Literary Novel Uses Internet as Enhancement

Book Title: Until the Deep Water Stills - An Internet-enhanced Novel
Author Name: Michael Robert Dyet
Novel Online Companion: www.mdyetmetaphor.com/blog
Michael’s Blog: www.mdyetmetaphor.com/blog2 (Metaphors of Life Journal AKA
Things That Make Me Go Hmmm)
Genre: Literary Fiction
ISBN: 978-0-9811995-0-4
Publication Date: March 2009
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Reviewed by Marianne Paul, Author of Tending Memory, Twice in a Blue Moon
and Dead Girl Diaries


"Doomsday prophets who sound the death knell of this book shortchange the
artist and his abilities to find new ways to express himself.

In Until the Deep Water Stills, Michael Dyet offers a glimpse into the evolution of the novel, harnessing the new technologies to reveal layers of story in a way that can only be done in the electronic age. Dyet deftly uses the Internet
to create underlying strata, allowing the reader to slip away, if she wishes, from the third-person narrative of the novel to access the first-person intimacy of the blogs, diaries, letters, audio, and photo journals of the characters. When the reader returns to the main narrative, it is with deeper understanding, and sometimes astonishing new facts.

The story unfolds from a central event – the drug overdose death of a teenage girl at a rave. The aftershocks set out in ever-expanding circles, engulfing her parents, her aunt and uncle, and also a social worker using the death to promote her personal agenda of drug-free raves. Tragedy and misfortune rock the lives of the characters, but it is the emotional narrative beneath these events that is the epicenter of the novel. Secrets lie beneath the surface, as do fault lines beneath the earth. It is
private life to public life, subconscious mind to conscious mind, third person to first person - what we choose to reveal (or not) to those who are supposed to be our “intimates” – our spouses and partners.

Bryan speaks openly of his affair in his blog, telling strangers of his marital infidelity and his innermost thoughts, but not his politician wife, Grace. Jayce’s anger erupts so that he smashes a glass-top table in front of Katherine and their young daughter, but he can’t bring himself to share with his wife the one act of violence from his past that most plagues him. Katharine publicly communicates to her husband her desire to leave their marriage through the photographs she has chosen to display at the opening reception of her art show. Faith writes letters to the mother
who abandoned her at a young age, but doesn’t send them, choosing instead to view her mother from afar.

Marshall McLuhan said, "The medium is the message." He might have been peering into the future to see Dyet's novel, where the medium of the Internet enhances the story, certainly, but also, becomes the story,revelations offered to the reader in a way not possible in the hard-copy, print-static world of the past. The mode influences the telling."

~Marianne Paul
Author of Tending Memory, Twice in a Blue Moon and Dead Girl Diaries


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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

A Time Travel Romance Is Also Dark Fiction

The Space Between
A novel by Erik Tomblin
Dark Fiction/Time Travel Romance
ISBN: 978-0-615-24536-2
Blue Fair Books
5 stars


Reviewed by Kelly Perry for Amazon


I adore books that can entertain me, but don't require my undivided attention to enjoy. I'm also infatuated with books that can make me laugh, maybe cry a little, and then give me the happily-ever-after ending I so want. But my biggest affection, my deepest love, is held for those books that grant me space in the author's world and offer transcendence.

I read Erik Tomblin's latest and was completely entranced. Like street lights that seem to grow closer until they soon begin to appear as stars that were made just for you, strung out along the streets like hushed party lights, The Space Between shakes free and transforms the world around you.

Now while I could go on and break the story down for you, I think the synopsis pretty much covers it. And sure, I could describe the intoxicating atmosphere, the fluid pace, the three-dimensional characters or even Tomblin's powerful, yet subtle style of writing, but seriously...how fun would that be to read? My point exactly. No, much like trying to describe to someone the utter deliciousness of funnel cake or getting a Prada bag at bargain price, some things just have to be experienced.

I promise, you won't be let down.

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Brigitte A. Thompson Gives Writers a Dose of What They Need

Title: Bookkeeping Basics for Freelance Writers
Author: Brigitte A. Thompson
Genre: Nonfiction, business
ISBN: 978-0963212382
Reviewer's rating: 5 stars

Reviewed by Michelle Dunn for Amazon

Review:

- Writers everywhere will be so happy to find this book! I am a writer, not a bookkeeper, but bookkeeping is a big part of being a writer. Unfortunately, many writers do not have bookkeeping or business skills. This book can help you tremendously with forming your business, setting up what you need to do legally, choosing a name, and documenting your income for the IRS. The forms included in this book are invaluable and make the process much easier and stremlined, including a freelance contract and subcontractor agreement. Save yourself much time and aggravation and use this book and the forms included to begin your successful writing career today! ----Michelle Dunn, columnist and author of eight books in the collecting money seri

Synopsis:

Bookkeeping Basics for Freelance Writers addresses issues writers face daily such as how to deduct travel expenses, determine taxable writing income, and claim home office deductions.

Navigating through the recordkeeping required for a small business owner can be difficult. This book is written exclusively for those of us who earn money by writing. It includes useful information to help interpret the complexities of our federal tax code and proven techniques to reduce taxable income. T

hroughout the book we have included tips from both new and seasoned writers. In the Tips forSuccess feature writers share the wisdom they have acquired over time. In the Writer’s Block feature you will discover specific questions writers have submitted which, when answered, helpclarify points made about that topic.

You will also find that each part of this book works together to assist you in forming your overall business plan. Each chapter steps through a comprehensive plan that works as a building block towards a successful writing business.

Q&A/Interview:

An interview with Brigitte A. Thompson, author of eight financial books including the just released Bookkeeping Basics for Freelance Writers published by Crystal Press.

Tell us what Bookkeeping Basics for Freelance Writers is about.

Writers have many important questions to ask about income and expenses, but no single source for answers. I created this book, Bookkeeping Basics for Freelance Writers, to be that source. It is an easy-to-understand guide to organizing a writer’s financial life.

This book addresses issues writers face daily such as how to deduct travel expenses, determine taxable writing income, and claim home office deductions. Navigating through the recordkeeping required for a small business owner can be difficult. This book is written exclusively for those of us who earn money by writing.

Readers will also find that each part of this book works together to assist in forming an overall business plan. The chapters take the writer through a comprehensive process that works as a building block towards a successful writing business.

Have you found that freelance writers require a different set of bookkeeping rules?

Many bookkeeping rules are universal such as the requirement to record income, but there are some areas of the tax law that are of more interest to freelance writers. This includes dealing with royalty payments, bartering, personal property and agent fees. My book addresses the universal tax rules as well as the infrequently discussed rules that apply specifically to freelance writers.

Learning how to document expenses and how to track income will give writers the best chance at overall business success.

What are some tax deductions that freelance writers might not be aware of?

There are many tax deductions available to writers. Some expenses are common, such as the cost of purchasing a case of paper or paying for a computer software upgrade. Other costs incurred in the operation of your writing business may not jump out at you as expenses when they could be.

For example, consider the following accounts.

Mileage: Trips made in your vehicle to pick up office supplies can be counted as a business deduction if you record the proper information to support it.

Meals: Treating your agent to a restaurant meal with the discussion focusing on your next book can also generate a tax deduction when properly documented.

Shipping: UPS charges and postage used to mail a query or review copy of your book can be a small expense, but it should still be tracked. Those small deductions add up and every penny spent as a qualified business expense will reduce the amount of income tax you owe.

Bookkeeping Basics for Freelance Writers devotes an entire chapter to expenses including a comprehensive listing of expenses and detailed information regarding what documentation is required to support each one.

I'm sure you've observed other freelance writers making accounting missteps that cost them time and money. What are some of the most common issues and how can we avoid them?

The most common misstep I’ve seen with writers is not taking themselves seriously as business owners. This can lead to financial pitfalls. Many writers have been honing their craft for years so it’s hard to identify an official starting date for their self-employment. Without this point to mark the beginning, it is easy to put off tracking income and expenses. This can be an unfortunate mistake.

The IRS will consider you to be in business when you are actively pursuing projects intended to generate income and expenses. This means they will expect you to file a tax return to report those transactions. Keeping track of your income and expenses from day one will enable you to pay the least amount of income taxes on the money you earn.

Many people find numbers, especially when related to bookkeeping and taxes, intimidating. Will this book make these things easier to understand"?

Yes, my book breaks down complicated number crunching into easy to follow steps. By reading the book, readers will understand why it's important to keep certain receipts and how those pieces of paper factor into the overall success of their writing business. Sometimes knowing the reasoning behind a task makes it easier to complete.

Writers can take advantage of some wonderful tax deductions, but only when they are aware of the possibility and know how to accurately document the expenses. My book explains it all in a reader friendly format.

What are some of the challenges readers face with regards to bookkeeping?

I found the most common challenge writers face revolves around what they can claim as income and what counts as a tax deduction. For example, if their first job is writing the school newsletter, is the money received really income? Do they need to do something with the Internal Revenue Service before they can be considered a business? How do they handle selfemployment tax?

The second most common concern for the freelance writers is related to proper documentation.What receipts did they need to save? How should they be kept? What information needs to be recorded to prove the expense? These are all great questions and they are addressed in the book.

Why is it important for writers to understand bookkeeping?

Writers are earning money and this money needs to be reported as income on their income tax return. If writers do not have any expenses to claim, their taxable income will be higher and they will owe more income tax.

Understanding what can be claimed as business expenses when you are a writer and how to properly document these expenses will help ensure the success of your business.

The most important thing you can do as a writer is to become organized. There are many books available on how to organize your writing, but this is the best book available about how to organize the financial side of your writing business.


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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Christy Tillery French Reviews New Memoir

Letting Go: An Ordinary Woman’s Extraordinary Journey of Healing and Transformation
Author: Nancy A. Kaiser
Genre: Memoir/Self-Help
ISBN: 9780981463323
Publisher: Visual Impressions Publishing


Reviewed by Christy Tillery French for Midwest Book Review


With five short words (“I never wanted this house”), Nancy Kaiser’s world came to a screeching halt. Nancy and her husband Bob had retired to North Carolina, where they planned to build their dream home on a mountain they chose as their special place. Before the house was finished, Bob said these words to Nancy, and from that point on, her world tilted and her life became off-balance. Alone, six hundred miles from family and friends, nothing seemed to go right for Nancy. On her own, she had to face the deaths of dear friends and beloved animal companions, as well as problems that kept cropping up with the house she moved into, all while dealing with the trauma of divorcing her husband.

Although the title describes Nancy as an “ordinary woman”, perhaps a more appropriate nomenclature would be an exceptional person in tune with nature, who not only understands the connection between animals and humans but also is able to communicate with animals. Nancy is a woman dedicated to finding her center through spiritual and cerebral means, pitting ego against soul, learning to love herself, trust her decisions, and focus on the positive instead of the negative. This outstanding book leads the reader through Nancy’s soul-searching journey of transformation, from a woman filled with anger and rage and negativity to one who is at peace with herself and her feelings and has learned to let go of the things she cannot control. The reader will feel Nancy’s pain as she struggles and rejoice with her as she begins to progress toward her life’s goal. The lessons learned in this book are of great significance and will gift the reader with a better understanding of “self”. Highly recommended.


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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Self-Help Book (With Humor) Keeps You on Track

Title: Hindsight: What You Need to Know Before You Drop Your Drawers
Author: Maryanne Comaroto
ISBN-13: 0974661007
Genre: self-help, sex, relationships
Publisher: Bridge the Gap publishing

Have you noticed that you have a knack for attracting Mr. Wrong (or Not-Exactly-Right)? When it comes to relationships, timing is everything. Knowing what you need to know before you drop your drawers can save you tons of heartache, money and time. For some of us, finding a man any man totally eludes us. While others have become adept at finding a man, he is rarely the right man, and rarely does the relationship last, nor should it.

Let's face it, there isn't much worse than literally and figuratively waking up to the reality that we have been sleeping with disaster. Hindsight: What You Need to Know Before You Drop Your Drawers guides the reader through the challenges of dating and mating in the twenty-first century and shares powerful solutions on how to find the RIGHT man, get him, and keep him, so you are fully equipped to create healthy, sustainable, fulfilling relationships.

Maryanne Comaroto (Maryannelive.com) has been inspiring people to create and attract healthy relationships for nearly a decade. In HINDSIGHT she reveals the six tools you must have in your tool belt to create the perfect mate. Maryanne takes you through the toxic choices we make in dating, and then teaches you how to turn six tools into lifelong skills and Self-Love Prescription exercises designed to help you achieve mastery.

Since HINDSIGHT begins within, your relationship with yourself is the first place to start. You will learn: How to tell the frogs from the princes/princesses What you truly want and how to create it Ways to remove the blockages you have with men and relationships The steps on the journey from selling yourself to your sacred self that will attract your perfect mate How to manifest the relationship of your dreams into reality To lighten up and have fun discover the JOY of your own life While the truth can often hurt, it can also be hysterical. The journey through Hindsight will have you laughing and learning your way to healthier relationships.

Maryanne's book is applicable for just about anyone – single or not – as it focuses on the priority we should place on learning to be in tune with OUR OWN SELVES. It's then up to us how we choose to take this knowledge into our relationships! A great read for anyone feeling there has to be a better way to be in a relationship, or for someone who just wants help figuring themselves out! Maryanne tells it like it is in a way that encourages and inspires!

~Alexis James
(synopsis first published on Amazon

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Patricia Delois' New Book Reviewed

Title: Bufflehead Sisters
Author: Patricia Delois
ISBN-13: 978-0425227770
Genre: Literary Fiction
Publisher: Berkley Trade

Reviewed by Karyn Hall
Review first published by Amazon

Janet lives an ordinary life with an ordinary family, growing up
against a backdrop of the Vietnam War and the growth of the drug
culture. Her parents struggle for a balance between compassion and
control. Janet yearns for a sister, a Thelma for her Louise. Then
Sophie enters her life. Patricia DeLois has Janet describe Sophie as
follows: "Her hair was a nest of blond curls that made me think of
Goldilocks, and there was a smug look about her mouth that suggested
she might have already helped herself to someone's porridge and found
it just right." Turns out, this is actually foreshadowing of events
to come in Sophie and Janet’s lives.

DeLois writes with a magic wand. "One day in late winter, Sophie
suggested we dig our way to another country. Not China, she said--they
would look for us there. We would dig a hole halfway to China, and
then we would veer off toward Amsterdam."

DeLois enters the world of two children and shows the reader both how
Sophie viewed her dysfunctional family and how Janet viewed her own
parents as well as her relationship with the Sophie. The author is as
adept at showing the child's view as she is the adolescent view. The
imagery she creates is so realistic you'll think you're back in your
high school lunchroom, hoping against hope a certain boy will sit with
you and scorning the girls who have reputations. But this is an adult
book that holds a mirror to the ways we judge others.

A coming of age story, a book about heartbreak and the ways women and
men struggle with their wounds, and a tale of everyday lives,
Bufflehead Sisters is all that. It is also a look at having friends
who are different than you and how that affects your life and your
character. You may see yourself in the pages.

There's something special about Sophie. Every one who meets her thinks
so, though not in the same ways. This reader agrees, and probably not
in the same way as you.

I found Bufflehead Sisters to be an enjoyable book. I cared about the
characters and the conflicts they faced. I also looked again at the
choices I’ve made in life.


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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Mary Jean Kelso's New Book Reviewed

Title: Back to the Homestead
Author Mary Jean Kelso
Genre: Western Fiction
ISBN 978-1-59705-431-7.
Publisher: Wings Press


Reviewed by Claudia Valiquet, publicist/literary agent

Mary Jean Kelso’s historical romance, Life on the

Homestead, was not only entertaining, but also informative about western life! Western fiction has been a passion of mine now for several years. I confess that Louis L’Amour is my favorite and I actually get a little bored with Zane Grey. Ms. Kelso’s book, while teaching me some new facts about life on the range, kept me in suspense the whole way through and I didn’t want to stop reading.

I fell in love with the Westerman family and agonized along with them as they dealt not only with the day-to-day chores and other tribulations that western pioneer families faced, but also with great adversities such as mental illness, cattle rustling, and severe childhood illness. Ms. Kelso dealt with racism as Charlie Cooper and his new wife, Effie Mae, a black couple settling onto the range, have to fear for their lives.

Despite all of the drama in the book, there are some wonderfully humorous portions, too, especially the marble game and a small matter about one boy who is not very good at handling guns. The book is action-packed and flows well, yet there is no blood or death--which is very refreshing. I’m ready for more!


Available through wings-press.com or ask for it at your favorite book store.

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Barbara Bonfigli Captures Essence of Greece in Fictionalized Memoir

Title: Café Tempest: Adventures on a Small Greek Island
Author: Barbara Bonfigli
Author's Website: www.cafetempest.com
Genre: Fictional Memoir
ISBN: 978-0981645315
Publisher: Tell Me Press
Available From Amazon.com:


Reviewed by Michael Gelb, author of How to Think lIke Leonardo Da Vinci(excerpt from his review 4/30/2009 at www.michaelgelb.com


"...In CaféTempest, Barbara Bonfigli's fabulous first novel, we are invited to share a concentrated experience of food, spirit and love on an intimate Greek island.


"Your heart will race with the tempestuousness of love, your mouth will water from her savory descriptions of zucchini fritters and baklava (recipes included), and you'll discover a remarkable depth of spiritual wisdom, and humor! that shines through every page.


"Bonfigli plays with the best elements of Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat, Pray, Love) and Peter Mayle (A Year in Provence) and combines them with ingredients from Nikos Kazantzakis (Zorba the Greek) and Shakespeare (The Tempest) to bring us a uniquely sumptuous literary feast. Opa! --

To learn about Barbara Bonfigli and Café Tempest, feel free to visit any of these sites.
Barbara Bonfigli’s website – www.cafetempest.com
Order Café Tempest directly from the publisher - http://www.tellmepress.com/pub_ct.php
or from Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Café-Tempest-Adventures-Small-Island/dp/0981645313
To see the complete tour schedule visit http://virtualblogtour.blogspot.com/2009/05/cafe-tempest-by-barbara-bonfigli-summer.html

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Audio Book Offers Riehl's Poetry from Former Book

Title: Sightlines: A Family Love Story in Poetry and Music
Author: Janet Grace Riehl
Genre: poetry; audio book
ISBN: B0020SQFRC.
Originally published: Story Circle Book Reviews: Reviewing Books for, by, and about Women

Reviewed by Edith O'Nuallain



Sightlines: A Family Love Story in Poetry and Music by Janet Grace Riehl consists of 4 audio CDs, which combine the poems previously published in Riehl's book Sightlines: A Poet's Diary. This recorded version of Sightlines: A Poet's Diary (2006) expands on the original 90 poems by including brief clips of 40 songs played by her 93-year-old father and his Sunday Afternoon music group. The poems are further set in a wider context with her father's stories, and he reads the poems he wrote that open Sightlines, along with the lines of dialogue that appear in poems sprinkled throughout. In this unique offering, we glimpse the lives, past and present, of the poet and her family.

Together words and songs weave a magical tapestry of myriad threads, recounting family folklore in the warm timbres of Riehl's quiet-spoken voice, each story-poem set in the lively rhythms of fiddles, guitars and mandolins, music reminiscent of a bygone era. The sometimes slightly discordant notes of the violin merely add to the beauty of the tales told.

This series of poems and songs is a memoir. It is also a series of love poems, composed in memory and celebration of three people and two places Riehl loves. She traces the treasured reminiscences of a childhood shared with her two older siblings—her sister, Julia Ann, and her brother, Gary, tenderly watched over by loving parents. Her attentiveness to detail is evident in the images and words which reflect her considered awareness of who she is and where she comes from. Here is where Riehl composes the haunting and lyrical songs to her sister, tragically killed in an automobile accident, an experience so devastating that almost every succeeding poem is written in reference, either directly or obliquely, to it. The mother and father captured on her pages are our mothers and fathers, the love she expresses for them is the love we feel for our own.

One striking feature of Riehl's poetry is the unmistakable sense of presence that the author brings to her subject matter. Pick any poem from the book, and almost immediately the reader comes face to face, as it were, with the poet. She recounts, sometimes in devastating and searingly honest detail, her mother's progressive dance towards death. She is not afraid to open herself to the suffering of returning and re-living the death of her sister, a tragedy that changed everything. Riehl is a woman who has seen a lot, more in fact than many of us would wish to encounter. Yet her presence assures us that we too can survive the unthinkable; that we can live to tell the tale. And what is more, that in telling our stories we become more of who we are destined to be.

If we can locate the bravery within ourselves that Riehl points us towards, then we too may become in time as compassionate, caring, understanding and yes, even forgiving, as she. For indeed is this not what the best memoirs do? They do not point the finger of blame, but rather paint a picture of a wholly believable individual, someone who might have been our sister or brother or mother or father.

In the end it is the universality of her subject matter that renders her poetry so accessible. We read her poems not just to peep through a window into her life, but to lift the veil a little on our own, so that we may perhaps learn something about ourselves and our loved ones, even while we swim in the subterranean waters of her words.

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Tim Ferriss Offers How-To for Organizing Your Life

Title: 4-Hour Work Week
Author: Tim Ferriss
Author Site: www.fourhourworkweek.com
Reviewer Name: Matt Lehr
Reviewer Link to Review

Reviewed by Matt Lehr


In the past 4 months I have read nearly 2 books per week – each pertaining to Marketing, Goals, Motivation, Entrepreneurship, and Making Money. I recommend this strategy to any motivated individual and suggest that there is no better way to truly understand yourself and develop your own ideas than starting by reading and then transitioning to writing as well.

A great place to start for any entrepreneur: “The 4-Hour Work Week” – By Timothy Ferriss

The first time read though this book I must admit that I felt Tim was rough around the edges and subscribed to some philosophies I never could take on as my own. But after reading it twice through and a third go around on CD, I have changed my stance and believe that nearly every idea and concept he presents is doable and beneficial.

Here are the main points of my interpretation of Tim Ferriss’ work:

1) The Rat Race

Is this really your life? Working hard everyday and planning for a retirement 40 years down the road. Tim offers suggestions to shake it up do some unordinary things that will make all the difference in the world. Understanding that you have the freedom to do what you want to do and go where you want to go is the hardest step for most people. Determine why it is you want something and then start to figure out how you can make it happen. Do not be afraid to reject the norm and live life differently than the rest.

2) Understand your Time

Tim explains that the goal of the “New Rich” is not just to attain more money, but the most important treasure is time. After all, how can any of us fully enjoy the money you make if we don’t have time to enjoy it or people to experience it with. Find ways to work and make money but do not sacrifice the most important opportunity which is the time to do what you want in life. Strategy’s from the book include checking email very rarely and training clients, employees, and even your boss to not rely on you as a bottleneck

3) Automate Everything

Why do something yourself when you can pay someone else to do it for you? Find a way to make money that doesn’t need your constant maintenance. My understanding of this concept is the “business owner vs. the self employed.” Business owners sit back and let others run their company while they collect the pay check, meanwhile the self-employed put in their sweat equity on an hourly basis to earn the money. Both are considered entrepreneurs, but the self employed have only eliminated their boss, but still do all the work.

Tim explains that the goal is to move towards automation – Meaning whether or not someone is sitting on a beach or sleeping, money is being made either way. He explains to take “you” out of the equation and benefit from the goal which is not only more money but more time.

4) Outsource Everything

Having someone in India do your work for you is not something left to major Nike and Coca Cola type companies of the world. Using the internet, outsourcing is available at the click of a button and can be set up by using one email.

I took this one to heart and have not looked back. Mr. Ferriss was right on and once you learn to outsource effectively it changes everything. From paying per project or low hourly wages, having someone work while you sleep is priceless. I found the best site to use (that is not mentioned in the book) is www.odesk.com. This website makes it easier than finding new friends on Facebook – the difference being for 20 bucks this friend will do your research project – and do it well.

5) Get Away

The “4-Hour Work Week” subscribes to lifestyle design and world travel. Tim teaches you how to live abroad and do it both on a budget and while you manage your business. He includes success stories of others and offers up ways to cut loose and experience it all.

You have to actually read or listen to the book to truly understand Tim’s off the wall approach and view of life. As I stated his methods are not for all. Yet I have accepted that following them in principle can work out great. Putting your own spin on his thoughts and ideas and applying it to your situation can be very beneficial. His book has been one of many that has empowered my journey. I recommend it as great pushing off point for the budding entrepreneur.

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Stewart L. Utdall Pens Book on Environment

Title: The Quiet Crisis
Author: Stewart L. Udall
Categories: Environmentalism, Nonfiction
ISBN:B0011UH0S8

Reviewed by Taylor Smith

To my way of thinking one of the greatest tragedies of modern American politics has been the increasing polarization on a wide range of issues which focuses more on who is right rather than what is right and in the public interest. Nowhere is this truer than in the realm of environmental policies. We endlessly debate issues which have grave importance for the future only paying heed to the demagogy of the left or right and ignore the true moral, historical and scientific issues at hand.

The author of this book is Stewart L. Udall, a distant cousin a couple times removed from me on my father’s side. He was a Democrat (I know! I have relatives who are donkeys!), and JFK’s Secretary of the Interior. This book has had a profound impact on the way that many Americans think and feel about the environment. For this reason I am writing a review of it by itself rather than with a companion book like usual for my blog. I think it is important enough that it needs to be considered on its own.

The book chronicles the history of the United States from the perspective of the land. The first period is the era of contact between Native Americans and the European settlers and the contrast between their respective views of the land. To the Natives the land was something owned by everybody in the same way as the ocean, air, sky and stars were the property of no single individual. To the Europeans, however, land ownership was the entire basis of their society and, for the English especially, the entire reason for their being in America.

This land ownership, however, was fundamentally at odds with the Native concept (and indeed the older medieval concept of land ownership in Europe) which stressed the claim of future generations on the land and allowed for the use, but not abuse, of the resources available from the land. I could elaborate on the late medieval/early modern shift in concepts about ownership, but I will spare all of you this lesson for now!

This new concept of land ownership was coupled with a new idea arising from the sheer size and overwhelming wildness of the American continent which Udall calls the “myth of superabundance.” In short the idea is that there are so many buffalo, beaver and deer, so much fertile soil and forests and so many mineral deposits that conserving them was counterproductive and uncompetitive. The final critical element added to this mix was the rugged individualism which helped to create the essential elements of American democracy but also contributed to a lack of civic mindedness among some classes. Thus the few who made massive fortunes at the public expense were often seen as good examples rather than the pillagers of the future that they were.

Gradually some people began to see that this system was unsustainable and ethically lacking. Diverse characters like Davie Crockett, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Daniel Boone, and other began to see the effect on the land that our unthinking policies were having. Eventually as we began to have massive extinctions on our own soil (there were more than five billion passenger pigeons in the United States at the beginning of the nineteenth century, but shortly before the start of the twentieth century the last surviving member of the species died in a zoo in Ohio), and people like Audubon and other conservationists and scientists began to take action. Eventually people like Teddy Roosevelt were able to make political gains in breaking up the Iron Triangles (a political science term for the relationship between business, regulation agencies and congressional committees which all deal with a particular subject and often scratch each others backs) which had allowed so much of this legal pillaging to happen.

Now as a country we have made a good start, but there is still a lot to do. The balance between using resources and preserving land is a delicate one (one person quoted in the book says that the boundaries between the workshop and the temple of nature is inevitably going to be a contentious issue) and has not been fully resolved. However the scientists, politicians, farmers, hunters, activist, philanthropists, and voters of the last century have done some wonderful things to try and help preserve for us large areas of wilderness.

Now we have challenges involving overcrowding, littering, pollution, and a lack of planning- all brought on because we still lack a sense of reverence for nature and our environment. As the author put it:

"The quiet crisis demands a rethinking of land attitudes, deeper involvement by leaders of business and government, and methods of making conservation decisions which put a premium on foresight. With the acumen of our scientists we can achieve optimum development of resources that will let us pluck the fruits of science without harming the tree of life. Once we decide that our surroundings need not always be subordinated to payrolls and profits based on short-term considerations, there is hope that we can both reap the bounty of the land and preserve an inspiriting environment."

I wish that we would all take a step back and reevaluate our opinions and activities in light of an increased respect for the earth and for the future generations that are going to inherit it. Maybe this is all a little too utopian and impractical, but if we are only thinking about here and now how can we claim to be any better than the people who came before us? It is easy to be critical of the slaughter of the buffalo as a short-sighted policy, but are we any better? I’ll let you decide that for yourself.
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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Dave and Lillian Brummet Give Marketing Tips to Authors

Title: Purple Snowflake Marketing - How to Make Your Book Stand Out in a Crowd
Edition: Two
Authors: Dave & Lillian Brummet
Available: www.booklocker.com
Authors' Web site: www.brummet.ca

Purple Snowflake Marketing - How to Make Your Book Stand Out in a Crowd is a reference guide for self-marketing authors who want to be noticed in a snowstorm of writers. With nineteen chapters and twenty-five appendices, this e-book is a means for authors to design an effective marketing plan and utilize frugal promotional tools with the click of their mouse. The e-book also offers over 900 resources that will accelerate your marketing efforts far beyond your peers. As a reassuring marketing plan guide, it contains ample advice for avoiding pit-falls and setting a pace for marketing endeavors.

This e-book was originally released in June 2007 and since then has made the recommended reading lists of more than a dozen writing courses. Authors of most genres will find this inspiring book an essential component for marketing their book.
Announcements and details will soon be available later today at: www.brummet.ca/purple.html

The authors donate 30% of the royalties they receive from book sale to SPCA, the Canadian Wildlife Federation and the Seeds of Diversity Organization. Purchase it for only $10 at http://www.booklocker.com/books/4120.html



Book Review By Donna Sundblad


Dave and Lillian Brummet's Purple Snowflake Marketing gets an A+ as a guide to help new authors get their books into the hands of reviewers, booksellers and ultimately readers. This how-to book doesn't just pump you up with a lot of motivational rhetoric, but supplies authors and small presses with practical, low-budget marketing tools including hundreds of promotional links. Their advice doesn't just expose authors to opportunities; it also helps steer them away from pit-falls in the publishing industry.

This book is filled advice on marketing your book, beginning with the day you sign the contract, paints a realistic outlook on what a new or relatively unknown author can expect and how to employ research and preparation to make a memorable first impression. Written in an easy-to-read electronic format, the text is broken into useful categories punctuated with headings that aid readers when in-finding specific topics. Purple Snowflake Marketing fills a vacuum in the area of marketing planning for new authors with proven and practical information developed as Dave and Lillian Brummet promoted their other books. The information provided helps authors see beyond book signings and getting their books stocked on bookstore shelves.

Specifics include how to get book reviews, disciplines like follow-up, and tips for internet marketing. Learn how to target your audience with "Purple Snowflake" techniques which require thinking outside the box. These techniques provide insight into direct marketing, underground marketing, backdoor marketing and online marketing along with frugal advertising tips that fit any budget.

I was also pleasantly surprised to see tips for how to avoid feeling frustrated and overwhelmed. Answers to questions common to new authors provide guidance regarding copyright information for North America and definitions of commonly used but often confused terms used within the industry.

When it come to getting your book into bookstores, Purple Snowflake Marketing offers fresh ideas and a realistic view with statistics to assist in making informed decisions as you put together a marketing plan. If you're ready to market you book, advice about how to get beyond feeling shy when talking about and promoting your book will get you started as you learn how to get beyond bookstore managers who say "no" to see your book on a variety of bookstore shelves. This book is a must-have for every new author's bookshelf.


~ Reviewed by author Donna Sundblad, senior editor of E-Press Publishing Company
~ Dave & Lillian Brummet are also uthors of: Trash Talk - Learn how you can impact the planet -Towards Understanding - a collection of 120 poems on society, the environment & overcoming trauma.


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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

A Well-Researched Book for Those Interested in India and Education

Common School System: Examining the First Initiative in IndiaKhagendra Kumar
ISBN: 81-7714-327-1
By Dr K. Kiran, lecturer, Dept. of Political Science, M.A.M. College, Naugachia, T.M.Bhagalpur University, Bhagalpur (Bihar)(INDIA)



In the book under review ‘Common School System: Examining First Initiative in India’, the author has tried to examine the recommendations of the first ever Common School System Commission of the country instituted by the Government of Bihar.

In the comprehensive preface the author has explained the reason for taking the task of examining the report of the Common School System Commission. The Education Commission of India recommended the establishment of a Common School System in the country way back in 1966. It was also endorsed by National Education Policy 1986 and Programme of Action 1992. While reviewing the implementation of this policy, the Ramamurti Committee (1990) considered the development of Common School System (CSS) to be a “very vital component of the overall strategy for securing equity and social justice in education. Over two thousand non-government organizations which have joined hands to promote the National Alliance for the Fundamental Right to Education (NAFRE) launched a public campaign demanding the implementation of a Common School System in India. \

The Government of Bihar has shown the strong desire to provide equitable quality education to all the children of the state. Nitish Kumar, the Chief Minister of the state said “In my encounter with the public everywhere of the state, I found a ubiquitous desire among the people, particularly the poorest to send their children to a good school”. He further said “I have no option but to respond to the yearning of the people…” He announced his government’s intension to establish a Common School System (CSS) in Bihar on the 22nd July, 2006. Finally the Common School System Commission (CSSC) was constituted on the 8th August, 2006. The CSSC submitted its report on the 8th June, 2007

The Commission termed the intention of the Chief Minister to establish the CSS in Bihar as a development of historic significance for Bihar and possibly for the rest of the country as well.

The author says “In spite of my deep concern for the CSS and support for its early implementation, I strongly feel that the report of the CSSC needs to be examined and necessary changes should be considered before its implementation. The reason is very plain and simple. There appears to be contradictions between discussions made by the Commission on various issues and the Commission’s recommendations related to them at various places of the report. Its discussion is also loaded towards bureaucracy and elites of the society but in a subtle way…The PRI and urban bodies have hardly a place in the legal frame of the CSS…That is why I have taken the task of examining the CSSC report which is the first initiative in India towards the implementation of the CSS.”

The book has twelve chapters. In the first chapter of the book, present status of school education and teacher education has been described. The report is based on latest available data. In the second chapter the author has looked into the CSSC’s concept and rationale of CSS and identified some views of the Commission which explain some of the past events erroneously, perhaps due to poor understanding of the social and political situations of the state. The author has also identified some vital areas where many actions of the state justified by the Commission are not in consonance of its concepts and rationale of the CSS.

In the third chapter, the CSSC report on school administration and management under CSS has been examined. The Commission has recommended two bills for management of schools for consideration by the Bihar Legislature. The first bill, Bihar Primary and Middle School Education Committee Bill, 2007 is meant for constituting school education committee in the primary and middle schools of Bihar and the second bill, Bihar Secondary Education Committee Bill, 2007 for constituting school education committee in the secondary schools of Bihar. The author has tried to reveal the loaded arguments of the Commission in favour of bureaucrats and against the legislators in respect of the management of Rajkiya and Rajkiyakrit schools. He has also tried to visualize the Commission’s theoretical position regarding the vital role of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in the school management and its position in the recommended bills where PRIs role appears to have been diluted.

In the next chapter, the author has examined the CSSC report on teachers. Enumerations for creating conditions for optimum performance of teachers of the CSS and norms relating to pay and allowances of teachers suggested by the CSSC were examined taking justification of the Commission regarding some of the practical conditions of the newly appointed teachers. The author says, “The Commission describing the norm said that the pay and allowance of teachers should match their qualification and professional responsibility. There is no denial that professional responsibility of a teacher is very high, perhaps highest. Describing the essential criteria for fixation of salary and allowances of school teachers the Commission says that pay and allowances of school teachers should be fixed at a level high enough to enable them to live a life of dignity. But the Commission in its discussion on concepts, rationale and content of CSS in chapter three of the report justified the appointment of large number of school teachers on a very low salary, even lower than a fourth grade employee. School teachers from primary to senior secondary get consolidated meager monthly salary of rupees 4000 to7000. It is ironical that this salary structure has been adjudged as reasonable salary by the Commission. It appears that the Commission which talks of the abdication of conscience of the society in general lost its own conscience and could not speak against the wrong decision of the Government that constituted it.”

In the chapter five, the author has examined the CSSC report on the teacher education in the Common School System and in the chapter six, the CSSC position on different types of schools in the CSS has been examined. The author has found some of the views put by the Commission need to be reconsidered as they are not in consonance with constitutional rights of the people.

In the chapter seven, the author has tried to look into the curriculum and pedagogy for the CSS. A brief summary of National Curriculum Framework (NCF) 2005 and draft Bihar Curriculum Framework (BCF) 2006 has been presented. A critical review of draft BCF has also been presented.

In the chapter nine, the author has tried to summarize and examine the financial implications of CSS suggested in the CSSC report.

In the last three chapters the author has suggested his own plans for the development of DIETs in Bihar, On-service training program of untrained serving teachers and development of Education Faculties in the universities of Bihar.

The book critically examines the report of the CSSC and raised many important issues which must be addressed before its implementation. The presentation of the CSSC’s theoretical positions, recommendations and their examination has been done so well that the book becomes very interesting and readable even for common readers. One can get holistic picture of the CSS. The author is bold enough in putting his views straight. This is the first and only book of its kind on the CSS, an issue of great public importance.


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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Taking Tips for Success from Churchill

Churchill’s Secret Skills
Binden Shovel
ISBN: 9780955817816


Review by Lisa from Anglo Addict

All's Fair in Business and War

The book Churchill's Secret Skills by Binden Shovel has a unique point of view: it takes examples of Churchill's expertise in leading Britain through the horrors of World War II, and applies them to the modern business world. In addition to providing real-world examples of business situations, the book is also a wealth of information about how Churchill skillfully dealt with very difficult people and problems. The subtitle of the book, "Keeping the Nazis off the beaches required more than fine speeches" is a humorous indication of the way the book delves behind the public persona of Churchill and examines his more subtle skills.

The chapter titles of the book indicate some of the advice that can be gleaned from observing Churchill's actions: The Weapon of Courtesy and Consideration; Tell it Like it is, Nicely!; Success is Hidden in Details; Focus on the Payoff and Put on a Show are some of the 21 chapters in the book.

The author, Binden Shovel, spent a great deal of time reading and analyzing Churchill's writings. Some of Churchill's memos and letters are included to help to illustrate particular points. The author also has a great deal of experience in the business world, and has dealt with superiors and subordinates who provide ample material for both what to do and what NOT to do!

Anyone who enjoys World War II and history will get a kick out of reading this book, and people who work in the modern business world can also pick up lots of useful tips and examples for becoming more effective in the workplace.

Final Verdict for Churchill's Secret Skills: Four Gherkins out of Five, for being a modern business novel with interesting historical roots!

Purchase it on Amazon.

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Frank Finley reviews John Dewar's Hospital Soup...

Title: Hospital Soup by the River: Collected Letters
Author: John Dewar
Link to Book: http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/hospital-soup-by-the-river/7106189Genre: Nonfiction

Reviewer: Frank Finley (with book jacket review), Sussex, England

Hospital Soup by the River brings together a collection of highly amusing letters written to friends, chronicling the journey from a cancer diagnosis to post bone marrow transplant. The letters reveal the author's yearnings to return to a world he hopes is only temporarily lost: the world of fishing his beloved River Cairn and the natural world itself. If you like to laugh, like to fish and wish to hear of a dreaded medical condition being scythed down to size, then you will be captivated by this bizarre and wonderful collection."

So says the book jacket review and it says it very well. This is a very special book, by an author who writes with highly individual and exceptional talent. John Dewar clearly knows intimately, and in this book expresses with great depth and in large measure, much concerning life's rich drama and insecurity. This book positively exudes love, joy, and pain but especially humour. There are lots of "can't put down" books and this is another. The difference is this one is truly extraordinary. Thank you Mr. Dewar for a roller-coaster read...you made me laugh out loud when I really shouldn't have!



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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.