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Small Press Bookwatch

Volume 12, Number 4 April 2013 Home | SPBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Business Shelf Music Shelf
Poetry Shelf Women's Studies Shelf Fiction Shelf
Metaphysical Studies Shelf Gardening Shelf Christian Studies Shelf
Mystery/Suspense Shelf LGBT Shelf Military Shelf
Religion/Spirituality Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf Self-Help Shelf
Memoir Shelf Education Shelf Environmental Studies Shelf
Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf Theatre/Cinema Shelf Computer Shelf
Technology Shelf Cookbook Shelf Writing/Publishing Shelf


Reviewer's Choice

Social Media Scams
Kathleen McMahon
KTMObooks
1450 Chestnut Street #102
San Francisco, CA 94123
9781938831027 $14.95 KTMObooks.com

Second in the "Internet Scams Revealed" series, Social Media Scams is an unequivocal "must-read" for anyone and everyone who uses the Internet. Chapters focus on common social media scams that make use of Facebook, Craigslist, Twitter, LinkedIn, dating sites, and more. Auction websites such as eBay are also covered. There are scams designed to directly steal money, perhaps by faking a PayPal email, or by "overpaying" for something with a fraudulent check or credit card, and requesting that the victim wire the difference (by the time the victim gets the chargeback, any wired money is lost). There are scams to trick one into clicking on links to websites that will secretly install spyware, keyloggers, or viruses on one's computer. Bogus "job offers" are increasingly common - scammers recruit people to be "envelope stuffers" or "payroll assistants", but it's just a dupe to trick victims into mailing forged checks, leaving them unpaid for their work and possibly arrested when the mail fraud is traced back to their address! There are even schemes connected to renting or selling homes, such as when scammers break into a foreclosed house, possibly pretending to show it like a real estate agent would, and collect a "down payment" for its sale. The barrier to entry for criminal behavior on the Internet is lower than ever, making Social Media Scams an absolutely invaluable gift for friends and family members (especially teenagers, net newbies, and parents teaching their children how to be safe), as well as an excellent addition to public library collections. Also worthy of the highest recommendation is the previous book in the series, "Top 10 Email Scams" (9781938831003 $14.95).

The Vintage Years
Francine Toder
Aziri Books
2085 East Bayshore Rd., #50398
Palo Alto, CA 93403
9780988205925, $23.95, www.aziribooks.com

In the twilight of our lives, we can reflect on everything we have experienced. "The Vintage Years: Finding Your Inner Artist (Writer, Musician, Visual Artist) After Sixty" is a guide for those who want to explore the dreams of creativity in their life in the later years of their life, and Francine Toder uses her expertise as a psychologist to advise on how to unlock these artistic ambitions in anyway that one may seek to be able to do. "The Vintage Years" is a must for anyone who has always dreamed of unleashing their creativity but has put it off their whole lives, much recommended.


The Business Shelf

The Savvy Salesperson
E. F. Saurez
Savvy Salesperson Institute
11767 South Dixie Highway, #420
Miami, FL 33156
9780578064932, $12.95, www.therightanswersinc.com

Sales is the final step in getting your product the attention that it seeks. "The Savvy Salesperson" is a sales guide that advocates practical wisdom and advice for improving one's marketing skills and building the momentum of sales and keeping it rolling and the company growing, dealing with more effective business practices. With much to ponder for the success of business, "The Savvy Salesperson" is a strongly recommended addition to business and marketing collections.

The Missing Human Factor
Filippo B. Galuppi
Efficient Energy
80 Orville Dr., Suite 100, Bohemia, NY 11716
9780578102795, $16.99, www.themissinghumanfactor.com

Humanity goes so very far in making a business work. "The Missing Human Factor: How to Help Employees Work with You or for You" is a guide to connecting with one's employees and using the human factor to help them take pride in their jobs - showing them that their work is much more than simply the means to their next paycheck. "The Missing Human Factor" is a strong addition to business and reference collections on human resources.

Successful Corporate Learning
Vicki Halsey, S. Chris Edmonds, and Mitchell Levy
ThinkAha
20660 Stevens Creek Blvd., Suite 210
Cupertino, CA 95014
9781616990848, $19.95, www.thinkaha.com

The corporate world can prove to be often overwhelming. "Successful Corporate Learning Tweet: Instructional Design for Today's Professionals" is a collection of bite sized wisdom in inspiring good corporate leadership and success in life as the authors combine their expertise and how to teach it to others for better corporate cooperation. "Successful Corporate Learning Tweet" is a must for business studies and management collections, recommended.


The Music Shelf

Music Distribution
C. Michael Brae
Hitman Records, Inc.
1976 S. La Cienga Blvd, Suite 106
Los Angeles, CA 90034
www.hitmanrecords.com
9781470070069, $18.95, www.cmichaelbrae.com

Getting one's music heard is the hardest part of being a musician. "Music Distribution: Selling Music in the New Entertainment Marketplace" discusses the modern music industry and the distribution processes that one can best try to understand in the modern context and learning the marketing campaign behind them. For those who want to best the ins and outs of music distribution, "Music Distribution" is well worth considering, highly recommended.

Turn It Up!
Ron Eckerman
Restless Artists
4170 Admiralty Way, Suite 430
Marina Del Ray, CA 90292
9780984685905, $24.95, www.turnitupbook.com

A plane crash derailed the careers of a legendary southern rock band. "Turn It Up!: Love, Life, and Death, Southern Style" is a memoir from Lynyrd Skynyrd tour manager Ron Eckerman as he shares his experiences as the tour manager. "Turn It Up!" also tells of a tragic plane crash in 1977 that almost ended their lives, their difficult recovery, and what it does to a man personally to endure such things. "Turn It Up!" is a strong addition to any musical history and memoir collection.


The Poetry Shelf

Light at Point Reyes
Joan I. Siegel
Shabda Press
PO Box 70483, Pasadena, CA 91117
9780985315115, $14.00, www.shabdapress.com

Seeing the world around us in many ways is key to gaining an appreciation and love for life. "Light at Point Reyes" is a collection of poetry from Joan I. Siegel, prolific and award winning poet with a certain knack for words and elegance in her descriptions. "Light at Point Reyes" is an enticing addition to modern literary poetry collections. "Monarch in Late Afternoon": Forty million years/this shade of orange, this particular/design in black and green painted/on wings sheer as rice paper/who flew three thousand miles/just to sit on the edge of this purple/iris next to my house where I am/listening to the last piano sonata/of Beethoven, the one that peers/at darkness through the bright eye of the world.

Colony Collapse Disorder
Keith Flynn
Wings Press
627 E. Guenther, San Antonio, TX 78210
9781609402945, $16.00, www.wingspress.com

What comes before the fall is a wound of some sort, and for some, the wound is more easily seen than others. "Colony Collapse Disorder" is a collection of poetry from Keith Flynn, as he presents his own stories about human nature and our rises and falls throughout our life. "Colony Collapse Disorder" is a fine assortment, not to be missed for contemporary poetry fans. "The Birth Mark": Sex is exposure/and fur is not./The slipper has/no place in the/slaughterhouse./The same water/that cleanses, kills,/and the will/that erases the/coward, will make/him take a billet/for his friend./Justify the world/and be confounded./That is the first law.


The Women's Studies Shelf

Women and Revolution
Asela de los Santos & Mary-Alice Waters
Pathfinder
PO Box 162767
Atlanta, GA 30321-2767
9781604880489, $7.00 www.amazon.com

The Cuban revolution changed the social system of the country permanently. "Women and Revolution: The Living Example of the Cuban Revolution" analyzes the Cuban Revolution and its role in women's liberation on the island, and how well it has lived up to Castro's endorsement of Women's rights as an essential part of the revolution. An enticing read on women's equality and its impact on Cuba, "Women and Revolution" is a worthy addition to international history and women's studies collections.


The Fiction Shelf

Portraits of an Artist
Mary F. Burns
Sand Hill Review Press
PO Box 1275
San Mateo, CA 94401
9781937818128 $17.95 www.sandhillreviewpress.com

Portraits of an Artist: A Novel About John Singer Sargent is a work of historical fiction based on the life of a brilliant yet troubled artist of the late nineteenth century. A contemporary and associate of high celebrities such as Henry James, Oscar Wilde, Edward Burne-Jones, and Sarah Bernhardt, Sargent's meteoric rise to fame followed by his striking fall from grace, and his retreat to London, are the tragic underpinnings of his unforgettable career. The stories behind two of his finest paintings, "The Daughters of Edward Dalrey Boit" and "Madame X", are also explored in context. Told in first-person perspective from the points of view of numerous individuals who figured prominently in Sargent's life, "Portraits of an Artist" is an unforgettable reconstruction of a talented man's search to find meaning in life through art. Highly recommended.

Flee, Fly, Flown
Janet Hepburn
Second Story Press
20 Maud Street, Suite 401
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5V 2M5
9781927583036, $19.95, www.secondstorypress.on.ca

Age was never meant to be a prison. "Flee, Fly, Flown" is a novel of senior adventure. As Lillian and Audrey break out of their nursing homes for a taste of the life they are still supposedly living, they have their adventure, meet a young man on the way, and learn much about just letting life flow. "Flee, Fly, Flown" is an enticing adventure that has plenty to enjoy, highly recommended reading.

Two Ancient Souls
Starr Allbright & Kali
Kalistarr Publishing
PO Box 482, Cool, CA 95614
9780615432731, $19.95, www.kalistarr.com

We take on the weight of the world as we proceed through life. "Two Ancient Souls" is a collection of short stories about life and its journey as authors Starr Allbright & Kali channel their experiences for the reader to enjoy and take into their life and live to their fullest. "Two Ancient Souls" is a spiritual and charged read that is sure to inspire and encourage many a reader as they proceed through their lives. "Two Ancient Souls" is not to be missed for general fiction collections, especially for those seeking emotionally driven tales.

Through Angel's Eyes
Steve Theunissen
Strategic Book Publishing and Rights Co.
12620 FM 1960, Suite A4-507
Houston, TX 77065
9781618973740, $15.50, www.sbpra.com

From the brink of destruction and forward, we piece together our lives and try to better cope with it all. "Through Angel's Eyes" is a novel of coping with the cruelty of the world and being taken from the world and driven almost to death along the way. "Through Angel's Eyes" is an enticing tale set in 1963 Alabama during a time of social turmoil, much recommended reading, not to be missed.

Love's Second Chance
Mike Lynch
Ellechor Publishing House
1915 NW Amberglen Parkway, Suite 400
Beaverton, OR 97006
9781937844080, $16.99, www.ellechorpublishing.com

You can't avoid love forever. "Love's Second Chance" is a novel of romance from Mike Lynch. Dana Rogers abandons hopes of ever finding love, but when she meets Evan, her hopes may be resurrected, even as she was sure her love was forever dead. "Love's Second Chance" is a heartwarming read of grieving, healing, and never truly abandoning hope for the future, highly recommended.

The Keeper of Dawn
J. B. Hickman
Shadeflower Press
460 Macalester St., Saint Paul, MN 55105
9780983582908, $14.95, www.jbhickmanonline.com

When used as a vicarious tool, friendship is hard to find and relished where it can be found. "The Keeper of Dawn" follows young Jacob Hawthorne as he copes with a mostly uncaring family and finds companionship only with his grandfather...and the recurring people at his academy who also cope with uncaring families. But the family history can not be sat on forever. "The Keeper of Dawn" is an enticing and recommended addition to fiction collections seeking coming of age stories.

Can't Buy Me Love
Summer Kinard
Light Messages
5216 Tahoe Drive, Durham, NC 27713
9781611530544, $18.95, www.lightmessages.com

How far is it worth it to go to bat for love? "Can't Buy Me Love" is a romance from Summer Kinard, following the troubled Vanessa Fauchon, as she finds a love she may think is the one. Dealing with the bizarre and weird nature of her life and how it surrounds her, she realizes the love she may cherish may not ultimately be so easy to keep, and she will be tested. "Can't Buy Me Love" is a strong addition to contemporary romance collections, recommended.

Lunch with Buddha
Roland Merullo
PFP Publishing, Inc.
c/o Ajar Contemporaries
144 Tenney Street, Georgetown, MA 01833
9780984834570, $16.85, www.lunchwithbuddha.com

As we move through life, we search for the little explanations of life and living and making it all come together for us. "Lunch with Buddha" is a spiritual novel from Roland Merullo tells the story of Otto Ringling, a man going through life and trying to understand the many lessons of his teacher Volya Rinpoche and the constantly shifting view of his complicated life. "Lunch with Buddha" will ring true with many reader, highly recommended.

Two and a Half Words
Abbas Zaidi
Gowanus Books
c/o Savvy Press
PO Box 63, Salem, NY 12865
9780982606957, $12.99, www.gowanusbooks.com

Pakistan isn't well known in the western imagination. "Two and a Half Words: And Other Stories" Is a collection of short fiction from Abbas Zaidi as he shares a collection of short fiction that seeks to tell the true story of everyday life in Pakistan for all of its pain, suffering, and common joys. Powerful and insightful, "Two and a Half Words" is a strong addition to general fiction and humor collections, not to be missed.

You Are Not Alone & Other Stories
Sherill Jaffe
Gray Dog Press
c/o Willow Springs Editions
501 Riverpoint Blvd., Suite 425
Spokane, WA 99202
9781936178544, $19.95, www.amazon.com

Loneliness is not something anyone wants to experience. "You Are Not Alone & Other Stories" is a collection of short fiction from Sherill Jaffe who presents the stories of people coping with life's plights and their interactions with others in their life's journey. Set in her beloved San Francisco, she uses the setting to give much character to the tales, making "You Are Not Alone & Other Stories" an enticing and much recommended addition to short fiction collections, highly recommended.

Lift Your Right Arm
Peter Cherches
Pelekinesis
112 Garcard Ave #65, Claremont, CA 91711
9781938349027, $10.00, www.pelekinesis.com

There's a bleak nature to the world that takes a certain level of humor to truly appreciate. "Lift Your Right Arm" is a collection of short fiction from Peter Cherches, of as he states it, minimalist novels. Presenting a very dark brand of humor that is sure to entice many a reader, "Life Your Right Arm" is a must for those who see the down side of life, and want to learn to love it.

Happy Again At Last
Robert McGowan
Shanti Arts Publishing
193 Hillside Road, Brunswick, ME 04011
9780988589704, $23.95, www.shantiarts.com

The art world is filled with many unusual and strange perspectives on the world of art and much more. "Happy Again at Last: Life in the Art World" is a collection of short fiction from Robert McGowan as he crafts unusual bits of fiction on the subject of art and the human condition and the weird ways that they can criss cross. Drawing heavily from his own insights in the art world, "Happy Again At Last" is a humorous and highly insightful pick for fans of short fiction, much recommended.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Alien Mysteries, Conspiracies, and Cover-Ups
Kevin D. Randle
Visible Ink Press
43311 Joy Road #414, Canton, MI 48187-2075
9781578594184, $19.95, www.visibeinkpress.com

Contact with otherworldly beings has never happened...or has it? "Alien Mysteries, Conspiracies, and Cover-Ups" is a metaphysical exploration of what may be the mysteries of our world and how they may have been covered up by the march of history. Exploring the potential involvement of ancient extraterrestrials and their interference with human development, government conspiracies, hidden treaties with other worlds, and much more, "Alien Mysteries, Conspiracies, and Cover-Ups" is a strong addition to metaphysical studies collections focusing on unexplained phenomena and contact with other planets.


The Gardening Shelf

More Food From Small Spaces
Margaret Park
Great River Books
161 M Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84103
9780915556427, $17.95, www.greatriverbooks.com

Space is not a luxury some gardening enthusiasts have in abundance. "More Food From Small Spaces: Growing Denser, Deeper, Higher, Longer Gardens" is a gardening guide form Margaret Park who presents an insight on how to get more food out of smaller amounts of space, and how to pull it off, creating unique vineyards and making the most of good soil. With plenty of photography and good designs throughout, "More Food From Small Spaces" is a strong addition to gardening collections looking on alternative methods to garden, highly recommended.


The Christian Studies Shelf

One Day At A Time
Richard E. Whittaker
Word Association Publishers
205 Fifth Avenue, Tarentum, PA 15084
www.wordassociation.com
9781595718167 $19.95 www.PrayersFromGod.com

"One Day at a Time" is an inspirational collection of 70 daily messages and prayers that help the reader reflect in meditation upon many intense illuminating experiences in their lives. The author writes; "This book and its message will be different to everyone who reads it, depending on their beliefs and their personal situation. It is not intended to explain the process of one's relationship with self, God, and life. Each page and each moment taken with God adds intensity as well as clarity to the journey of life." Meditations are written on the right hand page of this small, spiral bound handbook, opposite the left page which displays relevant ideas or questions to consider. Meditations are divided into five general categories: hope, inspiration, courage, comfort, and love. Here is one example from Day 20: "God, grant us today and every day, your mercy, love, and healing touch. Hear our prayers, revive our spirits, and continue the faith we have in you (prayer). We need to receive God's healing touch. Have you ever been aware of receiving God's healing touch? We need to give our own healing touch to those we find in need. Pray that you are able to do this (opposite page, questions, suggestions of applications)." "One Day at a Time" is the recipient of many stunning and touching endorsements by readers, including one by Laura Bush. It was clearly written to offer comfort and clarity to those in doubt, need, or pain. It makes a kind and thoughtful gift for servicemen, the bereaved, and all who experience life fully.

The Comfort of the Shepherd
Barbara Garro
Cambridge Books
2934 Old Route 50, Cambridge, MD 21613
9781613860755, $18.95, www.cambridgebooks.us

Through dedication and faith, we can find our ways through. "The Comfort of the Shepherd: Parable, Prayer, and Meditation" discusses the parables of Christ and studies of the Bible, encouraging interpersonal discussion and ideas throughout it all. "The Comfort of the Shepherd" is a spiritual and much recommended addition to Christian spirituality collections, not to be missed.

Miracles & Moments of Grace
Nancy B. Kennedy
Leafwood Publishers
1626 Campus Court, Abilene, TX 79601
9780891124047, $14.99, www.leafwoodpublishers.com

Motherhood is a powerful thing, changing the lives of the mother and the people they raise. "Miracles & Moments of Grace: Inspiring Stories from Moms" is a collection of stories from Christian mothers, about the ways motherhood has changed their lives in many positive ways. For anyone who is seeking to be inspired by parenthood and living life for the better, "Miracles & Moments of Grace" is not to be missed, highly recommended reading.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Shadow of the Piper
L. P. Hoffman
Hope Springs Media
PO Box 11, 988 Sulphur Spring Road
Prospect, VA 23960-0011
9781935375029, $14.95, www.hopespringsmedia.com

The allure of a the Piper's tune is often too good to be true. "Shadow of the Piper" is a novel about a troubled teenager trying to find her way, only she gains the attention of those who don't have the best intents for her. Coming to the town of Hamlin, Montana, the well known legend of the Pied Piper is twisted for a new day. "Shadow of the Piper" is an enticing addition to any contemporary fiction collection.

The Easy Ones
Charles P. Juraska
Rainbow Books Inc.
PO Box 430, Highland City, FL 33846-0430
9781568251486, $16.95, www.rainbowbooksinc.com

Finding the truth can often be inconvenient and not swift. "The Easy Ones" is a murder mystery following homicide Detective Jack Jeffries as he becomes a pain in refusing to let a case close so easily. Working with Prosecutor Sam Weston, they pair up and look for the latest elements of the case, and find they may be on the right path when people start turning up dead. "The Easy Ones" is a fine addition to any contemporary mystery collection.

Winter Reeds
Holland Kane
Rumor House Books
6029 95th PO SW, Mukilteo, WA 98275
9780985829308, $14.95, www.hollandkane.com

Secrets are sometimes kept buried for a reason. "Winter Reeds" is a novel about a small northwestern town brimming with unsolved mysteries. Documentary filmmaker Mike Harrison seeks to solve those mysteries in order to have his career-making film. When another stranger enters the town to find the truth, the fog of intrigue grows murkier...but there may be a common thread through it all, tying together arsons, murders, and missing persons. "Winter Reeds" is a riveting read that should prove hard to put down.


The LGBT Shelf

Out & Equal
Selisse Berry, editor
Out & Equal Workplace Advocates
155 Sansome Street, Suite 450
San Francisco, CA 94104
9780988189805, $14.95, www.outandequal.org

More and more people with power are coming out of the closet, bringing the realization that gay Americans are people like any other. "Out & Equal at Work: From Closet to Corner Office" tells the story of many homosexual individuals who have made their ways through the corporate world and made their impact, sharing their stories of what they faced as homosexual men and women, advocating greater workplace equality. "Out & Equal at Work" is a powerful read about the fulfillment of gay rights in the business world.


The Military Shelf

Shots Fired in Anger
John B. George
Canton Street Press
3037 Summer Oak Place, Buford, GA 30518
9781934044292, $27.99, www.cantonstreetpress.com

A skilled soldier is worth ten unskilled. "Shots Fired in Anger: A Rifleman's View of the Battle of Guadalcanal" is a military memoir from John B. George as he tells his own perspective from a dedicated marksman who joined the military and saw flaws in technique all around him and his own experiences fighting in this conflict, and using his own technical expertise as a rifle enthusiast to bring his own knowledge and perspective to the table. "Shots Fired in Anger" is a strong to war memoir collections, and for those seeking a marksman's perspective on the soldier's life.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

Marked
Josh Mandrell
Looking Beyond Publishing
19485 Perry Road, Pittsburgh, IL 62974
9780985885199, $14.95, www.amazon.com

Anger overwhelms us and can lead to many problems in our life. "Marked: A Man's Story of Suffering Forgiveness & Peace" is an inspirational tale from Josh Mandrell as he tells the story of Jack, a man injured by his own anger and suffering, and how his faith in God allowed him to heal himself and find his way back to better health. "Marked" is a strong addition to any self-help and Christian spirituality collection, recommended.

Messages From Mother... Earth Mother
Mare Cromwell
Pamoom Press
6534 Rimrcok Road, New Market, MD 21774
97809771703230, $14.95, www.pamoonpress.com

There a wisdom in all of us, and speaking to that wisdom is key to finding our spirit and our life. "Messages from Mother...Earth Mother" is a collection of practical wisdom and spirituality from Mare Cromwell who shares her own experiences about life and living through it all, touching on much she has learned in her own search for something that resembles peace of mind. With an honest and down to earth humor, "Messages from Mother...Earth Mother" is a strong addition to spirituality and self-help collections.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Curing Fungus Infection of Nails
Y. Shestopaloff
www.shestopaloff.ca
AKVY Press
5077 NW 125 Ave.
Coral Springs, Florida
9780987778598 $14.95 www.akvypress.com

Curing Fungus Infection of Nails is a straightforward, how-to guide of the procedure that author Y. Shestopaloff used on himself, rather than take an expensive doctor's prescription that carried a risk of liver dysfunction. Shestopaloff is a biologist, not a medical professional, but his method is direct, simple, and worked for him. "The main idea of the method is first to remove infection, and then guard nails from recurrence of infection until nails completely grow back... I used anti-fungus cream (terbinafine hydrochloridae 1% cream), two types of adhesive tape, scissors (for cutting adhesive tape), manicure cutters for cutting nails, and in some rare cases, iodine. Persistence is a prerequisite too." Curing Fungus Infection of Nails walks the reader step-by-step through the process of removing infected fingernails toenails, and keeping the afflicted digits securely wrapped with tape until the nails have grown back in full, with full color photographs for emphasis. Methods for keeping one's shoes thoroughly disinfected, and recommendations for prevention (such as never walking barefoot in a public area with water, like the side of a pool) are also covered. Although Curing Fungus Infection of Nails should not replace consulting one's physician, its practical-minded advice will prove useful to anyone coping with or seeking to prevent this all-too-common infection, and especially for individuals who cannot take certain antifungal medications due to liver problems or other issues.

Stress Solutions for Pregnant Moms
Susan Andrews
Twin Span Press
2626 N. Arnoult Rd., Ste. 220
Metaire, LA 70002
9780983898405, $15.95, www.twinspanspress.com

A healthy mom births a healthy child. "Stress Solutions for Pregnant Moms" is a guide to parenting that encourages mothers to keep their psyches and stress under control, manage their situations more effectively for greater health for the future and not to disadvantage one's child before birth. With much in the way of practical advice throughout, "Stress Solutions for Pregnant Moms" is a sage and practical read with plenty to consider, very highly recommended reading.

Silver Cloud Diet
John P. Salerno
The Salerno Center
161 Madison Av. #7SW, New York, NY 10017
9780615415499, $14.99, www.newsandexperts.com

Improving one's diet is key to better health in general. "Silver Cloud Diet" is a guide to better health and wellness designed for those in today's hectic 21st century world as Dr. John P. Salerno endorses a more low carbohydrate diet that supports more natural foods for better health on many levels and a much smoother life. "Silver Cloud Diet" is definitely to be considered for health and wellness collections, recommended.


The Self-Help Shelf

A Beautiful Grief
Cheryl Eckl
Flying Crane Press
2442 Ferguson Ave.
Bozeman, MT 59718
9780982810729 $12.95 www.ABeautifulGrief.com

A Beautiful Grief: Reflections on Letting Go is a prize-winning book written expressly to offer comfort and solace to those experiencing grief from the loss of a loved one. Author Cheryl Eckl shares her personal sorrow of losing her beloved husband to colon cancer, and teaches the reader how to "love our way through to grief's natural conclusion", understanding the power of renewal, acceptance, and hope in moments of great despair. While A Beautiful Grief respects the role that religious faith can play in offering comfort, it is primarily a secular guide to psychological self-healing. "...having some kind of daily centering practice becomes a psychological insurance policy against the day when life throws us a curve ball. Because practice creates a physical sense of safety and an experience of the survivability of self, when we lose our outer moorings, our inner ones remain intact. Our faith may be tested by difficult circumstances, but it is less likely to be shattered if we are practiced in being present with the self that lives independent of belief systems." Empathic and compassionate, A Beautiful Grief is highly recommended.

Dream Yourself Into Being
Bonnie Bahira Buckner
Blue Feather Press
138 S. Hobart Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90004
9780988557604, $19.95, www.bluefeatherpressinc.com

A dream is your mind's message, and you can craft that message to your own means. "Dream Yourself Into Being" is a powerful read that encourages readers to understand their dreams and use their subconscious power as a great tool for powerful transformation and using it to improve ourselves and our lives for years to come. "Dream Yourself Into Being" is a strongly recommended addition to general spirituality and inspirational collections, not to be missed.

Courage of the Soul
Marion Elizabeth Witte & Melissa J Murphy
Wise One Publishing Inc.
6215 Turnstone Street, Unit 201, Ventura, CA 93003
9780988241107, $15.95, www.wisewomancollection.com

Sometimes getting up in the morning seems like too much to ask. "Courage of the Soul: Inspiring Stories of Overcoming Life's Everyday Challenges" compiles many inspirational stories designed to inspirit readers with the powerful will to carry on and succeed in their lives, of how people faced down the challenges of life in their many own ways. "Courage of the Soul" is a driven and uplifting read, not to be overlooked. Also from Wise One Publishing is "The No-Regrets Bucket List: Living the Life You Were Meant to Live..." (9780988241114, $15.95), which advocates building up that life you can live with no shame.

Icons of a Dreaming Heart
Renee Coleman
Goldenstone Press
PO Box 7, Benson, NC 27504
9780983226192, $18.95, www.goldenstonepress.com

Our dreams speak to us in clarity we do not usually see out of our lives. "Icons of a Dreaming Heart: The Art and Practice of Dream-Centered Living" discusses the power of dreams, using them as a picture of our lives, and letting them guide us. Touching on what dreams can do for us, to incline us to go in certain directions for our happiness, "Icons of a Dreaming Heart" is a driven and enticing read of spirituality, well worth considering for inspirational collections, highly recommended.


The Memoir Shelf

Pittsburgh Pizzazz
Patti Faloon
Word Association Publishers
205 Fifth Avenue, Tarentum, PA 15084
9781595718686, $18.95, www.wordassociation.com

The will to entertain can stay with people over the course of a lifetime. "Pittsburgh Pizzazz" is a memoir from Patti Faloon who shares her own lifetime in show business doing it all from dancing to music to even becoming a clown, a dedication to the art of show business and entertainment provides a fun and riveting story that will be hard to overlook. "Pittsburgh Pizzazz" is a choice addition to memoir collections focusing on the world of show business, recommended.


The Education Shelf

Guide to Private Special Education
Porter Sargent Handbooks
2 Lan Drive, Suite 100, Westford, MA 01886
9780875581750, $32.00, www.portersargent.com

Special education is always a difficult task to accomplish for educators. "Guide to Private Special Education" discusses private education and how to approach special educational needs when it comes to the meeting of these, with advisories for dealing with many disorders from minor as dyslexia and deafness, to more serious concerns such as autism and other intellectual disabilities. With plenty to consider and educate readers, "Guide to Private Special Education" is a must have resource for any private-oriented educator dealing with special education, highly recommended.


The Environmental Studies Shelf

High Tide On Main Street
John Englander
The Science Bookshelf
PO Box 652, Boca Raton, FL 33429-0652
c/o Direct Contact PR
www.hightideonmainstreet.com
9780615637952 $19.95 www.johnenglander.net

Featuring a foreword by acclaimed scientist Jean-Michel Cousteau, High Tide On Main Street: Rising Sea Level and the Coming Coastal Crisis explains the science behind global climate change and increased sea levels in plain terms, accessible to readers of all backgrounds. Chapters survey the natural history of the Earth's climate, then examine the latest scientific understanding and theories about the warming trend in recent years that has been shrinking polar ice caps and increasing sea global levels. Increased carbon dioxide pollution and other factors can be prompting the Earth closer to a "tipping point" - a dramatic shift when multiple trends reinforce one another to create a drastic, and sometimes permanent change. The result is not good news for ordinary people living on any kind of coastal property! "While we can no longer stop sea level from rising, it is urgent that we do everything possible to slow it, given the catastrophe that lies ahead if we stay on our present course. Mitigation is the scientific term for this, though I prefer simply to talk about slowing sea level rise. To slow the pace of sea level rise, we must slow the temperature increase created by greenhouse gases... What we can briefly cover are a few technological and legislative approaches that have potential to reduce the sea level rise problem, and open the curtain on a few that do not." High Tide On Main Street is a timely and seminal warning of a deadly serious problem that will require sustained, long-term effort to address... lest it precipitate a global disaster on the scale of the mass extinction that killed the dinosaurs! Highly recommended.

Climate Myths
John J. Berger
Northbrae Books
941 The Alameda, Berkeley, CA 94707
9780985909208, $9.95, www.amazon.com

The evidence is overwhelming, yet denial is stronger than ever. "Climate Myths: The Campaign Against Climate Science" discusses the arguments against climate change, offering rebuttals to these arguments, and highlighting the billions of dollars funding the call to keep the status quo rather than undertake valuable action. "Climate Myths" is a strong read for those who want to better understand the fuel behind climate change denial and how to better refute it.


The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf

Passion's Howl
Jerry Holkins & Mike Krahulik
Oni Press, Inc.
1305 SE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Suite A
Portland, OR 97214
9781620100073 $14.99 www.onipress.com

The ninth collection of the popular Penny Arcade video-game-themed online webcome, Passion's Howl continues the glorious tradition of presenting comic strips in full color, each with a brief contextual commentary by writer Jerry "Tycho Brahe" Holkins. "Passion's Howl" is "Suggested for Mature Readers" due to coarse language and the occasional burst of violent imagery, but it's primarily a repository of off-the-wall humor - as well as a glimpse into the evolution of the video game industry's foibles circa 2008! "What a bizarre [video game console] generation this has been. The Wii was the jewel of the industry until something... shifted, and the system fell through a crack in the earth. Microsoft has apparently found some kind of success by becoming the box du jour for hardcore shooters, while positioning the hardware wherever they can as something for every sentient creature. The takeaway of the last eight years over at Sony, the standout piece of information, is a kind of unshakable pride." Highly recommended.


The Theatre/Cinema Shelf

The Horror Show Guide
Mike Mayo
Visible Ink Press
43311 Joy Road, #414, Canton, MI 48187
9781578594207, $19.95, www.amazon.com

The horror film has been a cinematic staple and a box office success from the earliest era of silent movies down to the present day. Compiled by movie buff Mike Mayo, "The Horror Show Guide: The Ultimate Frightfest of Movies" is a 400 page encyclopedic compendium listing and reviewing more than 1000 films drawn from every age of horror movies. Informed, informative, nicely illustrated with black-and-white photos, and thoroughly 'user friendly' in presentation and design, "The Horror Show Guide" is a truly exceptional and highly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and academic library Cinematic Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Humana Festival 2012
Amy Wegener & Sarah Lunnie
Playscripts
450 Seventh Avenue, Suite 809
New York, NY 10123
9781623840006, $19.95, www.playscripts.com

New theatre lives on, new minds creating stories for the future. "Humana Festival 2012" is a compilation of the newest plays presented at the Humana festival in 2012, containing these stage act presented in script format, winning out over thousands of other stories as the best new plays of the year and earning their place well. "Humana Festival 2012" is an absolute must for any modern theatre enthusiast, highly recommended and not to be missed.


The Computer Shelf

Software and Mind
Andrei Sorin
Andsor Books
c/o Andsor Research Inc.
40 Richview Road, Suite 1501
Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada, M9A 5C1
9780986938900, $68.00, www.amazon.com

Once fodder for science fiction movies and pulp magazine stories, the computer has become a fundamental force in modern society. In "Software and Mind: The Mechanistic Myth and Its Consequences", Andrei Sorin draws upon his more than more than three decades of experience and expertise with respect to computers, computer systems, and their impact upon almost every aspect of our culture. Of special note is Sorin's authoritative debunking of common place misconceptions and fallacies with respect to fostered attitudes regarding computers -- including those governmental and corporate vested interests in misrepresenting software products and their usefulness. This 944 page compendium begins with modern myths regarding software, covers what Sorin refers to as the 'pseudoscience' of computer software, with chapters covering language and software, language as weapon, software as weapons, and software engineering. Of special note are the sections in the concluding chapter on 'Totalitarian Democracy'. Enhanced with a comprehensive index, "Software and Mind: The Mechanistic Myth and Its Consequences" is a work of impressively presented scholarship, and a highly recommended, seminal addition to personal, professional, and academic library Computer Science and 21st Century Philosophy reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Jump Start Node JS
Don Nguyen
SitePoint
48 Cambridge Street Collingwood
VIC Australia 3066
9780987332103 $24.95 www.sitepoint.com

Also available as an ebook (9780987332110), Jump Start Node JS: Get Up to Speed with Node.js in a Weekend lives up to its title with a hands-on tutorial for learning Node.js, a programming language for writing JavaScript web applications with powerful advantages - it allows for shared code libraries and templates, and it's designed for the high-speed performance demanded by websites with heavy traffic. Sample code examples and step-by-step instructions teach the use how to install Node.js and begin writing effective programs, from the quintessential "Hello World" pedagogical program to dynamic web applications. Although written especially for front-end and server-side engineers, Jump Sart Node JS is thoroughly accessible to readers with a basic understanding of computer programming, and an absolute "must-have" for anyone who needs to quickly become proficient in Node JS. Highly recommended.


The Technology Shelf

Nook HD: The Missing Manual, second edition
Preston Gralla
O'Reilly Media Inc.
1005 Gravenstein Highway North
Sebastopol, CA 95472
9781449359539 $19.99 http://oreilly.com

Part of the user-friendly "Missing Manual" guide to popular computer devices and programs, Nook HD: The Missing Manual walks the readers through the many applications of Barnes & Noble's Nook tablet, including Nook HD and Nook HD. Chapters walk one through the process of obtaining books, comics, and kid-friendly interactive books on the Nook e-reader; play popular games; make use of apps; browse the Web via the Nook's built-in WiFi; listen to music or watch movies and TV on the go; subscribe to digital copies of magazines and newspapers; and much more. Full color photographs on virtually every page, including a wealth of screenshots, illustrate the step-by-step instructions to tapping into the Nook's full power. Nook HD: The Missing Manual is enthusiastically recommended for any current or prospective owner of a Nook, and if one is giving a Nook device as a gift, Nook HD: The Missing Manual deserves to be in the box as well!


The Cookbook Shelf

An Apple a Day, 365 Recipes with Creative Crafts, Fun Facts, and 12 Recipes from Celebrity Chefs
Karen Berman, Melissa Petitto, authors
Race Point Publishing, Book Sales, Inc.
276 Fifth Avenue, Suite 206
New York, NY 10001
9781937994112 $25.00 www.racepointpub.com

"An Apple a Day" presents a fresh new window of opportunity to take advantage of preparing and consuming healthful, delicious apples in 365 different ways, with additional apple centered crafts for even more entertainment! Divided into months and days of the year, with each chapter featuring a roves special guest chef or guest bartender, "An Apple a Day" proves the versatility of apples as a featured cooking ingredient. Recipes are included for Kasha with Apples, Apple Crisp with Apple Creme Anglaise, Alpermagronen (Swiss dish of noodles, apples, onions, ham, and cheese), Grilled Cheese and Apple Sandwiches with Cilantro Pesto, Apple Empanadas, Waldorf Salad, Apple Strawberry Salad, Gingery Apple Fizz, Apple and Maple Syrup Turkey Burger, Savory Tart Filled with Sausage, Spinach, and Apples, and many, many more. A handy index organizes recipes in categories labeled Appetizers, Beverages/Cocktails, Breads/Muffins, Breakfast/Brunch Dishes, Condiments/Dressings/Sauces, Desserts, Main Courses, Salads, Sandwiches, Soups, Snacks, and Vegetables/Side Dishes. There is even a recipe for Apple Potpourri! For all your apple dreams, "An Apple a Day" is the definitive answer. Recipes are presented with standard measurements, in paragraph format, with ingredients listed on the left. Appetizing color photos of finished recipes adorn pages frequently, while each page's apple recipe progresses through the days of the year in dizzying progression. "An Apple a Day" is also a great way to become familiar with twelve famous chef's creative approaches to serving up delicious answers to the question, "How do you keep the Doctor away?"


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Author YOU
Judith Briles
Mile High Press, Ltd.
PO Box 460880, Aurora, CO 80046
www.MileHighPress.com
9781885331410, $45.00, www.amazon.com

Every aspiring author should be keenly aware that being a published author is a business decision as well as a creative one. A 'book shepherd' is someone who assists an author in packaging a book so that it will be successfully competitive in a volatile publishing marketing place and attract the attention of the author's intended readership. In "Author YOU: Creating and Building the Author and Book Platforms", Judith Briles draws upon her many years of experience and expertise as a successful book shepherd to create an interactive instruction manual to train aspiring authors into creating a successful book plan; acquire the time and money to accomplish their literary project; identify the appropriate publishing venue for that project; arrange for the time and space to craft their books; utilizing internet and social media resources; avoid publishing predators and scam artists; and master the factors for creating a successful book launch. Basically, "Author YOU-Creating and Building the Author and Book Platforms" is a complete course of instruction under a single cover and while its 'fill in the blank' instruction pages rendered it inappropriate for community library collections, it will prove to be an indispensable, thoroughly 'user friendly', and highly valued learning tool and continuing reference resource for anyone seeking to create a successful writing career for themselves.

From First Word To Last
Arlene F. Marks
Legacy Books Press
RPO Princess, Box 21031
445 princess Street
Kingston, ON, Canada, K7L 5P5
www.legacybookspress.com
9781927537053, $19.95, www.amazon.com

Thanks to the advances in desk-top publishing technology and the rise of the Publish On Demand (POD) companies, it has never been easier for an aspiring author to transform their novels from manuscripts into finished books reading for an (hopefully) appreciative readership. This has led to an explosion of novels by inexperienced writers with more enthusiasm than literary story telling skills. That's why "From First Word to Last: The Craft of Writing Popular Fiction" by Arlene F. Marks (a published author, editor, and teacher of literacy and writing) will prove to be an invaluable instruction manual for anyone seeking to craft a riveting tale filled with memorable characters, unexpected plot twists, and a narrative that will grip the reader's total attention from first page to last. Marks presents solid instruction, advice, and commentary on and about the mechanisms of popular fiction, establishing realistic settings, suspenseful plots, and characters that become real within the 'theatre of the mind' of the reader. Of special note is Mark's explanation of the 'mathematics of pacing'. Comprehensive and thoroughly 'user friendly', "From First Word to Last: The Craft of Writing Popular Fiction" is highly recommended for all novice authors and has a great deal of reference value for even the more experienced novelist.


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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