeople Press
PO Box 7, Decorah, IA 52101
9781937137861, $24.95, www.storypeoplepress.com

We keep telling ourselves no, but that's not a lot of fun. "Permission Slips... For Your Heart & Soul" is a collection of inspirational mantras in the form of granting oneself permission to say yes, go for their biggest successes and making the most of their lives. With charming ideas and artwork all throughout, "Permission Slips...For Your Heart & Soul" is a strong pick for those looking to be lifted up and inspired by the drive to make the most of their lives.

Saturday Salon
Valerie Davisson, M. A.
Vaughn House Publishing
2913 El Camino Real #725
Tustin, CA 92782
9780983869603, $12.95, www.thesaturdaysalon.com

Conversations are wonderful things. "Saturday Salon: Bringing Community and Conversation Back Into Our Lives" discusses the fall of conversation in our lives and how to bring it back into vogue, as Valerie Davisson suggests good conversation topics, and how break the complacency of TV viewing and internet use, and families never dining together anymore. "Saturday Salon" has a hearty recommendation on the power of good conversation and communication, very much recommended.


The Theatre/Cinema Shelf

Son of Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History
Manny Pacheco
Book Publishers Network
PO Box 2256, Bothell, WA 98041
9781937454142, $18.95, www.bookpublishersnetwork.com

The glue that holds great movies together are the supporting cast, who often don't get the credit they deserve. "Son of Forgotten Hollywood History" chronicles the supporting roles throughout the golden era of Hollywood film-making, discussing the people who stood by the stars and made their own mark in film. A follow up to his previous volume, Manny Pacheco continues to bring lesser known Hollywood history to the forefront. "Son of Forgotten Hollywood History" is a strong addition to any community library film collection.

Humana Festival 2011
Amy Wegener & Sarah Lunnie, editors
Playscripts
450 Seventh Avenue, Suite 809
New York, NY 10123
9780981909981, $19.95, www.playscripts.com

New stories to be told appear every day. "Humana Festival 2011: The Complete Plays" is a compilation of the newest plays from the Actors Theatre of Louisville, containing easily followable transcripts of the plays within, with notes and photographs throughout. For those who love new and original theatre, "Humana Festival 2011" is a strong pick for those who love the theatre and who want a sampling of the best of the newest.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Karmic Diagnostics
Marjan Ogorevc
Body Mind Spirit Connections, Inc.
PO Box 217, Carson, WA 98610
978093792703, $19.95, www.bodymindspiritconnections.com

We often keep making the same mistakes throughout our lives. "Karmic Diagnostics: Your Map to Awareness & Healing Through the Human Energy Field" is a metaphysical spirituality book from Marjan Ogorevc, who advises readers to embrace their biofield and look deep into themselves, try to find their past lives and the patterns that have lead them astray through the years. "Karmic Diagnostics" is a strong and recommended pick for metaphysical spirituality collections.

Backwards Beliefs
Nanci L. Danison
AP Lee & Co. Ltd Publishers
PO Box 340292
Columbus, OH 43234
9781934482100, $19.95, www.amazon.com

As we brush closer to death, we come to a strange truth of life. "Backwards Beliefs: Revealing Eternal Truths Hidden in Religions" is a book of spirituality and thought from Nanci L. Danison as she reflects on her own brush with death, and how it changed her Christian beliefs and knowledge on many levels, and how to come to a better spiritual and religious connection to her life and world. "Backwards Beliefs" is a spiritual and metaphysical read that shouldn't be overlooked by those intrigued about the spiritual faith and the afterlife.

The Secret to Healing Cancer
Dr. Tien-Sheng Hsu
New Awareness Network Inc.
390 Plandome Road, Suite 202
Manhasset, NY 11030
9780984928507, $15.95, www.sethcenter.com

There's no silver bullet for cancer, but there are ways to fight it. "The Secret to Healing Cancer: A Chinese Psychiatrist and Family Doctor Presents His Amazing Method for Curing Cancer Through Psychological and Spiritual Growth" is a presentation of holistic and orthodox medicines that author Dr. Tien-Sheng Hsu recommends to fight cancer and prevent relapses from the disease. For those seeking a new approach for the cancer in themselves or a loved one, "The Secret to Healing Cancer" is worth considering for collections specializing in holistic and cancer medicine.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

HIV/AIDS - the Facts and Fiction
Chris Jennings
Health Alert Communications
PO Box 65, Hudson, NH 03051
9780936771119, $45.00, www.healthalert.net

HIV/AIDS sudden appearance decades ago has attracted much research and it can often be difficult to cut through to the truth. "HIV/AIDS: The Facts and the Fiction" discusses the epidemics surrounding these diseases, with regional studies on its spread, how treatments have been working, the origin of the virus, and much more. Thoroughly researched and drawn from thousands of medical journey articles to bring the facts of what is known about the disease to light. "HIV/AIDS" is a scholarly and much recommended addition to community library health reference collections. Also from Chris Jennings in his HIV/AIDS study is "HIV/AIDS in South Africa"(9780936571089, $45.00), focusing on the problems South Africa has with the disorder.

Straight Talk about Crooked Teeth
S. Kent Lauson
Adams Publishing, LLC
24301 E. Orchard Rd., Aurora, Colorado 80016
9780983962007, $27.95, www.aotmj.com

It's not just about a beautiful smile. "Straight Talk about Crooked Teeth: The New Orthodontics" discusses the recent developments in the field of orthodontics and dentistry, focusing on what has been done to help get teeth straight in many patients and the problems that have been found to cause further problems. With plenty of tips for those facing treatment and want to know more or for those who just want a clearer understanding, "Straight Talk About Crooked Teeth" is a must for health and dentistry collections.

Rock the World Rehab
Denise Marie Nieman, Ph.D.
Concert Chick Productions
PO Box 504, Palm Beach, FL 33480
9781461063643, $17.95, www.concertchick.com

With the right attitude, conquering the world is easy. "Rock the World Rehab: A 4-Step 'Get Red Carpet Ready' Body+Mind+Heart+Soul Detox Adventure" delves into how to get one's life together when bogged down by the many things that want to consume one's life. For those who want to purge their lives of all toxicity, "Rock the World Rehab" is a choice and strongly recommended pick for general health and self-help collections.

The Woman's Fibromyalgia Toolkit
Dawn A. Marcus & Atul Deodhar, MD
DiaMedica Publishing
150 East 61st Street, New York, NY 10065
9780982321966, $15.95, www.diamedicapub.com

Fibromyalgia can be a plague on one's life, but good living can overcome it for a good life. "The Woman's Fibromyalgia Toolkit: Manage Your Symptoms and Take Control of Your Life" is a guide for dealing with the symptoms and in everyday life, beating them without drugs, as well as advice on living a better life. Also included is a chapter on pregnancy, and how to best avoid its complications in regards to the disease. "The Woman's Fibromyalgia Toolkit" is a strong pick for any woman or friend and family of a woman facing Fibromyalgia.

From Hospital to Home Care
Kathy N. Johnson, James H. Johnson, Lily Sarafan
Home Care Press
148 Hawthorne Ave.
Palo Alto, CA 94301
9781467501804, $17.95, www.homecareassistance.com

No one wants to stay in the hospital forever. "From Hospital to Home Care: A Step by Step Guide to Providing Care to Patients Post Hospitalization" is a reference for those who are recovering from a serious illness or procedure in their conversion from hospital care to home care. With practical and wise advice on many levels, the authors combine their experience in home care and offer answers to common concerns and issues. "From Hospital to Home Care" is a strong and recommended pick for health reference collections.

Defeat Cancer
Connie Strasheim
BioMed Publishing Group
PO Box 550531, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96155
9780982513828, $39.95, www.cancerbooksource.com

When life is on the line, everything is worth trying. "Defeat Cancer: 15 Doctors of Integrative and Naturopathic Medicine Tell You How" discusses the applications of alternative medicines when it comes to approaching cancer, and the successes that some doctors have had in helping their patients overcome the ailment. Discussing many different treatments, how to use chemotherapy wisely, communication between doctor and patient, and much more, "Defeat Cancer" is a wise read that should not be overlooked by patients faced with this disorder and for doctors who are exploring new options to help their patients.

Prescriptions from Paradise
Carlos M. Viana
Healing Spirit Press
125 East Merritt Island Causeway, Suite 209-307
Merritt Island, FL 32952
9780978992040, $25.00, www.healingspiritpress.com

All bodies are different. "Prescriptions from Paradise" discusses alternative medicine that is tailored to the personal biology that resides in all of us. Carlos M. Viana focused on empowering the body's own healing processes through the treatments, dealing with stress and ensuring greater health to fight existing conditions and battle future ailments. "Prescriptions from Paradise" is a strong pick for collections focusing on alternative medicine.

Breatheology
Stig Avall Severinsen
Idelson-Gnocchi
1316 King's Bay Drive, Crystal Drive
Crystal River FL 34429
1928649343, $39.95, www.breatheology.com

We can have a good diet, good sleep, why not good breathing? "Breatheology: The Art of Conscious Breathing" is an encouragement to embrace conscious breathing and improve one's breathing for life. Improving one's breathing can empower one to gain more energy and simply feel better from day to day. Author and expert diver Stig Avall Severinsen advises readers on how to train themselves for better breathing. "Breatheology" is a must for those who are seeking to improve their own general health.


The Military Shelf

Microbes at War
Jean Freney & Francous Renaud
ESKA Publishing
3808 SW Dosch Road
Portland, OR 97239
9782747215473, $24.95, www.eska.fr

Biological weapons are nothing new, they have just gotten much more deadly. "Microbes at War: From the Dark Ages to Modern Times" chronicles the use of biological warfare throughout history, ranging from ancient history and the strategies of the Spartans, the pushes into the New World, the world wars, and even the birth of bioterrorism. An informative read that details this controversial tactic throughout history, "Microbes at War" is a fascinating read for general history collections.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

The Best Vampire Stories 1800-1849
Andrew Barger
AndrewBarger.com
BottleTree Books LLC
#128 Ivy Brook Cv, Collierville, TN 38017
9781933747330 $10.98 bottletreebooks.com

The Best Vampire Stories 1800-1849: A Classic Vampire Anthology gathers short stories about vampires from some of the best-known and least-known fantasy authors of the 19th century. The result is a fascinating compendium that gives a snapshot into the evolution of this literary subgenre. Some of the stories have never been printed since their original publication almost 200 years ago! Of special note is the first vampire story written in English by John Polidori, after Lord Byron and Mary Shelley goaded him with a dare. The authors featured are John Polidori, Ludwig Tieck, Alexander Dumas, Joseph Sheridan le Fanu, Arthur Young, Robert C. Sands, and Theophile Gautier. Editor and award-winning author Andrew Barger enhances this anthology with annotations, story backgrounds, black-and-white author photos, and a foreword. The Best Vampire Stories 1800-1849 is an absolute "must-have" for any aficionado of vampire literature, highly recommended.

The Last Werewolf Hunter
William Woodall
Jeremiah Press
PO Box 121, Antoine, AR 71922
9780983329817, $9.97, www.williamwoodall.org

Is the love of family worth one's humanity? "The Last Werewolf Hunter" is an entry into William Woodall's series surrounding Zach Trwick and the monstrous nature that surrounds him. Forced to make choices between good and evil all around him, Woodall creates a humorous story that won't be easy to put down for lovers of supernatural fiction. "The Last Werewolf Hunter" is a strong pick for fantasy and fiction collections.

Me, Not Me
Laura Brenner
Inkwater Press
6750 SW Franklin Street, Suite A
Portland, OR 97223-2342
9781592996285, $12.95, www.inkwaterpress.com

The golem menace may seem crazy, but it can be endearing as well. "Me, Not Me" is a novel from Laura Brenner, as Eleanor, a professional eulogy writer, is withdrawn from the world. A chance encounter with Alice, a self-professed golem hunter and amputee, leads her to a most unusual friendship that changes her life forever. "Me, Not Me" is a choice and much recommended pick for fantasy collections.

Sentry's Past
A. M. Boyle
Wolf Pirate Project
337 Lost Lake Drive, Divide, CO 80814
9780982234365, $16.00, www.wolf-pirate.com

What we cannot see is still there and may change the course of the world as we know it. "Sentry's Past: Veil of Darkness" is a novel from A. M. Boyle as he crafts the story of Jack Monterey, surrounded by a life he isn't sure is true, struggling to understand the world unseen as it makes it all too hard to ignore for the very first time. "Sentry's Past" is a riveting read of fantasy and excitement that should prove difficult to put down.

Reich of Passage
Ace Collins
Bay Forest
c/o Kingstone Media Group
PO Box 491600, Leesburg, FL 34749-1600
9781613280652, $14.99, www.bayforestbooks.com

Power corrupts, and corruption seeks greater power. "Reich of Passage" is a novel that explores the world powers through the eyes of award-winning journalist Tell Boyer, who must gather a force of those trapped through time and go against the nature of the universe to break the hold of evil over the world today. An adventurous read of the metaphysical, "Reich of Passage" will keep readers wondering what will happen next. Also from Bay Forest Fiction is "Black Sunshine" (9781936164400, $14.99) following the struggles of a survivor-guilt stricken miner as he tries to reconnect with the world he tried to leave behind.

Future Perfect
Nancy Kress
Phoenix Pick
PO Box 10339, Rockville, MD 20849-0339
9781612420639, $9.99, www.phoenixpick.com

The world has vastly changed in fifty years, who knows what the next fifty will bring? "Future Perfect: Six Stories of Genetic Engineering" is a collection of six short science fiction stories from Nancy Kress, as she presents stories written over the past three decades each focusing on a future of mankind where technology has gone far beyond machines but into genetics. "Future Perfect" is a strongly recommended pick for collections looking to expand their short science fiction collections. Also from Phoenix Pick science fiction is "Reboots" (9781612429483, $9.99) covering a future where the creatures of fantasy and horror become all too real in a place where man is at its most vulnerable, where it can't run.


The American History Shelf

57 Years
Anthony J. Sestric
Reedy Press
PO Box 5131, St. Louis, MO 63139
9781935806240, $19.95, www.reedypress.com

Missouri as a border state found itself driven between the spread of abolition in the North and the pull of the slave-keeping south. "57 Years: A History of the Freedom Suits in the Missouri Courts" details the fights within the state and at Federal union of a state divided by the slave laws and as War approached, to keep Missouri in the Union. Focusing on historic cases such as Dred Scott and much more, "57 Years" is a vital addition to any American history collection focusing on the prelude to the Civil War.

The Long View
Ross Coen
Ester Republic Press
PO Box 24, Ester, AK 99725
9780974922171, $18.00, www.esterrepublic.com

Living in Alaska isn't a life of sunshine, but it has its perks. "The Long View: Dispatches on Alaska History" is a down to earth and human history of Alaska from Ross Coen as he shares a bit of the Alaskan life, touching on the breed of Alaskan Americana, bringing the history that isn't not recorded in the history books to light. "The Long View" is a strong pick for those who want to better understand Alaska, its people, and its culture.


The Money/Finance Shelf

Financial Self-Defense
Hillel L. Presser
Garrett Press, LLC.
800 Fairway Drive, Suite 340
Deerfield Beach, FL 33441
9781880539866, $16.95, www.garrettpress.com

Being able to deal with legal threats to one's possessions can be quite useful. "Financial Self-Defense: How to Protect Everything You Own... From Everyone... Everytime!" is a personal finance and legal guide form Hillel L. Presser as he grants advice on how to best equip oneself to deal with the threats of lawsuits, foreclosure, and avoid the legal jungles of divorce and other issues. "Financial Self-Defense" is a strong pick for those who want to better protect themselves legally.

The Richest Man in China
Louis F. Petrossi
W&A Press
1 Peregrine Way, Cedar Falls, IA 50613
9781934354261, $28.95, www.w-apublishing.com

What makes people find great wealth in their lives? "The Richest Man in China: Harnessing the 8 Pillars of Wealth" is an advisory guide for those seeking greater and more success in their life's pursuit of wealth. Advising readers to find their right mind for harvesting wealth, keeping a prosperous mindset, and setting it up so one will be set for life. "The Richest Man in China" is a strongly recommended pick for self-help and personal finance collections, highly recommended.

Lose Your Broker Not Your Money
Dan Calandro
Lose Your Broker LLC
PO Box 3608, Newtown, CT 06470
9780983661306 $27.95 www.LoseYourBroker.com

Lose Your Broker Not Your Money: Unmasking Wall Street's Secrets is a guide to understanding Wall Street and finance well enough to be one's own investor. Entrepreneur Dan Calandro walks the reader through how to build a solid, reliable portfolio, including his methodology for a stock market index designed to outperform the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Calandro calls his system the "15-51 Indicator", and its purpose is to accurately reveal how the stock market is performing. Lose Your Broker, Not Your Money has a companion website, www.LoseYourBroker.com, packed with tools to aid investors in achieving results without being forced to give their broker a hefty cut. A "must-read" for anyone considering playing the stock market on their own!


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

The Canaanite Gospel
Carlo Parcelli
Country Valley Press
1308 W. Washington Street, Carson City, NV 89703
FlashPoint
5703 36th Ave., Hyattsville, MD 20782
9780982019627, $11.95, www.flashpointmag.com

The birth of Christianity is of much debate to religious scholars of any faith. "The Canaanite Gospel: A Meditation on Empire, 88 Monologues" is a collection of religious and humorous musings from Carlo Parcelli who presents his own take on the early days of Christianity, the events in Judea that gave birth to the new testament and the legends of Christ and his apostles. Told with a heavy dose of humor, exploring the blurry line of religion, philosophy, and satire, "The Canaanite Gospel" is an excellent and much recommended addition to any humor or religion collection.

Problems Gods
James J. Garber
Bauu Institute and Press
PO Box 1945, Winter Park, CO 80482
9781936955053, $18.95, www.bauuinstitute.com

God's place in our world has been constantly evolving to theologians and philosophers. "Problem Gods: In Search of a Meaningful Deity" discusses the concept of God in our universe, to those trying to understand the nature of God in the idea free of religion. Exploring the concept of a neo-Natural God, James J. Garber presents an intriguing delve into philosophy and spirituality in a wider scope of the universe. "Problem Gods" is a well worth considering for general philosophy collections.

Transparencies of Eternity
Rubem Alves
Convivium Press
7661 NW 68th Street, Suite 108, Miami, FL 33166
9781934996195, $10.95, www.conviviumpress.com

God is not a concept simply understood by many. "Transparencies of Eternity" is scholarly prose and poetry from Rubem Alves, as his work studies the concept of God, faith, and the love that goes both ways, presented a study that presents much to ponder for readers and much to understand for those who want to more completely understand their world. "Transparencies of Eternity" is a strong addition to religious studies collections, highly recommended.


The Law/Justice Shelf

Winning at Deposition
D. Shane Read
Westway Publishing
4516 Lovers Lane, Suite 182
Dallas, TX 75225
9780985027179, $69.96, www.winningatdeposition.com

Deposition can shift the balance of a case in a positive direction. "Winning at Deposition" discusses the importance of deposition in a court case, and how they have played a powerful hand in many of the most important cases of recent history. Aimed at lawyers at any level of experience, D. Shane Read, professor of law, advises lawyers on witness preparation, the flaws in the conventional wisdom in regards to depositions, dealing with expert witnesses, and other tough obstacles for many on the field of law. "Winning at Deposition" is a strong and recommended reference for any lawyer, very much recommended reading.


The Holocaust Studies Shelf

Life in a Jar
Jack Mayer
Long Trail Press
PO Box 1227, Middlebury, VT 05753
9780984111312, $17.95, www.longtrailpress.com

The atrocity of Nazi Germany inspired heroism from many unlikely sources. "Life in a Jar: The Irena Sendler Project" tells the story of a Polish Catholic Social Worker who worked to rescue 2,500 Jewish children from the Warsaw Ghetto, an act of heroism suppressed by Communist Poland following the war. Decades later, her deeds are known, and the proceeds of this book go to the Irena Sendler Project, dedicated to letting the unsung heroes of History be known. "Life in a Jar" is a strongly recommended pick for history and Holocaust studies collections.


The Psychology Shelf

Dreams, Creativity, & Mental Health
Glen A. Just
Eagle Entertainment
130 Teton Lane #2, Mankato, MN 56001
9780983205739, $29.95, www.eagleentertainmentUSA.com

The nature of consciousness has plagued mankind throughout its existence. "Dreams, Creativity, & Mental Health" is the musings of philosophy and mental health from Glen A. Just, who discusses everything from dreams, the existence of nightmares, the power of self-hypnosis, lucid dreaming, and much more. A fascinating breakdown of the mind and the unheard signals it sends us, "Dreams, Creativity, & Mental Health" is a strongly recommended pick for philosophy collections.


The Education Shelf

Test Success!
Ben Bernstein
Spark Avenue
511 Telegraph Avenue #238, Oakland, CA 94609
9780981995939, $19.95, www.sparkavenue.com

Why do some people breeze through tests when others falter? "Test Success!: How to Be Calm, Confident, & Focused on Any Test" is a guide to battling test anxiety that many people face, at any level of their academic career, even in regards to performance tests such as the drivers license tests. With clear advice, psychologist Ben Bernstein explores good test taking practices. For anyone feeling the pressure, "Test Success!" is not a book to be overlooked.


The LGBT Shelf

Divining Divas
Michael Montlack, editor
Lethe Press
118 Heritage Ave, Maple Shade, NJ 08052
9781590213834, $25.00, www.lethepress.com

We all have things that inspire us. "Divining Divas: 100 Gay Men on Their Muses" delves into the poetry one hundred gay male poets who discuss their inspirations from across the gender field which range from classic comedians like Lucille Ball to modern musical artists like Mary J. Blige. With humor and dedication, "Divining Divas" is a fine poetry collection for any that want to focus on gay poets. "Mad About the Boy" by Robert Hamberger, on the topic of Dinah Washington: To hear a woman's voice as proud as this/lightens your loneliness. It won't solve it./She doesn't expect it to. Love is bliss,/you bet, but love's a blase So What?/a shurg of bare shoulders. Her raised eyebrow/tilts and swings the notes, steady as her range/besides the strings, letting the trumpets blow./A man is a creature that's always been strange./She's quite aware this earth may be bitter:/it crumbles through her fingers like black bread./Cool phrases swirl on her tongue, grittier/than sea-salt, lazier than a leopard./Drunk on twenty songs as if they're wine/she opens her mouth, pours out the next line.

Dead Ahead
Jen Wright
Clover Valley Press
6286 Homestead Rd., Duluth, MN 55804-9621
9780984657001, $14.95, www.clovervalleypress.com

Far from civilization there is a certain freedom, but there is also a protection that isn't there. "Dead Ahead" follows Jo Spence, as her life with her lover Zoey grows increasingly difficult as premonitions of terrible things begin to follow her. As the premonitions grow more real, Jo realizes that she may know the people responsible more than she thought she knew. "Dead Ahead" is a fine pick for lesbian fiction collections, highly recommended.


The Political Science Shelf

Presidential Campaign Posters
Brooke Gladstone
Quirk Books
215 Church Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
9781593735546, $40.00, www.quirkbooks.com

The presidential election quickly became quite the spectacle of media. "Presidential Campaign Posters: From the Library of Congress" is a collection of campaign posters and images used throughout the nations over two hundred year history, starting in 1928, and ending with 2008. Featuring both positive and negative campaigning throughout with color where applicable, "Presidential Campaign Posters" is a treasure trove of images, advertised as sized ready to frame if someone so desires to do so.


The Autism Shelf

Scholars with Autism
Lars Perner
Auricle Books
PO Box 20607, Sedona, AZ 86341
9780982578537, $26.95, www.booksforhealingbodymindandspirit.com

Those with autism can still contribute to society. "Scholars with Autism: Achieving Dreams" discusses the contributions of autistic thinkers who did not let their condition impede their goals and their contributions to society. These individuals share their stories of how they struggled to overcome their challenges and provide inspirational stories, proving to be a powerful read for autistic readers as well as their parents. "Scholars with Autism" is a strong pick for Autistic studies collections, highly recommended.


The Jobs/Careers Shelf

Work's New Age
James B. Huntington
Royal Flush Press
PO Box 190, Eldred, NY 12732
9780983500636, $17.95, www.royalflushpress.com

Working one job your entire life is now a relic of the past. "Work's New Age: The End of Full Employment and What It Means to You" delves into the current dilemma of the American workforce, and what the future of employment seems to be leading to. Encouraging readers to catch up with the modern age and forge their new style of career to flourish in the future, "Work's New Age" is a strong pick for community library collection focusing on career planning.


The Multimedia Shelf

The Ephemeris
William Jay
Music of Words
100 West Big Beaver, Suite 200
Troy, MI 48084
9780984052882, $69.95, www.musicofwords.com

A unique entertainment experience in a new literary format, "The Ephemeris" is the first book/CD 'bundle' produced in a format called 'D*REAM, an acronym that stands for 'Dramatic Writings and Reading Entrained and Articulated by Music'. Employing a kind of Shakespearian quality language and dramatic style, "The Ephemeris" is an anthology of original stories enhanced by deftly accompanied by superbly produced musical productions. The tale is set in the age of the Black Death. Two friends lookout from the top of an ancient tower in a desolated seaside town and engage in conversations that takes the reader/listener on a surreal journey of the mind and imagination. Flawlessly produced both in print and in recording, "The Ephemeris" is one-of-a-kind 'theatre of the mind' experience and very highly recommended.


The Parenting Shelf

Don't Sit on the Baby
Halley Bondy
Zest Books
35 Stillman Street, Suite 121
San Francisco, CA 94107
9780982732236, $12.99, www.zestbooks.net

Babysitting is something that will always be needed but it can be done very wrongly. "Don't Sit on the Baby: The Ultimate Guide to Sane, Skilled, and Safe Babysitting" is a guide from Halley Bondy on how to better look after children, cooking for children, finding good work in the babysitting business, as well as anecdotes from other babysitters facing their lives. "Don't Sit on the Baby" is a strong pick for anyone who is charged with babysitting and wants to do it better for themselves and for the kids.


The Biography Shelf

The Garrett Gomez Story
Rudolph Valier Alvarado
Caballo Press of Ann Arbor
24 Frank Lloyd Wright Drive
PO Box 415, Ann Arbor, MI 48106-0445
9780982476666, $32.47, www.caballopress.com

The prices of success often vary, and sometimes it costs more than it's worth. "The Garrett Gomez Story: A Jockey's Journey Through Addiction & Salvation" chronicles the life story of horse racing jockey Garrett Gomez as he shares his path through life, becoming dependent on alcoholic and cocaine to make it through his days throughout his high class career. In spite of his demons, he felt he found a place he belonged, but soon came to understand the price of his abuses and what he must do to overcome them. "The Garrett Gomez Story" is a strong pick for general biography collections, especially those with a focus on horse racing.


The Fashion Shelf

Biblical Beauty, Ancient Secrets and Modern Solutions
Rachelle Weisberger
Anbern Press
P.O. Box 1260, Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632
9780983558507, $26.95

"Biblical Beauty, Ancient Secrets and Modern Solutions" is a treasure trove of feminine wisdom and beauty lore from Biblical heroines. Enriched by modern knowledge and research, here are presented both the originators of beauty practices and the modern day solution equivalent. There are suggestions for skin care from Bathsheba, sun care from Deborah, makeup from Rahab, hair care from Judith, fragrance from Esther, jewelry from Rebecca, healthy aging from Sarah, and further ideas and guidance from these Biblical female figures on choices in motherhood, finding inner beauty, and feminine leadership. Each section of ancient secrets is reinterpreted or presented in current care or beauty tips and regimes. "Biblical Beauty, Ancient Secrets and Modern Solutions" is a fascinating self care guide for women that is deeply sourced in Hebrew literature, valued today by Jewish and Christian women everywhere, as well as others. "Biblical Beauty, Ancient Secrets and Modern Solutions" is also available in paperback (ISBN 9780983558514, $18.95).


The Aviation Shelf

Supersonic Eagles
W.D. Becker
Inland Expressions
42211 Garfield Rd. #297
Clinton Township, MI 48038
9780981815794 $20.95 www.inlandexpressions.com

Supersonic Eagles: The Century Series Fighters examines the Century Series fighter jets, which entered service in the 1950s and offered exceptional new capabilities for their time, especially with regard to their advanced jet engines and electronic systems. The series consisted of F-100 Super Sabre, F-101 Voodoo, F-102 Delta Dagger, F-104 Starfighter, F-105 Thunderchief, and F-106 Delta Dart. Although the Century Series is now retired from frontline service, their contribution to military aviation history, and the evolution of fighter jet design, is extraordinary. A handful of black-and-white photographs, notes, and an index round out this thorough resource, which superbly balances technical detail and accessibility to readers of all backgrounds. Highly recommended.


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


Copyright ©2001

Site design by Williams Writing, Editing & Design