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Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
Talk Like a Winner!, revised edition
Steve Nakamoto
Java Books
16835 Algonquin Street #122
Huntington Beach, California 92649
www.stevenakamoto.com
9780967089355 $14.95 www.wallstreetcraps.com
A Best Books Award Finalist for USA Book News, Talk Like a Winner! 21 Simple Rules for
Achieving Everyday Communication Success is now in a revised and updated edition. Talk Like
a Winner! lives up to its title with practical advice for building strong, positive relationships
through conversation. Though written especially for business professionals, the helpful
suggestions of Talk Like a Winner! can be applied to personal conversations as well. From
assessing the situation one is facing before the conversation starts, to expressing oneself fluidly,
speaking with the proper amount emotion, observing one's audience and listening to others, the
value of a sincere compliment, and much more, Talk Like a Winner! is packed cover to cover
with tips, tricks, and techniques for improving one's conversational social skills. Highly
recommended. "As a general rule, spend major time on major issues and only minor time on
minor issues. A characteristic of [the] low-achieving is that they tend to spend the majority of
their time talking about trivial things. A smart strategy is to assess the significance of a particular
topic and give this topic its proper allotment of time. Then move on to other topics that have
greater significance to your audience."
Quake Notes
Scott Watson
Country Valley Press
1308 W. Washington Street
Carson City, NV 89703
9780982019634, $10.00, www.amazon.com
The earthquake that struck Japan in 2011 was one of the worst natural disasters in recent history.
"Quake Notes" is a memoir from Scott Watson who shares his own experiences and writings
from the period, detailing the hysteria surrounding the events and presenting a unique cultural
study of how the Japanese people cope with natural disaster. A fascinating read, "Quake Notes"
is a strong addition to any memoir collection focusing on disasters.
The Social Issues Shelf
A Vision to Action
aha! Process
PO Box 727, Highlands, TX 77562-0727
Darcie Rowan PR (publicity)
9781934583982, $14.95, www.ahaprocess.com
A better life for us all is quite the noble goal. "A Vision to Action: Best Practices to Reduce the
Impact of Poverty in Communities, Education, Healthcare, and More" is a driven call to doing
something in our communities about such scourges, encouraging those who want to do
something how to do something, and how to realize when good works are being done and aid
them. "A Vision to Action" is a positive and powerful read, not to be overlooked for social issues
collections.
The Jobs/Career Shelf
The Temp Factor, complete edition
Cathy A. Reilly
Universal Publishers, Inc.
Editorial and Administrative Offices
23331 Water Circle
Boca Raton, FL 33486-8540
1612330614 $39.95 www.universal-publishers.com
Author Cathy Reilly draws upon her 20 years of experience in human resources and management
in The Temp Factor: The Complete Guide to Temporary Employment for Staffing Services,
Clients, and Temps, a guide to the ins and outs of the staffing industry. Written for anyone and
everyone involved in temporary employment, The Temp Factor is divided into three main
sections: one for staffing services, one for clients, and one for temps themselves. "Many staffing
services will allow you to retake tests and offer tutorials to get your skills up to speed, if
necessary. Applying for work as a temp and being tested is a good opportunity to see where you
may need to learn more. You can develop your weak areas in order to increase your marketability
to prospective employers. Often the staffing service will give you guidance when interpreting
your scores. They can advise you on the next an best steps if you do fall short. It's common for
staffing services to offer free training in some areas, so be sure to ask about what is available." In
today's volatile economy, where anyone can suddenly lose their job (or any business can
suddenly lose their best workers!), The Temp Factor is worthy of the highest recommendation for
career-minded professionals everywhere.
The Science Shelf
Darwinian Happiness
Bjorn Grinde
Darwin Books
P.O. Box 2202, Princeton, NJ 08543
9780878501601, $37.50, www.darwinpress.com
Evolution's theories have brought us an unusual understanding of our condition - a
hyper-intelligent monkey in a world evolving past us. "Darwinian Happiness: Evolution as a
Guide for Living and Understanding Human Behavior" is a unique take on the ideas of evolution
and civilization and their intersections in our individual lives. Bjorn Grinde seeks to understand
the ways evolution has shaped us and how we can shape it in return, in hopes to create something
very much better for our future. Scholarly with much to consider, "Darwinian Happiness" is not
to be overlooked for social sciences and psychology collections, enthusiastically
recommended.
The Psychology Shelf
The Adventurous Heart
Ernst Junger
Telos Press Publishing
20 Main Street, Candor, NY 13743
9780914386483, $21.95, www.telospress.com
Psychology is the study of human thought and processes, and all around the world people have
brought different perspectives together for a better and more complete understanding of it all.
"The Adventurous Heart: Figures and Capriccios" is an English translation of the 1938 German
psychological writer Ernst Junger who wrote on his perspective of the mind and what we seek in
life, touching on the and the nature of intuition. Revered throughout the literary and
psychological international communities, "The Adventurous Heart" is a strong read for those who
want a better understanding of the man who saw much in his time of turmoil.
The Environmental Studies Shelf
Shale Gas
Vikram Rao
RTI International
3040 East Cornwallis Road
PO Box 12194
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2194
9781934831106, $13.95, www.rti.org
Fracking is not fully understood by many. "Shale Gas: The Promise and the Peril" investigates
the debate about fracking, in particular the information surrounding shale gas, arguing against a
prohibition on the practice. Many countries would extensively benefit from American prohibition
in this field, but proper evaluation of the environmental hazards must be kept in mind. "Shale
Gas" is worth considering for those who want to consider all sides of the fracking debate.
The Health/Medicine Shelf
Stick With Exercise For A Lifetime
Robert Hopper, PhD
Shelton Interactive
3303 Northland Drive, Ste. 310, Austin, TX 78731
9781467909938, $12.95, www.sheltoninteractive.com
Health is not a short term thing, it's something to embrace for a lifetime. "Stick With Exercise
For A Lifetime: How To Enjoy Every Minute Of It!" is a guide to finding an exercise program
that works for readers that they can embrace and stick to for the long term. With a strong dose of
health advice and how to have fun doing it, building a competitive spirit at any age, and
conquering things that may push you away from your personal health success, "Stick with
Exercise for a Lifetime" is a strong and much recommended addition to health and wellness
collections.
Prevention is Difficult - But Possible
Allen J. Orehek
Dementia Prevention Center
2637 E Atlantic Blvd, #19129, Pampano Beach, FL 33062
9781475017526, $40.00, www.dementiapreventioncenter.com
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. "Prevention is Difficult - But Possible" is Allen
J. Orehek's advisory on trying to improve chances of prevention for a lifetime when facing many
diseases that become tougher to avoid with age, and how to live a longer and more effective life
in the long term. For those who understand the power of prevention, "Prevention is Difficult -
But Possible" is a choice pick for health collections.
The Green Foodprint
Linda Riebel
Print and Pixel Books
PO Box 1397, Lafayette, CA 94549
9780983305118, $15.95, www.printandpixelbooks.com
What we eat can affect the world in ways we may not fully understand. "The Green Foodprint:
Food Choices for Healthy People and a Healthy Planet" is a health advisory that explores the
concepts of eating healthier for ourselves as well as the planet, criticizing the industrial food
systems for poisoning the planet and how the food from there also poisons us. Advocating a more
natural diet, "The Green Foodprint" is a strong addition to general health and wellness collections
as well as for environmentalists, highly recommended.
Food: You're The Boss
Gary R. Epler
Epler Health
c/o Smith Publicity
1930 E. Marlton Pike, Suite I-46
Cherry Hill, NJ 08003
9780984933532, $15.95, www.eplerhealth.com
Food is a major part of our lives, but it shouldn't control us. "Food: You're The Boss" is a health
guide as Gary R. Epler encourages readers to take better control of their lives and health by
understanding how to control what they eat and control their diet more effectively, and make
food that empowers one's life. With plenty of good advice for general nutrition, "Food: You're
The Boss" is not to be overlooked for those seeking a better way to control their daily health.
Fast Food Vindication
Lisa Tillinger Johansen, MS, RD
www.consultthedietitian.com
J. Murray Press
c/o The Barrett Company (publicity)
12021 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 600
Los Angeles, CA 90025
www.fastfoodvindication.com www.amazon.com
9780578110431 $9.99 pbk. / $2.99 Kindle www.thebarrettco.com
Former McDonald's Corporation real estate manager and registered dietitian Lisa Tillinger
Johansen presents Fast Food Vindication, a counterpoint to the endless pop culture attacks on the
fast food industry. Fast Food Vindication reminds readers of the positive side of fast food chains:
their foods meet high standards of quality and safety; they often promote workers from within;
and thanks to their efforts to offer healthier food choices and nutrition information, their meals
can indeed be incorporated into a balanced diet. "...given the sheer size of the portions served at
many conventional sit-down restaurants [which have] often less healthy methods of food
preparation, and the amounts and types of food we load on our plates at buffets, it can be difficult
to build a healthy meal. Surprisingly to some, we can find a similar menu item at a fast food
restaurant with better nutrition content. Unfortunately, both fast food and sit-down restaurants
flunk when it comes to sodium." Fast Food Vindication is perhaps most valuable for its
exhortation that the reader think carefully about his or her nutritional choices, and not listen too
closely to either positive or negative hype when making nuanced judgments. Highly
recommended.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
The Magical World of Tolkien
Edouard Kloczko, author
Krystal Camprubi, illustrator
Auzou Publishing
24-32, rue des Amandiers
75020, Paris, France
9782733821510 $24.95 www.auzou.biz
The Magical World of Tolkien is a gorgeous book that used fantastic, full-color art, liftable flaps,
and the occasional novelty insert (such as strands of white horsehair on the page about the
magical horses of Middle Earth) that takes the reader on a wondrous tour through the magic and
majesty of Tolkien's setting for his legendary fantasy novels, "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the
Rings" trilogy. The text tells of wizards, dragons, mortal kingdoms, and much more, condensing
Tolkien's rich lore into easily digestible bites. Fantasy lovers will find the artwork captivating
and inspirational! Delicate parts make The Magical World of Tolkien less than ideal for
weathering the rigors of a lending library, but the masterful way in which it surveys Tolkien's
classic works makes it an ideal companion to the series in personal fantasy collections. "Scatha
was a dragon that particularly liked the taste of dwarves and their treasures. During Fram's reign,
in the 21st century of the Third Age, Scatha spread terror over the whole region and destroyed
many villages, although Fram succeeded in slaying the dragon. The dwarves asked Fram to give
them back the riches that Scatha had stolen from them, but the only compensation they received
from the king was a necklace made from dragon teeth."
Creature From Reelfoot Lake
James L. Dickerson
Sartoris Literary Group
PO Box 4185, Brandon, MS 39047
9780985513580, $16.95, www.amazon.com
There are things that lurk through history, lost, and misunderstood. "Creature from Reelfoot
Lake: The Merman Who Loved Women" follows three friends as they take a trip to Reelfoot
Lake, and begin to be stalked by a merman with uncertain intentions. Looking for love among
their group, they face their personal problems, and the creature as well. "Creature from Reelfoot
Lake" takes cues from the 50s cult horror and related elements, making for an original read.
Chimera
Virjie
Broken Glass Publishing
50001 Lincoln Avenue, Evansville, IN 47715
9781934603123, $10.95, www.brokenglasspublishing.com
What is real and what is a lie is clouded further by sorcery. "Chimera" is a novel of witchcraft
and romance, as Chelsea faces the love she left behind for family. But the time apart has
complicated things. The man she loves may be a murderer, and may have won her heart not
through dedication and kindness, but instead magick. "Chimera" is a riveting romance that is
worth considering for those who seek fantasy stirred into their tales of love and lust.
Stalking the Zombie
Mike Resnick
American Fantasy
919 Tappan St., Woodstock, IL 60098
9780961035259, $25.00, www.americanfantasypress.com
Against the unusual, keeping one's mind straight carries one further than you'd expect. "Stalking
the Zombie: Fables of Tonight" is a collection of short fiction from Mike Resnick, focusing on
his blend of noir and fantasy with detective John Justin Mallory, who works in an alternate
Manhattan where the legends of our world are very much true. With a strong blend of humor and
adventure, "Stalking the Zombie" is a choice and recommended addition to general fiction and
fantasy collections, highly recommended.
Through the Door
Jodi McIsaac
Inkwood Publishing
5681 148A St., Surrey, BC Canada V3S 8W8
9780988047211, $12.99, www.amazon.com
Normalcy is only a temporary state. "Through the Door" is a fantasy from Jodi McIsaac as she
presents a novel of falling into a very different world filled with legend, and is forced to hunt for
her lost daughter before it's too late. With the whole new world against her, her efforts to survive
are undaunted in the face of a mother's love. "Through the Door" is a strong addition to those
seeking a riveting tale of fantasy and family, recommended.
Revelation 9:11
Ian A. Stuart & David R. Franklyn
MediaGroup Management Inc.
3477 Riverspray Crescent
Mississauga, Ontario Canada L4Y 3M6
9780988001206 $15.00 www.revelation-911.com
Revelation 9:11 is a fantastic novel about the delicate balance between angels and mortals as
humanity rushes toward the Biblical end of the world. Taking place across the span of centuries,
the story follows leaders, scholars, cardinals, and ruthless murderers. Father Benjamin Price,
tasked with an unrelenting penance, searches for his path amid the machinations of Nazis,
pirates, and corrupt clerics on one hand, and the twin children of angel on another. The ancient
Nephilim Portal and the mysterious Anunnaki Key cast a shadow over humanity's future. Will
the severity of Seraph - the Destroyer Angel of the Old Testament, and the Angel of the Abyss in
Revelation - condemn all there is, and will there ever be life, hope, or mercy again?
Simultaneously apocalyptic and thought-provoking, Revelation 9:11 is the extraordinary saga of
a struggle transcending time and history, captivating to the very last page.
The Fiction Shelf
Imperfections
Bradley Somer
Nightwood Editions
PO Box 1779, Gibsons, BC Canada V0N 1V0
9780889712713, $21.95, www.nightwoodeditions.com
Perfection is something many desire, but no one achieves. "Imperfections" is a novel that
explores the concept of perfection as Bradley Somer follows Richard Trench, who at a loss for
limbs find himself in an adventure that is unlike anything he would have experienced with those
limbs. Touching on the unusual, Somer seeks to look at the duality of beauty and ugly, and how
the two aren't that far apart in what we week. With strong humor and much to ponder,
"Imperfections" is not a read to be overlooked.
Ruby River Ranch
Rod Scurlock
Crooked River Press
406 S 3rd Street, Boise, ID 83702
9781936408689, $9.99, www.crookedriverpress.com
The Old West was filled with opportunity, but you had to work for it. "Ruby River Ranch" is a
novel of the Old West, in which Bart Madison seeks to claim his own part of Montana with a
cattle drive. There's a girl and a chance for love in his sights, but he has to settle a lot of things
before he can call her his - bandits, hostile natives, and nature itself all stand in his way. "Ruby
River Ranch" is an excellent pick for those who love western fiction, highly recommended.
Keowee Valley
Katherine Scott Crawford
Bell Bridge Books
PO Box 300921, Memphis, TN 38130
9781611941722, $18.95, www.bellbridgebooks.com
Before America was founded, the Southern region of the future United States was a region of
Chaos. "Keowee Valley" follows shut-in Quincy MacFadden as she discovers her cousin being
held by the Shawnee Indians. Out to rescue her kin, she must break out of her shell, rely on many
others to help her along, and deal with the weight of pre-Revolution Colonial politics. "Keowee
Valley" is an enticing read for those who seek this particular brand of historical fiction, very
much recommended.
Backseat
Tom Wascoe
Bookstand Publishing
305 Vineyard Town Center, Suite 302
Morgan Hill, CA 95037
9781618632135, $15.95, www.bookstandpublishing.com
College makes us grow up a lot, our own fates in our hands for the first time. "Backseat" is a
coming of age story surrounding young Michael, as he struggles through college during the
height of the Vietnam War where academic failure could mean a draft into the conflict. Traveling
through the country and enduring much for his fraternity, he learns much about life in the
process. "Backseat" is a thoughtful and enlightening read of growing up with the 70's ahead of
you.
Accidental Felon
Gloria Wolk
Bialkin Books
14460 New Falls of Neuse Rd., #149-247
Raleigh, NC 27614
9780965261555, $21.95, www.AccidentalFelon.com
A case can be manufactured out of nearly anything. "Accidental Felon" is a novel based on true
events; author Gloria Wolk crafts a tale of an unknowing special needs mother gets implicated
into a scam for insurance fraud, and how someone with no criminal intent can get thrown behind
bars for actions they didn't even know were illegal. "Accidental Felon" discusses what some
people face in the justice system and how there always isn't a hero to win the day.
Following Tommy
Bob Hartley
Cervena Barva Press
PO Box 440357, W. Somerville, MA 02144-3222
9780983104186, $17.00, www.cervenabarvapress.com
Brotherhood is a bond that can last a life time. "Following Tommy" is a novel of Chicago in the
1960s from Bob Hartley, who stick together through their rough upbringing, causing trouble and
making nebulous names for themselves. As the first black people move into their neighborhood,
the two learn much about America and its long road to something that resembles equality.
"Following Tommy" is a worthwhile pick for historical fiction collections, highly
recommended.
Permeable Borders
Nina Kiriki Hoffman
Fairwood Press
21528 104th St Ct. E, Bonney Lake, WA 98391
9781933846323, $16.95, www.fairwoodpress.com
What we wish for out of life is challenged on the matter if we truly want it. "Permeable Borders"
is a collection of short fiction from Nina Kiriki Hoffman, as she invites people to reconsider what
they know about life. "Permeable Borders" tells stories of everyday people as they face mundane
challenges, and not-so-mundane challenges, as they seek their heart's desire - whether it's a grand
aspiration, or simply the yearning to go home. "Permeable Borders" is a fine addition to modern
short fiction collections, highly recommended.
The Raven's Heart
Jesse Blackadder
Bywater Press
PO Box 3671, Ann Arbor, MI 48106
9781612930273, $14.95, www.bywaterbooks.com
In the high courts, there is so much waiting on the line. "The Raven's Heart" is a novel set
amongst sixteenth century Scotland, as Alison, a lady in waiting to Mary, Queen of Scots, finds
her own intrigue in high society with those waiting to betray her around every corner. Drawn
strongly from history as well as imagination, "The Raven's Heart" is a fine historical novel, an
absolute must for fans of the period in the history of the British Isles.
Little Raw Souls
Steven Schwartz
Autumn House Press
87 1/2 Westwood St., Pittsburgh, PA 15211
9781932870657, $17.95, www.autumnhouse.org
Our stories are many, but they all s hare common links. "Little Raw Souls" is a collection of short
fiction from Steven Schwartz as he presents a compilation of many characters and the struggles
of life that they face and their struggles. With plenty of humor and the stories of life that drive us
all forward, "Little Raw Souls" is a strong pick for any modern short fiction collection.
Winds of Change
Mary Metcalfe
Friesen Press
Suite 300, 852 Fort Street
Victoria, BC, Canada V8W 1H8
9781770977419, $9.99, www.amazon.com
Trying to mend a family from the outside is a difficult task, but it is the task of the social worker.
"Winds of Change" tells the story of struggling Jennifer Barrett who tries to piece her own life
together after the loss of her family, by trying to mend the lives of Mark and Ben Powell, an
international journalist and his son, who the father abandoned for his career. Not wanting to
impose his demons on his son, he thought him not being in his life would help him, but it may
have only led to resentment and other issues. "Winds of Change" is a strong pick for those
seeking a novel of family and restoring life, highly recommended.
The Chocolatier's Wife
Cindy Lynn Speer
Dragonwell Publishing
336 Malin Road
Newtown Square, PA 19073
9780983832089, $15.95, www.amazon.com
We want to believe those closet to us aren't capable of atrocity. "The Chocolatier's Wife" is a
historical novel from Cindy Lynn Speer, as she tells the story of Tasmin, rushes to clear her
betrothed's name. Delving into his hometown and family though, she is faced with many more
challenges and sees that the offenses against her love's family aren't limited to him alone. "The
Chocolatier's Wife" is a riveting spin of drama and historical romance, enticing and very highly
recommended reading.
The Divorce Girl
Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg
Ice Cube Press
205 N. Front Street, North Liberty, IA 52317
9781888160666, $19.95, www.icecubepress.com
Divorce can often send children into turmoil. "The Divorce Girl" is a novel set in the 1970s;
Deborah Shapiro copes with her parents splitting in her teenage years by seeing a whole broad
stroke of the world and its many curious characters through it all. A coming of age tale with a
strong dose of humor all throughout, "The Divorce Girl" is a must for fiction collections, not to
be missed.
Sunday's Child
Anne Lyken-Garner
Pulse
113 Bay Drive, Cary, NC 27511
No ISBN, $TBA
Many people struggle to get through life. "Sunday's Child" is a novel of 1980s Guyana, as Anne
Lyken-Garner tries to capture the tough times of the nation and those struggling with the mass
food lines and rationing of the period. A young girl meets with a soldier, and the tragedy that
spills out from it adds to her hardship. A novel of facing the worst of life, "Sunday's Child" has
much story to tell, very much recommended reading.
The Poetry Shelf
The Branches, The Axe, The Missing
Charlotte Pence
Black Lawrence Press
8405 Bay Parkway C8, Brooklyn, NY 11204
9780982876671 $9.00 www.blacklawrence.com
"The Branches, The Axe, The Missing" is an intense distillation of partly poisonous life
experiences that grows and tends towards something painfully transcending, brutal, yet
recognizably human. Some realizations can only be expressed in such poetry. Charlotte Pence
holds her poetic magnifying lens focus fearlessly, on painful experiences, and achieves a sort of
soul integration through reconnecting with a primal essence. Here is a quotation of her making:
"Like kicking a pebble over a cliff and never/ hearing it fall. Soon, you walk away/ and forget
about it./ Most of the time. Tonight, she is thinking about/ two men, her father, now homeless,
and her ex-husband,/ She had been direct with both of them./ She reminded her ex that she had
never/ been in love. She told her father/ he would drag her down with him./ She was right. They
agreed. They are gone./ Like kicking a pebble over a cliff and never/ hearing it fall. Soon, you
walk away. (p. 18)" The most significant experience for the reader of this poem resides in the
awareness of the void at the end, challenging one's bravery and ability to examine the void, to
peer within and hold close a dark infinity at the core, where one's heart should be. Charlotte
Pence has delivered a fearsome and precious gift to all in the chapbook of poems, "The Branches,
The Axe, The Missing."
Somewhere Piano
Sarah Busse
Mayapple Press
362 Chestnut Hill Road, Woodstock, NY 12498
9781936419135 $14.95 www.mayapplepress.com
Featuring brief poems that employ an eclectic variety of rhyme and verse formats, Somewhere
Piano applies prize-winning poet Sarah Busse's twin masteries of vocabulary and cutting-edge
emotion. Verses range in tone from harsh to seeking to wistful, and illuminate the dark moments
in life as well as the optimistic ones. An excellent choice for poetry aficionados. "Drinking
Song": They both briefly dream of deserting / their spouses, kids, and careers, / but they're mostly
just fond of the flirting, / being too well acquainted with tears. // So here's to the lift of an
eyebrow. / Here's to the smile, the press / of a hand on an arm or a shoulder. / Here's to ice in the
glass.
Unpublished Poems
Broc Rossell
Brooklyn Arts Press
154 N. 9th St. #1
Brooklyn, NY 11249
9781936767045 $8.00 www.BrooklynArtsPress.com
Unpublished Poems is the first poetry collection of Broc Rossell. The poems are brief, free-verse,
and contemplative; the words stretch beyond mundane imagery to ponder the inexplicable
aspects of life and death. Rossell needs few words to speak volumes about the enigma of
mortality, in this thought-provoking collection. Highly recommended. "A Cloud of Faithful
Witnesses": Hope is a form of penance // Like an oil rig / Spouting as it bores, // I climb to
discover the rock // Or the Virgin of Guadalupe visits / And labor assumes a purpose. // Romance
purports a dialectic between loss and solace // But this clerestorial poem / Has no house // Admits
no refuge / Denies anything I can remember
Crossing
Dean Olson
Fithian Press
PO Box 2790, McKinleyville, CA 95519
9781564745354, $14.00, www.danielpublishing.com
Change is a constant in our lives. "Crossing" is a collection of poetry from prolific and
experienced poet Dean Olson who presents a delve into the ideas of change, and the crossroads
we will run into throughout our lives. With plenty to ponder on life, "Crossing" is a treat from a
well traveled man with much to talk about, highly recommended. "First Up": Oh to be first up
again./First to follow pheasants/onto untouched dew,/to be the still center/of pasture waste lost in
mist//silence holding back dawn/aching to bare its neck//my in-placeness caught/in a freak of
sunshine/on whitewashed stem and stalk//as extravagant light enters/known and sure.
Smoke
Jeanne Bryner
Bottom Dog Press
PO Box 425, Huron, OH 44839
9781933964591, $16.00, www.smithdocs.net
The world isn't perfect, and understanding that is the key to finding something better. "Smoke" is
a collection of poetry from Jeanne Bryner as she presents a down to earth working class brand of
poetry, drawing on what she has seen as a registered nurse. "Smoke" is a very much
recommended addition to contemporary poetry collections. "Assessment": If you see wrist
scars/kneel down,/check both ankles/offer to wash her feet.
And Butterflies Fly Away
Harper Wynne
Librado Press
PO Box 2801, Reston, VA 20195
9781879571051, $9.95, www.libradopress.com
Poems often seek to tell a story in their own way. "And Butterflies Fly Away" is a collection of
poetry from Harper Wynne as he presents his work as a novel in verse, as he presents a story of
youth and what we experience and learn. "And Butterflies Fly Away" is a strong pick for modern
poetry collections, recommended. "The Pears and the Peaches: Two old ladies overlap the earlier
century --/sisters in this house fifty years/both wearing lace collars./When we leave/they walk us
out to the front gate./It's the way things were done in their time./We leave with a bowl to fill up
with our century/between the pears and the peaches.
The Memoir Shelf
Me, Myself, and I
Elaine Andrus Watts
Biographical Publishing Company
95 Sycamore Drive
Prospect, CT 06712-1493
9781929882694 $11.95
Raised on an Idaho farm, musician and teacher Elaine Andrus Watts presents Me, Myself, and I,
a memoir that collects treasured moments from her youth, her closeness to animals and nature,
some verses of poetry from the heart, her experiences teaching, and even deeply spiritual
moments. "Music, my joy, / An inner world, / Unique adventures, / Companions and retreat //
Illusive, yet tangible / Emotions reach / heights and depths /seeking release." The episodic nature
of Me, Myself, and I lends itself to being read in short bursts, but the joy and gratitude for God's
gift of a wonderful lifetime is tangible throughout. Highly recommended.
Po-boy Contraband
Patrice Melnick
Catalyst Book Press
2941 Kelly Street, Livermore, CA 94551
9780980208146, $15.00, www.catalystbookpress.com
Traveling the world exposes us to so much in our journeys. "Po-boy Contraband: From Diagnosis
Back to Life" is a memoir from Patrice Melnick as she shares her world travels and facing the
supposed death sentence of HIV. Finding the strength to live life, she has a lot of life worth
living but her brush with mortality has charged her with. "Po-boy Contraband" is a strong pick
for those seeking a memoir of living and thriving in spite of HIV.
Under the Wild Ginger
Jeffrey D. Willius
Bunker Hill Publishing, Inc.
285 River Road, Piermont, NH 03779
9781593731106, $12.95, www.bunkerhillpublishing.com
Youth is the state of wonder, of seeking knowledge. "Under the Wild Ginger: A Simple Guide to
the Wisdom of Wonder" is a spiritual memoir of recollections of life and youth, of breaking
through life's mysteries. The small bits of wonder seek to inspire introspection and thought, and
make "Under the Wild Ginger" insightful and well worth considering for those seeking bite sized
wisdom to ponder as they go through life.
The Self-Help Shelf
The Toltec Path of Transformation
Heather Ash Amara
Hierophant Publishing
8301 Broadway, Suite 219, San Antonio, TX 78209
9780981877198, $16.95, www.hierophantpublishing.com
The four classical elements represent much, even if they aren't scientifically the ingredients of the
universe. "The Toltec Path of Transformation: Embracing the Four Elements of Change" is an
inspirational read of self-improvement and transformation through the elements, the air of clarity,
the energy of fire, the fluidity of emotions, and the stalwart nature of the physical body, Heather
Ash Amara presents much to ponder in our pursuit of self-improvement. "The Toltec Path of
Transformation" is a strong addition to motivational, self-help and spirituality collections.
The Sports Shelf
On Coaching Football
Thomas A. Dean
Universal Publishers
2331 Water Circle, Boca Raton, FL 33486-8540
1612330487, $25.95, www.universal-publishers.com
Football is a team sport that calls for strategy and teamwork more than anything else. "On
Coaching Football: A Resource and Guide for Coaches" is a guide for coaches and coaching staff
on how to more effectively understand the ins and outs of the team sport and building an efficient
career as a coach. From how to apply for a job as a sports coach, building your team, and how
coaching extends off the field. "On Coaching Football" is a must for any coach at any level of
competition, or for those who want to break into coaching themselves.
The Christian Studies Shelf
Grace Like Rain
Jeff Petherick
Elk Lake Publishing
56767 Mt. Vernon
Shelby Township, MI 48316
9780979354328, $15.99, www.ElkLakePublishing.com
There are times when life where our faith is lost and we feel we are lost to God. "Grace Like
Rain: Soaking Up God's Best (Even When We're At Our Worst)" is a Christian inspirational read
surrounding finding God's grace even at our lowest point in our lives, and how to find his love
even when such a thing seems like a lie. With a powerful message for believers and those who
want to believe, "Grace Like Rain" is well worth considering for Christian spirituality
collections.
The Religion/Spirituality Shelf
Spiritual Resiliency and Aging
Janet L. Ramsey & Rosemary Blieszner
Baywood Publishing Co.
26 Austin Avenue, PO Box 337
Amityville, NY 11701
9780895034113, $59.95, www.baywood.com
Everyone fears aging, to the point they do not see its realities and benefits. "Spiritual Resiliency
and Aging" analyzes the spirits behind aging and how to better embrace it for life, facing down
agism and encouraging spirituality as the core of their being and staying strong in soul no matter
how much the body ages. Chapters discuss how aging affects us in spirit, the value of keeping
one's goals realistic, maintaining connections to others, and finding something worth living for.
"Spiritual Resiliency and Aging" is an encouraging pick for spirituality and collections focusing
on aging and inspiration, enthusiastically recommended reading.
10 Spiritual Laws of Life
Ngankou
Zoop Publishing
PO Box 6003, Bloomington, IL 61702
9780983986607, $24.99, www.amazon.com
Greater spiritual harmony in life is attained by understanding how it all comes together. "10
Spiritual Laws of Life" is a thoughtful read from Ngankou, who touches on 10 spiritual
principles, or laws as he calls them, to consider for greater spirituality in one's life no matter what
one's calling truly is. With plenty to consider, Ngankou's work is revered by many influential
people, and makes "10 Spiritual Laws of Life" worth considering fort hose looking to refine their
relationship with their god, or whatever they believe.
Atheist Voices of Minnesota
Bill Lehto, editor
Freethought House
19154 Evening Star Way
Farmington, MN 55024
9780615598574, $20.00, www.mnatheists.org
Atheism gains more followers to the modern day. "Atheist Voices of Minnesota" is a collection
of essays from many Minnesotan atheists who come together and discuss their loss of faith, life
as an atheists, finding principles without religion, and general life as an atheist in their lives.
With plenty to ponder for followers of atheism or those who want a better understanding of
atheism in general, "Atheist Voices of Minnesota" is a strong addition to philosophy and
spirituality collections, highly recommended.
The Islamic Studies Shelf
The Science of the Quran
Ahmad Hassan
Lido Horizons Publishing
4201 Wilson Bouelvard, Suite 110
Arlington, VA 22203
9780615499840, $35.00, www.lidohorizons.com
Science does not disprove religion, as Ahmad Hassan believes. "The Science of the Quran:
Proving God's Existence through Established Modern Science" is the research of Iraqi-American
Ahmad Hassan, as he presents his own study and how he believes that modern science
establishes the truths of the Quran, that he believes are linked to proof of a supreme being behind
it all. For followers of the faith or those curious of a different take on the debate between science
and religion, "The Science of the Quran" is an enticing read worth considering.
The Biography Shelf
Under the North Light
Lawrence Webster, author
WoodstockArts
P.O. Box 1342, Woodstock, NY 12498
9780967926865 $39.50 www.WoodstockArts.com
"Under the North Light: The Life and Work of Maud and Miska Petersham" is a sensitive and
complete visionary biography of famed children's literature artists Maud and Miska Petersham.
This long lasting union of artists from Hungarian and American beginnings is famous for its
beautiful artistic illustrations of children's literature from the 1920's until the 1960's. Correlating
as a companion volume to the retrospective Petersham exhibition at the Woodstock Artists
Association & Museum (opening October 6), "Under the North Light" is written by a long term
friend and neighbor to the Petershams who grew up nearby. The origin of the title is Woodstock
home studio used by the Petershams, with its north window for a desirable clarity of light to
create award-winning art. Many of the pages of illustrations in "Under the North Light" will be
familiar to adult readers from beloved old children's books treasured in their youth. Complete
with a foreword by Philip C. Stead and Erin E. Stead, "Under the North Light" offers a new look
at a priceless legacy from a gifted union of artists.
Hell on Wheels
Karen Mueller Bryson
Short on Time Books
30215 N. Joshua Tree Dr., Florence, AZ 85132
9781477690758, $8.99, www.shortontimebooks.com
Our passions can save us from a doomed life. "Hell on Wheels: The Incredible Story of 'Rookie
Roller Derby Queen' Cindy McCoy" tells the story of McCoy, who struggled through life as a
young girl before embracing roller skating and joining an international roller derby team and
finding her calling, earning many awards to her name in her career. For those intrigued by the
world of roller derby in the 1960s, "Hell on Wheels" is well worth considering.
The Art Shelf
Copic Coloring Guide Level 3: People
Colleen Schaan & Marianne Walker
Annie's Paper Crafts
306 East Parr Road, Berne, IN 46711
9781596354807, $14.95, www.anniescatalog.com
Coloring is more than grabbing markers or crayons like you did as a kid. "Copic Coloring Guide
Level 3: People" is an art instructional guide to the techniques and ways surrounding color and
how to get the most out of a picture with the right colors and techniques. From creating eye
catching patterns, creating the right skin tones and hair colors, and much more, "Copic Coloring
Guide" comes with a CD with more tutorial and instruction, making it a treasure for the learning
art student.
The Gardening Shelf
Aphid in My Eye
Tom Powell
B. B. Mackey Books
PO Box 475, Wayne, PA 19087
9781893443518, $14.00, www.mackeybooks.com
Flowers to some are far more than the pretty things that come out of the ground. "Aphid in My
Eye: Adventures in the Orchid Trade" is an exploration of the orchid trade; enthusiast Tom
Powell brings readers into the in depth world of the orchid trade, where this beautiful flower can
bring one to see many things, sharing his adventures and deals with many figures form all walks
of life. "Aphid in My Eye" is a strong pick for gardening and memoir collections,
recommended.
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Multiplayer
John C. Brewer
PlotForge, Ltd.
1650 Lake Shore Drive, Suite 225
Columbus, OH 43204
9781937979003 $14.97 www.plotforge.com
Book One of "The Multiplayer Saga", Multiplayer is a riveting adventure about a deadly
conspiracy in the world of online gaming. Hector West is an ordinary young man, who is
abruptly devastated when his father is killed in Iraq. His mother moves back to their small town
where there's little to do and he has no friends. Hector escapes the drudgery of everyday life in
the online game "Omega Wars", under the game alias Izaak Ersatz. When Hector's character is
robbed by a rival gamer by the handle of Mal-X, Hector calls on his clan, the Spartans, to hunt
down the cheater. Their efforts take a deadly turn when Hector learns that Mal-X is using
"Omega Wars" to train for an attack that could ignite the flames of war in the real world! Only
Hector can prevent a virtual atrocity in the making from becoming reality, in this riveting modern
thriller.
Discernment
Trevor Scott
Salvo Press
7430 Lacerta Dr., Sparks, NV 89436
9781609770396, $14.95, www.salvopress.com
Serial killers enjoy taunting the very people who pursue them. "Discernment" is a mystery novel
from Trevor Scott, telling of the unique partnership between FBI Agent Julie Oh and expert in
serial killings Leon Jackson, as they search through Portland for evidence to find a killer - who
seems to be murdering with a noble goal. But murder is murder, no matter the circumstance,
although the law may be more attracted to each other than the idea of justice... "Discernment" is a
riveting read that should prove hard to put down, highly recommended.
The Relationship Shelf
The 'Rethink' Remedy
Lori Shea
Para Ella Publishing
8008 Strandhill Rd., Huntersville, NC 28078
9780985549909, $17.95, www.paraellapub.com
Marriage is something not to toss oneself desperately into. "The 'Rethink' Remedy: For Single
Women Over 30" is an advisory read for women who aren't yet married as they approach the
dreaded middle age. Lori Shea advises readers not to bring their own bringer of failure, and
encourage confidence in oneself by dispelling the anxiety that many feel at this time in their
lives. With plenty to consider and solid advice for life, "The 'Rethink' Remedy" is a strong
addition to relationship and self-help collections, highly recommended.
The Education Shelf
Coaching Classroom Instruction
Robert J. Marzano & Julia A. Simms
Marzano Research Laboratory
555 North Morton Street, Bloomington, IN 47404
9780983351269, $34.95, www.marzanoresearch.com
Teaching is no easy task, and helpful advice is always welcomed. "Coaching Classroom
Instruction" advises how to better coach teachers by senior teachers and colleagues on helping
teachers grasp their career and how to better serve the students they are charged with educating.
Outlining the common elements of effective teaching on many levels, evaluate a teacher's
progress, and how to better help make good teachers great, "Coaching Classroom Instruction" is
a strong pick for education and education administration collections, not to be overlooked.
The Writing/Publishing Shelf
Ten Steps to Help You Write Better Essays & Term Papers, fourth edition
Neil Sawers
The NS Group
21-10405 Jasper Ave., Suite 586
Edmonton, AB T5J 3S2
9780969790198 $14.95 www.writebetteressays.com
Now in a fourth edition with comparative MLA/APA documentation, Ten Steps to Help You
Write Better Essays & Term Papers is a straightforward and helpful guide not only for high
school, college, and graduate students, but also for professionals in any vocation that involves
writing essays or papers. Chapters offer guidance for choosing a thesis, doing research,
organizing one's paper, completing the first draft, revising and editing the draft, and much more.
Specific instructions for citing sources, etc. according to MLA guidelines (often used in English
or humanities essays) or APA guidelines (often used in social science essays) will prove
especially valuable. "If you plan to use a website as a research reference, evaluate that website
carefully. What are the credentials of the person(s) who set up the site? How often is it updated?
Is the information neutral...?" One of the most eyebrow-raising yet useful recommendations for
evaluating internet-based (or any other) information is the CRAAP test: Currency (is it timely?),
Relevance (is it important for your needs?), Authority (what is the information's source?),
Accuracy (how reliable or truthful is the information?) and Purpose (why does the information
exist?). Packed cover to cover with practical as well as stylistic advice, Ten Steps to Help You
Write Better Essays & Term Papers is enthusiastically recommended.
The Business Shelf
#Managing Up Tweet
Tony Deblauwe and Patrick Reilly
ThinkAha
20660 Stevens Creek Blvd., Suite 210
Cupertino, CA 95014
9781616990909 $19.95 www.thinkaha.com
Successful business experts Tony Deblauwe and Patrick Reilly present #Managing Up Tweet:
140 Tips to Building an Effective Relationship with Your Boss offers 140 invaluable suggestions
- each no longer than a tweet (144 characters) - to improve one's relationship with one's superiors
in the workplace. (There is an occasional footnote offering expanded definitions of little-known
terms and the like). For example, suggestion ninety-nine is "In formal presentations to senior
management, make your boss look good and never generate unwanted surprises." A font of
wisdom in bite-sized digestible form, #Managing Up Tweet is an excellent browse for
career-minded men and women. Also highly recommended in the "Tweet" series is Carmela
Southers' "#Managing Your Virtual Boss Tweet" (9781616990985, $19.95), a similar guide
packed with tweet-length suggestions to improving one's communication and visibility in the
workplace, such as "Email is the easiest and least effective form of communication. Set clear
email rules, or your teammates will email you into paralysis."
The Money/Finance Shelf
Wall Street Craps
Steve Nakamoto
Java Books
16835 Algonquin Street #122
Huntington Beach, California 92649
www.stevenakamoto.com
9780967089386 $16.95 www.wallstreetcraps.com
Winner of the Global eBook Award in the category of finance and investment, Wall Street Craps:
How To Play Today's Hot & Cold Stock Market For Fast Money With Less Risk is a
straightforward, no-nonsense guide to making money off of Wall Street. A thoroughly accessible
guide even for finance neophytes, Wall Street Craps emphasizes the importance of keeping a
sharp and stable mindset, and not allowing one's emotions or attachments to get the better of
one's rational judgement. Gambling analogies are nonstop - indeed, Wall Street demands just as
much if not more alertness than a Las Vegas casino. Some of the market's basic concepts, such as
short selling (a means of making money when a stock goes down in price, that will come back to
bite the investor if the stock instead goes up in price), leverage, liquidity, and more are also
explained in plain terms. "The natural habit to avoid is the unsound practice of maintaining a
concentrated investment portfolio - the kind of portfolio that leaves investors open to excessive
and unnecessary financial risk." A handful of black-and-white cartoons add a touch of mirth to
this excellent primer, filled with sound advice for playing the Wall Street game - and also
warnings of when it's best not to play the game at all (if one's finances are thin, or if the game is
taking too high a toll on one's physical or mental health). Highly recommended.
The Wine Shelf
Home Production of Vodkas, Infusions & Liqueurs
Stanley Marianski & Adam Marianski
Bookmagic LLC
9780983697343 $19.95 www.bookmagic.com
Home Production of Vodkas, Infusions & Liqueurs is a comprehensive how-to guide, written for
drink mixers of all skill and experience levels. Chapters cover distilling and diluting alcohol,
ideal materials and equipment for creating tinctures, vodka, liqueurs and cremes, how to invent
new drink recipes, and much more. A few words of caution are also included, concerning the
pure alcohol that is an ingredient in many drink recipes: "At present, in the United States it is
illegal to sell the 190-proof variety in California, Florida, Virginia, Maryland, Washington, and
West Virginia... Some municipalities, such as Chicago, have banned sales of 95% alcohol to the
general public even though the state permits it to be sold. The reason is that some college
students were getting dangerously drunk drinking plain 90-95% alcohol." Black-and-white
photographs, tables, charts, graphs, and a wealth of recipes round out this excellent, user-friendly
guide for any connoisseur with a serious interest in potent cocktails.
The Political Science Shelf
Time To Act America
Marion Minke and Rosetta Jackson
Dog Ear Publishing
4010 W. 86th Street, Ste H
Indianapolis, IN 46268
www.dogearpublishing.net
9781457514036 $14.95 www.dovetailersinc.com
Time To Act America: Discussions: A Potential Fall From Democracy is a left-leaning
call-to-arms concerning the latest political hot-button issues. The rightward swing of the
Republican Party is criticized, as is the omnipresence of lobbyists, fiscal recklessness (especially
Republican budget plans that cut taxes in the face of tremendous debt obligations), and the
relentless assault upon worker's unions. "Our founding fathers did not set up our government as a
theocracy with Christianity at its center; they set it up to transcend all belief systems so that all
had the same civil rights to worship and live their lives as they saw fit. Government is there to
make sure no group of people is discriminated against because of other groups' objection to their
beliefs. Therefore civil law superimposes religious law. If we change that tenet in our
constitution and allow one religious group to impose their values and beliefs on everyone else,
we will lose all the civil rights and liberties we have fought so hard to achieve; enabling a
potential fall from democracy." A handful of black-and-white charts and graphs enrich this
piercing outcry about the need for Americans to become politically active (voting is quite literally
the least any American citizen can do). Of particular interest are some inventive proposed
solutions to improve America's troubled political scene, such as requiring all congressmen to take
speed-reading classes (so they can better read and understand the bills they pass), providing
government housing for congress rather than paying for their expensive private housing, allowing
congress to govern from their home districts (using conference call capabilities and the like as
needed), barring lobbyists from physical access to congressmen, revising the filibuster rule in the
Senate so that it can only be used a maximum of twice a year, having the Supreme Court be
elected and serving for no more than twelve years, and much more. While many of Time To Act
America's recommendations are unlikely to be enacted into law anytime soon, they provide an
excellent starting point for the debate on how best to reform America's troubled government.
Texas Got It Right!
Sam Wyly and Andrew Wyly
Melcher Media
124 West 13th Street, New York, NY 10011
Endicott & Company Public Relations
9781595910745 $19.95 www.TexasGotItRight.com
Texas Got It Right! is an unabashed exultation of all things Texas - with particular emphasis on
the policies that have prompted Texas' economic and population growth even amidst the Great
Recession. A reader-friendly book packed with full-color photographs on almost every page,
Texas Got It Right! is largely composed of brief vignettes of Texas history, success stories, quirk,
and down-home pride. From how Texas is the nation's wind energy leader, to its Lucchese brand
boots known for style and comfort, to the successful and well-known Texas A&M University, to
how Texas hosted some 240,000 "guest citizens" in the wake of Hurricane Katrina's destruction
and much more, Texas Got It Right! highlights Texas' greatest successes, revealing why Texas
has become the number one moving destination in America. An amazing and fact-filled read
from cover to cover, Texas Got It Right! can't be called braggadocio because it's true!
The Audiobook Shelf
Swordspoint
Ellen Kushner
Sue Media Productions
PO Box 227, Carle Place, NY, 11514
www.suemediaproductions.com
B006FS2C98, $24.95, www.amazon.com
A simply terrific action/adventure tale of political intrigue, "Swordspoint" by Ellen Kushner has
been brought vividly to life in a flawlessly recorded 10 hour, 54 minute, full cast production
complete with sound effects and original music. Set in a kind of Renaissance type era where
nobility settle disputes by employing swordsmen against their foes and in defense of their friends,
Richard St. Vier and his eccentric companion Alec find themselves caught up in a series of
interlocking deceits and power struggles. From the slum dwellers of Riverside, to the elegant
members of the upper class, the characters are deftly shaped, the storylines are studded with cliff
hanger moments of suspense, and the outcome is replete with surprises. With technically faultless
production values combined with outstanding performances and a gifted narration,
"Swordspoint" provides a true and authentic 'theatre of the mind' experience, making it very
highly recommended for personal and community library Audio Book collections.
The Humor Shelf
The Facebook Diet
Gemini Adams
Live Consciously Publishing, Ltd.
665 Walther Way, Los Angeles, CA 90049
c/o Independent Publishers Group (distribution)
814 North Franklin Street, Chicago, IL 60610
www.ipgbook.com
www.liveconsciouslynow.com
9780955465635 $9.99 pbk. / $4.99 ebook
The Facebook Diet is a humorous book filled with full-color cartoons revolving around a central
theme - how are you to tell when you are spending too much time on the popular social media
site that is Facebook? Possible answers include "You've created a page for your imaginary friend,
cat, car or you dog" and "You've left your password and an obituary status update in your will."
Silly caricature illustrations bring each only-slightly-hyerbole example to life! But perhaps the
most valuable part of "The Facebook Diet" is its final section packed with suggestions for
"unplugging" and "tech-detoxing", such as "Take up knitting or bird watching, but not the angry
ones," and "In order to quell any narcissistic withdrawal symptoms, get your profile picture
printed on your shirt, mug..." A hilarious giftbook perfect for friends who might be spending a
little too much time online, The Facebook Diet is 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
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