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Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
College Safety 101
Kathleen Baty
Chronicle Books
680 Second Street
San Francisco, CA 94107
9780811869492, $16.95, www.chroniclebooks.com
Safety is something to never be forgotten as a young woman entering college, but one must
remember to have fun while you're at it. "College Safety 101: Miss Independent's Guide to
Empowerment, Confidence, and Staying Safe" is a crash course introductory in safety for the
newly minted adult woman entering college who wants all of the best of life while avoiding the
worst. From social networking to parties to dating, to keeping sane in day to day life, "College
Safety 101" is a worthwhile gift for any girl turned woman facing the reality of life and
everything else.
Marshal of Sundown
Jackson Gregory
Sagebrush
c/o Ulvercroft
PO Box 1230
West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
9780753187425, $29.99, www.ulverscroftusa.com
Sometimes to clear your name, you have to work with your accusers. "Marshal of Sundown" is a
western adventure set in the town of Sundown, where fugitive of the law Jim Torrance becomes
the law, gaining a Marshal position. In a collision course with the man who made him an unjust
fugitive, Torrance has to be quick with his wits and his guns to get out alive. "Marshal of
Sundown" is another large print western presentation for fans of old school western thrillers,
highly recommended.
Train to Budapest
Dacia Maraini
Arcadia Books
c/o Independent Publishers Group
814 N. Franklin Street
Chicago, IL 60610
9781906413576, $24.95, www.arcadiabooks.co.uk
The search for love and truth are sometimes two in the same. "Train to Budapest" follows Amara,
a young Italian journalist who is searching for her lost lover from before the war, and searching
for the understanding of the great divide of Europe between the East and West. Her lover,
Emanuele, may have been lost to the Nazi's atrocities, is searched among it all, with Amara
wanting truth, be it survival or death, and if death, how. "Train to Budapest" is a riveting work of
literature, very much recommended for world fiction collections.
The Crafts Shelf
Origrafix Fun
Studio Cochae
Stone Bridge press
PO Box 8208
Berkeley, CA 94707
9781611720037, $16.95, www.stonebridge.com
Origami can create entertainment out of the plainest of paper. "Origrafix Fun: Hop, Move, Fly, Play" is a workbook filled with colorful design and instructions on how to turn that design into something much more. Each design comes with easy to follow instructions and easy to tear out pages to use for the folding project, some with even working parts that go beyond a simple paper crane. For those who want to better understand origami and become adept at it themselves, "Origrafix Fun" is a fine pick for both new and experienced origami artists.
Chains, Chains, Chains
Joanna Gollberg & Nathalie Mornu
Lark Crafts
c/o Sterling
387 Park Avenue South
New York, NY, 10016
9781600595981, $24.95, www.larkcrafts.com
A chain forms an excellent base for crafting one's own jewelry. "Chains, Chains, Chains: 25
Necklaces, Bracelets, & Earrings" is a guide to those who want to use the chain as a better
method in creating their own jewelry out of these easily constructed pieces. Chains can form the
base for many ornamental designs that will go with any fashion, and can be made out of nearly
any metal. "Chains, Chains, Chains" is a useful full color guide for any do-it-yourself jewelry
enthusiast.
Spotlight on Wire
Melissa Cable
Kalmbach Books
21027 Crossroads Circle
PO Box 1612
Waukesha, WI 53187-1612
9780871164377, $21.95, www.kalmbachbooks.com
Wire is an essential tool in creating many unique trinkets. "Spotlight on Wire" is a guide to using
wire in do-it-yourself jewelry and related endeavors. Melissa Cable walks readers through
understanding all the tips and tricks for making wire work for your project, the tools you need to
manipulate them, and many techniques to use wire as a subtle enhancer to many designs.
Necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and more are all discussed, and makes "Spotlight on Wire" a
strongly recommended pick for anyone who likes to make their own jewelry.
Fiction Shelf
Freedom's Stand
J. M. Windle
Tyndale Fiction
351 Executive Drive
Carol Stream, IL 60188
9781414314761, $13.99, www.tyndalefiction.com
To bring peace to where there seems to be only violence seems like a tall order. "Freedom's
Stand" is a Christian novel of Afghanistan as J. M. Windle tells the story of convert Jamil, who
abandoned his religious crusade against America, a relief worker in Amy Mallory, who loses
track of Jamil in the violence, and a Special Forces man who is charged with sorting through
Afghanistan's corruption and find something to do with his life that is not fighting. "Freedom's
Stand" is a novel Christian fiction fans should strongly consider, recommended.
Lost and Found
Danelle Helget
North Star Press St. Cloud, Inc.
PO Box 451, St. Cloud, MN 56302
9780878394302, $14.95, www.northstarpress.com
She wanted relaxation. She got anything but. "Lost and Found" follows Sara as she retreats with
her husband and friends into the woods of Minnesota. Fearing at first she is hallucinating images
of a girl in a white dress, nightmares begin to take hold of her. When one of her best friends
vanish, she struggles to come to terms with the collapse of everything around her, and how in the
process of finding her friend and learning the truth about what's going on, her marriage might be
ruined it and it may all be on her. "Lost and Found" is fast paced, chaotic, and riveting work, very
much recommended.
The Resume
Glen Cantrell
Bedside Books
5442 So. 900 East, #146
Salt Lake City, UT 84117-7204
9781589828285, $22.00, www.american-book.com
What's a soul for some success? "The Resume" follows Dale Geffen as he enters into a deal with
a demon. As he walks his path towards redemption, he sees the extremes of human nature and
sees others have intents to destroy the demon that bounds his soul to an unwanted destiny. "The
Resume" is a fun thriller of deals with the devil gone awry, hard to put down once one has
started.
Senestre on Vacation
Z. K. Burrus
Livingston Press
University of West Alabama
Station 22, Livingston, AL 35470
9781604890754, $18.95, www.livingstonpress.uwa.edu
When the watcher is watched, many more questions are asked in many directions. "Senestre on
Vacation" follows cop Thomas Senestre, a man who is decidedly un-cop-ish. Meeting with a
friend of his mother, he has to hunt down a stalker who has been harassing her. But in searching
for a stalker, he finds he just may have attracted one of his own. Offbeat an unique reading,
"Senestre on Vacation" is humorous and riveting reading.
A Spell on the Water
Marjorie Kowalski Cole
The University of Michigan Press
839 Greene Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48104-3209
9780472034635, $24.00, www.press.umich.edu
For one's children, for one's future, you will face off against everyone. "A Spell on the Water"
follows newly widowed Mary Leader as she takes her children to a small rural community. But
as she lives in the town and tries to change it for the better, she finds the status quo strong.
Crafting a coming of age story for all involved, Marjorie Kowalski Cole presents a fine and
recommended read for the Leader family, and the desires to succeed in life. "A Spell on the
Water" is a fine tale of 1950s small town life and the intrigue that lies beneath it.
Guadalajara
Quim Monzo
Open Letter Books
University of Rochester, Lattimore Hall Room #411
Box 270082, Rochester, NY 14627
9781934824191, $12.95, www.openletterbooks.org
To be expect today to be anything like yesterday is foolish. "Guadalajara" is a collection of
stories from Quim Monzo, a Catalan writer who speaks on the changing nature of the world. His
stories face those who defy tradition, how to turn today's enemy into tomorrow's enemy to the
perils of a plan go wrong, Monzo comes with humor and wisdom and makes "Guadalajara" an
excellent and very highly recommended collection, expertly translated by Peter Bush.
The 40 Days
F. B. Timmerman
Cardamom Publishers
PO Box 2146, Janesville, WI 53547
9780974218182, $12.95, www.cardamompublishers.com
The way back to the Kingdom of Heaven is a long one. "The 40 Days" is a novel surrounding the
forty days after Jesus's resurrection and before he returns to Heaven. Drawn to a conversation
with shepherd and drawing strongly from scripture, Timmerman provides a very spiritual novel,
and makes for highly recommended reading for Christian spiritual readers. "The 40 Days" is a
fine addition to any religiously-driven fiction collection.
The Christian Studies Shelf
The Living Church
John Stott
IVP Books
PO Box 1400
Downers Grove, IL 60515-1426
9780830838059, $15.00, www.ivpress.com
Worship is not unchanging, as people change with the times. "The Living Church: Convictions of
a Lifelong Pastor" is a sort of Christian memoir from John Stott. He reflects on his over half
century of ministry and what he has learned serving at the living church that adapts with these
rapidly changing times and how Christ's message has perhaps became more important than ever.
"The Living Church" is a strong pick for any who want to understand the purpose of modern
worship in today's world.
Tiffany's Swedenborgian Angels
Mary Lou Bertucci & Joanna Hill
Swedenborg Foundation Press
320 North Church Street
West Chester, PA 19380
9780877853398, $19.95, www.swedenborg.com
The book of Revelation has more to discuss than doomsday prophecy. "Tiffany's Swedenborgian
Angels: Stained Glass Windows Representing the Seven Churches from the Book of Revelation"
discusses the art behind the book of Revelations, created on stained glass windows by Louis
Comfort Tiffany. Presented in full color with connections to the theories of Emanuel
Swedenborg connected strongly, "Tiffany's Swedenborgian Angels" is of strong interest to
anyone with a fascination with religiously-inspired art and the book of Revelations.
The Genesis of Science
James Hannam
Regnery
1 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20001
9781596981553, $29.95, www.regnery.com
What is the church's role in modern science? "The Genesis of Science: How the Christian Middle
Ages Launched the Scientific Revolution" is the argument from James Hannam as he offers an
idea that Catholicism and Christianity did not work against science throughout the Middle Ages
and early Renaissance. Instead arguing that the church played a major role in advancing science
and that the Middle Ages played a bigger role in scientific discovery than many would hold you
believe. "The Genesis of Science" is worth considering for anyone who wants to hear another
perspective on the role of Christianity throughout the Dark and Middle Ages in regards to
Science, recommended for Christian studies collections.
Pastoral Companion to the Roman Missal
Paul Turner
World Library Publications
3708 River Road, Suite 400
Franklin Park, IL 60131-2158
9781584595144, $29.95, www.wlpmusic.com
With new documents come new understanding of it all. "Pastoral Companion to the Roman
Missal" is a guide for pastors to understanding the latest translation of the Roman Missal, and
offers aid in interpreting many of the newest aspects of the work so they may understand it and
spread the knowledge to their congregation. A highly recommended resource for any pastor who
wants to understand the Church's documents more effectively, "Pastoral Companion to the
Roman Missal" is a resource that shouldn't be overlooked.
The Origins of War
Matthew A. Shadle
Georgetown University Press
3240 Prospect Street, NW
Washington, DC 20007
9781589017351, $29.95, www.press.georgetown.edu
What leads to full scale conflict? "The Origins of War: A Catholic Perspective" brings together a
discussion of the roots of war and the Catholic faith. Matthew A. Shadle presents a question
against war, urging for theological ethics and a push for peacemaking throughout the war that
reaches beyond religious borders and tries to get to the root of the conflicts that cost thousands of
lives. A discussion that seeks to have no political leanings, "The Origins of War" is worth
considering for anyone considering the religious and ethical consequences of modern
warfare.
The Fitting Room
Kelly Minter
David C. Cook
4050 Lee Vance View
Colorado Springs, CO 80918
9781434799852, $14.99, www.davidccook.com
Christ can fit everyone. It just may take a bit of wiggling. "The Fitting Room" is a guide to
seeking traditional Christian wisdom and using them as our armor through life. With a bit of
humor and wisdom, Kelly Minter advises readers on how to fit Christ into their lives and what it
can do to improve their status on life and everything else. "The Fitting Room" is a must for those
who are struggling to find the time for Christ and want what he can offer their lives.
Discovering the Camino de Santiago
Greg J. Markey
Roman Catholic Books
PO Box 2286, Fort Collins, CO 80522
9781934888209, $9.95, www.bookforcatholics.com
The spirit of the long pilgrimage is not yet lost. "Discovering the Camino de Santiago: A Priest's Journey to the Tomb of St. James" is Revered Greg J. Markey reflecting on his pilgrimage and what he learned on his way to visit the Tomb of St. James the Apostle, and what the long journey and physical challenges taught him on his path through it all. With plenty to consider for students of the Catholic faith, "Discovering the Camino de Santiago" is an excellent addition to any Catholic and Christian studies collection.
At the Still Point
Sarah Arthur
Paraclete Press
PO Box 1568, Orleans, MA 02653
9781557257857, $16.99, www.paracletepress.com
Stories can contain powerful messages, and prove excellent vehicles for powerful spirituality.
"At the Still Point" is a collection of fiction, poetry, and general spirituality as Sarah Arthur seeks
to deliver her own brand of spirituality in a multi-faceted attack on one's own spiritual
wanderlust. With a little bit of everything, "At the Still Point" is an excellent and very much
recommended read for Christian and literature collections, a top pick.
101 Facts about Christianity
Rebecca Currington & Snapdragon Group
Barbour
1810 Barbour Drive, PO Box 719
Uhrichsville, OH 44683
9781616263607, $7.99, www.barbourbooks.com
With two thousands years of history and legend stretching far past that into history, "101 Facts
About Christianity: You Should Know" is a large collection of facts about notable notes, history,
people, places, and other concepts all spread out through Christianity's long and unusual history.
The notes are not purely positive, and go for the intriguing over the praise. "101 Facts About
Christianity" is a fine collection of knowledge, very much recommended for those who want to
learn about the more unusual aspects of the Christian faith.
The Health/Medicine Shelf
The Anti-Anxiety Food Solution
Trudy Scott
New Harbinger Publications
5674 Shattuck Avenue
Oakland, CA 94609
9781572249257, $17.95, www.newharbinger.com
Good diet can lead to better health in more than one way. "The Anti-Anxiety Food Solution:
How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood, & End
Cravings" is a straightforward advisory guide for crafting one's diet to improve your mood and
calm one's nerves. Our brain chemistry is created by what we fuel our bodies and through our
diet. Certain foods help one's nerves, while others exacerbate the problem. "The Anti-Anxiety
Food Solution" is an excellent pick for anyone who is at the end of their rope and wants to eat
their way back to happiness.
Writing Yoga
Bruce Black
Rodmell Press
2147 Blake St., Berkeley
CA 94704-2715
9781930485280, $14.95, www.rodemellpress.com
Yoga must done with a certain flare and dedication. "Writing Yoga: A Guide to Keeping a
Practice Journal" is a guide to creating a journal to help one's own practice of Yoga and sticking
to it. Through his own memoir, Bruce Black hopes others will follow in his footsteps in creating
reminders of their own focus, spirituality, and remembering to always act mindfully. "Writing
Yoga" is well worth considering for anyone who wants to take their practice of Yoga to the next
level.
What Nurses Know... Gluten-Free Lifestyle
Sylvia Llewelyn Bower
Demos Health
11 West 42nd Street, 15th Floor
New York, NY 10036
9781936303076, $16.95, www.demosmedpub.com
A nurse has to understand a wide array of conditions in order to properly care for their patients.
"What Nurses Know... Gluten-Free Lifestyle: The Answers You Need from the People You
Trust" is a medical advice guide from Sylvia Llewelyn Bower as she advises readers with
gluten-intolerant diets on how to avoid gluten when it's everywhere they turn in their grocery
stores and when they eat out. Complete with a sample meal plan, "What Nurses Know...
Gluten-Free Lifestyle" is a sage and recommended resource, not to be missed.
The Poetry Shelf
The Hundred Fathom Curve
John Barr
Red Hen Press
PO Box 40820, Pasadena, CA 91114
9781597094979, $19.95, www.redhen.org
What it means to be an American is constantly revised. "The Hundred Fathom Curve" is John
Barr's exploration of Americana from the perspectives of the war veteran, where the question of
humanity enters strongly into it. "The Hundred Fathom Curve" is a unique take on it all, making
for unique poetry. "Dropped": Released the pieces of the porcelain vase/depart on paths they've
waited to peruse/since first enjoined to hold a shape in space:/shrapnel to its own ballistics
true.
House of Tongues
Susan Wicks
Bloodaxe Books
c/o DuFour Editions
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425
9781852249069, $21.95, www.dufoureditions.com
We look for acceptance, even when we believe we will find none. "House of Tongues" is a
collection of poetry from Susan Wicks as she goes through and offers many works of poetry and
life and our search to belong, where we lose the ones we love and yearn for what was left for
behind. "House of Tongues" is a touching assortment of poetry, very much worth adding to any
general poetry collection. "Wheelchair": I am the paralyzed and the pusher, I am the
air/circulating in the steel chair.//I am the wasted hand that lies/inert on the arm-rest, and the
hand that cries//a line of blood-drops each time it goes to grasp,/slashed across the heart-line. I
am that gasp.//and the unseen body humped on the steel seat,/my side-by-side feet//aligned on the
foot-rest, as the grey road rolls under./I am the hunger//of crowds that come and stand beside,
around, above/the wings of my naked blades -- of love.
101 Poems for Teachers
Annette L. Breaux
Eye on Education
6 Depot Way West, Larchmont, NY 10538
9781596671461, $19.95, www.eyeoneducation.com
The path of the educator is filled with many challengers, stresses, and many snot nosed kids.
"101 Poems for Teachers" is a collection of poetry aimed at teachers, designed to help them
through the dilemma of the teaching career. With plenty of humor and a certain bit of wisdom
woven in through it all, "101 Poems for Teachers" is a fine read for any teacher who needs a little
wit to claw through the day. "We Get to Choose": One saw a glass half empty,/The other, a glass
half full/What? It was the same glass?/What stunt were they trying to pull?/No stunt was pulled
at all, you see/Our attitudes shape our vision/We all get to choose for ourselves/Whether life's an
adventure or a collision!
Whiteout
Marvin Bell, poetry
Nathan Lyons, photography
Lodima Press
PO Box 367, Revere, PA 18953
9781888899702, $50.00, www.lodimapress.com
Poetry and photography are both art, in their own unique ways. "Whiteout" is a blend of these
two disciplines as a unique combination to provide a different experience. Longtime
collaborators, their work goes together well, and will prove to be something that hasn't been seen
before and won't be seen again, with its application of surrealism in visual and text. "Whiteout" is
a fine volume for any fan of photography or poetry. "About the Dead Man and Fries": The dead
man salivates for dead man's fries./He does not belittle the existential nature of his
metabolism./He does not underestimate the tactile, the tangible, the mix of inner and outer in the
formation of taste./Food for his stomach in the spice for food for his soul./The dead man's taste in
art is as physical as his love of fires./He has partaken of fries as fingers, fries as strings, fries as
discs, fries as crumble./He has felt his brain recharged as he scavenged on the plate for scraps./It
was the morsel left behind, the fragment of an idea, a speck of an/epiphany that took him
away./Recall that he grew up among potato farm, among eyes in the dirt./The patrons of roadside
stands and beaneries who shucked irony.
The Audiobook Shelf
The Last Werewolf
Glen Duncan, author
Robin Sachs, narrator
Random House Audio Books
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 8th floor
New York, NY 10019
9780307917331 $40.00 www.randomhouse.com
The Last Werewolf is the unabridged audiobook story of the last living werewolf in the
modern-day world. Jake is 201 and physically hearty, living on a diet heavy in animal protein, but
as the last of his kind he is beset by depression and loneliness. Jake contemplates suicide, but two
threatening groups pursuing him are determined to keep him alive for their own sinister reasons!
A sensual, sexy, and deeply emotional portrayal of a timeless legend, The Last Werewolf is
highly recommended for fantasy audiobook and public library collections. 9 CDs, 11 1/2
hours.
Back of Beyond
C.J. Box, author
Holter Graham, narrator
Macmillan Audio
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315
New York, NY 10010
9781427211347 $39.99 www.macmillanaudio.com
Back of Beyond is the unabridged audiobook rendition of a tense mystery following brilliant but
alcoholic policeman Cody Hoyt, only two months sober when he discovers that his friend burned
to death in a remote mountain cabin. At first glance, it appears to be suicide, but Cody's
memories of his friend prompt him to investigate more deeply. Evidence links the killing to an
outfitter leading tourists to the most remote portions of Yellowstone National Park, and Cody's
son and fourteen-year-old Gracie Sullivan. Cody must journey in the wilderness to stop a ruthless
and remorseless killer who always seems to be one step ahead, in this vividly suspenseful novel.
9 CDs, 11 hours.
Betrayal of Trust
J.A. Jance, author
J.R. Horne, narrator
Harper Audio
10 East 53rd Street
New York, NY 10022-5299
9780062095794 $39.99 www.harpercollins.com
Betrayal of Trust is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of a mystery novel featuring Seattle
investigator J.P. Beaumont. When the horrifying snuff film of a teenage girl being strangled by
her own scarf surfaces on the cell phone of the grandson of Washington State's governor - a boy
with a troubled past - it's Beaumont's duty to find whether he truly is involved in the shocking
crime. Is the murder movie just a child's prank gone wrong, or the roots of something far more
corrupt and grisly? It's a race against time for Beaumont to learn the truth before more young
lives are lost in this captivating thriller, brought to life by J.R. Horne's superb storytelling
performance.
The Four Just Men
Edgar Wallace, author
Bill Homewood, narrator
Naxos of America, Inc.
1810 Columbia Avenue, Suite 28
Franklin, TN 37064
9781843794554 $28.98 www.naxosaudiobooks.com
The Four Just Men is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of a tautly written thriller following
four mysterious, wealthy Europeans, each a master of disguise and deception, who seek to deliver
justice when police and governments cannot. Operating outside the law, they are ruthless and
exacting in their dedication. A classic and enduring work brought to life with the skilled
narration professional actor Bill Homewood, The Four Just Men is especially recommended for
public library audiobook collections. 4 CDs, 4 hours 32 min.
The DVD Shelf
10 Minute Solution Best Belly Blasters
Anchor Bay Entertainment
2401 West Big Beaver Road, Suite 200
Troy, MI 48084-3304
$14.98 www.anchorbayentertainment.com
10 Minute Solution Best Belly Blasters is an excellent addition to the 10 Minute Solution library
of fitness DVDs for people with jam-packed schedules. Offering six user-friendly, ten-minute
abdominal workouts that can be mixed and matched to taste, 10 Minute Solution Best Belly
Blasters is an excellent supplement to fitness DVD libraries. The workouts are "Six Pack Ab
Attack", "Waist Slimmer", "Belly Fat Burner", "Dancer's Abs", "Pilates Perfect Abs", and "Bikini
Belly". A ten-day "belly blasting meal plan" enhances this choice pick for fitness enthusiasts of
all skill and experience levels. 63 min.
The Science Shelf
Geology Underfoot in Yellowstone Country
Marc S. Hendrix
Mountain Press Publishing Company
1301 South Third Street West
PO Box 2399, Missoula, MT 59806
9780878425761, $24.00, www.mountain-press.com
Yellowstone has much in the way of natural history. "Geology Underfoot in Yellowstone
Country" is a guide to many geological sites throughout Yellowstone. Each site gets an entry
outlining the details of it, many with full color photographs spread throughout. Covering millions
of years throughout history, "Geology Underfoot in Yellowstone Country" proves to be a guide
that can be enjoyed from the home or for one preparing to take in the environment themselves.
"Geology Underfoot in Yellowstone Country" is a fine read and very much recommended.
The Writing/Publishing Shelf
77 Reasons Why Your Book Was Rejected
Mike Nappa
Sourcebooks Inc.
1935 Brookdale Road, #139
Naperville, IL 60563
www.sourcebooks.com
9781402254123, $14.99, www.amazon.com
It goes without question that to be successfully published aspiring authors must have imagination
and literary skill. What you don't often hear is that they must also have marketing skills and
'know how' with respect to persuading agents to represent them, publishers to publish them, and
the reading public to read them. Every writer from the Hemingways of the world to the newest
aspirant wanting to write the next 'Great American Novel' will experience the dreaded rejection
letter -- over and over and over again. That is unless they give a careful reading to Mike Nappa's
new 'how to' manual "77 Reasons Why Your Book Was Rejected". This compact, 360-page,
informed and informative compendium of real-world based insights draws upon Nappa's more
than two decades as a professional author, editor, and literary agent breaks down into three major
categories of reject by publishers: editorial reasons; marketing reasons; and sales reasons. By
following Nappa's sage and insightful commentary any author can learn how to avoid rejection
letters for any and all of these common areas of literary proposal rejection and significantly
enhanced their chances of becoming published -- and published profitably! Simply stated, "77
Reasons Why Your Book Was Rejected" should be considered mandatory reading for any and all
aspiring authors yearning to break into print and launch themselves into successful careers as
published writers.
Brilliant PR
Cathy Bussey
FT Press
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.mcp.com
9780273746584, $19.99, www.amazon.com
It doesn't matter if you are an author from a major publishing house like Simon & Schuster or
Penguin-Putnam, or self-published in this age of desk-top publishing and POD companies, you
will carry the burden of publicizing, promoting, and marketing your book if you hope to have a
financially successful, professional career. That's why every author needs to give a close and
careful reading to Cathy Bussey's "Brilliant PR: Create a Pr Sensation, Whatever Your Budget,
Whatever Your Business", a 168-page compendium of sound, 'real world', instructive
commentary, tips, tricks, techniques, and do-it-yourself strategies adaptable to shoe-string and
'no-string' marketing budgets. Applicable to any business and the marketing of any product,
"Brilliant PR" is especially germane for the book industry as it will teach newly published
authors on how to best present themselves and their book to the reading public, what the various
and diverse elements of a public relations campaign are and how to organize them effectively,
managing the inevitable and unexpected crisis, and utilizing the promotional power of social
networking in this modern age of computer web sites, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc. Of
special note are the illustrative insider stories, sample press releases, and good PR examples
featured throughout. If you want to engage in an effect PR campaign for your book, read
"Brilliant PR" by Cathy Bussey.
Musings Of An Online Bookseller
John Landahl
Peverell Press
c/o InfoStrategist.com
6341 - 5th Avenue NE, #509
Seattle, WA 98115
9781592433322, $19.95, www.amazon.com
To be a successful bookseller in today's increasingly competitive and volatile marketplace, there
must be an online aspect to the business plan for traditional 'brick & mortar' retailers. The
phenomena of 'online only' book selling and the steadily increasing numbers people who only sell
books online are publishing industry trends that, among other factors, are responsible for the
demise of so many independent and chain bookstores -- the latest of which is the national
Borders bookstore retail empire. Then there is the advent of digital publishing to consider! That's
why "Musings of an Online Bookseller" by John Landhal is such important, informed, and
informative reading. Included are such factors as the impact an aging baby boomer generation is
having on the publishing industry, the impact of the ebook, the use of web site oriented sales
venues, alternatives to that 800 pound gorilla of online book selling known as Amazon.com, and
so much more. Although invaluable for anyone new to online bookselling, "Musings of an
Online Bookseller" is especially recommended for those seasoned and experienced retail book
sellers that are trying to make the transition from 'brick & mortar' businesses to online retailing
either as a supplement to their traditional venue or as a replacement for it.
Rebel Bookseller, second edition
Andrew Laties
Seven Stories Press
140 Watts Street, New York, NY 10013
www.sevenstories.com
9781609801397, $16.95, www.amazon.com
The local independent bookstore was long a hallmark and core contributor to the intellectual life
and well-being of individuals and communities. In this modern era of "big box" bookstores,
chain store booksellers, online book sellers, and digital publishing, those traditional independent
bookstores are becoming an 'endangered species'. That's why Andrew Laties "Rebel Bookseller:
Why Indie Bookstores Represent Everything You Want to Fight for from Free Speech to Buying
Local to Building Communities" is such a timely and important contribution to our national
dialogue. Now in a fully updated and significantly expanded second edition, "Rebel Bookseller"
is a personal history of how Laties got into selling books, how he has survived and even
prospered against book marketing factors that have proved devastating to so many others, the
growth of the big chain booksellers, and more. Of special note are the wealth of anecdotes,
innovations in book selling, and the cogent 'real world' advice for anyone contemplating starting
up an independent bookstore of their own. Informed and informative, occasionally inspired and
inspiring, "Rebel Bookseller" is very highly recommended reading.
101 Best Sex Scenes Ever Written
Barnaby Conrad
Quill Drive Books
2006 S. Mary St., Fresno, CA 93721
9781610350013, $14.95, www.quilldrivebooks.com
A well done sex scene is a wonderful thing. Too bad so many writers are awful at it. "101 Best
Sex Scenes Ever Written: An Erotic Romp Through Literature for Writers and Readers" looks at
the writers with enough tenacity to write sex scenes with authenticity and purpose for their
characters. Although drawing readers in with a spicy topic, Barnaby Conrad hopes to spin readers
into the literature of the likes of Faulkner, Burgess, Hemingway, and much more. "101 Best Sex
Scenes Ever Written" is a fine collection for anyone who wants to understand what makes a sex
scene good, for those who tire of the awkward nature that most writers approach.
The Sports Shelf
Sports Hypnosis in Practice
Joseph Tramontana
Crown House Publishing
6 Trowbridge Drive, Ste. 5
Bethel, CT 06801
9781845906795, $31.95, www.crownhousepublishing.com
Hypnosis is more than a watch and parlor tricks. "Sports Hypnosis in Practice: Scripts, Strategies,
and Case Examples" discusses the power of hypnosis in practical application in sports.
Hypnotherapy can prove an effective treatment in recovery and addictions, and Joseph
Tramontana explains how they can be applied to sports to help performance and reach goals.
Discussing his own surprising results and how the hypnotherapist does not have to be complete
familiar with the activity in question, "Sports Hypnosis" is an excellent read, recommended for
any psychologist who works with athletes.
The Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Saturn: A New Look at an Old Devil
Liz Greene
Red Wheel/Weiser/Conari
65 Parker Street, Suite 7
Newburyport, MA 01950-4600
9781578635078 $18.95 www.redwheelweiser.com
Liz Greene (co-founder of the Centre for Psychological Astrology in London) presents Saturn: A
New Look at an Old Devil, a close study of the role of Saturn in astrological forecasts. Though
Saturn is often maligned as a bringer of hardship, Greene shows Saturn's other side - the
"Initiator" that can ultimately improve consciousness, understanding of the self, and freedom,
provided that it is dealt with honestly. A classic text now available in a special 35th anniversary
edition with a new foreword by astrologer Robert Hand, Saturn: A New Look at an Old Devil is
highly recommended especially for astrology buffs.
Lifting the Veil on the Lost Continent of Mu
Jack Churchward
Ozark Mountain Publishing
PO Box 754, Huntsville, AR 72740
9781886940178, $19.00, www.ozarkmt.com
The origins of man have taken various spins throughout history. "Lifting the Veil on the Lost
Continent of Mu: The Motherland of Men" is a re-issue of the 1926 metaphysical discussion
from James Churchward as he presents his own theories of Lemuria, or the Lost Continent of
Mu. Bearing the Garden of Eden and many biblical stories with research from Churchward's
grandson Jack, "Lifting the Veil on the Lost Continent of Mu" is a fascinating study of this
legend, very much recommended.
Life and Death on Mars
John Brandenburg
Adventures Unlimited Press
1 Adventure Place, Kempton, IL 60946
9781935487364, $19.95, www.adventuresunlimitedpress.com
It is not out of the question that Mars once held life. "Life and Death on Mars: Mass Extinction &
Nuclear Catastrophe on Mars" is a metaphysical book as John Brandenburg states that Mars
faced extinction and that the remnants of the survivors fled to Earth, leaving their former planet
behind, uninhabitable. For fans of metaphysical science, "Life and Death on Mars" may prove an
intriguing read.
The Self-Help Shelf
Balancing Act
Adele Ryan McDowell
Balboa Press
c/o Hay House
1663 Liberty Drive, Bloomington, IN 47403
9781452532165, $13.95, www.balboapress.com
The faster life goes, the harder it is to keep it together. "Balancing Act: Reflections, Meditations,
and Coping Strategies for Today's Fast-Paced Whirl" is a spiritual exploration of life and how to
come to terms with the wisdom of the universe, and how to learn to understand it all. With a bit
of humor involved, Adele McDowell will do well in advising readers to help them keep it
together on life's roller-coaster. "Balancing Act" is a fine and very much recommended pick for
anyone seeking wisdom to cope with life.
Attitude-inize 10 Secrets to a Positive You
Jan Coates
Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City
c/o Veritas Communications
PO Box 2075, Canon City, CO 81215
9780834126114, $14.99, www.veritascorporated.com
Positive thinking is worth more than being able to see the glass half full. "Attitude-inize 10
Secrets to a Positive You" is Jan Coates' guide to better attitude and a better life. With plenty of
wisdom to create a better outlook for any situation, and find happiness in oneself no matter the
situation. For those who want to see the bright side of life, "Attitude-inize: 10 Secrets to a
Positive You" is a powerful read with much to teach about the world.
Surfer's Code
Shaun Tomson
Gibbs Smith
PO Box 667, Layton, UT 84041
9781423622277, $14.99, www.gibbs-smith.com
When one's life is risking death, it's crushing when someone dear loses that risk. "Surfer's Code:
12 Simple Lessons for Riding Through Life" is a memoir from Shaun Tomson as he reflects on
his life as a successful business man and surfer and how all that seemed to not matter when he
lost his son in a sudden accident. With a message that life has many lessons and that one can't
prepare for the worst, "Surfer's Code" is a touching and recommended read of inspiration, a
choice pick.
Humilitas
John Dickson
Zondervan
5300 Patterson Avenue SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49530
9780310328629, $18.99, www.zondervan.com
When you admit you aren't perfect, you can come closer to perfection. "Humilitas: A Lost Key to
Life, Love, and Leadership" is a discussion of how humility, realizing one's weaknesses, can lead
to one being a more endearing leader. Flaws in one's character shouldn't be emphasized, but
running from them and covering them up will often create more troubles. By embracing one's
humility, one can reach greater heights of success, and prove to be greater to others, and to
themselves. "Humilitas" is something to be considered by anyone who is trying to make
themselves a better leader in life, business, or wherever else.
The Music Shelf
Surf Beat
Kent Crowley
Backbeat Books
c/o Hal Leonard
33 Playmouth Street, Ste. 302
Montclair, NJ 07042
9781617130076, $19.99, www.backbeatbooks.com
As Rock and Roll burst onto the scene, people were quick to tailor it to their tastes. "Surf Beat:
Rock 'n Rolls's Forgotten Revolution" speaks about the renaissance of rock in the early 1960s in
Southern California where another genre of music came into being, inspired by the care free and
loose living culture of the era. As the Beach Boys best exemplify the most popular act of the
genre, Kent Crowley explores the roots and how this unique sound came to be. "Surf Beat" is a
fascinating read in the development of a forgotten but strong influence in American popular
music.
Frank Martin's Musical Reflections on Death
Siglind Bruhn
Pendragon
PO Box 190
Hillsdale, NY 12529
9781576471944, $42.00, www.pendragonpress.com
Death is something we all face, and such, is a highly unifying topic. "Frank Martin's Musical
Reflections on Death" traces the history behind the work of Frank Martin, who created nine
internationally renown compositions of music, each reflecting on death in their own unique way,
centered both in World War II and when he was facing his own mortality. "Frank Martin's
Musical Reflections on Death" is a study of one renowned musician's approaches on death and how
you can take many approaches to this all encompassing subject.
The Religion/Spirituality Shelf
Love, Imperfectly Known
Brother Emmanuel of Taize
Continuum
80 Maiden Lane, Suite 704
New York, NY 10038
9781441116376, $24.95, www.continuumbooks.com
We all have our God, whether we view him as a being or not. "Love, Imperfectly Known:
Beyond Spontaneous Representations of God" is a work of faith and philosophy as Brother
Emmanuel of Taize offers a unique brand of spirituality and our search for life's many leanings
and paths for us to follow. God, for the non-believer, is our subconscious that powers us through
and shapes our views and being. "Love, Imperfectly Known" is a fine work with plenty to think
about for anyone who wants to understand what pushes them forward, regardless of their views
on God or lack thereof, highly recommended.
Walking on Air
Susan Smith Jones
Red Wheel, Weiser, & Conari
65 Parker Street, Suite 7
Newburyport, MA 01950
9781573244978, $15.95, www.redwheelweiser.com
A month could be all you need to revitalize your life. "Walking on Air: Your 30 Day Inside and
Out Rejuvenation Makeover" is a spiritual self-help guide for readers to help them refresh their
spirit. Susan Smith Jones suggests a multi-tiered approach to realizing one's hopes and dreams,
including remembering the hopes and dreams we hold, eating well, and purging the negativity
from one's life. "Walking on Air" is a powerful read of spirituality, very much
recommended.
The American History Shelf
The 1805 Diary of the Rev. Dr. James Muir
Donald C. Dahmann, editor
Heritage Books
100 Railroad Ave, Suite 104
Westminster, Maryland 21157-4826
9780788453045 $19.00 www.heritagebooks.com
The 1805 Diary of the Rev. Dr. James Muir is an extensively annotated transcript of the personal
diary of the Scotland-born Rev. Dr. James Muir (1757-1820) during the year 1805. Muir served
as the third minister of the Presbyterian Church in Alexandria, Virginia; his diary is an important
document offering a window into life in America only a couple dozen years after its birth. A
biographical sketch of Muir, scholarly comments on Alexandria circa 1805, and exhaustive
bibliography, and an index round out this invaluable primary source of American history.
Hoist a Cold One!
Melody Groves, author
Myke Groves, photographer
University of New Mexico Press
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
9780826346681, $24.95, www.unmpress.com
It is an icon of history and the wild west, the tavern. "Hoist a Cold One!: Historic Bars of the
Southwest" is a collection of photography and history. Melody Groves tells the story of these
historic taverns who maintain their authentic style years after the fact, with full color photographs
from Myke Groves throughout providing an enticing and fascinating stroll through history of
these taverns who live on today as monuments to a forgotten and lawless time. "Hoist a Cold
One!" is a must for anyone with a love for the Old West tavern aesthetic.
The World History Shelf
Winnipeg Beach
Dale Barbour
University of Manitoba
301 St. John's College, Winnipeg
Manitoba, Canada, R3T 2N2
9780887557224, $24.95, www.uofmpress.ca
A place to get away came in fashion with the onset of the twentieth century, and Winnipeg Beach
was one of those places. "Winnipeg Beach: Leisure and Courtship in a Resort Town, 1900-1967"
recollects the history of the Coney Island of the West, catching a certain allure of people looking
for vacation in Western Canada. Written by one who had experienced its joys himself, Dale
Barbour recounts its beginnings to its end via morality in the 1960s vividly. "Winnipeg Beach" is
a strong pick for those curious about American and Canadian leisure in the first half of the
twentieth century.
The Travel Shelf
Pathways to the Presidency
Gerald and Patricia Gutek
University of South Carolina Press
718 Devine Street
Columbia, SC 29208
9781570039973 $49.95 www.sc.edu/uscpress
Pathways to the Presidency: A Guide to the Lives, Homes, and Museums of the U.S. Presidents
lives up to its title as a user-friendly history and travel guide, especially ideal for anyone
interested in touring presidential homes and museums. Covering presidential birthplaces,
boyhood homes, and adult residences that have been preserved, restored, rebuilt or re-created,
Pathways to the Presidency includes black-and-white photographs and detailed descriptions of
the sites, as well as blocks of information concerning the address, telephone number, website,
admission fee, available facilities and more of each. Pathways to the Presidency is a superb
supplementary resource for vacationers as well as traveling presidential historians of all skill and
experience levels.
Discover Canada
Lonely Planet
150 Linden St.
St. Oakland, CA 94607
9781742202846, $24.99, www.lonelyplanet.com
Canada is a vast and varied landscape of many people and places. "Discover Canada: Experience
the Best of Canada" is a tourist handbook for those who want to see anything and everything that
America's northern ally has to offer. Natural, social, historical landmarks throughout the region
are all displayed so one can catch an enjoyment of whatever they enjoy the most, be it people,
nature, or a roaring nightlife. "Discover Canada" is a must for any who want to make their
journey across the North the more fulfilling.
Good Night & God Bless
Trish Clark
HiddenSpring
c/o Paulist
997 MacArthur Boulevard, Mahwah, NJ 07430
9781587680571, $24.00, www.mackillopfoundation.org.au
Throughout Europe, many historic convents and monasteries welcome visitors, combining
history with lodging. "Good Night & God Bless" is the second volume for those who want to
visit these historic landmarks. Trish Clark shows many open religious institutions, focusing on
the United Kingdom, Ireland, and France, covering what is available, how to contact, and much
more. For anyone with a bit of faith, "Good Night & God Bless" should be strongly considered
for alternative lodging throughout the British Isles and France.
The Relationship Shelf
The Good Enough Spouse
William E. Ward
New Horizon Press
PO Box 669, Far Hills, NJ 07931
9780882823645, $14.95, www.newhorizonpressbooks.com
Not every marriage is going to be perfect, and making the judgment call of divorce is one that
shouldn't be taken lightly. "The Good Enough Spouse: Resolve or Dissolve Conflicted
Marriages" is a marriage advisory guide from William E. Ward is a guide for readers who are
struggling with what makes a successful marriage, as he suggests ways to make sure marriage
doesn't stagnate growth as people and for relationships, what makes a good marriage, the most
common pitfalls that lead to unhappiness. "The Good Enough Spouse" is a fine read with plenty
of wisdom, not to be missed for those lost on the future of their own relationships.
What Did I Do Wrong?
Liz Pryor
Simon and Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
9781451649659, $14.00, www.simonandschuster.com
Some friendships aren't forever. It may or may not be your fault. "What Did I Do Wrong?: What
to Do When You Don't Know Why the Friendship is Over" is a collection of advice on life and
friendship from Good Morning America's advice guru in Liz Pryor. Discussing why sometimes
friendships can cease suddenly and how to cope with it all, Pryor gives an understanding of
friendship gone wrong with plenty of stories and wisdom to come to terms with why. "What Did
I Do Wrong?" is a fine read for anyone who wants to understand why they have lost a loved
one.
The Memoir Shelf
One with the Sea
Richard Daniel O'Leary
Jetty House
c/o Peter E. Randall Publisher
PO Box 4726, Portsmouth
NH 03802-4726
9780982823651, $27.95, www.perpublisher.com
To create something from nothing is the true essence of the American dream. "One with the Sea: An Inspiring Rags-to-Riches Saga of the Son of an Irish Immigrant" is the memoir of Richard Daniel O'Leary as he tells his story of coming from a poor house in Maine but with loving parents who helped him towards great opportunity. Eventually earning his way to a college degree and seeing the world with the United States Navy, and building his own company, he hopes his own story will inspire others, and speaks on the virtues of good capitalism. "One with the Sea" is a memoir for those who still want to believe in the American dream.
Hollywood Through My Eyes
Monica Lewis
Cable Publishing
14090 E. Keinenen Rd.
Brule, WI 54820
9781934980880, $29.95, www.cablepublishing.com
When you live show business, you see all of it. "Hollywood Through My Eyes: The Lives &
Loves of a Golden Age Siren" is a show business memoir from Monica Lewis, a woman who
was a star of screen and film for decades. She recalls her stories of brushing with fame, almost
becoming a first lady, touring the world, and she presents all she learned through her life's
travels. "Hollywood Through My Eyes" is a moving read of life in Hollywood and what it's like
to be on the roller coaster all the way into the end of life.
Your Voice in My Head
Emma Forrest
Other Press
2 Park Avenue, 24th Floor
New York, NY 10016
9781590514467, $22.95, www.otherpress.com
When everything about your world falls apart, it can be hard to find something to hold on to.
"Your Voice in My Head" is the journey to something of a life from Emma Forrest. Consumed by
her own eccentricity, she finds comfort in an aging psychologist and her family, as well as the
love of her life. But when the psychologist faces sudden death and her relationship is in
shambles, she finds that it's best to learn to rely on herself to pull her through life's many twists
and turns. "Your Voice in My Head" is a fine memoir of life and coming into one's own control
of it all.
The Judaic Studies Shelf
Battle of the Two Talmuds
Leon H. Charney & Saul Mayzlish
Barricade Books
185 bridge Plaza Noth, Suite 309, Fort Lee, NJ 07024
9781569804391, $22.95, www.barricadebooks.com
Israel is not the chosen promised land of every Jew. "Battle of the Two Talmuds: Judaism's
Struggle with Power, Glory, & Guilt" discusses the debate over modern Jewish philosophy, and
its roots in the clash of two Talmuds, one founded in Jerusalem, one founded in Babylonia, and
the clash of developments of Jewish law thousands of years ago. The debate lies in if Israel is
truly the promised land, or if the Promised land is far more symbolic than that. "Battle of Two
Talmuds" is a fascinating exploration of Judaism and their relationship with the physical land of
Israel.
Where Justice Dwells
Jill Jacobs
Jewish Lights Publishing
PO Box 237, Sunset Farm Offices, Rt.4
Woodstock, VT 05091
9781580234535, $24.99, www.jewishlights.com
Justice means different things to many people, but what is Jewish justice in the community?
"Where Justice Dwells: A Hands-On Guide to Doing Social Justice in Your Jewish Community"
discusses traditional Jewish though and social justice. In our communities, this calls for a
protection of those who cannot protect themselves and work towards a better life for all those
involved. With plenty of writing and wisdom on the many aspects on how to attain a more
perfect community, "Where Justice Dwells" is filled with wisdom that rings true with anyone
trying to improve their community, regardless of their culture or faith.
The Conversion Crisis
Emanuel Feldman & Joel B. Wolowelsky
KTAV
888 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07306
9781602801615, $24.95, www.ktav.com
Judaism is not just a faith, it is an ethnicity and nationality as well. "The Conversion Crisis: A
Continuing Discussion" seeks to converse over these truths further and their relation to those
who adopt the Jewish faith coming from other faiths, or a lack of faith. The conversion process to
Judaism is one of the most unique in all of religion, and the continuing discussion of what a Jew
is to the faith and Jewish custom leads to a very intriguing question of it all together. "The
Conversion Crisis" is a must for anyone who wants to understand Judaism's continuing
discussion of what makes a Jew a Jew.
The Business Shelf
Knowledge Management for Sales and Marketing
Tom Young and Nick Muilton
Chandros Publishing
c/o Neal Schuman
100 William Street, Suite 2004
New York, NY 10038
9781843346043, $80.00, www.neal-schuman.com
You can have all the information in the world, but if your business cannot use it effectively, it is
wasted resources. "Knowledge Management for Sales and Marketing" is a guide for information
management for businesses to make a more efficient use of their information. From more
efficiently acquiring the information to putting it into play to get the results needed. Tom Young
& Nick Milton, directors Knoco Ltd, a knowledge consultancy group, apply their expertise in
streamlining the process of research and investigations and how best to use the data acquired. For
any business that strongly relies on information and its application, "Knowledge Management for
Sales and Marketing" is an excellent reference, and a top pick for community and college library
business collections.
Marketing Communications
P.R. Smith and Ze Zook
Kogan Page
1518 Walnut Street, Suite 1100
Philadelphia, PA 19102
9780749461935, $65.00, www.koganpage.com
The world is online and it's not going to stop being online anytime soon. "Marketing
Communications: Integrating Offline and Online with Social Media" is a guide for blending
marketing and social media in the modern day. Public relations, sponsorship still reign true as
aspects from the past, but more than ever social media, direct selling, and an engrossing website
can prove to be major contributions to a products success. Staying on top of the game and
recognizing trends are vital, and P.R. Smith and Ze Zook come together to provide a complete and
comprehensive guide for a dual approach to marketing. "Marketing Communications" is a highly
useful and highly recommended resource.
Successful E-Mail Marketing Strategies
Arthur Middleton Hughes & Arthur Sweetser
Racom Communications
150 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 2800
Chicago, IL 60601
9781933199160, $49.95, www.racombooks.com
The spam button makes it easy to write off e-mail as a failed method of marketing. "Successful
E-Mail Marketing Strategies: From Hunting to Farming" is a guide to using e-mail in the modern
internet as a successful marketing tool. Debating the cost effectiveness of the practice, how to
make it work and get results, as well as explaining the logic that lurks behind it all, Arthur
Middleton Hughes & Arthur Sweetser provide much knowledge in the secret of advertising
through the inbox. For any business who wants to create an advertising campaign that is not
immediately tossed to spam, "Successful E-Mail Marketing Strategies" is an invaluable tool.
The Wine Shelf
Tasting the Good Life
George Gmelch & Sharon Bohn Gmelch
Indiana University Press
601 North Morton Street
Bloomington, IN 47404-3797
9780253223272, $21.95, www.iupress.indiana.edu
Wine has grown from a staple of culture to being a culture of its own. "Tasting the Good Life:
Wine Tourism in the Napa Valley" is a guide to exploring wine country, as George and Sharon
Bohn Gmelch walk readers through the ins and outs of wine tourism and provides a snap shot of
the wine culture, from the makers of the wine to those who serve it to those who make their
business in the area, "Tasting the Good Life" is a fine study of wine and what it offers people,
highly recommended.
The Art Shelf
Evolution
Michael Simon
The University of North Carolina Press
116 S. Boundary St.
Chapel Hill, NC 27514-3808
9780807872147, $45.00, www.uncpress.unc.edu
Creating pottery has fallen out of the mainstream, but there is still much art to be had in it.
"Evolution" is a collection of photography and crafts from Michael Simon. Discussing the
process of crafting and making art of bowls and jars, he compares the process to evolution,
focused, slowly crafted, and ultimately ending up with something more perfect than what it once
was. For those who want to understand pottery, the art and spirit behind it, and perhaps
inspiration to try their own hand at it, "Evolution" is an essential addition to any art studies
collection that wants to embrace ceramics and pottery further.
The Cookbook Shelf
Culinary Classics From Beachside To Boardwalk
Junior League of Galveston County
Favorite Recipes Press
2451 Atrium Way, Nashville, TN 37214
www.frpbooks.com
9780615323794, $29.95, www.amazon.com
The collaborative work of The Junior League of Galveston County, "Culinary Classics From
Beachside To Boardwalk" is a 208-page compendium of some of the best culinary dishes
associated with gulf coast Texas cuisine enhanced by commentary on and about the history and
culture of Galveston County. Punctuated periodically with superb color photography the superbly
'kitchen cook friendly' recipes range form Pumpkin Ginger Waffles; Roasted Red pepper Soup;
Galveston Crab Cakes; and Cheesy Chicken Chili, to Bourbon Bacon Scallops; Broccoli
Parmesan Casserole; Wasabi Mashed Potatoes; and Brownie Chocolate Cake with Chocolate
Buttermilk Frosting. A magnificent collection of palate pleasing, appetite satisfying, meal
planning recipes, "Culinary Classics From Beachside To Boardwalk" is a welcome and highly
recommended addition to any and all personal and community library cookbook collections.
The Keepsake Cookbook
Belinda Hulin
Globe Pequot Press
264 Goose Lane, P.O. Box 480
Guildford, CT 06437
9780762770076, $16.95, www.globepequot.com
"The Keepsake Cookbook: Gathering Delicious Memories One Recipe at a Time" is a manual for
creators of treasure trove cookbooks that starts with the premise that every recipe handed down
with cherished family heirlooms is "a snapshot" or a collection of edible memories specific to a
common, treasured past. "The Keepsake Cookbook" contains actual recipes that are carefully
presented as cherished keepsakes, with introductory anecdotes or related memories. plus many
helpful suggestions about how to preserve and translate old recipes for modern cooks. "The
Keepsake Cookbook" presents sort of a creative scrapbooking approach to creating a keepsake
cookbook, encouraging family historians or would be cookbook writers to tweak their creative
ideas and memories to embellish and enrich the collection. "The Keepsake Cookbook" is a
practical source of suggestions and advice both for the recipe collector, historian, and cookbook
creator. There are two helpful appendices on printing and digital resources and also a delicious
sampler collection of gift recipes suggested to accompany the keepsake cookbook that the
inspired reader may create.
Homemade Soda
Andrew Schloss
Storey
210 Mass MoCA Way
North Adams, MA 01247
9781603427968, $18.95, www.storey.com
When the technology is available to you, you can create a truly unique beverage to suit your exact
tastes. "Homemade Soda" is a guide to embracing the methods of creating sodas in one's own
home. Andrew Schloss provides plenty of instructions to make the syrups and how to use them
with multiple methods of soda production such as seltzer mixing, soda siphons, or simply
brewing it from scratch. Presented in full color and with recipes for favorites as well as some
unique and original favorites throughout, Schloss also presents much on the history and culture
behind soda. "Homemade Soda" is a treasure trove for any soda lover who wants to go beyond
what their local grocer offers.
The Kentucky Fresh Cookbook
Maggie Green
The University of Kentucky
663 South Limestone Street
Lexington, KY 40508-4008
9780813133768, $29.95, www.uky.edu
Freshness can't be beat, and seasonal recipes are the best ways to fully embrace it. "The Kentucky
Fresh Cookbook" is a cookbook that embraces the very best of traditional Kentucky home
cooking. With simple and straightforward instructions to follow, Recipes include meat-based and
vegetable driven dishes such as Bacon benedictine sandwich, bluegrass cheeseburgers, skillet red
beans, and even sweet dishes like Mini Black Forest Shortcakes. "The Kentucky Fresh
Cookbook" is a fine read for anyone who loves cooking with fresh ingredients in an easy to
follow manner.
Diamond Dishes
Julie Loria
Lyons Press
c/o Globe Pequot Press
PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
9780762769629, $24.95, www.lyonspress.com
Good play needs good health and good health needs good food. "Diamond Dishes: From the
Kitchens of Baseball's Biggest Stars" is a cookbook that compiles some of the favorite recipes
from many of major league baseballs most famed stars. Presented in full color throughout, as
well as reflections and stories about what they've experienced on the field. Recipes range from
steaks to pizza to tacos to everything else that makes baseball players tick. "Diamond Dishes" is a
treat for any cook who also loves America's pastime.
Sinfully Vegan
Lois Dieterly
Da Capo Press
11 Cambridge Center
Cambridge, MA 02142
9780738214887, $18.00, www.dacapopress.com
Who says you can't indulge on a vegan diet? "Sinfully Vegan: More Than 160 Decadent Desserts
to Satisfy Every Sweet Tooth" is a cookbook dedicated to meeting the demands of the sweet
tooth without diary or meat products. Designed with ease of location of ingredients in mind, Lois
Dieterly presents an easy to follow guide that offers recipes for every thing from sweet bread,
fruit smoothies, to the many delightful twists of chocolate and everything else. "Sinfully Vegan"
is a must for any Vegan chef who wants more than some lettuce.
Tested by Fire
Jeff Bacon
Triad Community Kitchen
c/o FRP
PO Box 305142, Nashville, TN 37230
9780615403977, $20.00, www.hungernwnc.org
Chefs aren't just preparers of fancy meals, they can make a difference like anyone else. "Tested
by Fire: Triad Community Kitchen" is a blend of memoir and cookbook as author Jeff Bacon
tells of his experience in helping unskilled people pick up some skills in the kitchen to help them
find their own calling and profession, with employable skills for life. Simple to follow recipes are
blended in with stories of those who looked towards the culinary arts as a dream or as a way to
make ends meet, "Tested by Fire" is an excellent blend of classic recipes with twists and
inspiration, very highly recommended.
The Biography Shelf
Rawhide Ranger, Ira Aten
Bob Alexander
University of North Texas Press
PO Box 311336
Denton, TX 76203-1336
9781574413151 $32.95 www.unt.edu/untpress
One hundred black-and-white vintage photographs illustrate Rawhide Ranger, Ira Aten, the solid
biography of a Texas Ranger who enforced the law honorably on the wild frontier. At age twenty,
Ira Aten enrolled in Company D, during a time when the Rangers were transitioning from Indian
fighters to peacetime police. In the years Ira spent as a ranger, he solved murders, took part in
quelling border troubles, and earned his place in the Ranger Hall of Fame during the
Jaybird/Woodpecker Feud and the violent Fence Cutting Wars. Ira also served two counties as
sheriff, and for ten years on the XIT he cleared the ranch's Escarbada Division of cattle thieves.
An extraordinary biography capturing the essence of the Wild West that reads like high
adventure, Rawhide Ranger, Ira Aten is enthusiastically recommended especially for public
library biography collections.
Grant's Keeper
J. C. Ladenheim
Heritage Books
229 Danagher Court
Holly Springs, NC 27540
9780788453335, $25.50, www.heritagebooks.com
Ulysses S. Grant, president, famed general, was not the best man in the world. "Grant's Keeper:
The Life of John A. Rawlins" is a look at the glue that kept Grant from falling apart, the lesser
known Rawlins. J. C. Ladenheim brings to light the history of this man and his vitally important
role in helping Grant achieved the success he did. "Grant's Keeper" is a fine read about one of the
unsung heroes of history, highly recommended.
The Pets/Wildlife Shelf
My Puppy
Horst Hegewald-Kawich
Barrons
250 Wireless Boulevard
Happauge, NY 11788
9780764145780, $14.99, www.barronseduc.com
Like baby humans, puppies pick up things that will affect them for a lifetime early in life. "My
Puppy" is a guide for welcoming a puppy into your life. From picking the right breed for what
you want out of your dog, dealing the primal instincts of the dog, to making them work with the
family, keeping them in good health with diet and exercise and dealing with the rapid
development of dogs. "My Puppy" is an excellent pick for anyone who wants to bring a puppy
into their lives and do it properly.
The Education Shelf
Living Like a Child
Enrique C. Feldman
Redleaf Press
10 Yorkton Court
St. Paul, MN 55117-1065
9781605540337, $19.95, www.redleafpress.com
The simplicity and serenity of childhood is not lost just because you can buy a beer. "Living Like
a Child: Learn, Live, and Teach Creatively" is a guide to understand the childhood mind even
when one is decades removed from their own childhood. To teach these children, one must
understand how their mind works, and use that knowledge to help them learn more effectively
and nurture that love of learning which should never die. For any teacher of young children,
"Living Like a Child" is very much worth considering.
The Parenting Shelf
Optimistic Parenting
V. Mark Durand
Paul H. Brookes
PO Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
9781598570526, $26.95, www.brookespublishing.com
Optimism is contagious. "Optimistic Parenting: Hope and Help for You and Your Challenging
Child" is a guide for parenting with a good outlook and how thinking positive for yourself and
your child can have great long term benefits for all those involved. V. Mark Durand advises
readers on how instill optimism on one's child and look forward to a better tomorrow.
"Optimistic Parenting" is a strong pick for those who believe in the power of positive
thinking.
Man Shoes
Tom Watson
Advantage Media Group
PO Box 272, Charleston, SC 29402
9781599321745, $21.99, www.advantagefamily.com
What it means to be a man and father is something that many men are unsure of. "Man Shoes:
The Journey to Becoming a Better Man, Husband, & Father" is Tom Watson's own coming to
understanding of what it means to be a father, husband, and a man in today's world. Without a
good role model to follow, he came from a broken childhood himself and tried to construct
something better for the children who followed him. "Man Shoes" is a touching read of
fatherhood and marriage and what it takes to be a man.
The Social Issues Shelf
Imagining Resistance
J. Keri Cronin & Kirsty Robertson, editors
Wilfrid Laurier University Press
2250 Military Road
Tonawanda, NY 14150
9781554582570, $39.95, www.wlupress.wlu.ca
Art has always proved a powerful tool for expression and counter-culture in the wave of the
mainstream. "Imagining Resistance: Visual Culture and Activism in Canada" discussing
alternative culture since the 1940s and its place in the bigger picture of Canada's social issues and
challenges on minorities such as the First Nation peoples. Drawing on historical record and art
history, the volume is a meeting of many scholarly minds to fully understand the many flavors of
culture that make up Canada. "Imagining Resistance" is a core addition to any social issues or
culture collection that is focusing on Canada.
The Islamic Studies Shelf
The Tears of the Prophet
Frederick Tiemann
Dorrance Publishing
701 Smithfield Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
9781434909398, $16.00, www.dorrancebookstore.com
Islam is a very major force in our world today. "The Tears of the Prophet" is an explanation of
Islam from Frederick Tiemann as he gives a more complete and comprehensive understanding of
Islam and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad and their impact on the world today and how
it is to be understood in modern theological debate. "The Tears of the Prophet" is an excellent
read for anyone who wants another perspective of Islam in these trying times.
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Pieces of Light
Julie Cave
Master Books
c/o New Leaf Publishing Group
PO Box 726, Green Forest, AR 72638
9780890516089, $9.99, www.masterbooks.net
As terror threatens peace, one agent finds putting the pieces together quickly lies in her hands.
"Pieces of Light" is the third entry in Julie Cave's fast paced thriller about family woman and FBI
agent Dinah Harris who has to juggle her life from all sides. Trying to understand the bomber,
she must anticipate his next attack and strike at the heart of evil before more lives are lost.
"Pieces of Light" is an excellent read that won't be easy to put down for those who like mysteries,
highly recommended.
Keys to the Kingdom
Bob Graham
Vanguard Press
c/o Perseus
387 Park Avenue South, 12th Floor
New York, NY 10016
9781593156602, $25.99, www.vanguardpressbooks.com
For action to be done, money is needed, and where does the money of terror lie? "Keys to the
Kingdom" is a thriller from Senator and Governor of Florida in Bob Graham who blends his
knowledge of government about the assassination of a Senator who spoke up against Saudi
Arabia and the turmoil that came after. As former Special Forces operative Tony Ramos puts
together the bigger picture, he finds the links behind it all. "Keys to the Kingdom" is full of
action and political intrigue, very much recommended.
The Lamppost Diary
Agop J. Hacikyan
Interlink Books
46 Crosby Street
Northampton, MA 01060-1804
9781566568555, $15.00, www.interlinkbooks.com
For love, being held back is unacceptable. "The Lamppost Diary" is a romance and mystery
telling of Anya and Tomas. Anya has already made it to America, as Tomas struggles as a
magazine editor putting it together to follow. But as murder strikes his publishing business, he
finds his own life might be threatened and he may be further from Anya than he wishes. Racing
against time, and driven by love, Tomas views fleeing as the only option. "The Lamppost Diary"
is a riveting piece of fiction, highly recommended.
The Homeowner's Shelf
Garden Ponds, Fountains, & Waterfalls for Your Home
Creative Homeowner
PO Box 38
Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458-0038
9781580115063, $19.95, www.creativehomeowner.com
Water is truly fascinating and mesmerizing, and can be used well in the design of your home
exterior. "Garden Ponds, Fountains, & Waterfalls for Your Home" is a guide for constructing
one's own home water garden. The people at Creative Homeowner walk readers through
everything they need to know to fully embrace a water garden, whether simply for plants or for a
more natural aquarium. In full color glossy photographs with plenty covered and to be
considered, "Garden Ponds, Fountains, & Waterfalls for Your Home" is a treasure trove of
design ideas to make the most out of one's yards and gardens.
The Psychology Shelf
Crisis in the American Heartland
George W. Doherty
Rocky Mountain Region Disaster Mental Health Institute Press
c/o Loving Healing Press
5145 Pontiac Trial
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
9781615990757, $24.95, www.rmrinstitute.org
When there's miles between houses, mental health seems to be on the priority list. "Crisis in the
American Heartland: Disasters & Mental Health in Rural Environments" discusses the need for
psychology in rural areas as well as other disaster related services for people in rural areas.
Although in fair weather, rural Americans are perfectly fine, the gaps between them and urban
dwellers grows exponentially as conditions get worse. Stating there are many psychological
elements not often considered, "Crisis in the American Heartland" is an important read for those
concerned about the future of rural America.
The Computer Shelf
My New iPad 2
Wallace Wang
No Starch Press
38 Ringold Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
9781593273866, $24.95, www.nostarch.com
The iPad presented a lot of power in a portable format, and the iPad 2 took it further. "My New
iPad2" is a guide to getting the most out of the machine. From compasses, browsing the web,
using it as a hand held entertainment device, setting it up so the kids can use it safely and much
more, Wallace Wang prepares readers to do everything and that much more with their iPad. "My
New iPad2" is strongly recommended for anyone who wants to learn the ins and outs of the
iPad2.
The Political Science Shelf
The Declaration of Independents
Nick Gillespie & Matt Welch
Public Affairs
250 West 57th Street, Suite 1321
New York, NY 10107
9781586489380, $25.99, www.publicaffairsbooks.com
The domination of the two party system has led to much damage to the nation. "The Declaration
of Independents: How Libertarian Politics Can Fix What's Wrong with America" is an argument
for libertarianism from Nick Gillespie & Matt Welch as they discuss the stranglehold the big two
parties have on America and their pushing of politics into every step in our lives. Arguing for less
government control in American life, "The Declaration of Independents" is an excellent pick for
those who want to understand the libertarian viewpoint in American politics.
The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf
Labeling America
John Grossman
Fox Chapel Publishing
1970 Broad Street
East Petersburg, PA 17520
9781565235458, $39.95, www.foxchapelpublishing.com
A taste of popular culture a century ago. "Labeling America: Popular Culture on Cigar Box
Labels" is a walk through history via cigar boxes as John Grossman gives readers a tour of the art
of George Schlegel Lithographers from 1849-1971, showing the advancement of the American
ideal, showing the technical process behind the labeling and much more. Presented in full color
with a good deal of commentary throughout, for those with an interest in the evolution of
American culture or popular art, "Labeling America" proves interesting and fascinating all
throughout.
The Buddhist Studies Shelf
Minding Closely
B. Alan Wallace
Snow Lion Publications
PO Box 6483
Ithaca, NY 14851
9781559393690 $24.95 www.SnowLionPub.com
Buddhist meditation teacher and interpreter for Tibetan scholars (including the Dalai Lama) B.
Alan Wallace presents Minding Closely: The Four Applications of Mindfulness, a solid
instructional about the practice of meditation. Guided meditation practices for a wide range of
expertise, from beginner to expert, interleave with the helpful text. An excellent guide that will
prove especially accessible to Western readers, Minding Closely is a highly recommended
addition to Buddhist and meditation studies shelves.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Dragon Virus
Laura Anne Gilman
Fairwood Press
21528 104th Street Ct. E
Bonney Lake, WA 98391
9781933846255 $25.00 www.fairwoodpress.com
Dragon Virus is an apocalyptic thriller about the inexplicable mutation of humanity. As more and
more children are born with unknown malformations - children of every racial type, wherever
humans can be found - the changes wrought in the human gene pool are dubbed the Dragon
Virus. But these transformations are more than skin deep, and they are about to divide all of
humankind into the savage categories of predator and prey. A gripping adventure from start to
finish, Dragon Virus is highly recommended.
The Gaming Shelf
250 Indie Games You Must Play
Mike Rose
CRC Press
Suite 300
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW
Boca Raton, FL 33487
9781439875742 $29.95 www.crcpress.com
250 Indie Games You Must Play lives up to its title by showcasing a wide variety of independent
games, many of which can be legally played for free. Some are for the PC; some available for
download on Xbox Live; some are browser-based; but all of them are by individual creators or
small teams beholden only to themselves, rather than to gigantic corporate interests. The result is
a choice selection of the best of the best games that dare to be different, often openly flaunting
genre and narrative conventions to deliver a truly unique experience. Since Sturgeon's Law
("90% of everything is garbage") applies to independent video games as solidly as any other
entertainment media, 250 Indie Games You Must Play is an enthusiastically welcome guide to
finding inexpensive and creative games that are well worth one's time.
The Wisconsin Shelf
The 11th Wisconsin in the Civil War
Christopher C. Wehner
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
www.mcfarlandpub.com
9780786432103, $45.00, www.amazon.com
Wisconsin entered the American Civil War on the side of the Union. Informed and informative,
"The 11th Wisconsin in the Civil War: A Regimental History" by Christopher C. Wehner is a
240-page compendium comprising the history military history of the 11th Wisconsin from its
inception in 1861 and provides a year-by-year account of its actions and battles through to the
end of the war in 1865. Additionally, "The 11th Wisconsin in the Civil War" features four
noteworthy appendices (Roster of the 11th Wisconsin; Civilian Occupations; Muster Sites for the
11th Wisconsin Regiment; Victory Sermon by 11th Wisconsin volunteer George Wells; Army of
the Tennessee Officers) as well as extensive chapter notes, an impressive bibliography, and a
comprehensive index. A work of impressively detailed scholarship, "The 11th Wisconsin in the
Civil War" is a welcome and highly recommended addition to the growing library of Civil War
studies and a core addition to personal reading lists and academic library collections.
Putting Down Roots
Marcia C. Carmichael
Wisconsin Historical Society Press
816 State Street, Madison, WI 53706
9780870204661, $24.95, www.amazon.com
Starting from nearly nothing is doable, the first people who come to a land have done it. "Putting
Down Roots: Gardening Insights from Wisconsin's Early Settlers" looks at the history of
gardening and agriculture in Wisconsin looking at the first immigrants to come to Wisconsin and
how they got their start over a hundred years ago. Not only does it discuss their methods, it
provides recipes to match the authentic ethnic dishes of the immigrants of this period, making for
an intriguing analysis of history with full color photographs of re-enactment throughout. "Putting
Down Roots" is a strong addition to any Wisconsin history or agriculture collection, highly
recommended. Also from Wisconsin Historical Society Press is "Beyond the Trees: Stories of
Wisconsin Forests" (9780970204678, $26.95) analyzing the history that lies in Wisconsin's many
thick forests.
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
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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