PW Select, Februay 2013

February 2013
A bimonthy guide to whats new in self-publishing Full reviews of 36 self-published books Listings for 142 new titles
Plus:
Guy Kawasaki on his book, APE, a handbook for DIY Spinns rocker compares indie music to self-publishing A historian on going it alone with history
FIRE UP YOUR WRITING CAREER
APRIL 25-27, 2013

NEW YORK CITY
ASJAs 42nd Annual Writers Conference is unique among writers conferences: its laser-focused on independent writing. We have a single mission: to help you thrive in a freelance writing career. Whether youre a seasoned veteran or an enthusiastic rookie, changing gears midstream or just getting started, what you will learn here will help you supercharge your career. Dont miss it! JOIN AMERICAS TOP WRITERS, FEATURING THESE NEW YORK TIMES-BESTSELLING AUTHORS:
A.J. Jacobs
D.T. Max
Deborah Blum
Ted Conover
Amy Hill Hearth
Kathleen Flinn
asjaconference.org
G U Y K AWA S A K I
Guys Way
Guy Kawasaki walked away from a major publishing deal to spread the gospel of self-publishing By Alex Palmer
For most authors and agents, a book deal in the mid-six-figure range would be an unqualified win. But when a major publisher made just such an offer to Guy Kawasakitech entrepreneur, Apple evangelist, and in-demand corporate speakerfor his 12th book, he decided there might be a better option. Kawasaki opted to pass over the major publishing houses and publish on his own.
Guy Kawasaki
e had several good reasons to go the self-publishing route. Chief among them was that the book was about the benefits of self-publishing. Titled APE: Author, Publisher, Entrepreneur How to Publish a Book, it makes the case that the spread of distribution technology and the growing role an author plays in marketing his or her book has reduced the need for major publisher support. Another reason goes back to an incident that occurred with the last book that he published traditionally (through Penguin Portfolio). Kawasaki had a buyer interested in sending copies of the e-book version of Enchantment: The Art of Changing Hearts, Minds, and Actions, to 500 customers as part of a promotion. But when he reached out to the publisher, who then referred him to Amazon, Apple, and Barnes & Noble, he was told the only way the buyer could do that was to buy the single promotional
code 500 individual times. I thought, as Steve Jobs would say, there must be a better way, says Kawasaki. He saw this as part of a widespread inadequacy in the traditional publishing model as it stands today. In an age where consumers are used to instant information and technology allows for lightningfast turnaround, Kawasaki found that the three to six months it takes to go from the finalized manuscript to sitting on store shelves made you scratch your head. Self-publishing or artisanal publishing, as Kawasaki prefers to call it, likening his approach to that of an artisanal brewer or baker seemed to offer the better way he sought. It provided not only a royalty scheme that he found fairer than a traditional contract, but also the control and quick response that appealed to the restless and prolific entrepreneur. In the self-publishing world, you upload the book on Monday and the season starts Wednesday, he says.
The fact that an author of Kawasakis stature chose to venture into the woods of self-publishing shows how far the technology and industry have evolved. But his experiences in doing so, not to mention the advice he offers in APE, which he co-authored with Shawn Welch, also provide lessons to authors and publishers about where things are heading and in which ways the traditional publishing model is still hard to beat.
Trying Something New
Kawasakis insights about technology, management, and creativity have enabled him to sell tens of thousands of books. Originally from Hawaii, Kawasaki found his calling in 1983, when he went to work for Apple and became a chief evangelizer for the company. This led him to write The Macintosh Way: The Art of Guerrilla Management (HarperCollins), published in 1987. Its success established him as a major voice in the tech and business worlds, and he left Apple that year. Since then, Kawasaki has become something of a technology Renaissance man, leading the Macintosh database company ACIUS; inventing then selling the e-mail product Emailer; founding venture capital firm Garage; and creating the Web site Alltop.com, which culls the top stories from across the Internet. Throughout all these projects, he continued to write books and columns, speak, and build his audience.
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Before APE, Kawasaki wrote 11 books, 10 of which he published through traditional means. The predecessor to APE, 2012s What the Plus! Google+ for the Rest of Us, was selfpublished in e-book format through Amazon Digital Services, but the print edition was handled by McGraw-Hill. The concept for APE came to Kawasaki while working on What the Plus! To better understand the process, he bought shelves of books on self-publishing, and was especially influenced by Barry Eisler and Joe Konraths Be the Monkey, in which the two have a dialogue about e-books and self-publishing. But as he put the book together, Kawasaki repeatedly ran into questions that did not seem to have obvious answers. I was just amazed by how hard the process was and how many so-called experts disagreed on how to do it, says Kawasaki. It took awhile for me to figure it out. One of these questions came up over the punctilious question of how to stylize bullet points in Microsoft Word, so that they would appear correctly on a Kindle. Kawasaki heard conflicting suggestions, so he posed the question to his Google Plus followers. Shawn Welch, an app developer and e-book author himself, responded. He offered not only an explanation but demonstrated to Kawasaki how it worked by using photos of his Kindle with Kawasakis text, bullet pointed as requested. The two hit it off, and Welchs knowledge of all areas of digital publishing, which he learned from putting out his own books as well as four years working in Web and multimedia at a traditional publisher, impressed Kawasaki. He saw the potential for a future project that would help clear up the questions he had run into during production of What the Plus! but that could also take a wider view of artisanal publishing and book marketing. We sat down at a coffee shop and said, We just made it through the self-publishing process, and not a lot of people know how to do what we just accom2
plished, says Welch. There are lots of books about writing, or how to make an e-book, or sell an e-book, but not the allin-one. Kawasaki asked Welch if he would be interested in coauthoring the book. Welch immediately accepted.
An All-in-One Approach
For about eight weeks, Kawasaki outlined the book while Welch researched. They then spent about six weeks writing it on a shared Word document in Dropbox, and another 10 weeks on the editing. We did a full edit on six versions of APE printed as a manuscript, and once we got to that, we crowdsourced feedback on it, says Welch. We then turned it over to a professional copy editor. As the title suggests, APE illuminates the process of self-publishing through the lenses of the three roles someone looking to put out a successful book would want to master in todays marketauthor, publisher, and entrepreneur. The Author section details the pros and cons of e-books and self-publishing, as well as such nuts-and-bolts advice as what type of computer to use for word processing (MacBook Air, according to the authors) and how to use Microsoft Word to ensure easy transfer to self-publishing platforms. The Publisher section outlines everything from using Lulu and Blurb to creating an audio version of the book. But Entrepreneur, which covers building an author platform properly using social media, and pitching to bloggers and reviewers, is the hardest and most important of the three, according to Kawasaki. He believes a combination of authors not understanding marketing or not seeing the need for it leads them to fail to make it central to their publishing plans. Most authors are living under this misconception that you write the book and youre done and it magically starts selling, Kawasaki says. During the lead-up to APEs publication, Kawasaki and his agent, Sloan Harris of ICM Partners, had some lively and interesting conversations about what his
options looked like, for publishing the book, according to Harris. He discussed several options with Kawasaki for how to approach the project, including the potential of going through a major publishing house, as he had done so successfully with previous books. But Kawasaki decided that in this case, the best route both financially and for connecting with the intended audience was to self-publish. In the final analysis, a book about self-publication ought to be self-published, says Harris, emphasizing that his role with Kawasaki, as with all his authors, is to offer them the best possible options, but ultimately let the author make the final decision. Guy is smart enough to know which projects belong in which channels, he adds. Kawasaki put out the e-book using Amazons Kindle Direct Publishing for 90 days, thereby getting promotion through the KDP Select program, and made print-on-demand versions available through Lightning Source.
Making the Artisanal Approach Work
Kawasaki sees self-publishing as an especially attractive option for authors now, more so than even a year ago, and one he expects to become even more worthwhile in the near future. In the shifting publishing market, the authors platform is more important than ever, and it is one of the chief factors in a publishers decision to go forward with a book. Kawasaki boasts a platform that most writers would envy: 1.2 million followers on Twitter, 3.8 million on Google Plus, and 286,000 on Facebook, as well as an active presence on every other social media platform. If an author like Kawasaki can command this kind of an audience on his own, he may wonder just how much value a publishing house can offer in promoting a new book. And that is a point Kawasaki continually comes back to in making his case for self-publishing. Now, you ship far fewer dead trees to
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retailers, so thats not a key value add anymore, says Kawasaki. Publishers are getting 80% of the [royalties], but I dont think theyre providing 80% of the value. While major publishers used to be the 800-pound gorillas that shaped the publishing world, now the APEsKawasakis term for those who adopt his approachare big enough to fend for themselves. Additionally, he maintains that publishers no longer serve as the arbiters of quality in the same way they once did. If it came from Random [House], or Putnam, or Penguin, Simon & Schuster, McGraw Hillthat was a proxy for a quality book, says Kawasaki. I never buy a book based on the publisher anymore today I think the proxy of quality is the number of stars in the Amazon rating, and the first few reviews. Through a get-out-the-reviews campaign that he has refined over his last several books (and which is outlined in the books Entrepreneur section), Kawasaki helped generate some 280 Amazon reviews for the book as of the time of this writing, almost all of them five stars. This, rather than a prestigious imprint, will convert a browser into a buyer, according to Kawasaki. Another area he finds self-publishing to be superior is in sponsorships and special sales of e-books. Kawasaki sold 6,000 What the Plus! e-books to Samsung, with the agreement that the company could include an ad with a link to the company website on the first page of the PDF. It was a win-win agreement, but the kind of arrangement, like those 500 copies of Enchantment, that would give most traditional publishers an aneurism, according to Kawasaki. Kawasaki urges wannabe APEs to also keep in mind that total control can be a curse as much as a blessing in some situations, and that they must know when they should look for outside help specifically with copyediting, cover design, and layout. To publish APE, Kawasaki hired a freelance copy editor and designer, costing him a few thousand dollars. The irony is that many traditional publishers are using freelancers anyway, so you can in fact get the same people who a traditional publisher would have assigned to you as a freelancer, says Kawasaki. His hands-on approach also provides readers with particular benefits. Kawasaki and Welch have taken to updating the entire book as regularly as they please. Taking an idea from app development, the authors offer a update log at http:// apethebook.com/updates where readers can see exactly what additions have been made from one version to the next. As soon as we released APE in December, we already had changes to make to the next version, says Welch. You do the APE plan. Lo and behold you have a book that sells well. Then a traditional publisher acquires that book and your next two titles, says Kawasaki. That is a very good plan. That is how Kawasaki approached What the Plus!, which McGraw-Hill picked up for print rights after its e-book version took off (though Kawasaki maintains e-book rights). He also remains open to this kind of arrangement for APE as long as he can maintain some freedom in how the e-books are published and distributed. Kawasaki also points to foreign rights as an area where a traditional publisher remains better equipped than a DIY author. Its always that I get a call from the foreign rights person at the publisher, saying, Guess what? We sold your book for $2,000 in Croatia! And I say, Hallelujah, thats $2,000 I never would have gotten, says Kawasaki. But if someone was to e-mail me personally and say, We want to make the Croatian version of APE, I dont know if this is the most prestigious publisher in Croatia, or one guy in a dorm room. He also sees some traditional publishers evolving as quickly as the technology. Kawasaki gives the example of OReilly Media, which has virtually given up on digital rights management, and includes digital copies of the book with every hard copy purchased. The company also produces and markets webinars for their authors, rather than expecting the authors to conduct them independently. Kawasaki expects to see more of these kinds of steps from publishers in the future as they try to make their offerings work more effectively for authors. If nothing else, I think the traditional publisher has to wake up and see that theyre not bringing 80% of the value to the party, says Kawasaki. They need to answer the question, What business is the publisher going to get for the author that the author would not have gotten by himself or herself?
Not Everyone Can Be Guy
But while Kawasaki may be enthusiastic about his approach to self-publishing, the lessons he offers may have their limits. Its hard to compare Guy Kawasaki to other authors, given that he not only has this vast experience but hes a marketing genius, says Karen Mender, cofounder of the Self-Publishing Book Expo. He has the platform, he has the know-how, he understand sales, he understands the audience. For him to control his own destiny is different than for many other authors. Mender believes that Kawasakis example might be applicable to other megaselling authors but that she doesnt see it as a trend thats catching onyet. It certainly could happen, says Mender. It will come down to an authorby-author, book-by-book decision based on their know-how, their energythey have to have a lot of energy to take it on by themselves. While Kawasaki is an evangelist for self-publishing, he says there are some for whom it doesnt make sense, or that it should be used in combination with traditional publishing opportunities. There is Plan A, for bestselling authors or those who can pull a big advance. Then there is Plan B, the APE approach. But Kawasaki also urges that authors consider Plan C, which combines both.
MUSIC LESSONS
Indie Rocks Lessons for Publi

When Todd Colberg set out to publish his first book, a collection of true stories from his days touring with Chapel Hill, N.C.based garage-punk band the Spinns, he didnt even consider shopping it around to agents or publishers. After all, the band had always recorded without the middlemen and extra oversight of a major label, so going indie with his book seemed the obvious choice. Released in December of last year, Self Booked: Empty Bottles, Germs Burns and Bootneck Dreams: True Tales of The Spinns follows the exploits of Colberg and his two band mates through a series of comical and often-embarrassing tour stories. It covers the Spinnss formation in 1998 to its disbanding eight years later.
Todd Colberg
s with the Spinnss albums, the books creation was an independent affair. Over the four years he wrote and edited the book, Colberg rarely sought outside assistance and kept his focus on writing something that would entertain his friends and fans. You dont have to write for certain demographics the way you would if you were doing something with a major publisher or major label, says Colberg. Thats what self-published authors and independent musicians look for: you hope for more artistic control. But while Colberg sees parallels between his approaches to music and to publishing, he also found that there were important differences between going it alone in the two industries. From the opportunities to connect with fans to the changing revenue model for artists, independent music offers some useful insights into the challenges of and opportunities in self-publishing.
Connecting with Fans
When Colberg decided early last year that he was ready to turn his stories and anecdotes into a full-blown book, he realized there were two main sticking points: finding the time to do the final writing and editing, and letting people know that the book exists. After all, the Spinns had stopped actively touring years before, and while they still had a loyal following, nobody besides Colberg and a few friends even knew he was working on a book.
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In April of last year, Colberg publicized his Kickstarter effort through Facebook and the bands e-mail list and in YouTube promos featuring Colberg playing his guitar around New York City, as well as footage of live Chapel Hill performances by the Spinns and other bands that appear in Self Booked. Word spread to longtime fans of the band as well as those of the new bands Spinns members had formed (including Colberg bands the Gondoliers and the Siberians). Eventually the project attracted 35 backers and raising more than it $3,000 goal. But beyond helping raise money for the project, the Kickstarter campaign helped Colberg raise awareness. Now everybody already knew about it, says Colberg. Colberg the author was able to tap into the excitement he generated as Colberg the musician. You need to connect with people on an emotional level, and get them to invest in you as an artist, says Scott Collins, a professional musician who has published two books about the indie music business, as well as numerous guitar instruction books under his own GuitArchitecture series. They will drag friends to shows, they call radio stations to get your songs played those people are worth 10,000 friends on MySpace. Thats a real commodity. Colberg was able to reaffirm this connection with fans and give the book something of a launch party in December of last year, when the Spinns reunited for the first time in three years to play
MUSIC LESSONS
shing
Musicians who self-publish books find the two By Alex Palmer forms strikingly similar
authors need to reach their readers not by seeking the broadest possible audience, but by targeting niche markets. Independent publishers have been doing that for years it may be two inches wide, but it could be 25 miles deep, she says. The same could be true for musicians not everyones going to like your music, but if you can connect with those that do, its possible to keep digging and digging.
a few shows in Chapel Hill and Raleigh, N.C. The local paper covered the performances and even included the cover image of Colbergs book. He was also excerpted in the garagepunk Bananas Magazine. While this was hardly the kind of promotional tour a typical author might take, it worked for Colberg. I moved a whole bunch of books down there and got roaring applause from the crowd. What could possibly be a better promotional tool? he says.
More Freedom, More Responsibility
Keeping it Personal
Colbergs success with his DIY marketing extended to the writing and even editing of the book as well. He followed the example of his brother, who self-published his own book. In speaking with his brother, Colberg mentioned that he might need to hire a copy editor. He told me, You wouldnt pay anybody to help you write your songs, so why would you do that, says Colberg. Hes a real minimalist and said, I didnt just write my book, I made it, with every single punctuation and even the cover art is mine for that reason it has total artistic integrity, and so I became bent on accomplishing the same thing for myself. In the end, Colberg opted not to pay for a copy editor, but recruited an editor friend who worked in the publishing industry to gave it a read, offering suggestions for reorganizing some of the stories and making additions. For both authors and musicians, the freedom that this approach to self-publishing offers can also present plenty of difficulties. I hear from authors I talk to over and over again that if you have complete control, and handle the financing and distribution, when do you have the time to write? asks Florrie Binford Kichler, president of the Independent Book Publishers Association. Musicians have the same problem if youre worrying about getting the music out there, getting it up on the site and communicating with fans, it takes away from your time to actually write and create music. Both industries have seen the barriers to entry vanish in recent years, as any artist is able to publish his or her book through Lulu or Amazons KDP Select service, just as a musician can post songs to YouTube or iTunes with little difficulty or cost. While this opens up the possibility for connection between artist and reader or listener, it also means the audience is faced with a virtually endless volume of options. For the publishing industry its the question of discoverability, and I would imagine musicians find the same challenge, says Kichler. How do you reach the listener, how do you make yourself stand out? Kichler recently returned from Digital Book World and said that the message running through the conference was that
Colberg sees similarities between the creating of a book and an album, with both containing a number of parts whether songs or stories that take time to come together like a puzzle in a way that makes sense. But unlike when an album is recorded and released, with an e-book, Colberg appreciates being able to edit and adjust long after its officially come out. Many independent musicians earn more from live shows than through album sales. Authors dont have that option as a revenue stream. Major authors can charge $25 a person for a Q&A, but few authors, even for large houses, have the hope of making money on live appearances. But Kichler emphasizes that authors should still use live and online event such at Twit chats and online book clubs as opportunities to interact with audiences while they may not pay, they can help connect self-published authors with their fans or expose them to new readers. She maintains that for self-published authors, as for musicians, the most valuable currency in toddays market is not always sales or a deal with a big name company, but a strong fan base. Bookstores, like record stores, are getting scarcer, as more customers head to online retailers for even instruments. This makes traditional distribution to bricks-and-mortar stores less of a necessity as well. When I go into Barnes & Noble, the music book section gets smaller and smaller, says Collins. I remember when iTunes came out and I had a CD collection of more than 1,000 and I looked at the hard drive and said, This is how much space 1,000 CDs take up? he says. I knew that the writing was on the wall. But he sees hope for the future of print books when he looks at the example, not of CDs, but of the resurgence of vinyl, which saw sales rise 19% in 2012 compared to the year before, according to Nielsen SoundScan (digital albums only rose 14% in the same period). I think its because its kind of a ritual pulling something off the wall, putting it into a machine and playing the thing; theres a process, says Collins. I think for reading tooa lot of this is going to come back to that ritual, to people doing things because its an investment. Alex Palmer is a freelance journalist who lives in Brooklyn.
SELF-PUBLISHED LISTINGS
New Titles from Self-Publishers

The 142 titles submitted for our 10th quarterly PW Select
This issue of PW Select marks the first in our now bimonthly frequencythat is, six times a year, rather than quarterlyallowing us to keep up with the growing swell of self-publishing that is transforming the industry.
Circle of Service: Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne and the Family Business Richard P. Bessette. RTN Press, $20 paper (403p), ISBN 978-0-9747970-4-5 Amazon; www.rtnpress.com In 2008 Michael Wynne was forced to resign from the Pentagon. Heres the scoop on his life story and that of his familys service to America. Holding Breath: A Memoir of AIDSs Wildfire Days Nancy Bevilaqua. CreateSpace/Nancy Bevilaqua, $10.95 paper (230p), ISBN 978-1-4801-6451-2; $3.99 e-book ISBN 1-4801-6451-8 Amazon In New York City, in 1989, a self-absorbed, bar-hopping poet and caseworker falls in love with her client, a 41-yearold heroin addict with AIDS. They live together in secrecy until he dies after eight months, and her life is profoundly affected. The Longest Night: A Personal History of Pan Am 103 Helen Engelhardt. Midsummer Sound Company, $19.95 paper (280p), ISBN 978-0-9851138-6-5; $34.95 five-CD audiobook, 6.5 hrs. www.midsummersoundcompany.com Poet and audio artist Engelhardt relates the 12 months following the death of her husband on Pan Am flight 103, producing
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BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY
an uplifting tribute to the spirit of healing through her memories and conversations with the family and friends of victims, and the residents of Lockerbie, Scotland. The Real Verdict: My Quest for the Freedom I Never Had Nitra Gipson. Xlibris, $19.99 paper (144p), ISBN 978-1-4797-2191-7; $3.99 e-book ISBN 978-1-4797-2193-1 www.therealverdict.com A woman finally says no to those who would exploit, undermine, and demean her. This is a story of courage, perseverance in overcoming abuse, and the achievement of dignity. Secrets in the Suitcase: Stories My Mother Never Told Me Molly Greenberg. AuthorHouse, $16.95 paper (161p), ISBN 978-1-4772-8209-0 Amazon; BN.com Holocaust survivor Molly Greenberg shares her life story, before, during, and after the Nazi occupation, when she returned home to the village of Skala Podolska in Poland to find nearly all the Jews had perished. Finding Family; My Search for Roots and the Secrets in My DNA Richard Hill. CreateSpace, $15 paper (260p), ISBN 978-1-4751-9083-0; $15 e-book ISBN 978-1-301-63258-9 Amazon; Smashwords The heartwarming true story of an adopted mans decades-long search for his biological family. His innovative use of genetic genealogy tests started an adoptee revolution.
Mas Dictionary: Straddling the Social Class Divide Milan Kovacovic. Greysolon Press, $19.95 paper (338p), ISBN 978-0-578-08168-7 www.greysolonpress.com; Amazon A memoir chronicling an improbable journey through radically different sectors of society in France, Slovakia, and the United States. Big Topics at Midnight: A Texas Girl Wakes Up to Race, Class, Gender and Herself Nancy Thurston. Rosegate Press, $20 paper (400p), ISBN 978-0-9854510-1-1; $9.99 e-book ISBN 978-0-9854510-2-8 www.nancymthurston.com Through the lenses of race, class, gender, and spirituality, Thurston excavates historypersonal, familial, globalfor the sake of cross-generational healing and bringing ones behavior in line with ones deepest values of justice and grace. Ive Got Some Lovin to Do: The Diaries of a Roaring Twenties Teen Edited by Julia Park Tracey. iUniverse, $18.95 paper (220p), ISBN 978-1-47593984-2; $3.99 e-book ISBN 978-1-47593982-8 Amazon These charming, hilarious real-life diaries capture a year in the life of a precocious teenager in the rapidly changing world of the mid-1920s. Over My Head: Journeys in Leaky Boats from the Strait of Magellan to Cape Horn and Beyond Margaret Winslow. iUniverse, $18.95
paper (240p), ISBN 978-1-4759-5431-9 Amazon; iUniverse Captures the sometimes hilarious misadventures of a young geologist who must discover her own inner compass to survive in Tierra del Fuego. through the eyes of the New York Shock Exchange, a financial literacy program in Brooklyn, N.Y. Selling to China: A Guide to Doing Business for Small- and Medium-Sized Companies Stanley Chao. iUniverse, $18.95 paper (232p), ISBN 978-1-4759-1178-7 Barnes & Noble; Amazon; iUniverse Chao advises Western companies, big or small, on how to maneuver the many difficulties of doing business in China. Sun TzuThe Art of Making Money: Strategies for Getting Through a Tough Economy Michael M.K. Cheung. CreateSpace, $12.95 paper (212p), ISBN 978-1-48008900-6; 99 e-book ASIN B00AE83NK2 Amazon The classic text of Sun Tzus strategies is applied to the art of accumulating personal wealth. The Entrepreneurs Secret to Creating Wealth Chris Hurn. Advantage Media Group, $19.95 paper (280p), ISBN 978-1-59932315-2 www.TheEntrepreneursSecretBook.com No other business book outlines in such detailor with such authorityhow a business can develop wealth beyond mere marketing or operational improvements. The Tall Lady with the Iceberg: The Power of Metaphors to Sell, Persuade and Explain Anything to Anyone Anne Miller. Chiron Associates Inc., $16.95 paper (207p), ISBN 978-0-9762794-4-0; $7.69 e-book ISBN 978-0-9762794-7-1 Amazon; Barnes & Noble; (800) 247-6553 How metaphoric language gets people to listen and act in a world filled with too much information, too many choices, and too little attention. Naval. Sybrina Publishing, $14.95 paper (24p), ISBN 978-0-9729372-1-4; $7.99 e-book ISBN 978-0-9729372-2-1 www.sybrina.com A cute storybook with Disneyesque yet thoroughly modern artwork makes learning to tie a necktie fun and simple. Perfect family activity for all ages. Ages 612. He Said/She Said: Conversations in Internet Dating Jeanine Grant Lister and William McCann Jr. CreateSpace, $5.99 paper (90p), ISBN 978-1-4801-3821-6; $1.49 e-book ASIN B009V543N0 Amazon This is an online dating success story. E-mails sent between the authors show writing and dating at their simplest: honest, straightforward, and funny. A Cast of Caregivers: Celebrity Stories to Help You Prepare to Care Sherri Snelling. Hay House/Balboa Press, $33.99 paper (524p), ISBN 978-1-45255913-1; $8 e-book ISBN 978-1-45255914-8 balboapress.com The what to expect when youre caregiving guide featuring celebrity stories and expert advice on how to prepare to care for loved ones while also caring for yourself, by a national caregiving expert. Family on the Loose: The Art of Traveling with Kids Bill Richards and E. Ashley Steel. Rumble Books, $13.95 paper (204p), ISBN 978-0615-69653-9; $9.49 e-book ISBN 978-09886356-0-9 Amazon Wonder how to turn a trip with your kids into an enriching adventure? Here are packing tools, tricks for museum fun, scavenger hunts, journaling madness, and more.
BODY, MIND & SPIRIT

This Is How I Save My Life: A True Story of Embryonic Stem Cells, Indian Adventures, and Ultimate Self-Healing Amy B. Scher. Amy B. Scher, $13.99 paper (251p), ISBN 978-0-9884988-0-8; $9.99 e-book ISBN 978-1-62309-139-2 Amazon A fiery young woman with a debilitating disease travels to a clinic in India for embryonic stem cell treatment. While trying to save her failing body, she finds a world of cultural mayhem, radical medical treatment, and herself. Twelve Weeks: An Artists Story of Cancer, Healing, and Hope Karen Lee Sobol. Karen Lee Sobol, $25 paper (241p), ISBN 978-0-9849296-0-3; $9.99 e-book ISBN 978-0-9849296-1-0 Amazon A medical, emotional, and spiritual guide for everyone seeking good health, illustrated by the author. A Promise to Astrid: A True Story Michael K. Tourville. Xlibris, $15.99 paper (90p), ISBN 978-1-4691-7589-8; $3.99 e-book ISBN 978-1-4691-7590-4 Amazon; Barnes and Noble; Xlibris A remarkable story of an extraordinary neighbor who intervenes in a familys misfortune, triggering a series of remarkable events. And thats only the beginning.
Shock Exchange: How Inner-City Kids from Brooklyn Predicted the Great Recession and the Pain Ahead Ralph W. Baker, Jr. Ralph Baker, $20 paper (346p), ISBN 978-0-9884889-0-8; $9.99 e-book ISBN 978-0-615-67878-8 Greenlight; St. Marks Bookshop; Word Bookstore Examines the market and U.S. economy
BUSINESS & ECONOMICS
Learn to Tie a Tie with Rabbit and Fox: Story with Instructional Song Sybrina Durant, illus. by Donna Marie
FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS
FICTION
The Hei Bernard Amador. Hudson Mohawk Press, $12.95 paper (154p), ISBN 978-0W W W . P U B L I S H E R S W E E K LY. C O M
9843040-6-6; $5.99 e-book ASIN B00ABNENVI Amazon; Barnes & Noble; hudsonmohawkpress.com Ethan, a religion professor obsessed with Jewish mysticism, whose Muslim lover, Yaqub, was accused of terrorism, travels to Jerusalem to clear Yaqubs name. The Kiss after Midnight Marvin Amazon. Corinthians Publishing, $14.99 paper (400p), ISBN 978-09572985-5-2 Amazon After a romantic liaison ends in tragedy, an innocent man is caught in the crossfire of feuding drug cartels and suspicious authorities. The Intrepid Golfer: A Story About Loss, Love and Overcoming the Odds Ken Anderson. CreateSpace, $12.95 paper (358p), ISBN 978-1-4750-1041-1; $2.99 e-book ASIN B00AUGX74U Amazon Kenji Watanabe is struck by lightning on a golf course in Hawaii. He later discovers he has become a perfect golfer, yet he faces tremendous physical and psychological obstacles. Norburys Confession: A Story of the Asbestos Industry in America Richard L. Barnard, Sam Hertogs, and Scott Hertogs. Louis Hubbard Publishing, $13.95 paper (334p), ISBN 9780-96-447517-5; $4.99 e-book ASIN B008XCPI4K Amazon Robert Norbury, legal counsel for a company that makes asbestos products, hides the deadly truth from a generation of workers, letting thousands die for the sake of profit. Tonight! The Charlie Manson Band Michael Beiriger. $4.99 e-book ISBN 9781-301-32899-4 Smashwords.com A taut pulp fiction that imagines how Charles Manson could have been promoted to the top of the pop charts in 1969 L.A. Talons Reach Shannon Lee Belle. Expressions Ink, $13.95 (240p), ISBN 978-1-939153-01-2; $2.99 e-bookASIN B009QTPEKC Amazon Navigating her way through a civil war, lines smudging ever grayer, Lillie find that her search for the truth may cost her more than she thought. Stacys Story John J. Blenkush. Create Space, $12.85 paper (258p), ISBN 978-1-4701-3236-1; $2.99 e-book ASIN B004VXKTT4 www.jblenkush.com A young woman converts abject fear into unrelenting courage when her husband is murdered and she is held captive in a fire tower. The Sound of Many Waters Sean Bloomfield. Bloomfield Productions, $14.95 paper (290p), ISBN 9780-615-70095-3; $3.99 e-book ASIN B009BT4336 Amazon Despite the four centuries that divide them, two men discover the same extraordinary secret in the wilds of Florida, and their journeys converge in a surprising way. M-o-t-h-e-r Spells Murder E.B. Boatner. iUniverse, $16.95 paper (230p), ISBN 978-1-4759-4990-2 iUniverse.com Gwendolyn MacGowans mother, Elinor, is savagely murderedand the killing continues. Gwen must uncover Elinors long-hidden secrets, or she will be the next to die. Michelangelos Last Painting: Its Chilling Revelation Andrew Boemi. Dodd Merrill, $16.95 paper (425p), ISBN 978-0-9883229-1-2; $6.95 e-book ISBN 978-0-9883229-0-5 Amazon; Ingram The chalk drawing for Michaelangelos Christ on the Cross contained a chilling revelation: a curse that explains recurring attempts to destroy the Jewish people throughout history. Two art experts are given the task of finding the lost painting in this suspenseful thriller. Tall Trees: Story of Triumph Andrea Bouvier and Mark Richard Clements. Tall Trees, $14.97 paper (248p), ISBN 978-0-9856639-0-2 Amazon A coming-of-age story, about a young man dealing with his abusive childhood, the worst being at the hands of a Catholic priest. The Emancipating Death of a Boring Engineer Michel Bruneau. CePages Press, $14.95 paper (314p), ISBN 978-0-9824752-6-3; $7.99 e-book ISBN 978-0-9824752-7-0 Amazon A boring engineers will precipitates an unconventional journey for his ex-wife as she searches for significant numbers, good wines, the meaning of life and love, and whether it is ever too late. Cage of the Red Dog P.D. Bruns. Arkansas River Press, $9.99 paper (240p), ISBN 978-0-9829555-2-9; $3.99 e-book ISBN 978-0-9829555-3-6 Amazon A street veteran and a newly homeless adolescent meet in a violent scuffle. Their initial enmity transforms into mutual dependence as they work together to survive. W1ck Michael Bunker and Chris Awalt. Refugio Publishing, $8.95 paper (196p), ISBN 978-1-4818-5834-2; $0.99 e-book ASIN B00ATDYCQQ Amazon Six years ago, Clay moved to New York City after his wife and daughters were killed in an automobile accident; now, the day after Hurricane Sandy, Clay sets out on foot to escape the prison of his life and find his way home. The 89th Temple Charlie Canning. Outskirts Press, $14.95
paper (212p), ISBN 978-1-4787-1763-8; $9.99 e-book ASIN B00ANNQZA8 Amazon Seven juvenile offenders on leave from various reform schools in Japan are doing the 1,300-kilometer Shikoku pilgrimage on foot with a counselor and some assigned wardens from the state. The Seven Samurai meets The Fugitive for young adults. Ages 12up. The Sword of God Ann Chamberlin. Epigraph Publishing, $24 hardcover (244p), ISBN 978-1936940-43-1 Amazon In the early days of Islama time of faith and violence, poetry and magic, mirage and cold steelold religion battles new. Shaken, Not Stirred: The Secret Files of I__ F______, Code Designate 17F Aaron Cooley. Melnore Press, $4.99 e-book ISBN 978-0-578-09732-9 Amazon Have you ever wondered what inspired the creation of fictions greatest secret agent? A thrilling, frenetic look at how Her Majestys most famous spy might have been invented during WWII. When Angels Fall: A Benedetti Renaissance Mystery H.A. Corby. Createspace, $9.75 paper (256p), ISBN 978-1-4801-1024-3; $5.99 e-book ASIN B00A92MV4C Amazon A physician finds a pregnant noblewoman murdered in Renaissance Florence; his passion for autopsy unleashes a world of revenge, treachery, and betrayal: the first in a series. Salvation Kurt Corriher. Golden Garden Press, $14.95 paper (240p), ISBN 978-09857751-0-0 GoldenGardenPress.com After killing his vicious neighbor, a man flees with his son, trekking across the mountains of impoverished, rural North Carolina on the eve of Pearl Harbor, in this suspenseful tale of revenge and redemption. Clean Hands Kim J. Davis. Book Baby, $3.99 e-book ISBN 978-1-62309-813-1 Amazon A relationship between a gay white man and a straight black woman explores the nature of friendship and love in the context of race, class, and sexuality. Beautiful Garbage Jill Di Donato. She Writes Press, $16.95 paper (302p), ISBN 978-1-938314-01-8; $8.95 e-book ISBN 978-1-938314-07-0 www.shewritespress.com Takes the reader through the compelling rise and fall of an artistcumcall girl in 1980s Manhattan. The Crystal Bird Helen Drayton. CreateSpace, $13.95 paper (373p), ISBN 978-1-4752-2507-5 Amazon; bookstores For centuries a hidden civilization in East Africa protected life-changing secrets. Now archeologists discover these unknown people and feel the weight of centuries of brutality that shatters lives. Chin Music Lee Edelstein. Sela House, $14.95 paper (314p), ISBN 978-0-9883434-0-5 Amazon A smalltown family, reeling from an agonizing tragedy, finds itself caught up in a long-buried secret that could reveal a connection between a baseball legend from the past and a single mothers baseball wunderkind in the present. Room for Enjoyment: Memoir of a Design Merchant John S. Elmo. Friesen Press, $17.99 paper (186p), ISBN 978-1-77097-786-0; $4.99 e-book ISBN 978-1-77097-787-7 Amazon Set in 1976, this is the tale of Eaton Downing, a famous designer, who is asked to build a palatial estate by a 54-yearold macho man, Moses Abrams, for his 28-year-old chorus girl bride, Dolly. Return to Budapest Barbara E. Filo. San Juan Publishing, $21.95 paper (560p), ISBN 978-09858897-0-8 Amazon; independent book stores A multigenerational saga follows the intertwined lives of three families from the waning days of the Austro-Hungarian Empire to the end of WWIIa rich, delicious Hungarian goulash. Somewhere Between Here and There Jason Gilmore. CreateSpace, $14.99 paper (342p), ISBN 978-1-4782-1225-6; $3.99 e-book ASIN B009H68R9O Amazon Coming-of-age novel about a headstrong pair of teenagers who bond over their desire to escape from mid-1990s Toledo, Ohio; as they progress through colleges, states, and relationships, they navigate the rocky road to adulthood. Horizons Edge Mark Guinane. Two Harbors Press, $17.95 paper (384p), ISBN 978-1-937928-26-1; $3.95 e-book ISBN 978-1-937928-96-4 Amazon; markguinane.com A collection of short science fiction stories includes tales of robot assassins, savage aliens, forbidden love, and the power to bring about the end of the universe. A thought-provoking read. Every story is a gem, writes Howie Carr, bestselling author of The Brothers Bulger. A Just Man Is Hard to Find Jeanne Hammond. Greenwood Publications, $14.99 paper (258p), ISBN 9781-4776-9242-4; $7.99 e-book ASIN B00AES0S6E Amazon; www.ajustmanishardtofind.com A gifted college student hoping to go to law school surveys Washington, D.C., residents in 2010 as he searches for a model of manhood, and American justice, to live by and love by. 90 Percent: A Memoir of My Demise and Rise Kathryn L. Harris. CreateSpace, $TBD (332p), ISBN 978-1-4537-3982-2
(202) 364-0412 An ominous e-mail from a past lover plummets a CEO into a neurotic tailspin, forcing him to examine a life of greed, recklessness, and irresponsibility. Dark Persuasion Vicki Hopkins. Holland Legacy Publishing, $12.99 paper (313p), ISBN 978-09832959-7-6; $2.99 e-book ISBN 978-09832959-8-3 Amazon A Victorian historical romance brings blind Charlotte Gray love and passion from an unexpected placeand she learns that love is blind for everyone; finalist in the 2012 USA Best Book Awards from USA Book News for Fiction: Romance. Horses in the Fog David Jaicks. TheTroy Bookmakers, $10.95 paper (81p), ISBN 978-1-61468100-7 Local independent bookstores in the Northeast Five stories are as individual as five strangers sharing a shuttle to the airport. Field of Vision Michael Jarvis. Field of Vision Books, $2.99 e-book (330p), ISBN 978-0-9885389-1-7 Amazon Jake Mayfield, an American photographer, has a run-in with Rollo Joseph, a local pseudo-rasta, and takes refuge with the German proprietor of the Red Ginger Restaurant and Rooms. Racial trouble escalates while Mayfield also finds passion with a Caribbean woman. But his quest for artistic integrity spirals downward into paranoia and criminal tourism. Beyond Escape Deborah Jensen. Beavers Pond Press, $15.95 paper (324p), ISBN 978-1-59298438-1 www.deborahkjensen.com Returning home after 20 years of marriage brings Kim many distractions, as she ends up pursuing a trail of drugs, murder, and secret love affairs that were meant to stay buried. The Anomaly Wendy Joyce. Red Hour Ink, $37 paper (509p), ISBN 978-1-937338-02-2; $11 e-book ISBN 978-1-937338-00-8 (530) 642-9055 In an alternate Alaska in 1898, Zia, the little green Soul, ends her 10th life, but her lies ripple across four others, and Haven and Hades are pitched into a war over humanitys future. Jaden Baker Courtney Kirchoff. Talons, $14.43 paper (448p), ISBN 978-0-9833435-0-9; $3.99 e-book ASIN B004SCZMEA tiny.cc/e47tnw; Amazon; independent bookstores The second chance at life Jaden had been hoping for takes a dark twist. Confronted with sinister forces, Jaden grasps for sanity and his sense of self, while trying to retain his own power. Tropical Greed: A Kristen Maroney Mystery Susan LaDue. CreateSpace, $6.99 paper (98p), ISBN 978-1-4801-0652-9; $2.99 e-book ASIN B009QR6Q0G Amazon The owner of a Caribbean resortwear shop questions the decline of the green sea turtle population, and suddenly she and her boyfriend are caught in some very bad guys crosshairs. Even Kristens beloved dog cannot escape harm. Elysian Fields Mark LaFlaur. Mid-City Books, $9.95 paper (275p), ISBN 978-0-615-72986-2; $4.95 e-book ISBN 978-0-9887909-0-2 www.marklaflaur.com Set in New Orleans shortly before Hurricane Katrina, a would-be poet is torn between family obligations (an ailing mother, an emotionally volatile brother) and his dream of moving to San Francisco. Will someone have to die before he can leave home? Nine Eleven: A Disaster Averted Michael Larnard II. Tate Publishing, $7.99 paper (64p), ISBN 978-1-62147-992-5; $6.99 e-book www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/ The elite Special Forces unit called the Black Operations Group is given the ultimate clandestine mission: to stop the September 11, 2001, attacks by any means necessary. Laws of Depravity: The Martyr Maker Series Eriq La Salle. CreateSpace, $15 paper (236p), ISBN 978-1-4775-8211-4; $3.99 e-book ASIN B009KTRXD4 Amazon; www.lawsofdepravity.com A serial killer known as the Martyr Maker is on his final round of murdering 12 clergymen once every 10 years. A New York City detective and the FBI are on his trail, but maybe the dead clergy arent as innocent as they appear. A gritty crime thriller, spiritual quest, and love story all woven into one compelling tale. Winding Back the Clock Ian Laurence. AuthorHouse, $19.53 paper (313p), ISBN 978-1-4772-2982-8; $3.99 e-book ISBN 978-1-4772-2984-2 Amazon; Barnes & Noble An international thriller involving the hunt for lost treasure and former secret agents of East Germany, also charts a quest for political power in Germany. The Lordlings of Worship and Their Catastrophic Mindrides Cameron Leigh. Two Harbors Press, $35 hardcover (590p), ISBN 978-1-93869032-7 Amazon; Barnes & Noble; www.lordlingsofworship.com In this historical suspense novel, clerics seeking domination have placed Texan Pastor Brix Brighton and Alan Taveler under electronic surveillance for deciphering the creation code. I Took Panama: The Story of Philippe Bunau-Varilla Rodolfo Le itn. Cre ateSpace, $9.99 paper (146p), ISBN 978-14699-1526-5; $1.99 e-book ASIN B009HIIVLQ
10 P U B L I S H E R S W E E K L Y F E B R U A R Y 1 8 , 2 0 1 3
Amazon A French engineer invents a country and changes world history in order to see the Panama Canal completed. A Promise Remembered Kim L. Lohret. Three Sisters Publishing, $14.99 paper (404p), ISBN 978-09887132-1-5; $5.99 e-book ISBN 978-09887132-0-8 Amazon Connected to each other by a long-forgotten promise, four people set out on a startling and hope-filled journey of awakening. The Sign of the Four: The Onyx Bridge Sofia Malamas. CreateSpace, $13.99 paper (390p), ISBN 978-1-4782-0463-3; $2.99 e-book B009CZYJIS Amazon To stop an ancient prophecy from coming true, and to save the magical world she has learned to call home, a human girl must set out on a quest for a legendary weapon: The Sign of the Four. Daimones Massimo Marino. CreateSpace, $24.90 paper (330p), ISBN 978-1-4783-4710-1; $4.99 e-book ISBN 978-0-9851438-2-4 Amazon Dan awakes one day to find almost everyone but his family dead from an unknown cause. In this postapocalyptic story, Marino explores myriad moral and emotional issues as well as the mechanics of everyday survival. The Paranormal Romance Guilds 2012 Reviewers Choice Award in the Sci-Fi genre. Realm of the Unknown James B. McPike. Inkwater Press, $19.95 paper (368p), ISBN 978-1-59299-870-8; $4.99 e-book ISBN 978-1-59299-876-0 Amazon A mass killing in Jerusalem catapults a renowned investigator from the Ministry into his biggest case yet, as he tries to track down a powerful adversary who may have ties to the supernatural. Stamp People Dan Morgan. Smashwords, $3.99 e-book ISBN 978-1-301-11665-2 Smashwords.com Larry Tieray needs a family, so he tries to reunite with his father, whos never been in his life; his brother, whos autistic and institutionalized; and his mother, in prison for murder and about to be executed. Blame It on the Black Star Gabriel Morley. Hippy Book Publishers, $8.99 paper (145p), ISBN 978-0-61572394-5 Amazon A 14-year-old African-American boy confronts his confusion and anger after his brothers death in Iraq. Come Hell or High Water, Part 1: Wellspring Stephen Morris. Stephen Morris, $15 paper (422p), ISBN 978-0-9847731-2-1; $3.99 e-book ISBN 978-0-9847731-1-4 Amazon This historical-urban fantasy trilogy begins in 1356 as a witchs curse rings out over Pragues Old Town Square, wreaking havoc in medieval Prague and culminating in the historic flood of August 2002 that threatens to destroy the city. Come Hell or High Water, Part 2: Rising Stephen Morris. Stephen Morris, $20 paper (566p), ISBN 978-0-9847731-3-8; $4.99 e-book ISBN 978-0-9847731-4-5 Amazon Magdalena has reawakened the witchs curse, bringing the Dearg-due (an Irish female vampire) to Prague. A group of academics struggles to send her back to her grave. This Girl Climbs Trees Ellen Mulholland. CreateSpace, $9.99 paper (204p), ISBN 978-1-4793-7769-5; $7.99 e-book ASIN B00AH6OZNA Amazon Somewhere in a small California town, Eliza Mills, 13, watches sadly as her favorite tree is chopped down. Lost and bewildered, she obsesses over a curious box sent by her dying grandfather. She believes the contents will reveal lifes mysteries. Textual Encounters: The Christine + Jake Affair Morgan Parker. QuoteStork Media, $2.99 e-book B00AOVHK76 Amazon In the first of a trilogy, Katie finds an unlocked iPhone in a taxi and keeps it, reading the three months of text messages between Christine and Jake, and following the unfolding of their relationships. Simon Says William Poe. Simon Says, $14,95paper (348p), ISBN 978-0-615-55957-5; $5.95 e-book ASINB008DYP9EW Amazon The intimate confessional of a gay former cult member as he battles substance abuse in his desperate search for love on the darker avenues of Hollywood. Finding Tranquility Base Janet Rebhan. CreateSpace, $12.95 paper (230p), ISBN 978-1-4781-4781-7; $2.99 e-book Amazon After a tragic loss devastates a young girls family in Vietnam-era west Texas, she escapes into a volunteer position at the local VA hospital. The Tapestry of Spirit Erik Paul Rocklin. Elucidar Press, $13.95 paper (230p), ISBN 978-0-615-59569-6; $3.99 e-book ISBN 978-0-9854885-1-2 Amazon; Ingram; Barnes & Noble An allegorical tale of an orphan boys journey to find himself in the world, and how his Destiny Thread returns to the Tapestry of Spirit. Corporeality: Stories Hollis Seamon. Able Muse Press, $19.95 paper (204p), ISBN 978-1-927409-03-9; $9.99 e-book ISBN 978-1-927409-04-6 http://www.ablemusepress.com/ Seamons latest fiction collection offers such memorable characters as a cat lady, sibling rivalry of a cursed kind, a professor confronting a students plagiarism, and a
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dog with more than ordinary dog sense. The Disharmonic Misadventures of David Stein Jonathan L. Segal. CreateSpace, $14.99 paper (358p), ISBN 978-1-4662-6542-4; $2.99 e-book ISBN 978-1-61914-645-7 Amazon The author, a musician and singer, creates a bungling jazz musician who, tracking down the bit of mysterious music he hears on the radio, is caught in a crazy, comic world of musical intrigue. Evils Root Michael Segedy. Michael Segedy, $16.10 paper (460p), ISBN 978-1-4793-4535-9; $4.99 e-book ISBN 978-1-4659-7838-7 Amazon Two journalists set out for the Amazon to cover a plane crash that has killed a U.S. senator. The Peruvian government claims the Shining Path rebels are to blame, but is that the truth? Killer Ratings: A Susan Kaplan Mystery Lisa Seidman. Ignition Books, $14.99 paper (350p), ISBN 978-1-937868-13-0; $4.99 e-book ISBN 978-1-937868-12-3 Ingram Susan Kaplan moves to L.A. to become a TV writer, but is suspect #1 when her boss is found dead. In trying to find the real killer, she learns that the drama behind the scenes at a TV show is always juicier than whats on the screen. Play with Me Piper Shelly,. CreateSpace, $8 (244p), ISBN 978-1-4811-8201-0; $1.99 e-book ASIN B00AL251T2 Amazon Her entire life, Liza has been in love with her best friend, Tony. She is even willing to play soccer with him to get his attention. But everything starts to change when she gets closer to the captain of the team, whos Tonys friend. Sighs Too Deep for Words: A Texas Gulf Coast Love Mishap William Jack Sibley. CreateSpace, $15 paper (304p), ISBN 978-1-4776-6417-9; $9 e-book ASIN B00AOAJMGY Amazon Theres sharp insight into human nature in this darkly humorous, intricately plotted tale of a prison inmate who, through years of correspondence, falls in love with a woman who turns out to be not only a gay man but a closeted gay minister. Bluff Leonore Skomal. Lenore Skomal Press, $14.95 paper (276p), ISBN 978-1-47819247-3; $2.99 e-book ISBN 978-1-30106871-5 Amazon After a mysterious fall from a bluff overlooking Lake Erie, Jude Black is kept on life support so her baby can be born. How did she fall, who is the father of her baby, and what is the meaning of her life are questions explored as the novel unfolds the consequences of Judes decisions. The Hour Before Morning Arwen Spicer. Lulu, $17 paper (200p), ISBN 978-1-105-08111-8; $8.99 e-book ISBN 978-1-105-14593-3 Amazon; Lulu.com In a distant future, the Ashtorians see their conquest of the Outliers as a triumph of civilization. The Outliers see it as servitude. Their resistance takes many forms, from nonviolence to terrorism. In a prison cell two condemned men attempt to redeem a murderer. Even as a death sentence looms, a prison cell may be the seedbed of an unlikely hope. One Summer in Arkansas Marcia Kemp Sterling. Archelaus Press, $14.95 paper (352p), ISBN 978-09883768-0-9 www.MarciaKempSterling.com A young lawyer returns home for the summer before starting a job in San Francisco and becomes involved in a wrongful death legal case, a rekindled romance, and a family crisis. The Rope Catcher Larry Stillman. iUniverse, $21.95 paper (367p), ISBN 978-1-4759-5552-1; $4.99 e-book ISBN 978-1-4759-5553-8 Amazon In this novel of dreams realized and lost, a Navajo Marine helps to create the WWII American secret, unbreakable code then faces turbulent times upon returning home. Archangels: Rise of the Jesuits Janet M. Tavakoli. Janet M. Tavakoli, $9.99 e-book ISBN 978-0-9851590-1-6 Amazon When control of the Vatican is at stake, money talks and nobody plays fair. Here Comes the Night Thomas Thonson. CreateSpace, $13.99 paper (294p), ISBN 978-1-4802-5719-1; $4.99 e-book ASIN B00A6H7B6S Amazon In that moment in the early 60s when America is poised before an avalanche of social, cultural, and political changes, five peoples lives interconnect in unexpected ways in one 24-hour period. Diet to Live, Diet to Die: The Zen of Eating Rodef Vokli. Flying Rock Publishing, $17.95 paper (264p), ISBN 978-09882997-8-8; www.flyingrockpublishing.com Through a series of dueling dialogues, two characters educate and enlighten as they discuss the secret to controlling weight and enjoying great sex without diets or pills. The Kings Pawn Stanley Warren. CreateSpace, $19.99 paper (216p), ISBN 978-1-4800-7328-9; $9.99 e-book ASIN B00A6V3G22 Amazon France from 1723 to 1794 is the center of this story of Jean Louis Valmont, the son of a stable groom who becomes Louis XVs personal assassin and attempts to come to terms with his murders after the kings death. UNhedged: A Killing in the Market Stephen L. Weiss. Argo-Navis, $21.99
paper (387p), ISBN 978-0-7867-5474-8; $7.99 e-book ISBN 978-0-7867-5475-5 Amazon; Kobo; and others The largest investor in Parthanon, a $20 billion hedge fund, is a secret, unknown to all but the founding partner, Vernon Albright. When an unauthorized trade goes horribly wrong, a younger partner delves into the mystery, which provokes threats against him and his family. The author is an active investor and contributor to CNBC. A Hard Road to Travel: Life and Time of a Civil War Soldier Patty Tyson Wilson. Greenacres Publishing, $15 paper (79p), ISBN 978-09743250-3-3 (270) 676-3441 Follows Jack Trundal to the bloody battlefields of the Civil War, his return to his love Mattie, and his survival in the hell hole of a Kentucky state prison; based on a true story. A Stairway to Danger Ben Woodard. Ben Woodard, $7.99 paper (123p), ISBN 978-0-9886274-1-3; $2.99 e-book ASIN B00AGESBT2 Amazon The eyeless body of a deputy and a rusty barge entangle two smalltown boys in a harrowing mystery. A Killers Grace Ronald Chapman. Seeing True Press, $12.95 paper (264), ISBN 978-0-61564261-1 Amazon From the mountains of New Mexico, a journey of mystery and murder. A philosophical novel that also addresses todays pertinent issues of violence and redemption. Eviction Notice Robyn Wyrick. CreateSpace, $19.98 paper (326p), ISBN 978-1-4499-7137-3 Amazon; Barnes & Noble; selected bookstores Iowa teens create a crop circle as a high school prank, and set in motion events that threaten to evict all humanity from Planet Earth. The Incontrovertibility of Rainbows: A 2048 Novel Anonymous. Lemage Inc., $25.95 paper (436p), ISBN 978-1-938022-33-3; $9.99 e-book ISBN 978-1-62488-686-7 www.mcnallyjackson.com In 2048 the elderly rule America while devouring vital resources. When the Young People Party wins the elections, sweeping changes create anguish and opportunities. Connie Kingrey Anderson. Movies for the Ear, $7.99 paper (112p), ISBN 978-1-935793-00-7; $2.99 e-book ISBN 978-1-935793-01-4 Amazon Enjoy reading the book (in the front). Star in your own Movie for the Ear, using the script (in the back). Charlie Sparrow and the Secret of Flight David Anderson. Underdog Books, 99 e-book ISBN 978-0-9918003-0-8 Amazon Charlie escapes the plucking chair and leaps from sky-scraping trees in his quest for the secret to his feathers. Illustrated chapter book. Ages 69. Loogie the Booger Genie: Prince of Prank N.E. Castle, illus. by Bret Herholz and N.E. Castle. N.E. Castle, $9.99 paper (100p), ISBN 978-1-4792-7201-3 Amazon A comical and sometimes gross adventure of a snobbish boy prince who is stuck as a genie in a young boys nose. Ages 612. Untimed Andy Gavin. Mascherato Publishing, $14.99 paper (342p), ISBN 978-1937945-04-6; $5.99 e-book ISBN 978-1937945-05-3 Amazon; untimed-novel.com When a mysterious clockwork man tries to kill Charlie, he falls through time from modern Philadelphia into 1725 London. He meets a founding father, but when he teams up with an 18th-century Scottish girl, time becomes even more tangled. Ages 12up. Penny Love Lisa Hale, illus. by Marilee Harrald-Pilz. Carpenters Son Publishing, $13.95 hardcover (32p), ISBN 978-0-9832846-1-1; $3.99 e-book ASIN B0075ZFCR4 All online and local bookstores Imparts the tenderness of ...just how much grandma loves you! as a little girl finds pennies and saves them in a jar. With a tradition, a legacy, a smile in a childs
HEALTH & FITNESS

The Food Is My Friend Diet: Follow My 30-day Slimmer You Plan and Watch What Happens to Your Life Ruth Frechman. Gales Publishing, $21.95 paper (464p), ISBN 978-0-9845979-1-8; Amazon; Barnes and Noble What happens when the world of a registered nutritionist collides with the world of stand-up comic? Ultimately, you will laugh all the way to eating healthy and effortlessly losing weight.
HISTORY
For the Survival of Liberty: Great Presidential Decisions Elton B. Klibanoff. Dog Ear Publishing, $19.95 paper (369p), ISBN 978-1-45751367-1; $9.95 e-book ISBN 1-45751367-6 Amazon; forthesurvivalofliberty.com This book explores decisions by six presidentsWashington, Jefferson, Monroe, Lincoln, Wilson, and Franklin Roosevelt that have been critical to the development of American liberty. The Knights Templar and the Protestant Reformation James Stroud. Xulon Press, $11.69 (288p), ISBN 978-1-61904-442-5; $7.49 e-book ISBN 978-1-61904-442-5 Amazon The disappearance of the Knights Templar Order in 1314 is linked with many proto-Protestant groups that existed 200 years before Martin Luthers 95 Theses in 1517.
JUVENILE FICTION
Haunted Cattle Drive: Creepers Mysteries, Book 1
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heart, and a happy tear in Grandmas eye, this book pleases all generations. Ages 36. Night Buddies, Impostors, and One Far-Out Flying Machine Sands Hetherington. Dune Buggy Press, $8.99 paper (320p), ISBN 978-09847417-2-4 www.delphidistribution.com Join John and Crosley for another Program as they scoot around the Borough in their fantastic flying machine to stop all the evildoing and restore Crosleys good name. Ages 612. Chasing Normal T.L. Hoch. iUniverse, $17.95 paper (277p), ISBN 978-1-4697-5148-1; $3.99 e-book ISBN 978-1-4697-5150-4 tlhochbooks.com Annie Smith has just moved to Texas and hopes to remain under the radar at her new high school. Her new classmate, Melinda Chip Fullerton, dreams of being on a winning basketball team. Their story has action, mystery, humor, sports history, basketball instruction, and a little romance. Debuts the Chip Fullerton/Annie Smith sports series. Ages 12up. Fabulous Adventures of Olly Oogleberry: Mission to Save Earth Lou Hughes, illus. by Jonathan Ball. Tickle Me Silly, $16.95 paper (52p), ISBN 9780-615-56953-6 Amazon The first in a trilogy, this award-winning childrens book features a band of misfit aliens, led by Olly Oogleberry, on a mission to save Earth from the impact of a giant asteroid. Ages 412. Bitopia Ari Magnusson. Olivander Press, $9.99 paper (240p), ISBN 978-0-9848610-5-7; $2.99 e-book ISBN 978-0-9848610-6-4 Amazon, Barnes & Nobel A bullied boy fleeing his tormentors winds up in a fantastical land from which there appears to be no escape. Ages 8up. The Tale of Kakamuchu Marjan Massoudian. Corvidae Publishing, $9.95 paper (159p), ISBN 978-0-61562981-0 Amazon; iBook; Barnes & Noble Two children devise a brilliant plan to resist the unfair decrees of their tyrannical leader, Kakamuchu. Ages 612. Sabre de Pleiades Bernadette Y. Quander. Tall Tales 509, $25.99 hardcover (274p), ISBN 978-09858493-0-6; $10 e-book ISBN 978-0985849-2-0 Sabre de Pleiades is a boy with big ideas. Cringing at his mistakes, hoping for triumph, he is emotionally charged by resolutions no one expects. Ages 12up. Bobbys Biggest Bubble: A Really Big Tale Jim Romer. Arrrggghhh Ink Publishing, $15 hardcover (36p), ISBN 978-09857628-0-3 www.arrrggghhh.com Bobby wins one million gumballs. He and his friends find creative ways to use the gumballs, and Bobby creates the biggest bubblegum bubble, which ends up saving the town. The author is a cartoonist and toy designer. Ages 36. JJ: The American Street Dog and How He Came to Live in Our House Diane Rose-Solomon. SOP3 Publishing, $16.99 hardcover (32p), ISBN 978-09857690-1-7 www.sop3publishing.com Teaches kids about animal homelessness, basic care, spaying and neutering (worded appropriately), pet adoption, and unconditional love. Ages 36. Killmaidens Compendium of Uncommon Occurrences James E. Shapiro. Inkwater Press, $12.95 (414p), ISBN 978-1-59299-853-1 Amazon, Barnes and Noble, inkwaterpress. com A swashbuckling hero, 12-year-old Alexander Drake sets out to find his father, taking his younger sister, their governess, and an unexpected stowaway along in his desperate search. Ages 12up. The Monsterjunkies, an American Family Odyssey Erik Daniel Shein and L.M. Reker. Arkwatch Holdings, $9.99 paper (208p), ISBN 978-0-615-25020-5; $7.99 e-book ASIN B00AJQWECM Amazon Tucked away in a remote cul-de-sac on the Maine coast is a place where the strange is normal, and the bizarre is everyday. Ages 12up. Mattie Spyglass and the 8 Magic Stones Shoba Sreenivasan. Holy Moly Press, $14.95 paper (366p), ISBN 978-09853604-0-5 www.mattiespyglass.com In a fantasy adventure with a moral center, an 11-year-old girl, her two friends, and a wizard are thrust across time by a mysterious spyglass. daynight, Vol. 1 Megan Thomason. CreateSpace, $8.29 paper (320p), ISBN 978-1-4802-2655-5; $3.99 e-book ASIN B00A6NG014 Amazon Meet the Second Chance Institute: Earths benevolent nonprofit by day, Theras totalitarian regime by night. Three young people are caught up in the SCIs conflicts, one a member of the SCI elite, another committed to destroy the SCI, and the third seeking escape from tragic memories. Ages 12up. Max Xylander and the Island of Zumuruud Jon Thomason. CreateSpace, $12.99 paper (296p), ISBN 978-1-4800-8258-8; $3.99 e-book ASIN B00ATTIW8O Amazon Maxs anger shatters a window. A power? Really? What has she become? Rebellious Philip cant stand the rebels. The duo: fast friends or explosive enemies? Ages 12up. Chasing Watermelons Kevin White, illus. by Rex White. Chimeric Press, $15.95 hardcover (32p), ISBN 978-0-9847122-3-6 Amazon; Barnes & Noble; Chimeric Press
Duck wants a watermelon feast, but the melons begin to roll. Duck, Goat, Pig, Chicken, and Cow give chase in this story about friendship and perseverance. Ages 36. darcy@mimshouse.com The story of the oldest bird in the world, Wisdom, the Midway albatross, and how she survived the Japanese tsunami and other disasters for more than 60 years. Ages 612. Amazon A collection of art and essays covering a wide range of topics (love, career, motherhood, divorce, death, etc.), all sharing the common thread of positive female connection. With and Without Her: A Memoir of Being and Losing a Twin Dorothy Foltz-Gray. Argo/Navis, $19.50 paper (p), ISBN 978-0-7867-5420-5; $9.99 e-book ISBN 978-0-7867-5414-4 Ingram; Baker & Taylor This memoir recounts the brutal murder of Foltz-Grays identical twin sister by a madman, and the experience of being and losing a twin. Desmonds Tale: A Story of Love, Lie and Loss Told on Twitter @desmondthelab J.M. Frederick. J.M. Frederick, $7.99 e-book ISBN 978-0-9850650-4-1 Vook; Amazon; iBooks; B&N for Nook Every boy needs a dog, and Nick was no exception. One day, he discovered Desmond was very sick, so to keep his friends and family current on the latest news, he created a Twitter account called @desmondthelab. This is the story of Desmonds life. Maximize Your Medicare: Understanding Medicare, Protecting Health, and Minimizing Your Costs Jae W. Oh. CreateSpace, $9.99 paper (144p), ISBN 978-1-4800-7342-5; $9.99 e-book ISBN 978-1-301-63055-4 www.maximizeyourmedicare.com A chartered life underwriter and financial consultant offers advice and examples that Medicare beneficiaries can use now and in the future, showing how ones health, financial resources, family situation, and mental outlook all determine what course to choose. This Part of the Sky: Building in Liberia Wendy Maragh Taylor. CreateSpace, $14.95 paper (154p), ISBN 978-1-47922485-2
Chester the Chesapeake: My Brother Buck, Vol. 4 Barbara Ebel, M.D. Createspace, $11.95 paper (32p), ISBN 978-1-4802-0412-6; $2.99 e-book ISBN 978-0-9829351-9-4 dogbooksforchildren.weebly.com Chester the Chesapeake continues to inspire, entertain, and enlighten children while his new brother, Buck, has a few surprises. Ages 612. A Horse with Wings: And Other Songs for Children Sung by Characters from Shakespeare Daeshin Kim, illus. by Sohyun An Kim. Infinity Publishing, $25.95 hardcover (42p), ISBN 978-0-7414-8050-7; $3.95 e-book ISBN 978-0-7414-8051-4 Amazon Sixteen original songs and pictures for children, composed and illustrated by a husband and wife team and sung by their young daughter. Ages 612. Meki and the Three Cockers Candace McCreary. Outskirts Publishers, $12.95 paper (24p), ISBN 978-1-47871952-6 Amazon Meki Niko, a calico cat, lives, plays, and cuddles with her three clownlike cocker spanielsBeau, Belle, and Bijou. They share food, water bowls, toys, and a bed, and occasionally allow their human to sleep on the edge. Ages 612. Wisdom, the Midway Albatross: Surviving the Japanese Tsunami and Other Disasters for Over 60 Years Darcy Pattison and Kitty Harvill. Mims House, $11.99 paper (32p), ISBN 978-09798621-7-5; $9.99 e-book ISBN 978-09798621-8-2 (501) 831-5275;
JUVENILE NONFICTION
MEDICAL
Autism: An Ancient Foe Becomes a Modern Scourge: The Return of a Stealth Bacteria Lawrence Broxmeyer, M.D. CreateSpace, $8.95 paper (180p), ISBN 978-1-47810126-0 Amazon A well-documented case for autism is related to a stealth pathogen, eluding modern diagnostics, which is actually a form of a familiar and infamous disease from the past.
MUSIC
Trillium Vein: Once Upon a Time Natalie Paige Bentley. NPB Entertainment Group, $45.99 paper (58p), ISBN 978-0-9860235-0-7 www.trilliumvein.com A young adult/fantasy musical storybook series revolving around a young heroine named Trillium Vein, who has been locked away inside the kingdom of Loneliness.
NONCLASSIFIABLE
Please Step Aside, I Am a Frequent Flyer Anthony Smith-Chaigneau and Richard J. Smith. CreateSpace, $12 paper (234p), ISBN 978-1-4609-1131-0; $5.99 e-book ASIN B009R3U2UE Amazon With insight into the world of the business traveler and frequent flyer, this book covers the madness of airports, including the ludicrous rules, situations, and systems that we have put in place in and around the airline industry ecosystem.
NONFICTION
Nothing but the Truth So Help Me God: 51 Women Reveal the Power of Positive Female Connection A Band of Wives. Nothing but the Truth, $14.95 paper (267p), ISBN 978-09883754-1-3; $9.95 e-book ISBN 978-09883754-0-6
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Amazon; Amazon Europe; Barnes & Noble Taylor draws on her journal reflections about working in Liberia to inspire and offer laugh-out-loud accounts, engaging descriptions of misadventures and thought-provoking situations, along with a roadmap so readers can take action to serve other communities. ionisuspress@gmail.com; (585) 457-3146 An account of experiences that changed the authors religious beliefs, but also developed them into a deeper Christian faith. Owens, a nutritionist and fitness expert, shows how weight gain happens and empowers readers with realistic solutions to achieving permanent fat loss without dieting, counting calories, or deprivation. Whats Your Book? A Step-by-Step Guide to Get You from Inspiration to Published Author Brooke Warner. She Writes Press, $12.95 (242p), ISBN 978-1-938314-00-1; $5.95 e-book ISBN 978-1-938314-06-3 www.shewritespress.com The author has worked for 13 years as an acquiring editor for major publishing companies and offers expert advice to aspiring writers for how to get from idea to publication.
SCIENCE
Vistas of Many Worlds: A Journey Through Space and Time Erik Anderson. Ashland Astronomy Studio, $29.95 hardcover (128p), ISBN 9780-9819864-7-0 www.astrostudio.org/books.html Explore the stars, encounter the past and future, tour planets beyond the solar system, and prepare for new discoveries with four easy-to-follow itineraries through space and time.
POETRY
Utterly Loved Kat Bastion. Kat Bastion, $8.99 paper (100p), ISBN 978-0-615-72920-6; $4.99 e-book ISBN 978-1-62347-650-2 Amazon Romantic poetry is shared with the world for charity, including 23 inspirational quotes and 21 poems. Foreword by New York Times and USA Today bestelling author Sylvain Reynard. Strange Borderlands: Poems by Ben Berman Ben Berman. Able Muse Press, $18.95 paper (104p), ISBN 978-1-927409-05-3; $9.99 e-book ISBN 978-1-927409-06-0 www.ablemusepress.com/ Bermans first full-length collection counterposes insights with uncertainties, while chronicling immersion in new cultures like the poets Peace Corps service in Zimbabwe.
SELF-HELP
Be More Better: Stuff to Know and Use Michael J. Czuchnicki. Be More Better Books, $12.95 paper (259p), ISBN 9780-9883578-1-5; $9.50 e-book ISBN 9780-9883578-0-8 Amazon Here are practical skills and fundamental knowledge about solving problems, including how to analyze a problem, be creative, plan, speak and write persuasively, and how to be a leader. Secrets to a Creative Mind: Become the Master of Your Mind David Judd Nutting. Outskirts Press, $19.95 paper (69p), ISBN 978-1-47871923-6 Amazon The designer of the first SUV, the Enstrom helicopter, and video arcade game technology reveals the secrets to being creative and opens a new window to the inner self, the human soul. Fat Loss Revolution: 12 Weeks to a Hot n Healthy Body at Any Age Paula Owens. PaulaOwens.com, $24.95 paper (370p), ISBN 978-0-615-65420-1; $19.99 e-book ASIN B00AJRAO8C PaulaOwens.com; Amazon; Barnes & Noble
Breaking Seas Glenn Damato. Ninth Circle Press, $14.95 paper (362p), ISBN 978-0-9858162-0-9; $3.99 e-book ISBN 978-0-9858162-1-6 Amazon An overweight, middle-aged computer nerd buys his first boat, quits his job, and attempts to sail around the world.
SPORTS & RECREATION
TRAVEL
Standing Still in a Concrete Jungle Justin Nobel. Zoom Books, $12 paper (108p), ISBN 978-0-615-70775-4 Amazon Award-winning magazine journalist Nobel stands for extended periods of time in classic New York City spotsCentral Park, a rough area of the Bronx, an ER, a Park Slope coffee shoprecording the minutiae of daily life to craft this travel book gem. Nantucket Autos Philip Nuttle, Nancy G. Walker, Randolph T. Walker, John H. Munson. Bolder books, $28 paper (141p), ISBN 978-0578-10869-8 Mitchells Book Corner, (508) 228-1080, Capturing the essence of Nantucket Island, this book takes readers on a photographic journey through the islands unique vintage car, truck, and SUV culture.
PSYCHOLOGY
How Can I Help? What You Can (and Cant) Do to Counsel a Friend, Colleague or Family Member with a Problem Anna Ranieri, Ph.D., and Joe Gurkoff. Trousdale Press, $16 paper (157p), ISBN 978-1-4792-5584-9 Amazon; www.thehowcanihelpbook.com A primer on helping friends or colleagues who are facing a personal challenge, this work offers a strategy, framework, goal-setting tips, and reminders on setting limits.
RELIGION
Throwing Snowballs: A Jesus Confession Dennis Doeing. Ionisus Press, $18.99 paper (208p), ISBN 978-0-9882222-0-5
AUTHOR PROFILE
Making History:
A Talk with Elton B. Klibanoff
By Adam Boretz
Elton B. Klibanoff graduated from Brown University with distinction in history and earned a J.D. at Harvard Law. Upon leaving full-time legal work, he returned to his passion, history, and wrote the book he had long envisionedFor the Survival of Liberty: Great Presidential Decisions, which Klibanoff self-published through Dog Ear Publishing in November of last year. The book receives a starred review in this edition of PW Select, with our reviewer calling Klibanoffs history a richly detailed blueprint for American liberty. We talked with Klibanoff about his decision to self-publish and the unique challenges facing historians who decide to go the DIY route.
PW Select gets a lot of fiction and memoirs, but fewer historical works. How is self-publishing different for someone writing history?
I assumed that I would be the only source of quality control, so critical to authoritative, well-researched, readable history. My reputation was at stake and I needed to ensure accuracy and thoroughness in the use of primary and secondary sources, in the securing of permissions, and in the preparation of footnotes and indexes. This is a different kind of responsibility than that faced by the writer of a novel or memoir. Why was self-publishing right for you? My book was ready for publication at a time when the commercial publishing industry was under competitive stress and economic pressure. Therefore, the market for a book written by a relatively unknown writer was difficult at best. Prior to self-publication, did you try selling your book to publishing houses? Did you have a literary agent? The search for an agent and a traditional publishing house was time-consuming and unsatisfying, although the reaction to the quality of the manuscript by those who read it was uniformly positive. Once you decided to self-publish, what was the process like? What company did you work with? I did a great deal of research. When I narrowed the search to two companies, I conducted my own competition, comparing answers to similar questions, examining samples of their work, and interviewing employees with varying responsibilities in the process. I chose Dog Ear Publishing because of their devotion to an authors objectives, the intelligence and cooperativeness of their personnel, and the fairness of their policies. My self-publishing process with Dog Ear was very interactive, by e-mail and telephone. The publisher provided design, production, and marketing services of various kinds. I did not choose to take advantage of copyediting; rather, I hired a word-processing
expert to put the manuscript file in the shape I wanted it and to assist in final proofreading. What were the biggest challenges with self-publishing? Two main challenges required flexibility and creative thinking. My first concern was the appearance of the bookespecially font type and size, margins, headings, endnotes, and placement of photographs. Some of these would affect the length of the book and thus the production cost. Dog Ear was able to adjust various elements to reach an optimal arrangement. Second, I wanted a dynamic cover design that was both consistent with the theme of the book and meaningful to me. The publisher went beyond standard formats to develop a cover with the Concord Minuteman statute (from my hometown of 25 years) superimposed on the White House. I thought it looked great and met all my objectives. People viewing it seem to agree. Looking back on your own experience, what are the pros and cons of self-publishing? I have some insight here, since I had published a book in 1973 through Little, Brown about the adoption of children. I was surprised at the advantages to self-publishing: an author can take as much control as he or she wants; the time from completion of the manuscript to publication is relatively short; and the process can be rewarding and even fun. The disadvantages depend very much on the personality and goals of the author who must accept heavy responsibility for the quality of the final product. Some welcome that, others do not. And, of course, there is no financial advance, and the out-of-pocket costs can run into the thousands of dollars. What are you working on now? For the Survival of Liberty deals with decisions made by six presidents, from Washington to Franklin Roosevelt. I have now begun working on a book that focuses on equally important decisions made by presidents during my lifetime.
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Reviews
Fiction
Archangels: Rise of the Jesuits
Janet M. Tavakoli. Janet M. Tavakoli, $9.99 e-book (324p) ISBN 978-0-9851590-1-6
hopes are soon realized, and Pitcairn sticks his neck out to advocate on the killers behalf. Ultimately, Chapmans protagonist is overly simplistic at times, and the author fails to fully weave his exploration of free will into what proves an otherwise engaging story.
When a Jesuit is murdered inside the Vatican, Michael Visconte, a special investigator who works crimes involving the Vatican and the Mafia, is called in to investigate. What he discovers are conspiracies within conspiraciesinvolving Jesuit investments, ties between organized crime and the Vatican, and a secret group inside the Vatican known as the Archangelithat is laundering money for massive profits. This fast-paced thriller may be a bit long on the financial jargon (understandable, because Tavakoli has a background in finance), but it doesnt stint on intrigue. Although some of the characters are drawn too broadly and the books messages simple, there is enough authenticity and adventure to ensure readers will keep turning the pages. And while Viscontes motives are never quite clear and some plotlines insufficiently resolved, Tavakoli has written a solid if uneven thriller
A Promise Remembered
Kim L. Lohret. Three Sisters, $14.99 paper (404p) ISBN 978-0-9887132-1-5
A Killers Grace
Ronald Chapman. Seeing True, $12.95 paper (264p) ISBN 978-0-615-64261-1
In Chapmans provocative metaphysical thriller, Kevin Pitcairn, a recovering alcoholic, works as a freelance reporter and columnist for the Albuquerque Chronicle. Much to his surprise, Pitcairn receives a lengthy letter from convicted serial killer Daniel Davidson, who turns out to be a reader of the journalists work. Davidson hopes to persuade Pitcairn that mental illness drove him to rape and kill, and that medication has worked to reduce his testosterone levels and enable him to master his violent fantasies. The murderer hopes Pitcairn will be receptive to the idea that his crimes could have been prevented with the right treatment. Davidsons
David, Liz, Jake, and Mar are seemingly unconnected individuals, all searching for something. Liz is a divorce raising a daughter who has an overwhelmingly strong connection to her imaginary friend. David recently returned from war and is struggling with post-traumatic stress. Jake is a wealthy real estate developer haunted by nightmares. Mar is a writer who has suffered through abuse and is now discovering hidden memories. What none of these characters realize is that their lives are linkedthey are from another dimension, and were sent to Earth to save the planet from environmental destruction via their slumbering powers and lead humanity to a peaceful and sustainable way of life. At times, the novels various plotlines seem completely unrelated. Readers will spend the majority of the book trying to figure out how the characters relate to each otherbut when their lives are finally tied together in the end, the result is tenuous and unconvincing. Although the book offers a positive environmental message, theres not enough plot to sustain reader interest.
Eventually, she leaves the art world and becomes a prostitute. Now Jodi must struggle to address her childhood issues and resolves to returns to the art scene and become more successful than before. While the art world of 1980s New York City has been exhaustively explored, much of that exploration has been from the male perspective. In this novel, Di Donato focuses on the female perspective, as well as the inextricable link between art, business, and sexuality. While Di Donatos prose is occasionally rocky and some plotlines are not fully resolved, the author has ably captured a vivid moment in time.
Come Hell Or High Water Part 1: Wellspring

Stephen Morris. Stephen Morris, $15 paper (422p) ISBN 978-0-9847731-2-1
Beautiful Garbage
Jill Di Donato. She Writes, $16.95 paper (302p) ISBN 978-1-938314-01-8
Morris generates some genuine chills and thrills in this entertaining series opener that alternates between the 14th and 21st centuries. The author gets things off to a good start with a powerful opening set in 1356 Prague, as an herbalist named Fenka is burned at the stake for being a witch. With her last breath, she curses her killersWhen this fire dies, let all their nightmares come to life. Next, the action shifts to 2002, as Magdalena, who works in Charles Universitys literature and folklore department, encounters Fenkas ghost after receiving a warning from a fortune-teller. The authors background in medieval history stands him in good stead inthe 14th-century sections, as he slips in interesting details to help make the fantastic plausible.
Corporeality: Stories by Hollis Seamon

Hollis Seamon. Able Muse, $19.95 paper (204p) ISBN 978-1-927409-03-9
Jodi, a young artist, moves to New York City in the gritty 1980s with the hope of making it big. She makes a few missteps along the waye.g. sleeping with an art dealer she thinks is interested in her workbut eventually becomes a rising star in the art world. But soon Jodi finds herself unfulfilled, in financial straits, and haunted by memories of childhood.
True to its title, Seamons winning collection of short stories returns again and again to the question of how we reconcile ourselves to our bodies. Whether theyre discovering their capabilities, accepting their eventual breakdown, or reveling in the twilight of their sexuality, the bodies
reviews
in Seamons stories show just how undependable they actually are. Love, kindness, and understanding exist in these stories, but they are often tempered by the promise of approaching tragedy. Death literally looms just out of sight, a neighborhood is threatened by natural disaster, affairs are begun and broken off, and evil bird-men and wolves move in next door. Seamon leavens her collection with generous amounts of humor, but the specter of destruction is what remains at the end. And though Seamons stories run the gamut from modern fairy tales to coming-of-age stories and psychological character sketches, common traits prevail: more than one story is narrated by a middle-aged female, often an academic, who finds herself alone with only an old blind dog to keep her company. But to her credit, Seamon offers enough thematic and narrative variation to keep each story in this collection fresh.
Embracing the Elephant

Lori Hart Beninger. On Track, $29.95 paper (384p) ISBN 978-0-9856897-0-4
(425p) ISBN978-0-9883229-1-2
Elysian Fields
Mark LaFlaur. Mid-City, $9.95 paper (275p) ISBN 978-0-615-72986-2
Life in the Weems family of 1999 New Orleans is anything but Elysian in this engrossing Southern Gothic snapshot. As Simpson ponders whether to kill his brother Bartholomew, he reflects upon their upbringing with mother Melba. At age 36, Simpson works in a copy shop, but fantasizes of escaping to San Francisco and being a famous poet. The obstacle is Bartholomewas a second grader, he spent a year in a psychiatric wardwho is presented vividly as possibly autistic and laced with idiot savantism. LaFlaur deftly alternates between character perspectives, delving into perceptions and motivations. If a healthy dose of odd events infuses the narrative with a slapstick tone in parts, Melbas assurance that family is all you have at the end of the day acquires a kind of bittersweet truth. The apparent reconciliation of the brothers after Melbas death may seem a syrupy aftermath to their conflict, but Simpsons perception of haunted New Orleans hammers homeLaFlaurs implication that life consists mostly of dealing with your ghosts. Despite the books drawn out development, readers will find the authors portrayal of New Orleans convincing and his characters fascinating and fully developed.
This circuitous novel opens in 1848, as 11-year-old Guine boards an East Coast ship bound for San Francisco to join her widowed father. Its an arduous journey for Guine and may prove slow going for readers: Beninger delves into minutiae of life at sea and Guines drawn-out interactions with passengers and crew. The pace quickens during an action-filled stop in Rio de Janeiro and the ships treacherous rounding of Cape Horn, but the core adventure begins more than one-third of the way through the novel, when Guine is reunited with her father in California. The Gold Rush has begun, and he reluctantly agrees to let her accompany him to the Sierra Nevada, where he has staked a claim. Beninger provides a persuasive account of the rigors of living in a mining town fraught with greed, illness, racial tension, and violence (theres a rape, a hanging, and a throat slitting). Guines deepening relationship with her father, as well as flashbacks to her more placid life in Boston, provides tender underpinnings for this historically evocative story.
In Boemis first novel, art scholars and lovers Richard Arenell and Sao Damrey rely on clues passed down from Italian Renaissance artist, poet, and engineer Michelangelo to combat the genocidal demon Samael, a sinister worldwide financier, a charismatic false messiah, and a scheming United Nations. Richard and Sao disagree on art and religion, but join forces to track down a mysterious Renaissance painting. Boemi mixes scriptural adjurations with history. As the quest for the missing masterpiece heats up, growing fears that something ominous looms seem justified. While the action is fast and furiouscomplete with enraged demons and a glaring Adolf Hitler Boemi fails to fully develop Richard and Sao, falling back instead on a litany of name-brand goods they flaunt while spouting stilted dialogue.The conclusion suggests that demonic defeat is never final; surrender might be preferable to a sequel.
M-o-t-h-e-r Spells Murder

E.B. Boatner. iUniverse, $16.95 paper (230p) ISBN 978-1-4759-4990-2
Horizons Edge
Mark Guinane. Two Harbors, $17.95 paper (384p) ISBN 978-1-937928-26-1
Guinanes lackluster short story collection makes use of many elements of classic science fictiona time-traveler whose attempts to make a fortune in ancient Rome go terribly awry; a man who keeps his many wives frozen in time; a future world leader who must face the warlord of a conquering alien race in one-on-one combat. Unfortunately, the author does precious little with these entertaining story concepts. What is intended to be social commentary often comes across as heavy-handed satire, e.g., a failed writer who neglects his flesh and blood wife in favor of a sexy robot. Although Guinanes prose is workmanlike, many of the stories are not structured well.
Michelangelos Last Painting: Its Chilling Revelation

Andrew A. Boemi. Dodd Merrill, $16.95 paper
Veteran journalist and photographer Boatner brings murder, mystery, and family dysfunction to the fore in thisfastpaced, entertainingdebut novel. In 1980s Boston, Elinor MacGowan is the victim of a brutal murder at the retirement home where she lived. Her daughter, Gwendolyn, is shocked to learn of the murder of her mother, with whom shes had a difficult relationship. An Atlanta socialite, Elinor despaired when Gwendolyn moved to Boston, and even followed her daughter there after the death of her husband. When searching through her mothers papers, Gwendolyn learns that Elinor may have had an affair years ago and that her father had a child with another woman. When her fathers former mistress arrives in Boston, Gwendolyn comes face to face with the half-brother she never knew. As the murderer strikes again, detectives must work quickly to find the killer before Gwendolyn becomes the next victim. Mystery continues unabated as police search for the murderer, while the puzzle behind Elinors secrets is cleverly revealed.
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reviews
No Good Deed
Penelope Grenoble. ABQ, $15.95 paper (274p) ISBN 9780-9838712-9-3
The Hour Before Morning

Arwen Spicer.Lulu, $17 paper (200p) ISBN 978-1-105-08111-8
Journalist Grenoble puts her familiarity with Southern California to good us in this debut mystery. Her sleuth is Brody Cooper, a reporter for the Malibu Times, who is between stories when he learns 13-year-old Bobby Schonefeld has disappeared. Schonefeld had been at a local day camp, and was reported missing by a counselor. With nothing else of interest to look into, Cooper settles on tackling the Schonefeld case. The subsequent discovery of a womans corpse near a popular hiking trail appears unrelated, but the circumstances of her deathpresented to readers in the first chaptermakes that unlikely. Coopers detecting is strictly run-of-the-mill, but the cases solution is both surprising and logical. Additionally, excellent descriptive prosethe late afternoon light descending like a veil on the foothills, turning the rocky outcrops first to mauve, then purple, then finally drawing them down into darknessserves the author well.
Salvation
Kurt Corriher. Golden Garden, $14.95 paper (240p) ISBN 978-0-9857751-0-0
Spicer provides a vivid vision of a futureracked by interplanetary strifebetween the oppressors and the oppressed.Imprisoned by the Ashtorian regime, 120-year-old Jenchae and 263-yearold Elek share a cell onboard a prison spaceship bound for the Death Planet. Tension arises as Jenchae, a nonviolent protester, debates the propriety of reading the mind of violent murderer Elek to help him find peace. The situation within the cellprovides a tense dramatic situation, but frequent flashbacks introduce a distracting abundance of characters and defuse the tension between Elek and Jenchae. The entry of female prisoner Meravynand her ability to see the humanity in those she foughthelps lay the basis for theaffirmation ofa shared consciousness and the inanity of warfare. The aftermath of the final catastropheleaves readers to wonder if Elek will resume his warlike ways. Spicers imaginativenarrative will certainly pique the interest of those who enjoy top-notch world building;however, herexuberant use ofinvented detail may weary some.
outrageous extrapolations of a potentially real-life healthcare crisis. At best, this books anonymous author has produced a mash-up of ideas already tackled in Brave New World, Wild in the Streets, Logans Run, and similar cautionary tales.
The Sword of God

Ann Chamberlin. Epigraph, $24 hardcover (244p) ISBN 978-1-936940-43-1
The Incontrovertibility of Rainbows

Anonymous. Lemage, $21.95 paper (436p) ISBN 978-1-938022-33-3
Both historical and fictional characters populate a well-researched portrayal of the early Islamic era in this second installment in Chamberlins The Sword and the Well trilogy. Building on The Woman and the Well, the author presents a broad view of a society in which the ascendancy of Islam is not yet complete. The narrative cuts between warrior Khalid the Conqueror and 12-year-old girl Rayah in a pre-Islamic era replete with superstition, polytheism, and blood feuds. The appearance of and references to Muhammad provide a vivid sense of the eruption of hisdoctrines on the society of the time, and of being an unknowing witness to history. Still, Chamberlins approach is that of a novelist, not a theologian or historian, and readers interested in an imaginative rendering of this historical era should find this trilogy very rewarding.
An act of revenge drives the plot of Corrihers uneven novel set in North Carolina in 1941. After Paul Taggart sets fire to Junie McAllisters homewith widower McAllister and his 10-year-old son insideMcAllister kills Taggart. Knowing that the dead mans kin will soon be seeking his blood, McAllister flees with his child, heading towards his sisters home in Wilmington. With Taggarts brother Chess in hot pursuit, weeks of rugged travel wear on McAllister and his sonbut the pair chance upon a kindly doctor, who offers them work and a place to stay. That act of generosity initially angers Dr. Michael Cunninghams wife, who finds married life a disappointment and is disgusted by her husbands tendency to take in the downtrodden. The books plot is fairly predictable and thus unengaging, while many of the characters prove stereotypical.
The Tapestry of Spirit

Erik Paul Rocklin. Elucidare, $13.95 paper (230p) ISBN 978-0-615-59569-6
This dystopian tale of a near-future America offers a glib take on lengthening life expectancies and their social, political, and economic ramifications. In 2047, America is a gerontocracy in which a glut of octogenarians and nonagenarians are diverting much of the nations finances into elder care. Fed up with disenfranchisement and dim prospects for their generation, the Young People Party, under the guidance of physician Wolfe Wolfe, get out the vote and succeed in winning many 2048 elections. Shortly thereafter, Wolfe spearheads the Cure, a program of mandatory euthanasia for all Americans age 74 and older, designed to reduce the countrys bloated population by 100 million. Stiff prose and underdeveloped characters that are little more than mouthpieces for polemical views do little to lend credibility to this tales more
In prose of crystalline purity, Rocklin escorts readers along a boys mystic journey inspired by a dream and culminating in a vision of universal compassion as the ultimate good.The Tapestry of Spirit consists of the interweaving of individual destinies, and is most clearly understood when the clutter of the World is brushed aside. This conflict of World and Spirit, underscored in several passages, leads to perils and distractions from the journey. The struggle is resolved by grasping that the wisdom of the heart excels over that of the head. If Rocklins travelers occasionally belabor their profundities, the repetitions reinforce the books atmosphere of serenity.The association of wise figures with Nature provides a parallel to the boys growing understanding of his true nature.
reviews
In this allegorical story, Rocklin offers a superior take on well-known tropes, and although his travelers find nothing that others have not realized, his engaging vision will reward fans of this genre. A self-described nerd, Damato locates his need for radical change at middle age, and hopes to find solace aboard the ironically named Serenity. However, he soon finds himself facing unrelenting problems and fullblown disasters during his planned aroundthe-world voyage. The authors obsession with marine toilets and graphic descriptions of their usage, and superior attitude to his female crew, co-workers, and sailingschool classmates will chafe some readers, while those without sailing knowledge will get lost amidst Damatos jargon-filled narration and wish they had diagram of Serenityand a glossary of technical terms. Still, some readers will likely admire Damatos outrageous self-confidenceI believe that anything worth doing is worth overdoing, he states in the prologue and his willingness to take full responsibility for equally outrageous errors of judgment. and the unemployed following the Great Depression. Not all of these pursuits of liberty were popular at the time, but as Klibanoff points out in legacy sections and a short concluding chapter, repercussions can still be felt today. Klibanoff goes beyond textbooks, synthesizing volumes of material into a cohesive and engaging 300 pages, while not overlooking interesting details, such as Lincolns hand becoming extremely swollen from greeting his visitors on New Years Day.
Nonfiction
A Lasting Legacy: A Practical Guide to Secure Your Future, Your Family, Your Finances and Your Faith in Uncertain Times
Doug Hagedorn. Xulon, $27.99 paper (488p) ISBN 978-1-62230-593-3
Journey Man: A World Calling

WilliamClaassen.Cornel & Williams, $17.95 paper (276p) ISBN 978-0-615-60848-8
Hagedorn seeks to provide pointers on faith, family, and finances in this overly long but well-intentioned manual, which builds on his previous book, Ease the Squeeze. Employing a chatty, folksy tone with abundant personal anecdotes, the author enthusiastically urges the reader to realize that you must act...you must change! Hagedorns approach for affecting change emphasizes seeking divine assistance in an attempt to live a future-focused life. Despite the perils of an uncertain economy and a decaying society, we must think beyond todays problems and challenges. Although Hagedorns forebodings parallel widespread and genuine concerns, his diffusive and rambling prose is often preachy and didactic. Similarly, his gushing assurances of divine goodwill may limit his audience tothose who share his religious views. Advocating common-sense financial stepse.g., preparing a family budget and thinking long-termare hardly controversial; stating that Gods perspective is to diversify ones investments might be.
For the Survival of Liberty:

Great Presidential Decisions
Elton B. Klibanoff. Dog Ear, $19.95 paper (369p) ISBN 978-1-4575-1367-1
Breaking Seas: An Overweight, Middle-Aged Computer Nerd Buys His First Boat, Quits His Job, and Sails Off to Adventure
Glenn Damato. Ninth Circle, $14.95 paper (362p) ISBN 978-0-9858162-0-9
Like the Downeaster full-keeled cutter he sunk his life savings into, software instructor Damatos lengthy tale of proving himself at sea against all oddsarmed with information gleaned from the Internet is not quite salty enough for smooth sailing.
By focusing on the lives and accomplishments of six United States presidents, historian Klibanoff lays out a richly detailed blueprint for American liberty. Beginning with George WashingtonNo single person is more responsible for the success of the brave experiment in liberty, the author notesand the development of the countrys economic framework, Klibanoff culls from diverse sources (including the presidents own letters and public papers) to create extensive profiles of Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, Abraham Lincoln, Woodrow Wilson, and Franklin Roosevelt. Jefferson oversaw significant U.S. expansion with the Louisiana Purchase, Monroe protected liberties in foreign countries via the Monroe Doctrine, Lincoln pursued freedom and equal opportunity for all Americans through his Emancipation Proclamation and Gettysburg Address, Wilson presented the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 and blazed new trails toward international peace, and Roosevelts New Deal provided relief to banks, farmers,
In this extensive globetrotting memoir,Claassencharts the course of his explorations of a myriad of cultures while providing a host of colorfulanecdotes. This self-described global village project of an odyssey spans three decades worth of travels in nine countries and the narrators evolution throughout his pilgrimages and spiritual rebirths. I owe my existence to the natural world that surrounds me! he reminds us. It is so obvious and yet so easy to forget. Not for the casual tourist,Claassenis drawn to challenging situations that involve incorporating himself into a tight-knit foreign community, surviving confrontations in conflict areas, or breaking down the barriers of a culture or language to effectively communicate and learn from the people. Ever conscious of the reader, he continuously provides background facts and texts to support the events of his episodes.Beginning his journey in an Israeli Kibbutz, he continues onto a cross-country hitchhiking trip from New York to Alaska, arriving in the midst of a revolution in Nicaragua, and surviving a deadly earthquake in El Salvador. The second part ofClaassensanthology is devoted to various spiritual practices as he learns from such guides as the Mayan healers in Guatemala, the whirling dervishes of Turkey, and the Zen monks of Japan. Though at times his narratives include more factual detail than personal,Claassenwholeheartedly delves into cultures, and his collection of adventures will satisfy any reader interested in a spiritual retreat or a distinctive traveling experience.
21
reviews
Picnic at the Iron Curtain
Susan Viets. Delfryn, $14.99 paper (276p) ISBN 978-0-9879664-0-7
Standing Still in a Concrete Jungle

Justin Nobel. Zoom, $12 paper (108p) ISBN 978-0-615-70775-4
Viets took her first trip to Communist Hungary when she was a student, but ended up working as a journalist for The Guardian and helping East Germans defect to the West. She then moves to the Ukraine to watch independence take hold and struggles with the inexorable bureaucracy and corruption as the Soviet Union collapses. Later, her desire for travel sends her to the more alien world of Tajikistan, where she witnesses the start of a civil war and the ever-shifting landscape of a country in turmoil. While Viets has lived an exciting, fascinating life, she has failed to construct a proper narrative arc or smoothly guide readers through her tale. She ably reports on the events of her life, but doesnt turn those events into a structured story. As such, her experiences feel more like disjointed anecdotessomething that hinders her efforts to provide a cohesive view of life behind the Iron Curtain.
Nobel has hit upon a curious literary mechanism. He stays in a single spot for an entire day and makes observations about the people and things he sees. In this particular collection of short pieces, he focuses on various locations in New York Citya subway car, a bridge in Central Park, a Park Slope cafe, a cemetery in Queens, and a Bronx street corner are all places Nobel lingers. Through his observations, the author aims to make some broader statements about humanity. While this experiment may hold readers attention on Nobels blog, it fails to sustain a 100-page compilation. Instead of painting an intimate sense of place or providing wisdom gleaned from everyday life, the author simply collects minutiae. Additionally, Nobels prose is often pretentious, and many readers will likely find themselves frustrated by what might have been a fascinating construct.
culturally diffuse pattern of reliance on a support community. Combss admissions that no checklist is universally applicable and that open-mindedness and willingness to adapt are crucial seem plausible, but leave readers wondering about the merit of her advice.
Poetry
Strange Borderlands:
ISBN 978-1-927409-05-3
Poems by Ben Berman Ben Berman. Able Muse, $18.95 paper (104p)
Ben Bermans debut poetry collection is a compelling examination of the authors experiences in Zimbabwe as a Peace Corps volunteer. The book opens with the 10-part Interruptions, with which the author ably transports readers to a land where the radio plays a mix of rhumba, world news, Dolly Parton, and the Shona language, and It never ends, never/ connects. Bermans ear for detail allows him to describe Zimbabwe with stunning intimacy, while still acknowledging the distance that accompanies his foreigner status. In Learning Shona, he explores his understanding of different cultures and himself while learning a new tongue. He learned to pray and with ass sound/ almost exactly the same. And it wasnt/ just language either, Id see a man/ suffering gum disease and write home/ about the beautiful toothless smiles. The second half of the book changes perspectives, drawing readers into the authors travels and return to the United States after his overseas service. Reflective in nature, these poems use formfrom slant-rhyming couplets to prose poemsto limn the tensions of readjustment, and mine memory for stories that keep the author rooted to a place that will forever and never be his. Throughout the collection, Bermans images sear the brain with their often-perplexing otherness, while his openness to new cultures and peoples help readers understand how beautiful the worlds strangeness can be. This is a must-have book for readers of poetry.
Realm of the Unknown

James B. McPike. Inkwater, $19.95 paper (368p) ISBN 978-1-59299-870-8
Thriving Through Tough Times: Eight Cross-Cultural Strategies to Navigate Lifes Ordeals
Deidre Combs. CreateSpace, $15.95 paper (190p) ISBN 978-1-4662-0299-3
The brutal massacre of a dozen people in the small town of Masada kicks off this lackluster thriller featuring Vince Ramsey, Ritual Investigator for the Ministry of Jerusalem. The sloppiness of the prose is evident from the first page: the author describes the Old City of Jerusalem as both frozen in the past, and featuring hot Panini sandwiches for sale. Because there may be a religious underpinning to the murders, Ramsey is asked to investigate. On the scene, he uncovers a pure silver necklace bearing strange markings, a discovery he keeps to himself until he can sort out its significance. Ramseys investigation is aided by the de rigueur sexy scientist and hostageto-be April Fulton, while the action and plot leaves few clichs untapped. None of that is aided by the authors purple prose: The obligatory sun was just beginning to bleed orange-purple goo as its crest peeled like a slice of tangerine skin over the horizon.
Combsprovides a skimpy if sincere exploration of how different cultures address the inevitability of unwelcome change. Drawing on her background in cross-cultural conflict resolution, Combs funnels her ideas through the metaphor of death and rebirth, with the four seasons serving to illustrate the phases of acceptance and adjustment. Occasional interesting glimpses of non-Western practices work to illustrate cultural differences more than to synthesize them. The authors lapses into simplistic statements distract the reader, while her frequent invocation of the seasonal cycle sometimes fails to provide applicable insight and glides over her acknowledgement that different individuals spend varying time periods in each season. Combs also invokes clich in contrasting the American go-it-alone paradigm for dealing with grief to the more
reviews
Childrens Books
Picture Books
Chasing Watermelons
Kevin White, illus. by Rex White. Chimeric Press (www.chimericpress.com), $15.95 (32p) ISBN 978-0-9847122-3-6
enormous bubble turns out to be more than just a neighborhood nuisance, though, when it saves the town from an impending meteor strike. Romers illustrations have a chunky, appealing quality and a classic TV cartoon vibe (Bobby calls to mind a young, modern-day Barney Rubble). While the storys wordiness slows its pace and mutes some of its humor, readers should still giggle over Bobbys over-the-top, candyfueled antics. Ages 38.
com), $18 paper (112p) ISBN 978-0-9881393-0-5
Snappy text and clean artwork pull equal weight in this collaboration by brothers. Its a classic chase storyand each time it seems to be over, another obstacle appearsbut its execution is smooth. Determined to have a watermelon feast, Duck pries open a crate of watermelons in a field and sprints after two that roll away. One by one, four more animals join in the chase, lured by Ducks offer, If you help, you can have some too. When the fruit bounces onto a passing train, the animals jump onto a handcar in hot pursuit, using other vehicles to do the same when the watermelons subsequently tumble onto a boat, truck, and plane. The excitement of the chase is somewhat subdued by the fact that there are only two runaway melons involvedits not much to chase after, and not much of a feast. But Rex Whites animals, with their swoopy black outlines and expressive reactions, are an active and charming bunch to follow, and the narratives lively repetition encourages reader participation. Ages 36.
Wisdom, the Midway
Albatross: Surviving the Japanese Tsunami and Other Disasters for Over 60 Years
Darcy Pattison, illus. by Kitty Harvill. Mims House (www.darcypattison.com), $11.99 paper (32p) ISBN 978-0-9798621-7-5
Bobbys Biggest Bubble!: A Really Big Tale

Jim Romer. ARRRGGGHHH! Ink Publishing (www.arrrggghhh.com), $15 (36p) ISBN 978-09857628-0-3
Romerwho has worked as a cartoonist, animator, and toy designerbrings a sense of playfulness to his debut childrens book, funded through Kickstarter. After Bobby wins a contest and receives one million gumballs, the boy finds an array of uses for them, including shaping animals from chewed gum, bouncing on a gummy trampoline, and strapping gum onto his shoes to walk up the side of a tree. Bobby then decides to blow the biggest bubblegum bubble in the world, and as the bubble grows, it takes up more and more real estate in Romers spreads. The
Pattison (Prairie Storms) offers a remarkable survival story about Wisdom, a female Laysan Albatross first tagged by scientists in 1956 and still alive today, having lived through multiple tsunamis, other natural disasters, and manmade threats to the well-being of her species. Born on Midway Atoll, the bird (who wouldnt receive the name Wisdom until she was rediscovered in 2002 by the scientist who originally tagged her) spends years at sea, feasting on squid, avoiding sharks, and producing chicks year after year (By the time she was twenty, writes Pattison, she had outlived eighty-seven percent of her rookery mates). Harvill (Up, Up. Up! Its Apple-Picking Time) contributes carefully detailed and naturalistic illustrations, portraying both the beauty and danger of Wisdoms aquatic environment (discarded plastic and the 2011 Japanese earthquake and tsunami are among the hazards Wisdom manages to escape). While the heavy font used for the text is at times intrusive, Pattison writes crisply and evocatively, and her closing notes provide a wealth of information and resources for readers interested in Wisdom and her fellow albatrosses. Ages 612.
This first book in a planned series is a lighthearted fable with an unmissable environmental message. The Green brothers live a sustainable lifestyle in Tintown, a dirty, noisy place where freeways and parking lots have obliterated rivers and streams. The three rats make (rather than buy) what they need, grow their own food, reuse their bathwater, and have a composting toilet. Theyre cheerful, unlike the towns other residents, who are perpetually dissatisfied, despite all the gadgets they own. Leading the consumer pack is wealthy Ethel Misrington, who despises the Greens and vows to make them an offer they cant reuse! When she enlists the mayor to evict the Greens to make way for a big box store, they contest the plan and, in a humorous sequence poking fun at bureaucratic ineptitude, are shunted from one town office to another. The brothers get a chance to save the day, though, leading to rapid environmental conversions across town. Summersgills stylized line drawings give Tintowns fairly one-note residents quirky personality, and the storys levity keeps it from being too moralistic. Ages 711.
Bitopia
Ari Magnusson. Olivander Press, $9.99 paper (240p) ISBN 978-0-9848610-5-7
Fiction
Three Green Rats: An Eco Tale
Linda Mason Hunter and Suzanne Summersgill, illus. by Summersgill. HunterInk@PinnStudio (www.threegreenrats.
First-time author Magnusson delivers a welcome, though somewhat heavy-handed message about handling bullies in this fast-paced adventure. It starts when sixthgrader Stewart is forced to run and hide from the older children tormenting him. He is mysteriously transported to Bitopia, an idyllic world inhabited by other children who also arrived while fleeing bullies. However, the world is spoiled by the Venators, terrifying predators who stalk the children and force them to seek refuge in a heavily protected city at all times. When the Venators launch an all-out assault on the refuge, its up to Stewart and his new friend Cora to discover the secret of defeating the Venators once and for all. While Magnussons writing is solid and the story engaging, with a sincere element of tension and an overall sense of wonder, the underlying moralstand up
23
reviews
to bullies and dont let fear rule youis far from subtle. Nevertheless, this book may be ideal for readers in need of an extra shot of courage when faced with difficult situations. Ages 8up. As a semi-autobiographical narrative with literary leanings, its perfectly adequate. As a work of fiction, however, it lacks direction, a cohesive story, or a sense of momentum. The narrative voice is inconsistent, vacillating between believable (Hows a girl like me to grow roots when the soil of life is so crumbly?) and too mature (Things change every moment, like a fallen leaf traveling down a mountain stream, pitched over stones, diverted into rivulets, direction unknown). An interesting experiment in storytelling that seems unlikely to capture its audiences attention. Ages: 11up. friends fellow sophomore Melinda Chip Fullerton and joins the girls basketball team. Although B.A. initially hides her talents, she eventually unleashes her true skills, championing good conduct, respect, and sportsmanship along the way. Rather than a stirring testimony to admirable behavior, the story is overly moralistic. Former high school teacher/coach Koch is a stickler for details when it comes to the athletic bits, but the narration and dialogue have a tendency to over explain (Well, there was this one guy, Luke. He was her best friend. They had a lot in common, since they both loved sports so much) Along with numerous unsubtle complaints about grandstanding professionals and bad language, the result is a story that, despite its best intentions and positive message, is out of touch with its intended audience. Ages 12up.
Mattie Spyglass and the 8 Magic Stones

Shoba Sreenivasan. Holy Moly Press (www. holymolypress.com), $14.95 paper (366p) ISBN 978-0-9853604-0-5
Although this complex, fanciful adventure opens in 1968 Hackensack, N.J., it soon launches its protagonists across time and space in a battle between good and evil. When 11-year-old Mattie OReilly discovers an antique spyglass among her late archaeologist fathers possessions, she thinks it might be good for show and tell. Then the malevolent Uri Gneezy arrives to claim the magical artifact, and Mattie and her friends are catapulted through the years in an attempt to destroy the spyglass before it can be used for evil. As they work through the challenges presented by the Buddhist Path of the Virtuous, they gain glimpses of a much larger conflict at work. From Hitlers Germany and Rasputins Russia to ancient Babylonia and then-current Vietnam, the children fight mundane and mythological opponents, leading to a cliffhanger ending. Debut author Sreenivasans work is multilayered, drawing from a wide variety of sources and inspirations, and may be a little too ambitious and overcrowded. The rapidly expanding cast and clash of cultures may make readers heads spin, even as they marvel at this tales depths. Ages 11up.
Blame It on the Black Star

Gabriel Morley. Hippy Book Publishers, $8.99 (150p) ISBN 978-0-615-72394-5
This Girl Climbs Trees

Ellen Plotkin Mulholland. CreateSpace, $9.99 paper (206p) ISBN 978-1-4793-7769-5
In this meandering, nonlinear comingof-age story, 13-year-old Maclyn Eliza Mills reflects on what its like to grow up in the late 1970s. The narrative skips around over the course of several years, as Eliza ruminates on the death of her grandfather, the cutting down of her favorite tree, and her friendship with Paisley Park, a socially conscious animal rights activist. Along the way, she also contemplates her future, not quite ready to fall in love or figure out what she wants to be when she grows up.
Newcomer Morley explores the power of grief, anger, and desperation through the eyes of a teenager in this slim comingof-age tale. Fourteen-year-old Westbrook West Washington is devastated when his older brother, Corey, is killed in action in Iraq. Struggling with the loss, West teams up with Coreys former best friend, Ray Ray, for an epic night on the town, which culminates in stealing a car and setting a pile of American flags on fire. When the fire blows out of control and critically injures an elderly veteran, West is tormented by guilt and fear and reconsiders his future. Instead of a scathing commentary on poverty, the AfricanAmerican experience, or the cost of war, Morleys novel wanders to and fro before ending on a heavy note of forced maturity. Coreys letters home from Iraq feel authentic and raw, and are a highlight of the story. By contrast, Wests stilted and uneven narrative comes off as much younger than his years, at odds with the serious material and adult moments. Ages 12 up.
Untimed
Andy Gavin, illus. by Dave Phillips. Mascherato Publishing (www.all-things-andygavin.com), $14.99 paper (342p) ISBN 978-1937945-04-6
Chasing Normal
T.L. Hoch. iUniverse, $17.95 paper (288p) ISBN 978-1-4697-5148-1
In this earnest tribute to good sportsmanship, two friends find success on the basketball court while also embracing their inner strengths. Annie Smith is a phenomenal athlete looking for a fresh start when she moves to Reston, Tex. There, calling herself B.A. Smith, she be-
Gavin (The Darkening Dream), perhaps best known for his work in the video game industry as the creator of Crash Bandicoot, kicks off an exciting series with an intriguing take on time travel. Fifteen-yearold Charlie, so forgettable that his own mother cant remember his name, is inadvertently thrown back in time when he enters a portal created by a strange clockwork man Stranded in 1725 London, Charlie joins a gang of urchins, meets lively fellow time traveler Yvaine, and accidentally gets Benjamin Franklin killed, totally wrecking the course of history. Charlie and Yvaine must brave the hazards of unfamiliar eras (and the sinister mechanical Tick-Tocks) to restore the proper course of events. Gavin doesnt sugarcoat the perils of times past, instead exposing his heroes to all sorts of experiences, and Phillipss dramatically lit spot illustrations amplify the mystery and menace of the setting. The sense of adventure, chemistry between Charlie and Yvaine, and roller coaster plot are sure to appeal to a wide range of readers, who may cry foul at the cliffhanger ending before demanding more. Agent: Eddie Schneider, JABberwocky Literary. Ages 12up.
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February 2013

FIRE UP YOUR WRITING CAREER

APRIL 25-27, 2013

Amy Hill Hearth

Trying Something New

Making the Artisanal Approach Work

Not Everyone Can Be Guy

Indie Rocks Lessons for Publi

Connecting with Fans

More Freedom, More Responsibility

New Titles from Self-Publishers

BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY

BODY, MIND & SPIRIT

BUSINESS & ECONOMICS

FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS

HEALTH & FITNESS

SPORTS & RECREATION

Come Hell Or High Water Part 1: Wellspring

Corporeality: Stories by Hollis Seamon

Embracing the Elephant

M-o-t-h-e-r Spells Murder

Michelangelos Last Painting: Its Chilling Revelation

The Hour Before Morning

The Sword of God

The Incontrovertibility of Rainbows

The Tapestry of Spirit

Journey Man: A World Calling

For the Survival of Liberty:

Standing Still in a Concrete Jungle

Realm of the Unknown

com), $18 paper (112p) ISBN 978-0-9881393-0-5

Wisdom, the Midway

Bobbys Biggest Bubble!: A Really Big Tale

Mattie Spyglass and the 8 Magic Stones

Blame It on the Black Star

This Girl Climbs Trees

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#1 SHOW FOR CONTEN T CREATORS AND CONSUMERS

A TALE OF TWO FUTURES A TRUE-LIFE MYSTERY STORY

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