tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76082807302773671342024-03-13T02:33:24.136-04:00Books and AuthorsBook reviews and more! Find out where Joyce A. Anthony places a book on the Rainbow Scale of Writing Excellence. Hear what the authors have to say and get ready to add more books to your TBR list!.Joyce Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16406383790048223850noreply@blogger.comBlogger209125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7608280730277367134.post-54748124415609441732011-12-08T08:51:00.000-05:002011-12-08T08:51:41.764-05:00I Can See Clearly Now<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/–%20http://www.amazon.com/Unfinished-Suzanne-Gravelle/dp/192700506X" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVnPrfDBtpLOKIy7Y5LMg8x5SkKXgb55stvfpE9bd8P26zuWlTLgaetCxyembpMMevQW8Qk8-dFY2nif55NLC79ChPWz0coYCkWNKIKL3lVoUgNRLMw7kXdYizdivHsX4uRRfde3ItYeA/s320/Unfinished+by+Suzanne+Gravelle+Cover+Art.jpg" width="216" /> T Purchase Unfinished Business</a></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"></span>I hesitated when asked to review <em>Unfinished . </em>It wasn't the book description. After all, who wouldn't be intrigued by this:<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">This is a true story of a woman who experienced such a profound awakening that she could no longer live the same way, the same life she was just one week before. She could no longer ignore the woman who was screaming to be set free from the ties that bind her to a life she no longer desired or recognized. The transformation to become the woman she really wanted to be has propelled her upon the most remarkable self-discovery journey of her life. She sold her home, gave up her career, kissed her children, grandchildren and friend’s good bye, got into her vehicle and just drove away…ALONE. Where was she going? 30,000km later she finds herself in the most unlikely place to try to piece her life together, trying to make sense of the constant feeling of being <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Unfinished-Suzanne-Gravelle/dp/192700506X"><span style="color: blue;">UNFINISHED</span></a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">Even Suzanne's bio sounded intriguing: </span><br />
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Suzanne Gravelle is 49 Years old and has 3 children, 2 grandchildren who live in Nova Scotia. At the time this book goes to print she is single and homeless by choice, still travelling, seeking that place of comfort she will eventually call home.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">She spent most of her life living in Nova Scotia but her formidable years aged 10-25, were spent living on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. She resigned as a Real Estate Agent in Nova Scotia, to embark upon this most incredible journey, driving, exploring Canada and writing this book. To read Suzanne’s extended bio, visit <a href="http://bookpromotionservices.com/2011/11/10/suzanne-gravelle-bio/"><span style="color: blue;">http://bookpromotionservices.com/2011/11/10/suzanne-gravelle-bio/</span></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">The Universe, however, has a way of bringing things into our lives just when they are needed. So it was with this book. As I started to read, I could hear Suzanne's voice, as though she were sitting across the kitchen table from me. Her writing flows so naturally you know that she speaks and writes in the same voice. This is a rare thing. Many authors strive for a conversational tone, Suzanne just comes by it naturally. She simply tells you her story, holding nothing back. Her emotions flow freely throughout the pages, whether that emotion is relief, pain, wonder or confusion--or a myriad of others that make their appearance.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">As I read, I felt something inside changing, a spiritual uplifting that took away the cloud of confusion that had settled in over the past year. I began to see clearly where I must travel next n m road. No, I won't be hopping in a car and leaving everything behind, that is Ms. Gravelle's journey, not mine. Suzanne's story, however, was a catalyst that allowed my own mind and heart to open up and receive directions from within my own soul. Will this be the experience of every reader? I can't promise that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">What I can promise is that this book will be one readers will want to keep handy and re-read again and again. Much like the beloved stories we heard on our grandparent's knees, it will become a favorite source of comfort. This is an absolute must-read for anyone who has reached a stage in life where they have realized that so much of their lives have been lived for others that they now don't have a clue about how to start living for themselves.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">I won't give <em>Unfinished </em>a Rainbow Rating. It impossible for me to put a value on a book that has literally changed my life. My suggestion, however, is to seek out more information about this book and review how others have seen it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">For more information about <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Unfinished</i> by Suzanne Gravelle, visit <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Unfinished-Suzanne-Gravelle/dp/192700506X"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.amazon.com/Unfinished-Suzanne-Gravelledp/192700506X</span></a> and you can follow her journey on her blog – <a href="http://ontourwithsuzanne.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">ontourwithsuzanne.blogspot.com</span></span></a>.</span><span style="color: green; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">For more great book reviews and author interviews, visit Books and Authors at http://joyce-anthony.blogspot.com</div>Joyce Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16406383790048223850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7608280730277367134.post-73977996461133178802011-08-18T20:07:00.000-04:002011-08-18T20:07:46.219-04:00The Full Moon Bride by Shobhan Bantwal -- A Review<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM2276id8B9GkYkL3ealz3oxzoSZ5AO9zzZplAlrfU6CXL4_d-4lm4yJ2f5XH__4yrHwEWXdLIYYMeUXpjU8EjaAWNQRo-29MEilRuI9oWE1J7Hg2v0AOwzD7i5XJhqT5So5D0kSkBwUU/s1600/TheFullMoonBride.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM2276id8B9GkYkL3ealz3oxzoSZ5AO9zzZplAlrfU6CXL4_d-4lm4yJ2f5XH__4yrHwEWXdLIYYMeUXpjU8EjaAWNQRo-29MEilRuI9oWE1J7Hg2v0AOwzD7i5XJhqT5So5D0kSkBwUU/s320/TheFullMoonBride.gif" width="179" /></a></div>Shobhan Bantwal has graced the literary community with yet another work that shows the art of writing is still alive and well. <em>The Full Moon Bride </em>has readers delving into two very different worlds--that of modern day America and old time India tradition. I have yet to find an author who can blend two worlds so successfully.<br />
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A successful lawyer, Surya hears the clock ticking as she slides past thirty. While her career is a success, her personal life leaves much to be desired. Maybe her answer to love lie in the old traditions of India. Giving in to her parents' wishes that she participate in the traditional bride viewings, Surya fights within her soul, questioning all she knows from an American way of life and comparing it to the tried and true traditions of her parents. Which way is "best"-- or can the only true answer come from within Surya herself?<br />
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Shobhan Bantwal takes the art of ethnic writing and applies it in a way that appeals to any woman who has ever felt the pull addition and the modern world. Her characters come alive within the book and you feel as though you are helping your best friend through a crisis, or you must make the decisions. It takes a true artist to be able to maintain an ethnic view and still reach the world as a whole. Having read her previous books, I can say a fine writer has been consistently evolving and has become phenomenal. <br />
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After reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Full-Moon-Bride-Shobhan-Bantwal/dp/0758258844">The Full Moon Bride</a> you will want to go back and read Ms. Bantwal's previous books. Her writing speaks to the softer side of women everywhere, from every culture. You will immediately understand where her characters are in life and how they feel, not because the author tells you, but because you have been there. The details may differ, but the basics are universal.<br />
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You can read an excerpt of <em>The Full Moon Bride,</em> as well as excerpts from her past works, at <a href="http://www.shobhanbantwal.com/">Shobhan's website</a> . I suggest you put aside a couple of hours when visiting, as you will find yourself unwilling to stop reading once you start. <br />
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<em>The Full Moon Bride</em> earns six colors on the Rainbow Scale.<br />
<img alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/tech-fav-1.png" /><div class="blogger-post-footer">For more great book reviews and author interviews, visit Books and Authors at http://joyce-anthony.blogspot.com</div>Joyce Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16406383790048223850noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7608280730277367134.post-32455647416927382242011-08-17T00:01:00.002-04:002011-08-17T00:01:04.061-04:00Talking With Shobhan BantwalI have had the great pleasure of interviewing many authors over the years. One of my favorites has been Shobhan Bantwal because of her openness and willingness to allow readers to see who is behind the books. Today's interview is no exception, Once you have enjoyed the interview, please leave a note for Shobhan (and a FB like or Tweet would also be appreciated!). Thank you!<br />
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You are such a prolific writer. Can you pass on any hints you use to keep yourself productive and writing consistently?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Actually I am not as prolific as I would like to be, mainly because I have a demanding full-time job that does not allow me the luxury of time to devote to my writing projects. But my best source of inspiration to boost my productivity and creativity is reading books by other authors. I love reading and try to fit in at least a half hour of reading just before I go to bed each night. It is a great way to wind down and relax, also a way to energize the muses and overcome writer's block.<o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>As for writing consistently, I have to discipline myself constantly because I tend to go in spurts, and to succeed and meet a writer's deadlines, one has to establish a schedule. My writing is almost always done very early in the mornings.</strong> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Your books all have deep emotion throughout. Do you find yourself emotionally drained after a particularly fruitful writing session or have you found a way to somehow convey the emotion and still distance yourself from its effects?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>When I write an emotional scene I am completely immersed in it, heart and soul. It can be a lot of fun, but quite draining at times. Nevertheless that also tells me it is a good scene if it can move me, the writer, to that extent. A sex scene is not worth much if I don't feel at least a little aroused or a heartbreaking scene has not been effectively captured if I don't shed a few tears. Women's fiction by its very nature is very emotional and the writer needs to be completely engaged in the drama of it</strong>. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The subjects you have covered are ones that could be controversial in certain places. Have you ever found yourself debating whether or not you should write about these subjects? How do you decide if a subject is best left alone or is worth the flack you may receive?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Some of my topics have been subjected to controversy and negative scrutiny, especially dowry abuse and female-fetus abortion in India, the subjects of my first two books. Not everybody feels it is wrong to demand a dowry from the bride's family. A lot of otherwise morally upright people have secretly turned to abortion to avoid having a female child. Such folks feel that I am turning a simple social practice into a huge moral debate by bringing awareness to it. There are others who feel a writer should not expose the darker side of one's culture. Consequently I have to do a lot of deliberation and soul-searching before I embark on writing a story with a controversial or incendiary theme.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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</div><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What prompted you to write <i>Full Moon Bride</i>?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>After having lived in the U.S. for over 37 years and raised a daughter who was born here and is now married and has a family of her own, I have witnessed a lot of cultural and social conflict that the second-generation Indian-Americans and other Asian-Americans grapple with. Trying to fit into two vastly diverse cultures can be a tough challenge for young people. <i>The Full Moon Bride</i> is a result of my observations and what could happen when a young woman can't quite decide if it is passion or pragmatism that makes a marriage, and which path she should choose to realize her own dreams and those of her family.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of the books you have written, can you pick one as your favorite (the one you would suggest reader’s who are unfamiliar with you start with)? Why this particular choice?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>I don't really have a favorite book, because I put my heart into every one of them. But my last book, <i>The Unexpected Son,</i> has elements that I can personally relate to the most. The college campus life that my heroine experiences in the 1970s in small-town India and the way her youthful indiscretions come to haunt her 30 years later, when she is forced to make a life-altering decision, make for a very emotional and intriguing story. I could picture a lot of what she was going through more vividly because my experiences, to some degree, as far as family life and the conservatism of it are concerned, are similar to my heroine's.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Are you currently working on anything you’d be willing to share information on?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>My publisher prefers that I not discuss future projects, but I will say the next book is also about a young Indian-American professional, who in her quest for love and passion and family, ends up falling in love with the most unlikely man. Needless to say the journey to happiness has a few interesting bumps.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Is there anything you would like to say to our readers?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>I would like to encourage readers who have never read any ethnic fiction to open their minds and read my books. Many previous skeptics have come to love my books and have become long-time supporters, some of them being men. I try to make my books both entertaining and educational. If nothing else, readers will learn something about Indian culture and be the richer for it.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Readers can find my books, events, contests, photos, recipes, and contact information on my website: </strong></span><a href="http://www.shobhanbantwal.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>www.shobhanbantwal.com/</strong></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong> or visit my facebook page: </strong></span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/ShobhanBantwal.author"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>www.facebook.com/ShobhanBantwal.author</strong></span></a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">***</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">Thank you for the wonderful interview, Shobhan! Everyone, please come back tomorrow to see what I think of <em>Full Moon Bride.</em></span></span></div><br />
<a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://joyce-anthony.blogspot.com"><img alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/tech-fav-1.png" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">For more great book reviews and author interviews, visit Books and Authors at http://joyce-anthony.blogspot.com</div>Joyce Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16406383790048223850noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7608280730277367134.post-88817280734653379382011-08-16T00:01:00.001-04:002011-08-16T00:01:05.042-04:00An Old Friend Returns<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Those of you have followed this blog regularly will be familiar with this week's special guest, Shobhan Bantwal. She has visited us numerous times over the past few years--each time with a new book. This time is no different, <em>Full Moon Bride,</em> her latest literary work, is now available</span>. <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Award-winning author Shobhan Bantwal calls her writing “Bollywood in a Book”—romantic, colorful, action-packed tales, rich with elements of Indian culture—stories that entertain and educate. Shobhan has five published novels by Kensington Publishing, with a sixth slated for 2012. Shobhan can be contacted through her website: <a href="http://trk.cp20.com/Tracking/t.c?Lcfl-Ipxn-UpYop5" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">www.shobhanbantwal.com</span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: 130b4ae1733ca595_wwwshobhanbantwalcom_;"></span> or Facebook.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">About <i>Full Moon Bride</i></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">What makes a marriage—love or compatibility? Passion or pragmatism? <em>THE FULL MOON BRIDE</em> is a compelling story that explores the fascinating subject of arranged marriage, as young Indian-American attorney Soorya Giri navigates the gulf between desire and tradition.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><a href="http://trk.cp20.com/Tracking/t.c?Lcfl-Ipxm-UpYop4" target="_blank"></a><span style="mso-bookmark: 130b4ae1733ca595_virtualblogtourfileswor;"></span>In choosing between two very different men, Soorya must reconcile her burgeoning independence and conservative background. And she must decide what matters most to her—not just in a husband, but in a family, a culture, and a life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Later this week, I will be posting my review of <em>Full Moon Bride</em>, but tomorrow I'd like to share with you a wonderful interview I had the pleasure of doing with Ms. Bantwal. I know you will find her as charming and insightful as I do. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Until tomorrow, you can find<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> much more information about Shobhan Bantwal and Full Moon Bride, you can visit her website <a href="http://www.shobhanbantwal.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.shobhanbantwal.com</span></a> and you can order your own copy at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Full-Moon-Bride-Shobhan-Bantwal/dp/0758258844"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.amazon.com/Full-Moon-Bride-Shobhan-Bantwal/dp/0758258844</span></a> </span></span><br />
<a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://joyce-anthony.blogspot.com"><img alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/tech-fav-1.png" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">For more great book reviews and author interviews, visit Books and Authors at http://joyce-anthony.blogspot.com</div>Joyce Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16406383790048223850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7608280730277367134.post-26665771135975880642011-07-24T02:16:00.002-04:002011-07-24T16:49:39.974-04:00Amy Winehouse -- Don't Blame the Drugs and AlcoholI realize my readers have come to expect book reviews and author interviews when they stop by. In a way, today's post isn't too far off, as Amy Winehouse wrote many wonderful songs. Comments today have ranged from "what a waste of great talent" to "I'm surprised she lasted this long". Almost everyone mentions the drugs that were so present in the past few years. I have read only a few comments that actually acknowledge Amy--not her talent, not the drugs--Amy Winehouse, a young woman who fought demons much deeper than many of us can imagine.<br />
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You see, drug and alcohol use aren't the problem in many instances, they are merely symptoms of something deeper, something a person finds too strong to fight. Amy herself gave us a clue to this pain, scattered throughout the songs she wrote: "My tears dry on their own." "I tread a troubled track." "I'm not going to spend ten weeks having everyone think I'm on the mend." "I don't want to drink again. I just want a friend."<br />
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The first time I saw Amy perform, my mothering instinct kicked into overdrive. Take the time to view a few of her live performance videos. Amy always took a deep breath and physically straightened as she entered the stage--an act so common with someone about to face something they fear. Each song ending saw a look of pure relief, a silent "I made it through". Her eyes did not seek out the audience, but submissively looked away, as one fearing rejection. Pictures abound of this beautiful woman--and in only one did I see a real smile--one that lit up her face and crinkled her eyes. Maybe it is the Psychologist in me, or the involvement I've had with others like her, who tried to fight their demons with drugs and alcohol.<br />
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Amy was one of those old souls who found herself in a world beyond her understanding--a world that requires an inner hardness that old souls seem incapable of developing. Look around you,, if you want to see what I mean, we all know someone who has had the drugs or alcohol become their existence. Think back to before the drugs and you will see what I mean. Many of these individuals were those who couldn't "fit" into the "competitive, do better than everyone no matter who gets hurt" lifestyle that seems so prevalent today. These were the ones who reached out to the outcasts, gave all to see someone smile--the gentle souls who tried to make the world a bit kinder.<br />
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Is Amy Winehouse's death a waste of talent--no, for what she gave us, however briefly, will remain. giving us moments of joy and pain, comfort--and maybe understanding. Amy tried to tell the world what she felt--but few, if any, heard her. She did not hide her fear, her confusion, but few, if any, saw. Amy's death wasn't a waste of talent--it was the loss of a special individual who could have taught the world love, compassion and looking beyond the obvious.<br />
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Amy Winehouse may you find the peace that so often deluded you here. Tonight I mourn the passing of, not a star with great talent, but a young woman who had so much to give if only someone would have listened.<br />
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<a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://joyce-anthony.blogspot.com"><img alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/tech-fav-1.png" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">For more great book reviews and author interviews, visit Books and Authors at http://joyce-anthony.blogspot.com</div>Joyce Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16406383790048223850noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7608280730277367134.post-73373773286989280492011-05-27T23:22:00.001-04:002011-05-28T02:20:22.331-04:00And Twice the Marrow of Her Bones by Susan Petersen Avitzour -- A Review<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi52aFvXZ_UwKikBQDQU8sNGN7sQmE5z8I2yclk-2rke2F0XruO0S5Wm7K9snQYlz_UTh6U8USkb9r0lVdv8bsCx3QuhF6ZIIzN1nN2Uu018F5w3kzO-fy1hZNQyjmECL1Q2L-Pca39g48/s1600/51RzkOlr82L__SL500_AA300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi52aFvXZ_UwKikBQDQU8sNGN7sQmE5z8I2yclk-2rke2F0XruO0S5Wm7K9snQYlz_UTh6U8USkb9r0lVdv8bsCx3QuhF6ZIIzN1nN2Uu018F5w3kzO-fy1hZNQyjmECL1Q2L-Pca39g48/s1600/51RzkOlr82L__SL500_AA300_.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Twice-Marrow-Her-Bones/dp/9659146426"> here</a> to purchase now!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is my seventh or eighth attempt at what has to be the most difficult review I have ever written. <em>And Twice the Marrow of Her Bones </em>has a fairly straightforward synopsis. Susan Petersen Avizour had a good job, a loving husband and seven children that meant the world to her. Their lives were ones many yearn for--until the day her middle daughter was diagnosed with leukemia.</span><em></em><div style="text-align: left;"></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This book follows Susan and her family through the several years leading up to her daughter's death--and into the aftermath. Through weekly updates at her church, a blog written five years later, based on these updates and poems written by Timora, we get to see how Timora's life, illness and death impacted not only her family, but those around her.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">What is complicated about reviewing this book is finding words to describe pure emotion. The author holds nothing back in the telling of her story. You feel her pain, the anguish of feeling that all hope is lost. You feel her great pride in a daughter that tries to make the most of every minute she has on Earth. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">Words do not flow from the pages of this book. <em>And Twice the Marrow of her Bones </em>is an exercise in capturing and sharing pure, untainted emotion. The subtitle is "A Mother's Memoir" and that doesn't come close to describing this book. The closest description I can come up with is that this book IS a mother's love.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">Women everywhere (and men too) will feel themselves in this book. Even if you have not physically lost a child, every parent fears that chance. As your child moves from babyhood to school and from school to adulthood, you feel a sense of loss for the being they once were. Take that feeling and multiply it a hundredfold and you can come close to what a parent feels when physically losing a child.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">This is not an easy book to read. You will find the need to step back and get your emotions in check before continuing. You will have not only the wish, but an undeniable need, to hug your own child. You may even find yourself having to force yourself to let them go. In the end, you will feel as though you have been given one of the greatest gifts in existence, a mother's pure, unconditional love.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">I am afraid there arent't enough colors on the Rainbow Scale to rate <em>And Twice the Marrow of Her Bones.</em></span><em></em><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">For more great book reviews and author interviews, visit Books and Authors at http://joyce-anthony.blogspot.com</div>Joyce Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16406383790048223850noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7608280730277367134.post-48476887782058556592011-05-26T00:50:00.000-04:002011-05-26T00:50:15.159-04:00Susan Avitzour Visits<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Tomorrow, I will have a review of an important book written by Susan Avitzour, <em>And Twice the Marrow of Her Bones. </em>This book is different than most I feature here, but one I feel is necessary to share. For today, I'll leave you with a brief synopsis and some information on Susan.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Susan Avitzour was born in 1955.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She earned degrees in French literature and law before moving to Jerusalem, where she and her husband raised seven children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She worked as a lawyer,</span> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">mediator, grant-writer, and translator before returning to school in 2005 for a Masters degree in clinical social work. She now works as a cognitive-behavioral therapist, helping people who suffer from depression, anxiety, and trauma.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her fourth daughter, Timora, was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of 12.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The family spent the next six years struggling to maintain a normal life while she underwent extensive treatment</span>, <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">including two bone marrow transplants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She died in 2001, at the age of eighteen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition to her memoir, <i>And Twice the Marrow of Her Bones</i>, Susan has written short fiction, which has been published on line and in <i>Israel Short Stories</i>, a collection of stories by English-speaking writers living in Israel.</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In her memoir, <i>And Twice the Marrow of Her Bones, </i>Susan Avitzour uses narrative, poetry, and a journal to grapple with the profound personal, philosophical, and spiritual questions raised by her eighteen-year-old daughter’s illness and death from leukemia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ultimately, she faces the challenge many of us must confront in the course of our own lives: How to affirm faith and love in an unpredictable, often cruel, universe</span>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">To learn more about Susan Avitzour, author of And Twice the Marrow of Her Bones, we invite you to visit her site - </span><a href="http://www.fiveyearslater.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">http://www.fiveyearslater.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">. For the full virtual tour schedule, visit </span><a href="http://bookpromotionservices.com/2011/01/06/twice-the-marrow-virtual-tour/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">http://bookpromotionservices.com/2011/01/06/twice-the-marrow-virtual-tour/</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://joyce-anthony.blogspot.com"><img alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/tech-fav-1.png" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">For more great book reviews and author interviews, visit Books and Authors at http://joyce-anthony.blogspot.com</div>Joyce Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16406383790048223850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7608280730277367134.post-35415994468800396642011-05-10T00:54:00.004-04:002011-05-11T01:40:15.826-04:00The Digital Diet by Daniel Sieberg -- A Review<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKKYiTX4h-vq0LFvvK1T9kLexMQvv87GqrOUZPi4TcbTj_rhDpgoPT_hegcRuVxsk5pNu65MjHeR_3oGBzSHQdWCRQ7ZD9RE-XzYDI4zW_eWQS-LBOtEljiLLWOGbP3LXq0JKqAt1oOos/s1600/516Z1FwD2GL__SS500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKKYiTX4h-vq0LFvvK1T9kLexMQvv87GqrOUZPi4TcbTj_rhDpgoPT_hegcRuVxsk5pNu65MjHeR_3oGBzSHQdWCRQ7ZD9RE-XzYDI4zW_eWQS-LBOtEljiLLWOGbP3LXq0JKqAt1oOos/s320/516Z1FwD2GL__SS500_.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307887383/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=1412982367&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0ZS59Z92RDEZC2M5GSGH">Click here to purchase</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yesterday, I introduced you to Daniel Sieberg and his book, <em>The Digital Diet. </em>Daniel Sieberg has the knowledge to write this book. He was once addicted to technology, to the point of losing sight of what was truly important--family, friends and peace of mind. The 28-day plan he sets down within this book is something he's tested and found to work.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I may not be the best one to objectively review this book. Being very much old school, we didn't have a TV until I was twelve. I still value my quiet time--disliking the sound of a ringing phone, being constantly available for anyone who chooses to call (I often leave my cell phone at home) and I find social networks like Twitter and Facebook too fast and too "busy" to remain calm while engaging in them. However, I am surrounded by technology and have daily contact, even within my own home, of people who can't seem to function without it. Multi-tasking is a way of life, I rarely see a pair of eyes when talking --or get a full sentence answer. I could go on and on. The human race has lost track of the joy of silence and the serenity of time alone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Taking into account the shorter attention span of most people these days, The Digital Diet is written in sections that can be read in a minute or two and picked back up later. The steps in the action plan are small ones that are meant to help break the habit of digital dependence without causing a shock to society's overloaded senses. The purpose of this book is not to take society back into the Dark Ages, but to help everyone be able to enjoy the things we now have yet still keep in touch with family and friends. For example, Day 18's exercise is to send five emails to people you truly care about and letting them know that. This isn't a "I love you guys" post on a group, but a personal email to someone special. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Daniel Sieberg writes without judgment, from a place only those who have been through the fire can write. His words resonated with a truth that will immediately draw readers in and help them look at their lives clearly, without judgment, excuse or blame. Through self-questioning, brief quizzes and other similar exercises, the reader can see just how much he or she depends upon technology. Further, the reader will see what damage may have already been done, emotionally, socially and physically, with this dependence.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mostly, however, the reader will learn how to enhance their life with technology. They learn how to integrate it into a well-rounded and full life -- without making technology their life. By listing both the pros and cons of various technological items, the author allows readers to examine and decide for themselves whether a certain item is truly necessary or can be limited. He does not make the choices for readers--only lays out the facts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I believe this book should be in every home throughout the world. It is a book that every person can read and see, if not themselves, than someone they love within its pages. I truly believe the daily stress that is present in the world would be greatly reduced if that were te case.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>The Digital Diet</em> earns six colors on the Rainbow Scale.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">For much more information about Daniel Sieberg and The Digital Diet: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The 4-Step Plan to Break Your Tech Addiction and Regain Balance in Your Life</i> visit </span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"><a href="http://www.danielsieberg.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">http://www.danielsieberg.com/</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">For your own copy, visit </span><br />
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Diet-4-step-addiction-balance/dp/0307887383"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Diet-4-step-addiction-balance/dp/0307887383</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> (print) </span></span><br />
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Diet-addiction-balance-ebook/dp/B004J4WM3G"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Diet-addiction-balance-ebook/dp/B004J4WM3G</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"> (Kindle)</span><br />
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<a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://joyce-anthony.blogspot.com"><img alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/tech-fav-1.png" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">For more great book reviews and author interviews, visit Books and Authors at http://joyce-anthony.blogspot.com</div>Joyce Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16406383790048223850noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7608280730277367134.post-51407128066324317292011-05-09T05:38:00.001-04:002011-05-09T05:41:11.905-04:00Is Technology Taking Over Your Life?<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The first time it occurred to me that technology was becoming something we depended upon too much was when I visited the library that had been my second home for years--and the computer was down so I couldn't check any books out! It wasn't long after that I heard someone mention they couldn't write--because their computer was down. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have become a society that years to be connected constantly. Cell phones seem permanently attached to ears, our children play video games rather than read books or play outside and when a computer system fails, whole work places stop! <span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">Daniel Sieberg and about <em>The Digital Diet</em> have come to the rescue! Listen to this brief video and then we'll talk some more:</span></span></span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/dHcq7s3mDdc?rel=0" width="640"></iframe><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Does this sound familiar? </span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Digital Diet: <em>The 4-Step Plan to Break Your Tech Addiction and Regain Balance in Your Life </em>by Daniel Sieberg</span><a href="wlmailhtml:{E72EF909-0EFD-4074-B94E-F9029F524EAE}mid://00000036/!x-usc:http://trk.cp20.com/Tracking/t.c?JhD3-GmTa-UpYp43" name="virtualblogtourfileswordpresscom201104coverar"></a></strong><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Have you ever felt that something hasn’t really happened until you post it on Facebook or Twitter? Does a flashing red light on your BlackBerry make your heart flutter? Do you know you shouldn’t be texting and driving—but still do it? If you said “yes” to any of these questions then you’re not alone; you’re among the millions of people who can relate to being overwhelmed by technology. Fear not—from leading technology reporter Daniel Sieberg comes the first self-help book to address America’s newest addiction: THE DIGITAL DIET: <em>The 4-Step Plan to Break Your Tech Addiction and Regain Balance in Your Life</em>, a four-step, dietary-style approach to help you slim down on everything from gadgets to social networks to video games.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>The Digital Diet </em>is a 28-day plan that’s meant to reawaken our awareness of technology in our lives, provide tools and gadgets to improve life, and instill the right motivational/practical formula for managing it in the future. It can be tailored based on age, profession, hobbies, and a person’s particular electronic poison and includes a self-assessment, a detox phase, and a week-by-week guide to building time for technology back into your routine.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Daniel Sieberg is an Emmy-nominated reporter who hosts <em>Tech This Out!</em> for ABC News NOW. He has also covered science, environment, space and technology stories for CBS News, CNN, PBS, NPR, BBC News, Planet Green, MSNBC, Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, Oprah.com, Details, Time, The Vancouver Sun, CTV News, CleanSkies.TV, Fuse.TV, <em>The Nate Berkus Show</em> and <em>The Dr. Oz Show</em></span>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tomorrow, I will be sharing my review of this book as well as Mr. Sieberg's ten digital diet rules. Please come back--and bring your friends!</span> </span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">For much more information about Daniel Sieberg and The Digital Diet: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The 4-Step Plan to Break Your Tech Addiction and Regain Balance in Your Life</i> visit </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.danielsieberg.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.danielsieberg.com/</span></a>. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">For your own copy, visit <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Diet-4-step-addiction-balance/dp/0307887383"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Diet-4-step-addiction-balance/dp/0307887383</span></a> (print) </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">and </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Diet-addiction-balance-ebook/dp/B004J4WM3G"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Diet-addiction-balance-ebook/dp/B004J4WM3G</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> (Kindle)</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://joyce-anthony.blogspot.com"><img alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/tech-fav-1.png" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">For more great book reviews and author interviews, visit Books and Authors at http://joyce-anthony.blogspot.com</div>Joyce Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16406383790048223850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7608280730277367134.post-9013592421638561322011-03-14T16:44:00.000-04:002011-03-14T16:44:41.378-04:00How Frank Lloyd Wright got Into My Head...by Sandy Sims -- A ReviewWho decides your destiny? Ultimately, the Universe works as a partner with us to manifest the things we want. In <em>How Frank Lloyd Wright Got Into My Head, Under Mu Skin and Changed the Way I Think About Thinking</em>, author Sandy Sims takes readers on a journey of self-discovery--his own and theirs. Having an idea inspired by the works of Frank Lloyd Wright, Sandy sets out to make that idea a reality. Along the way, he meets many teachers and learns lessons we often don't stop and listen for. Determined to realize his dream, regardless of how impractical it may have appeared, Mr. Sims learned how rge Universe strives to work with us to help us realize our full potential and our ability to create what we seek.<br />
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The companion workbook, Creative Thinking for the 21st Century: An Experiential Guidebook, walks readers through the steps of discovering what they really want from life, clearing the blocks along the path and realizing that each of us has the power to create our own realities.<br />
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Sandy Sims writes as though his words are simply written in a journal for himself. He illustrates concepts by showing how came to the realization rather than explaining them in a abstract way. For example, he doesn't give us the dictionary definition of synchronicity; instead, he shows how he needs something and that something appears, or the means to achieving that something appears. He allows his own learning to do the teaching, making the reader feel comfortable and unpressed. The concept seeps into your conscious through osmosis rather than study. <br />
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I haven't completed the workbook yet but have been doing the exercises step-by-step. The way they are set up, Sandy Sims assumes you haven't analyzed things too deeply so he starts at the beginning, rather than diving into the deep end and hoping the reader can swim. After each exercise, you are asked to consider what you have learned and how you can apply it--and what you will do to apply the knowledge. He includes a fairly extensive list of further study material for the reader to seek out.<br />
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The fact that I'm posting this in the afternoon rather than first thing in the morning is testimonial to how inspiring Sandy Sims is in these two books. I've had a dream for some time now, and reading this had me realizing that, even if it seems impossible, I have to attempt it--and I've worked non-stop trying to get the details in order and devise a plan of action.As it is any time you find yourself truly working with the flow, time becomes meaningless. That this one book enabled me to allow myself to enter that state says more than anything else I could possibly write.<br />
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If you have ever had a dream, if you find yourself seeking deeper fulfillment and a direction in life, if you feel you have to rely on luck and not your own power to create, this book is a must read. You will come away from the reading with a new sense of strength and faith in your abilities. The book alone is inspiring, but I highly recommend using the companion workbook. By using both, you not only see the path, but also can figure out the best way to follow it.<br />
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This isn't one of those "think it and it will happen" books. Sandy admits that you need to act in order to achieve--and that action will prompt the Universe to help. He also encourages you to think of the times you wanted something and it didn't occur. Explaining that others are also adding energy to what they want and sometimes their wants may be stronger or more along the lines of what the Universe wants. For example, he uses wanting to drive fast and not get stopped. You may want that, but the rest of the people in the area want safety, safety that your speeding will destroy. Their combined want is stronger than yours. Mr. Sims really makes it possible to understand why or why not. He does not judge, only explains.<br />
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Ask yourself "Do I have a dream that I want to make reality?" If the answer is yes, this book will give you a strong base from which to launch your journey. Visit <a href="http://creativethinkingbook.com/">Sandy Sim's website</a> now to learn more and find out where you can get your copy.<br />
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<em>How Frank Lloyd Wright Got into My Head, Under My Skin and Changed the Way I Think About Thinking</em> earns six colors on the Rainbow Scale of Reading Excellence.<br />
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<a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://joyce-anthony.blogspot.com"><img alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/tech-fav-1.png" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">For more great book reviews and author interviews, visit Books and Authors at http://joyce-anthony.blogspot.com</div>Joyce Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16406383790048223850noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7608280730277367134.post-90279815827615859852011-03-13T05:19:00.000-04:002011-03-13T05:19:12.853-04:00Talking with Sandy Sims--Author, Philosopher, Creative Genius<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK_dUfJLdH1elLpuBjNVarcAuf-jl_ybnHH0tOS-2QZN0qU1g9tCM_7HzGsSP_gfF3930JTiDIoOVjrjj_hcrkCog8b2xtSevehL2ct7J18mdiyitdnHCrVesBg5ftQwHl6KzIQ_Wk5qc/s1600/Sandy+Sims+Author+Photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK_dUfJLdH1elLpuBjNVarcAuf-jl_ybnHH0tOS-2QZN0qU1g9tCM_7HzGsSP_gfF3930JTiDIoOVjrjj_hcrkCog8b2xtSevehL2ct7J18mdiyitdnHCrVesBg5ftQwHl6KzIQ_Wk5qc/s320/Sandy+Sims+Author+Photo.jpg" width="214" /></a>I don't impress easily -- in fact, it is almost impossible to impress me. There have been a few times in my life, however, when someone crossed my path and totally earned my respect and admiration--and yes, impressed me. I was fortunate enough to be allowed to review Mr. Sim's books and get to know more about this man. It doubt if I'll soon forget him. Today, I'd like to share with you an interview with Sandy Sims -- I think you'll understand my point completely.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Who is Sandy Sims? </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>A Virgo with Pisces rising and a moon in Taurus he is comfortable in both the world of Ralph Lauren and Timothy Leary. Interesting people and ideas are a fascination. A curious soul he will try most things at least once. He is drawn to metaphysical ideas in terms of finding meaning in life. A good cappuccino, living abroad and smelling the roses are high on his list. His goal is to make life a continuous gracious adventure</strong>.</div><br />
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What role does passion play in your life activities? <br />
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<strong>Passion now is directed towards balance. Learning is for the sheer joy of learning. I pay attention to what I have energy for and move in that direction, not so much questioning why but realizing that that is where the energy is, and that is good enough.</strong><br />
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What might be the most important thing the universe is telling us? <br />
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<strong>I feel that it is that we are truly the architects of our life and the choices we make lead to the life we have. The difficult thing is to realize our own personal power because there are so many events and set backs that seem to cloud that realization. If we can make notes as to when we first wanted things, or people or opportunity to show up, and then connect those dots in time to their occurrences, we can gather more confidence about our ability and move confidently towards what we want.</strong><br />
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How do you define reality? <br />
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<strong>I feel it is simply the moment by moment we experience in our physical life through our senses, but that it does include in the background the vast consciousness of existence we live oblivious to.</strong><br />
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What does success mean to you? <br />
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<strong>It is a bio feed back loop. It is understanding that where my efforts are applied there are results. Where there are set backs, or apparent disappointments it is because I have not yet applied the effort required. Perhaps I have not paid attention to my own intuition and been courageous enough to act, or realized that there are other forces working at cross purposes and my path is elsewhere.</strong> <br />
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Are we born creative or must we learn to be creative? <br />
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<strong>I feel that we are born innately curious and that as we learn how to survive and function in the world, we are required to conform. Those around us who have lost awareness of their own personal power are very influential and if there are too many we can become lost. Creativity is like a portal or channel or even a lifeline that gives us direction from the smallest incidents in life to the “Aha” moments. The ability of these portals to become more useful is enhanced by our awareness of their existence. Living life as a question is one way to do this</strong>.<br />
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What does the future hold for Sandy Sims?<br />
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<strong>The future for Sandy Sims is to practice the idea of living life in the flow. Getting used to connecting with my intuition, paying attention to what I am enthusiastic about and following through with intention. I feel that we are in the midst a huge consciousness transformation where we are being required to trust that life will bring us what we need and move more confidently into the unknown. I don’t say that this is particularly easy. However with practice I feel I can find exhilaration and reward in the process.</strong> <br />
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What would you like to share with our readers?<br />
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<strong>I once went to a lecture given by a man in a wheel chair who had burns over ninety percent of his body from an airplane crash. His message was that it isn’t what happens to us, but what we plan to do about it. He said he could have spent the rest of his life feeling sorry for himself and would have had good reason. Instead he realized that there was an entirely new life available, to travel and lecture on this very concept. I wrote my book first as simply a cathartic experience, recording my journey of learning about manifestation and applying those principles. I realized that I was not that interested in people telling me about what they had read on this topic, but more of what they had actually experienced. I was urged to share my own story on manifestation. I found that I had energy and resources to do so, and following the breadcrumbs; so to speak, I have entered the world of book writing, publishing and marketing. </strong><br />
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Thank you for sharing your words and time with us, Sandy. Feel free to return for a visit any time.<br />
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Don't forget to come back tomorrow, folks, when I share my thoughts on Mr. Sim's book (and the workbook), <em>How Frank Lloyd Wright Got Into My Head, Under My Skin, and Changed the Way I Think About Thinking</em>.<br />
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or more information about Sandy Sims and <em>How Frank Lloyd Wright Got Into My Head, Under My Skin And Changed The Way I Think About Thinking, A Creative Thinking Blue Print For the 21st Century</em>, visit <a href="http://creativethinkingbook.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://creativethinkingbook.com/</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and visit <a href="http://creativethinkingbook.com/buy-your-copy/">this page</a> to get the Amazon links. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://joyce-anthony.blogspot.com"><img alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/tech-fav-1.png" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">For more great book reviews and author interviews, visit Books and Authors at http://joyce-anthony.blogspot.com</div>Joyce Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16406383790048223850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7608280730277367134.post-63604881812671958462011-03-11T04:14:00.001-05:002011-03-11T04:15:57.388-05:00Sandy Sims On Synchronicity, Cosmic Partners and Ultimate Creativity<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMTreOo-sC8aemHBbt8fVwSGbo8EFjiYLr3J4VnfCiPVWg8WtpGaJamFuwzakEQTUFg5dc1PZfBxC1ByQtCa4023uwvnnJJF4RomCrhvl4BJSf6EN1NaOAj4zinkDf3pI7hDI8qjP3CDA/s1600/Covers+-+Sandy+Sims.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMTreOo-sC8aemHBbt8fVwSGbo8EFjiYLr3J4VnfCiPVWg8WtpGaJamFuwzakEQTUFg5dc1PZfBxC1ByQtCa4023uwvnnJJF4RomCrhvl4BJSf6EN1NaOAj4zinkDf3pI7hDI8qjP3CDA/s200/Covers+-+Sandy+Sims.jpg" width="150" /></a>Yesterday I introduced you to Sandy Sims, author of the two books over there on your left. Today, Sandy has provided us with his <em>Seven Steps to Ultimate Creativity.</em> I'd also like to share with you a brief talk by Sandy on the subject of synchronicity and your cosmic partners. If you have any thoughts, comments, questions, etc...on today's post, please leave a comment. (I know you guys, and you always have opinions!). Don't forget to return tomorrow for even more from Sandy Sims.<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/3cNLyBIviuE?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">And now for a guest post from Sandy Sims:<br />
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A CONTEXT FOR IDEA CREATIVITY<br />
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When we want create new ideas, methodologies and results, we can employ a variety of techniques to facilitate the process. Since we did not have the information before the process, we don’t spend much time thinking about where it is coming from or how it might be originating. Yet any explanation of how the field produces the new and novel or the context from which creativity springs, is simply left as a question mark. <br />
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Rather, we concentrate on how to coax it in to existence. If we get a flash of insight or an idea that is “Out of the blue” we usually do not imagine it as being the product of some other’s consciousness’s idea. But why not? Probably because our cultural way of thinking and the scientific method does not permit that belief at this time.<br />
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One of the trademarks of genius is an abiding and perhaps continuous state of curiosity as if the switch is continuously left in the “on” mode. It is as if there is a perpetual order to keep sending the new and novel.<br />
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I would like to think that the collective unconscious is inhabited not only by our connections to one another, but to a vast network of minds beyond ours, who operate not only to bring our desires into reality but to also give us their ideas as we seem ready for them. <br />
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To look at the universe in this manner gives rationale explanation to such things as synchronicities, or as Jung referred to them, meaningful coincidences, to original ideas when you least expected them to appear. Furthermore it gives us the comforting feeling that we are part of an immediate team. Therefore, from this point of view I would like to propose that our idea generation is often a result of a collaborative effort with friends we cannot see. In this regard our lives can be filled with the most useful and efficient idea generation possible. <br />
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<u>Seven Steps To Establishing The Contextual Mindset To Ultimate Creativity</u><br />
1. See the collective unconscious as the home of your partnerships, an army of helpers who have unlimited resources and connections willing to do your bidding and also willing to send you unsolicited ideas. <br />
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2. live as much in a state of constant question as if you are in a childlike state of curiosity. In this way while your conscious thought is involved in one area your helpers have their assignments and are working even as you sleep. For example if you are to meet in a few days to work on solving a problem, define the problem as well as possible and ask yourself for solutions now. By the time your meeting takes place the process has long been underway.<br />
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3 For complicated requests think of the collective unconscious requiring “ TIME ” to make all of the manifesting connections. Know that it is being worked on, and that some ideas may never be revealed due for example to conflicting interests. <br />
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4. Think of INTENTION as a means of transmitting importance, hence priority. Assign the degree of intention .<br />
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5. Let it all go with gratitude, in effect knowing that it will take time for your partners to generate for you depending upon the difficulty and appreciating their effort.<br />
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6. Now that the context has been established enter into the content generation phase and harvest the results. Think of employing various idea generation techniques (content) as a means of making and strengthening the connections. (for example: mind mapping, thinking in pictures, lateral thinking, 1000 mile an hour thinking, listing bad ideas to stumble upon good ones, throwing away all of the initial ideas to get to those in the outer orbits, combine different fields of expertise etc.). <br />
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7. In addition to actual “aha” of an idea received, be open to all forms of inputs especially synchronicities to lead you to people, symbols, and resources which may ultimately convey an answer. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://joyce-anthony.blogspot.com"><img alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/tech-fav-1.png" /></a></div><div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">For more great book reviews and author interviews, visit Books and Authors at http://joyce-anthony.blogspot.com</div>Joyce Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16406383790048223850noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7608280730277367134.post-39192226515328512532011-03-10T04:09:00.001-05:002011-03-10T04:12:14.191-05:00Sandy Sims, Frank Lloyd Wright and Creativity<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjC4Di-OYQdHEKJ-tMsVBE-z71O77D6gOK3qNZ0Fmuc3I-7fDGRkYvahxGutIMExLCwf5PTVaLsru4ussGeNAauwNBdAtjiTK-dL8yG4XPexOtljodYufvuXNzV1zO2k7zQhtGuU9zJ_c/s1600/Covers+-+Sandy+Sims.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjC4Di-OYQdHEKJ-tMsVBE-z71O77D6gOK3qNZ0Fmuc3I-7fDGRkYvahxGutIMExLCwf5PTVaLsru4ussGeNAauwNBdAtjiTK-dL8yG4XPexOtljodYufvuXNzV1zO2k7zQhtGuU9zJ_c/s320/Covers+-+Sandy+Sims.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Creativity is one of those words that conjures up a multitude of images. It is something that seems readily available and yet strangely elusive at times. Sandy Sims found inspiration in the work of Frank Lloyd Wright. Over the next few days, I will be sharing much from the mind of Sandy Sims--and I guarantee you will find it all inspiring.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sandy Sims was raised and educated in the South. After serving as Naval Officer and finishing graduate business school, he followed a dream to live in Honolulu where he built one of Hawaii's most successful advertising agencies. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The crisis of personal health and business setbacks opened the way to larger spiritual dimensions including a long association with the Caddy family, founders of the Findhorn Spiritual Community in Scotland His book,”<em>How Frank Lloyd Wright Got Into My Head, Under My Skin And Changed The Way I Think About Thinking, A Creative Thinking Blue Print For the 21st Century,”</em> is a memoir of his journey culminating in a 20 year project with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He has collaborated with Psychiatrist, Kerry Monick MD, and authored <em>Creative Thinking For The 21st Century, An Experiential Guidebook.</em> Accepting the science that our intention does indeed affect the material world, it addresses what to be thinking about, how to shape these thoughts, and what might be the best way to avoid unintended consequences. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When not travelling, Sandy resides in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico where you can find him writing, playing tennis, poking around with his camera and embracing a new culture.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tomorrow, I will be sharing a guest post from Sandy, along with a video. Later this week, there is an interview to look forward to and my review of both the book and workbook. Don't forget to come back so you don't miss anything!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For more information about Sandy Sims and <em><b>How Frank Lloyd Wright Got Into My Head, Under My Skin And Changed The Way I Think About Thinking, A Creative Thinking Blue Print For the 21st Century</b></em>, visit </span><a href="http://creativethinkingbook.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://creativethinkingbook.com/</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and visit this page to get the Amazon links </span><a href="http://creativethinkingbook.com/buy-your-copy/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://creativethinkingbook.com/buy-your-copy/</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.creativethinkingbook.com/"></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://joyce-anthony.blogspot.com"><img alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/tech-fav-1.png" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">For more great book reviews and author interviews, visit Books and Authors at http://joyce-anthony.blogspot.com</div>Joyce Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16406383790048223850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7608280730277367134.post-27490437714015299692011-03-02T05:03:00.000-05:002011-03-02T05:03:54.062-05:00Emotional Freedom --Dr. Judith Orloff helps you move onward and upward<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7lSp0Z8bwOJvmJMPKIO1GkXpX3LyZwo_Vwh3SGfMJIPhUPWWAkNaNUxAb2unOXb8qpt_mkX2v2qpPZ3jXB7pIkOAlZ5Q5ddkI88PcHYI1hgarL1kYM-YNZ4MKQPlTPrY1I4RI2CXsO0A/s1600/home-EF-book-v3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7lSp0Z8bwOJvmJMPKIO1GkXpX3LyZwo_Vwh3SGfMJIPhUPWWAkNaNUxAb2unOXb8qpt_mkX2v2qpPZ3jXB7pIkOAlZ5Q5ddkI88PcHYI1hgarL1kYM-YNZ4MKQPlTPrY1I4RI2CXsO0A/s1600/home-EF-book-v3.jpg" /></a></div>We all have emotions that tend to be so strong they block out all others. Negative emotions are the worse for doing this. Fear, discouragement, disappointment and many others fall into this category. Judith Orloff understands how destructive these emotions can be; she also understands how difficult it can be to get past these emotions and replace them with the positive ones that can move you forward. This is where <em>Emotional Freedom</em> comes in.<br />
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In <em>Emotional Freedom</em>, Dr. Orloff shows you first how to determine what emotional type you are. She then continues to explain what negative emotions exist and how they can cause both physical and emotional pain and stagnation. Rather than leave readers to figure out what steps are necessary to achieve this change, she includes Emotional Action Steps throughout the book. These steps are easy to carry out and you can feel the improvement quickly. Dr. Orloff also includes mini-quizzes throughout the book to help you assess whether or not you need improvement in certain areas.<br />
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I have been a fan of Judith Orloff for some time now, so was looking forward to reviewing <em>Emotional Freedom.</em> My anticipation did not go unrewarded. I learned a great many new strategies to deal with emotions as I read. Being a self-help junkie, I don't often discover new ideas in this area any longer. It was a nice surprise to discover new ways. I especially like her section on emotional vampires and how to deal with them. <br />
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Dr. Orloff writes with a conversational tone that feels like a friend is explaining concepts to you. Her direct approach gives off a confidence that you can't help but feel enter your own thinking as you read. The book is written in short sections that allow for gaining insight in short periods of time. In today's world of constant activity, we don't often have the pleasure of a few hours of reading time all at once. With this book, I found myself hoping for waiting tme so I could see what was next.<br />
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We all have negative emotions of one type or another that we wish weren't so huge in our lives. Emotional Freedom addresses them all, allowing each reader to discover for themselves the pleasure derived from turning the negative into positive. If you have ever felt deep emotional pain, this is a must have book, best kept on your nightstand rather than on a crowded bookshelf. You will want to keep it near.<br />
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Emotional Freedom rates 6 colors on the Rainbow Scale. <br />
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To purchase the book and receive your "Celebrate Joy" special gift collection go to:<br />
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<a href="http://www.drjudithorloff.com/emotional-freedom-paperback/">http://www.drjudithorloff.com/emotional-freedom-paperback/</a> <br />
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<a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://joyce-anthony.blogspot.com"><img alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/tech-fav-1.png" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">For more great book reviews and author interviews, visit Books and Authors at http://joyce-anthony.blogspot.com</div>Joyce Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16406383790048223850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7608280730277367134.post-80940422559320157312011-03-01T05:39:00.001-05:002011-03-01T05:41:46.459-05:00<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/AxNXIo5oGxc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
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The above video shows Dr. Judith Orloff speaking about one of the barriers to emotional freedom. Tomorrow, I will be posting my review of <em>Emotional Freedom. </em><br />
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Dr. Orloff celebrates the exciting paperback launch of her New York Times bestseller Emotional Freedom: Liberate Yourself from Negative Emotions and Transform Your Life. She is treating you to an incredible one-time book-launch offer with special gifts from herself and friends such as Dr. Daniel Amen, Dr. Joan Borysenko, Dr. Michael Beckwith, and more!<br />
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To purchase the book and receive your "Celebrate Joy" special gift collection go to:<br />
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<a href="http://www.drjudithorloff.com/emotional-freedom-paperback/">http://www.drjudithorloff.com/emotional-freedom-paperback/</a> <br />
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In <em>Emotional Freedom</em> Dr. Orloff states:<br />
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“I’m presenting the unique process I use with patients and in my own life to view emotions as a path to spiritual and intuitive awakening (not EFT). I synthesize traditional medicine with energy medicine to offer you new tools to master emotions and become heroes in your own life. Inner peace leads to outer peace in the world.”<br />
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Publisher's Weekly’s review of <em>Emotional Freedom</em> says:<br />
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“Superbly written..Dr. Orloff regards emotions as a training ground for the soul, and views ‘every victory over fear, anxiety, and resentment as a way to develop your spiritual muscles.’”<br />
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<em>Emotional Freedom</em> has rave reviews from USA Today, Dr. Candace Pert, Christiane Northrup, M.D., Caroline Myss, Dean Ornish, M.D., and Mary Oliver, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet. They call it “spectacular,” “a must-read,” “a heartfelt, accessible guide,” and “resolutely compassionate.”<br />
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In the book, you will discover:<br />
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• Four questions to transform fear with courage<br />
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• What your emotional type is<br />
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• How to stop absorbing the emotions of others<br />
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• How to combat emotional vampires with compassion<br />
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• The spiritual meaning of depression and hope<br />
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Purchase book and claim your "Celebrate Joy" special gift collection at:<br />
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<a href="http://www.drjudithorloff.com/emotional-freedom-paperback/">http://www.drjudithorloff.com/emotional-freedom-paperback/</a> <br />
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If you'd like to liberate yourself from negative emotions and compassionately own the moment in all situations instead of just reacting when your buttons get pushed go to:<br />
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<a href="http://www.drjudithorloff.com/emotional-freedom-paperback/">http://www.drjudithorloff.com/emotional-freedom-paperback/</a><br />
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Nelson Mandela said: “As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” Help liberate others and please share this announcement with them. Your support makes us happy and grateful! <br />
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For more inspiration and to learn about the Emotional Freedom book tour schedule and sign up for our affiliate program visit DrJudithOrloff.com<br />
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<em></em><em></em><div class="blogger-post-footer">For more great book reviews and author interviews, visit Books and Authors at http://joyce-anthony.blogspot.com</div>Joyce Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16406383790048223850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7608280730277367134.post-42181339153492295072011-02-10T05:47:00.000-05:002011-02-10T05:47:00.098-05:00Penny Lockwood Stops By for a VisitI have the pleasure today and tomorrow of sharing a wonderful author with everyone. Penny Lockwood is on tour with her newest book, and antholgy of half fantasy and half science fiction. Tomorrow, I will share my thoughts on this book, but I'd like to take a moment to introduce Penny, share the contents of this book and give you some blog addresses to visit. If you get a chance, please stop by and give these bloggers a great big hello :-)<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRVUhs6T44szxn1Iz0wZpAl6euGXvnLdSw72bsfAXOGQBbUURN6LgYtbmoGGR92LRYQIALjWu4-ZfkMBUYNsuGHbuM8QP_WylLzfoyEnKvaAUw4o5n3Qx2VEY-Y57-iHht0Agkl_4SmWA/s1600/APAAF002a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRVUhs6T44szxn1Iz0wZpAl6euGXvnLdSw72bsfAXOGQBbUURN6LgYtbmoGGR92LRYQIALjWu4-ZfkMBUYNsuGHbuM8QP_WylLzfoyEnKvaAUw4o5n3Qx2VEY-Y57-iHht0Agkl_4SmWA/s320/APAAF002a.jpg" width="222" /></a></div>A PAST AND A FUTURE<br />
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BY PENNY LOCKWOOD EHRENKRANZ<br />
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PUBLISHED BY SAMS DOT PUBLISHING<br />
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A COLLECTION OF SIXTEEN FANTASY AND SOFT SCIENCE FICTION STORIES WITH A TOUCH OF ROMANCE<br />
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FLIGHT OF THE ROC – Girl collides with a roc as she struggles to find her magic powers.<br />
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BLURRED VENGEANCE – Vain and aggressive, Temur ignores the warnings as he seeks vengeance for his father’s death.<br />
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WHO WILL HEAL THE HEALER – How can a young sorceress save her mentor when the powers of darkness threaten?<br />
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ASHLEY OF ASHLAND – Will the plain, younger brother win the heart of the fair princess or be executed as a traitor?<br />
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THE WATCHER – Her vision causes her to become a betrayer of all she holds dear. Can she be saved?<br />
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ENCHANTRESS – Merlin knows the one he loves will be his downfall, but can he win in the end?<br />
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DRAKONI – Torn from her modern day world and thrust into a world of dragons, evil magicians, and handsome elves, will Farah succeed or die trying?<br />
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HESHE- Forced to hide as a young man, will the young noble woman tell her benefactor who she is, or will her pursuers capture her and take her back into slavery?<br />
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THE BABY MAKERS – In a world where cloning is possible, will Reese be able to save his illegal newborn child from a government determined to make her a non-citizen?<br />
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3-D PICTURES – The government thinks he is crazy and sends him to a shrink. What will Avery do when the elves appear in the 3-D picture in the waiting room? Go or allow himself to be “cured?”<br />
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SCREEN SAVER – The program arrives as a demo. Will it be Clancy’s ticket to survival or a rip-off which brings him to destruction?<br />
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ISOLATION- The world as we know it is gone. The rich are isolated from the dying poor. Will Caryn and Rader make the right decision when they search for freedom?<br />
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LOVE IN A DIFFERENT HUE – What would you do if a blue-skinned robot wanted to protect and love you? Chiri isn’t sure until he takes her in his arms.<br />
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DOWN SO LOW, THE GROUND LOOKS LIKE UP – Sylvan drinks herself into oblivion to compensate for her psi talents. Can Deveneaux save her from her demons, or will he lock her up for propositioning an officer of the law?<br />
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REBELS WITH A CAUSE – Shayleena is tired of living her life through holovision. She wants a real life with real people. Will she find it as a volunteer for juvenile offenders, or will she be mugged and left to die?<br />
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CLOCKWORKS – John lives in Structured. His ancestors came from a country where time means nothing. What will he do when he tries to trace his roots and finds his structured life is now in chaos?<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvgSYn59vjJpsVb82u2Ed3cMP-BE0Iw51-_rIypq74KP2pS0-GTM8OjQApflludHS3_kS6IEy9MYydxbEB8HwwjwjTX0baNVnXteLcekF_Ga-zAa7AWe8d-X76B67KU_GyZe1GYKvt3hA/s1600/Author+Photo%2528Altered%252C+Rotation%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvgSYn59vjJpsVb82u2Ed3cMP-BE0Iw51-_rIypq74KP2pS0-GTM8OjQApflludHS3_kS6IEy9MYydxbEB8HwwjwjTX0baNVnXteLcekF_Ga-zAa7AWe8d-X76B67KU_GyZe1GYKvt3hA/s1600/Author+Photo%2528Altered%252C+Rotation%2529.jpg" /></a><a href="http://pennylockwoodehrenkranz.yolasite.com/">http://pennylockwoodehrenkranz.yolasite.com/</a> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">If you hop on over to <a href="http://pennylockwoodehrenkranz.yolasite.com/bio.php">http://pennylockwoodehrenkranz.yolasite.com/bio.php</a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">you can read an excellent bio of Penny--much better than I could write!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Don't forget to stop by tomorrow for my review of this book. In the meantime, below is a list of the other stops on Penny's tour--enjoy!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">A PAST AND A FUTURE Blog Tour</div><br />
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<a href="http://ciaragold.blogspot.com/">http://ciaragold.blogspot.com/</a> - Feb. 1, Jamie Bevans<br />
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<a href="http://www.seriouslyinterviewed.blogspot.com/">http://www.seriouslyinterviewed.blogspot.com/</a> - Feb 1, Romance Reader<br />
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<a href="http://mgddasef.blogspot.com/">http://mgddasef.blogspot.com/</a> Marva Dasef – Feb 2<br />
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<a href="http://bit.ly/f2evHV">http://bit.ly/f2evHV</a> - Feb. 2 - Professor Baker <br />
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<a href="http://janiefranz.wordpress.com/">http://janiefranz.wordpress.com/</a> / Janie Franz – Feb 3<br />
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<a href="http://heatherkuehl.blogspot.com/">http://heatherkuehl.blogspot.com/</a> - Feb 4, Heather Kuehl <br />
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<a href="http://barbaraehrentreu.blogspot.com/">http://barbaraehrentreu.blogspot.com/</a> - Feb 5, Barbara Ehrentreu<br />
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<a href="http://lovesbooksandmore.blogspot.com/">http://lovesbooksandmore.blogspot.com/</a> - Feb 6, Dawn Roberto<br />
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<a href="http://jaletaclegg.blogspot.com/">http://jaletaclegg.blogspot.com/</a> Feb 7, Aleta Clegg<br />
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<a href="http://www.jqroseauthor.blogspot.com/">http://www.jqroseauthor.blogspot.com/</a> - Feb 8, J Q Rose<br />
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<a href="http://lizzietleaf.blogspot.com/">http://lizzietleaf.blogspot.com/</a> - Feb 9, Lizzie Lea<br />
<a href="http://www.longandshortreviews.com/">http://www.longandshortreviews.com/</a> Feb 10 - Judy LASR 13 Stories from APAAF <br />
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<a href="http://www.kaydeeroyal.blogspot.com/">http://www.kaydeeroyal.blogspot.com/</a> Feb 12, Kay Dee Royal<br />
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<a href="http://mizging.blogspot.com/">http://mizging.blogspot.com/</a> Feb 13, Ginger Simpson<br />
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<a href="http://writerschatroom.com/">http://writerschatroom.com/</a> Feb 13, 7 PM EST, The Writer’s Chat room<br />
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<a href="http://kellyaharmon.com/">http://kellyaharmon.com/</a> Feb 14 Kelly Harmon <br />
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<a href="http://www.suhalfwerk.blogspot.com/">http://www.suhalfwerk.blogspot.com/</a> Feb 15 - Su Halfwerk <br />
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<a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://joyce-anthony.blogspot.com"><img alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/tech-fav-1.png" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">For more great book reviews and author interviews, visit Books and Authors at http://joyce-anthony.blogspot.com</div>Joyce Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16406383790048223850noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7608280730277367134.post-61513448760543367302011-01-25T06:41:00.000-05:002011-01-25T06:41:33.006-05:00Losing Your Only by Dr. Debi Yohn -- A ReviewLife has an order about it that we have all come to expect, even if we haven't thought about it. We are born and we grow, become adults and usually parents. We grow older and eventually pass on. In spite of this fairly predictable cycle, the order of things sometimes change and we are faced with losing a child. Whenever this occurs, grief seems deeper than we can ever imagine. When the child is our only one, the grief can be even deeper, for not only do we lose our child, we lose our identity as a parent.<br />
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Dr. Debi Yohn lost her son when he was only twenty. In her book,<em> Losing Your Only</em>, she bares her soul as she relates the process she went through. This isn't just her story, however, because she offers advice between the pieces of her story. Using her experience, she reaches out to other parents who have lost their only child and helps them understand the process they will go through, giving helpful advice on how to best deal with each stage of the process.<br />
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<em>Losing Your Only</em> isn't a "get over and go on" book. I really liked the fact that Dr. Yohn tells readers that they will question. She is honest about the depth of pain. She is also positive in her assertion that things do get better with time. She acknowledges they won't be the same, but they will be better. The author found her greatest strength in spirituality. This book, however, isn't based on any particular religion. She states many times that the parent needs to reach toward their own Higher Power, follow their own cultural beliefs and traditions. What is most important is being able to reach out and accept the love and help of others.<br />
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I also found the process described by Dr. Yohn as one that can help any parent, anywhere get through the death of their only child. She brings hope and healing through her words and practical actions a parent can take, not just find a way talk. This is a book that should be available to anyone who has ever felt the loss of a child. It is a subject so often avoided in written material, but it needs to be available--and Dr. Debi Yohn allowed her grief to push her forward to give hope to others. <br />
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<em>Losing Your Only</em> rates six colors on the Rainbow Scale.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">Thank you for your interest in <em>Losing Your Only</em>, by Dr Debi Yohn. This is a very personal story which helped Dr Yohn discover her purpose – to motivate and support parents and others to live life to their highest potential. The digital version of the book is currently available at <a href="http://losingyouronly.com/get-the-book/"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue;">http://losingyouronly.com/get-the-book/</span></b></a>. If you would like to be notified about the upcoming print and audio release, please visit this page and send Dr Debi your name and email address. </span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://joyce-anthony.blogspot.com"><img alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/tech-fav-1.png" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">For more great book reviews and author interviews, visit Books and Authors at http://joyce-anthony.blogspot.com</div>Joyce Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16406383790048223850noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7608280730277367134.post-38155726690216538382011-01-24T04:05:00.001-05:002011-01-24T04:06:12.297-05:00Dr. Debi Yohn On Losing Your OnlyDr Deb Yohn is my very special guest today and tomorrow. Dr. Yohn normally writes with a witty style that not only teaches both parents and children, but also entertains as well. Dan Poynter, author of <em>The Self Publishing Manual</em> describes Deb Yohn as "Dr.Phil with red hair and heels!" Dr. Yohn's current book, however, takes a different tone. <em>Losing Your Only </em>came about from personal tradgedy--and the courage and strength it took to get through it. Deb explains this book's origin best:<br />
<br />
A Comment From Dr Debi About Losing Your Only<br />
<br />
<br />
"My current book, <em>Losing Your Only</em> is written to the Parents or Loved Ones that have lost an only child. This book is written from my own personal experience. When my only child was killed in a car accident, my life took a different path. I was living in Shanghai China. He was going to college in USA. In my grief, I discovered that my purpose is to motivate, and support parents and all clients live to their life potential. Losing a child is horrific, losing an only child brings it up a notch. So what do we do with that kind of experience? We have decisions to make. We can live or we can die with the child. I decided not only to live, but to thrive"<br />
<br />
Tomorrow, please stop by and see my review of this book.<br />
<br />
.Dr. Debi is an accomplished international psychologist, author, mentor, mother and speaker with 32 years of the most remarkable experience anyone could imagine.<br />
<br />
<br />
She began her career in psychology helping families in the poor rural south...where greetings were occasionally, "Please put the gun down...I'm a social worker not a revenuer."<br />
<br />
As she continued her education, she lived in Saudi Arabia for 7 years where she conducted team building workshops…and in spite of an arrest for an airspace violation, forced landing and resulting disagreement with a middle eastern general, she managed to “discuss” her (and her 87 fellow passengers) way to freedom.<br />
<br />
Back in the US, working for 2 Fortune 500 organizations, one in healthcare and one in insurance, quickly rose to the position of Director and skillfully avoided most “rightsizings” except the last one.<br />
<br />
She was thrown into crisis intervention when a nearby explosion in a manufacturing plant killed 12 workers and injured another 50. She was part of a team of early responders that helped the families of the deceased, injured and non-injured survivors deal with the emotional aftermath of such a devastating accident.<br />
<br />
Off on her next assignment of choice in China, she developed a private practice serving the English-speaking expatriate community of 300,000 providing psychological counseling and help for expats and their families adjusting to life abroad.<br />
<br />
Eating bloodworms (yes, a Chinese delicacy and as nasty as it sounds) at the home of a government official or helping to establish “Lifeline Shanghai” an English speaking 911 service to help expats in need are just 2 of her many interesting adventures.<br />
<br />
She has always felt that life teaches us what we need to learn and finding ways to learn those lessons as quickly and fully as possible helps improve the overall quality of the life experience.<br />
<br />
Fortunately, in our complicated, overscheduled, and often crazy world, Dr. Yohn teaches specific strategies to bring joy, serenity and relaxation to your life even when things don’t look so good.<br />
<br />
She has written four books and lectured on a wide variety of subjects related to parenting, mental health, adjusting to change, dealing with loss of a loved one and strategies for a success filled life.<br />
<br />
She currently lives between Huatulco, Mexico and Shanghai, China. She travels the world working with her clients, writing and managing her diversified business and charitable interests.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://joyce-anthony.blogspot.com"><img alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/tech-fav-1.png" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">For more great book reviews and author interviews, visit Books and Authors at http://joyce-anthony.blogspot.com</div>Joyce Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16406383790048223850noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7608280730277367134.post-34000717814593831622010-12-05T01:39:00.001-05:002011-01-25T07:09:06.082-05:00A Passion For WritingKarina and Rob Fabian are at it again! They have gathered twelve stories of faith and science fiction with the help of several other authors, to bring us <em>Infinite Space, Infinite God II</em>. The Catholic Press has this to say about this new collection:<br />
<br />
"The history of the Catholic Church is full of heroes: men and women of courage and conviction. Not only did these Catholic heroes live and die for their faith, but they saved others, fought valiantly, inspired the masses, and influenced nations.<br />
<br />
<br />
Now, <em>Infinite Space, Infinite God II</em> honors that legacy with twelve science fiction stories featuring Catholic heroes. Meet a time traveler who sacrifices his life to give a man a sip of water, and the nun who faces venomous snakes to save a friend. Share the adventures of priests who battle aliens and machines in order serve the greater good. <br />
<br />
<em>Infinite Space, Infinite God II</em> spans the gamut of science fiction, from near-future dystopias to time travel to space opera, puzzles of logic to laugh-out-loud humor and against-the-clock suspense. A great read for any science fiction fan--a must-read for the Catholic sci-fi lover."<br />
<br />
I had a chance to ask several of the authors the one question I feel keep a writer going through all the rejections, critiques and days when the Muse goes on vacation--<strong>What fuels your passion to write?</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>The answers:</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Karina Fabian:</strong> The characters. They tell me their stories, and if I don't write them out, it gets very crowded in my brain!<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Rob Fabian</strong>: My wife, Karina, fuels my passion for writing. I enjoy reading fiction, but she brought me into writing.<br />
<br />
<strong>Barton Levenson:</strong> Mostly daydreams, often fueled from books or manga I read or movies or TV or anime I watch.<br />
<br />
<strong>Alan Loewen:</strong> For years I have been an entertainer, first as a stage magician, then as a stage actor, and now, in this season of my life, as a writer. Through all of this, I have taken great delight in creating worlds of my own making and sharing it with others—to safely and courteously be a talented tour guide as I lead my audience through equal parts of wonder and danger (And who is to say they are not one and the same?)—and then hear the words, “Well done,” and Thank you.”<br />
<br />
<strong>John Rundle:</strong> I write to keep emotional pain at bay. Having a sense of accomplishment is what keeps me out of trouble. Science Fiction is particularly appealing since it forces me to use my imagination to its fullest, leaving very little room for anything else.<br />
<br />
<strong>Andrew Seddon</strong>: Well, let’s see. Several factors.<br />
<br />
1) Creativity. There is no scope for creativity at work, so I find that writing is a great outlet. I can create a world or character and (sometimes) have them do what I want. I enjoy playing the piano but have no skill at composition; ditto for painting; so I find that writing allows me to express myself in a creative manner. There are lots of personal touches and inside jokes in my stories. Characteristics of myself show up here and there. Sometimes, though, the characters are as different from me as possible!<br />
<br />
2) Learning. Since I write mostly either historical or science fiction, and since I like my stories to be as accurate as possible, that means I have to do considerable background research. I love learning about ancient people, how they lived, in what ways they were similar to ourselves, and in what ways different. For science fiction, I’m interested in what ways science will affect the future.<br />
<br />
3) Faith. For both fiction and non-fiction, writing is a way for me to express and share the Christian faith, sometimes overtly, sometimes in a more subtle manner. It is both incredible and humbling that other people will read something that I write, so I try to make sure my writings are edifying. I feel that it is a form of serving God and sharing the Faith.<br />
<br />
<strong>Jay Sherer:</strong> Whenever anybody asks me about "passion," my first thought is to ask them what the word even means. I think it probably has a different meaning for each person. For me, a passion for writing means that I just can't stop doing it. I've tried to quit before and I can't. I get an idea and I have to sit down and write it out. Nothing fuels that desire more than reading or viewing someone else's story. When I see or read a well told story it makes me want to sit down and write one of my own. I'm sure God is behind it all. But, movies, comic books, novels, and even art can be gasoline for my writing tank. Anything that captures my attention and engages my imagination.<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Tamara Wilhite</strong>: I have many ideas of how the world could be, and writing them in fictional format creates a world that others can see and experience - and hopefully choose to help create. <br />
<br />
…and because Alex really gets into his topic…<br />
<br />
Why I Write<br />
<br />
by <strong>Alex Lobdell, author of “The Battle of the Narthex” in Infinite Space Infinite God II.</strong><br />
<strong><br />
</strong><br />
Every job has its perks. People who know how to fix computers always have a lot of friends. Chefs get to wear hats that make them look really tall. Librarians never get work-related hearing loss. Supermodels don’t get traffic citations. Dieticians get to live to be 110 years old. <br />
<br />
Writing, too, offers some perks to its practitioners. Below are six reasons why I think writing is a fun and rewarding occupation.<br />
<br />
1. Present-tense immortality. If people talk about an author in literature classes, they always use present tense: “I think Shakespeare is saying here that we should…” “When George Eliot says this, what she really means is…” So even if you’re an author who has been dead for hundreds of years, people continue to talk about you like you’re still on the job, still thinking, still making your case. You are present to the readers, in every sense of the word. <br />
<br />
2. Freedom – you can go anywhere, do anything, be of any age, meet amazing people, travel through time, breathe underwater, fly, It’s like having a wonderful dream, but because you’re actually awake, you don’t have to worry about running in place when you’re being chased, giving a speech naked, falling from a high place, or having your body snatched by aliens and becoming a pod person. <br />
<br />
3. You learn about other people. If you write, that means you are probably interested in people, and by writing, you can actually become other people – male, female, old, young, someone who thinks like you, someone who thinks very differently from you. And sometimes your readers react to your writing in ways that you could never expect. What you thought was hilarious and brilliant just seems weird and stupid to others, and what you thought was a throw-away bit gets picked up on as something significant and profound. Thus, people both real and imaginary open your eyes to the world as seen beyond your own perspective. Of course if the real people, especially critics, dislike your writing, their perspective is wrong, but technically it’s a perspective nonetheless. <br />
<br />
4. You learn about yourself. You think you are just diligently applying your craft to meet a deadline and to stay out of the crosshairs of an agitated editor, when suddenly, you blink and the mask your character is wearing slips, and you catch a glimpse of the real face beneath it – a face you know. It may be a face you love, and it may be a face you loathe – but it’s a face that helped make you who you are, and when you see it – see that person whom you have made a part of yourself – you become a deeper person for it. <br />
<br />
5. You get to play. When we are children, our parents say, “Don’t just sit around in front of the TV! Go outside! Play!” The inherent message is that an active imagination is good, and sitting around all day staring at a screen is bad. Our parents even give us props to help us in our imaginative endeavors: toys! <br />
<br />
Then we have to grow up. We are told to pay attention. Focus. Attend to the matter at hand. Sit down in front of that computer screen. <br />
<br />
And some of us think, “Hey! No fair! Why were we allowed to have toys as children and encouraged to engage in imaginative fancies that would later just have to be disciplined out of us? I think that writers, deep down, still want to play. Writing is playing. Playing is learning. Learning is good. Sure, when we write as adults we don’t get to use as many of the cool props as we did as children (though admittedly there are two rubber knives, a plastic triceratops, a pair of walkie-talkies, and a fossil trilobite on my desk at the moment), and we’re still sitting in front of a screen, but as writers we’re still exercising our imagination – we’re still playing! And we get PAID for it sometimes!<br />
<br />
6. We get PAID for it sometimes!<br />
<br />
And that is why I write!<br />
<br />
Thanks for the wonderful answers, everyone!<br />
<br />
Here is a brief synopsis of the stories you will find within the pages of this collection:<br />
<br />
<u>Story Summaries</u><br />
<br />
<br />
<em>The Ghosts of Kourion</em> by Andrew Seddon: Professor Robert Cragg thought that he could escape the grief of losing his wife and daughter by traveling back in time to study a city soon to be destroyed by an earthquake. He felt safe in the fact that he could do nothing to save these people, but when he befriends a local family, however, he realizes he must try. In the end, he cannot save them, but he learns that if he cannot save the ghosts of Kourion, he can at least ease their sufferings.<br />
<br />
<em>Antivenin</em> by Karina Fabian: Three nuns from the Order of Our Lady of the Rescue offer help to a ship that is off-course and not answering hails. They find the ship crawling with venomous snakes who have killed their handler and bitten the pilot. When one bites her partner, Sister Rita must conquer her phobia and snatch the antivenin from their nest. <br />
<br />
<em>An Exercise in Logic</em> by Barton Paul Levenson: An ancient alien satellite has diverted an asteroid toward a human colony planet. The people who built the satellite refuse to veto programming logic installed by their ancestors. Can an Ursuline sister who is also an alien contact specialist change their minds?<br />
<br />
<em>Cathedral</em> by Tamara Wilhite: Katarina's kind were engineered to love scientific research and dedicate themselves to bettering mankind until their jumped-up neurology caused them to die an ignoble death while in their twenties. Perhaps Katarina could have lived with this, but when she discovers the medicines she created were actually drugs to control the population, she spends the last of her tortured days righting her wrongs.<br />
<br />
<em>Otherworld</em> by Karina Fabian: Father Jonas is haunted by the loss of his mother, who died while in a virtual reality world. As a priest, he's driven to evangelize to the players in Otherworld--to remind them of reality and the God who cares about what they do on both worlds.<br />
<br />
<em>The Battle of the Narthex</em> by Alex Lobdell: What do you get when you mix a royal assassination, alien militia and the Saturday night Mass-and-Spaghetti dinner? Battle of the Narthex tickels the funny bone and touches the heart! <br />
<br />
<em>Tenniel</em> by Colleen Drippe': Bishop Tenniel must fight the leader of the Wolfbane clan to win the conversion of the tribe to Christianity, saving their lives as well as their souls. Another exciting tale from Colleen Drippe's Lost Rythar universe.<br />
<br />
<em>Tin Servants</em> by J Sherer: Father Paul's desire to serve his people in war-torn Ghana that he allowed himself to altered to resemble the androids sent to provide medical help. Once there, however, he finds himself limited in the comfort he can offer, and embroiled in a conspiracy to convert the andorginacs into soldiers.<br />
<br />
<em>Basilica</em> by John Rundle: A Navy buddy needs help fixing up an old clunker of a spacecraft and Father Carpizo arrives to do his old friend a long overdue favor. As he turns wrenches, however, Carpizo finds a mystery to whet his appetite: a riddle deep rooted in the history of the Church. The scholarly priest unwittingly uncovers a dark secret which others have paid for with their lives. He is suddenly confronted by unspeakable evil and now Carpizo must make the ultimate sacrifice to destroy it…if only there is enough time.<br />
<br />
<em>Cloned to Kill</em> by D. Mak: The power of Baptism helps a clone programmed to kill find her humanity--but to what lengths will Father Markham have to go to protect his new ward?<br />
<br />
<em>Frankie Phones Home</em> by Karina Fabian: Sixteen-year-old Frankie was kidnapped by aliens who wanted to understand the mysteries of her human religion. Now, as they return to Earth to make First Contact, Frankie calls her family.<br />
<br />
<em>Dyads,</em> Ken Pick and Alan Loewen: Father Heidler's latest assignment takes him to Cathuria, where the Catholic Church and all of Earth are blamed when a failed missionary's desperation boils over into terrorism. With the planet in the midst of riots and the Archbishop/Ambassador to Cathuria severely injured in a retaliatory strike, Father Heidler negotiates a delicate maze of politics and religious convictions to find a way to restore peace and reconcile the two worlds<br />
<br />
Before you go on with your day, take a moment to leave a comment for these fine authors--and check out the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiniyIMno7o">book trailer</a> ! <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://joyce-anthony.blogspot.com"><img alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/tech-fav-1.png" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">For more great book reviews and author interviews, visit Books and Authors at http://joyce-anthony.blogspot.com</div>Joyce Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16406383790048223850noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7608280730277367134.post-58348297579823784382010-10-29T15:00:00.001-04:002010-10-29T15:01:34.611-04:00Harvest Moon by Krista Ball - A Review <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq7g54Jp2UXpZZI5AjT4wTUdsMVYoZlkf97aYoOMk1HDuRK84BZfPaFi4GYR6BK8YMMKoCYLibcKHNr7x5ar8wg_fyj0bzkn-xEiMiRGalbMh8dNvd6VUdQTzxqfzg84-WzLYqwTqR7d0/s200/HarvestMoon200X300.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="133" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/purchase%20link:%20https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage-ask.tpl&product_id=22&category_id=2&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1">Click here to purchase</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table> Harvest Moon, 2010<br />
<br />
<br />
Paranormal Fantasy<br />
<br />
ISBN: 978-0-9865875-0-4 <br />
<br />
Pages: 35<br />
<br />
Word count: 10,000<br />
<br />
Price: $2.50<br />
<br />
Available in PDF, epub, prc<br />
<br />
<br />
Krista D. Ball allows her talent full reign in <em>Harvest Moon</em>. I found myself glued to the screen from the start to the end. The twists and turns in plot sent me on a wild ride of surprise, anticipation increasing with each new direction. Part romance, part paranormal and all captivating--this story contains the proper amount of each, making it a story that will appeal to a wide audience. <br />
<br />
<em>Harvest Moon</em> is character-oriented. Krista's characters are well-developed without being so developed the reader is left with nothing to fill in. I was able to visualize each one, hear their voices as I read and felt as thugh I knew each one personally. Readers will find themselves drawn into Dancing Cat's world completely, and wishing they could follow her on her journey after the story ends.<br />
<br />
<em>Harvest Moon</em> earns six colors on the Rainbow Scale.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://joyce-anthony.blogspot.com"><img alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/tech-fav-1.png" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">For more great book reviews and author interviews, visit Books and Authors at http://joyce-anthony.blogspot.com</div>Joyce Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16406383790048223850noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7608280730277367134.post-54444620443526412062010-10-28T01:38:00.000-04:002010-10-28T01:38:41.276-04:00An Excerpt from Harvest Moon by Krista D. BallYesterday we caught a glimpse of <a href="http://www.kristadball.com/">Krista Ball's</a> latest work. Today, I want to share with you an excerpt from <a href="https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage-ask.tpl&product_id=22&category_id=2&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid"><em>Harvest Moon</em></a> and tomorrow will review it. Enjoy and consider leaving a comment for Krista.<br />
<br />
***<br />
<em>Harvest Moon</em><br />
<br />
<br />
Cross-legged, Dancing Cat sat pounding the sun-dried Saskatoon berries between two hand-sized rocks. The stone, her hands, and her buckskin dress all bore the tell-tale signs of berry duty. Streaks of red dye, impossible to clean, striped her clothing and tanned skin. She tried pushing her hair off her cheeks, only to have the sticky residue coating her fingers glue the dark strands in place. The black flies swarmed and buzzed, ready to feast.<br />
<br />
She worked in silence as part of the greater circle of twenty women, who chatted as they worked. Dancing Cat had no reason to join in. They only spoke to her to criticize or belittle, never for companionship. The band no longer even called her by name.<br />
<br />
Her attention faded away from her work. She stared past the women to catch a glimpse of Eagle Eyes, her brother, mounting his horse. He was only six years older than her and already leading hunting parties, while she sat, docile and obedient, making powdered berries. His gaze caught hers, full of warning. She looked away with the heaviness of her situation pressing against her chest. Dancing Cat pounded her berries harder, trying to crush her own aching loneliness.<br />
<br />
“I wish I could ride again,” she mumbled.<br />
<br />
Her mother, Crow, glared at her. “I have no patience for you today. We have berries to crush. Shall I remind you why we need them?”<br />
<br />
“No,” Dancing Cat said, sullen. They couldn’t start the pemmican cakes without the berries. Without them, they would starve when winter fell. She’d heard the lecture many times before and did not want to hear it again. <br />
<br />
“Good. Put aside your childishness and work in silence, Cursed One.”<br />
<br />
Dancing Cat swallowed down the slight. She remained silent against the grunts and nods of the other women. She dropped her gaze, making snide, internal comments about how her mother’s black hair no longer resembled a crow’s blue-black feathers. It made her feel better, petty though it was.<br />
<br />
Some days, she saw herself as Cursed One instead of her name. But today was not one of those days. Today, she was still the girl who wriggled out of the womb twenty years before and was joyously named Dancing Cat. Today, she hated her duty and silence. But she would do both and would not complain. One day, she would escape into death and be free.<br />
<br />
Using a sharp stone, she scraped the mound of berry powder off the buckskin in front of her into the main pile. She dumped several handfuls of the tiny Saskatoon berries back on her ragged buckskin to resume pounding. But not before licking her fingers clean of the tart, feathery residue. No one noticed.<br />
<br />
“Creator wills it, the men will bring home a buffalo from the hunt,” Crow said to the other women, who nodded in agreement.<br />
<br />
Dancing Cat let her mind wander as the women chatted about the tribe’s need for a buffalo. The herd would move southeast in another moon cycle and so the entire tribe would move with them before the final move into their winter camp. Faded memories of riding ahead of the hunt flashed across her mind; images so foreign that she wondered if they were true anymore.<br />
<br />
A chill crept up her spine. The late summer wind had turned cold. She flicked her gaze back to the hunting party. The rest of the men mounted their horses and galloped off to the nearby buffalo herd. She sighed, remembering the freedom of riding. She had been their tribe’s first female messenger. She missed it.<br />
<br />
“Cursed One! Pay attention. You are chipping your rock. If I find stone in my cakes this winter, I will take yours and let you go without.” Her grandmother glared at her, her thin lips pursed. “Stop daydreaming.”<br />
<br />
Dancing Cat stared at her grandmother, trying to control her tone. “Sorry, Nohkom. I was just…”<br />
<br />
“Daydreaming,” Hawk Sight snapped. “We expect you to do your share of work. If you do not, you will be the first to starve this winter.”<br />
<br />
Dancing Cat hung her head, fingers trembling from the nauseating mix of anger and fear. She bit back the disrespectful words that boiled inside her. Hawk Sight was not just her maternal grandmother, but also the band healer and an elder. No one would dare speak back to her, let alone the band exile. <br />
<br />
She looked up at the several generations of women around her. The nodding heads and smug looks told her that the threat of starvation was real. She pushed her grandmother’s words out of her mind by grinding the berries perfectly between the two flat rocks.<br />
<br />
“Remember Stoney?”<br />
<br />
Dancing Cat slumped. Hawk Sight never could let things go.<br />
<br />
“She thought she could laze around while we women worked. But when we ran out of food that winter, she was the one left to starve. We don’t need lazy women.”<br />
<br />
“Yes, Nohkom.” <br />
<br />
And on it went for the afternoon, story after miserable story about women who starved to death. It would have been bad enough for just her grandmother to have told the stories. Instead, the others joined in, telling of captured Red Valley, Cree or Inuit wives who had been left to starve when food stores ran low. All at her grandmother’s say. Hawk Sight might have been a great healer, but she was also cold and merciless in Dancing Cat’s opinion.<br />
<br />
They told the stories to make her work harder, but it had the opposite effect. Her work slowed. She could not stand up for herself against an entire band, but she could refuse to obey the people who threatened to kill her. If they wanted her to die, then they could starve, too.<br />
<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://joyce-anthony.blogspot.com"><img alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/tech-fav-1.png" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">For more great book reviews and author interviews, visit Books and Authors at http://joyce-anthony.blogspot.com</div>Joyce Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16406383790048223850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7608280730277367134.post-61791834271994874172010-10-27T05:52:00.000-04:002010-10-27T05:52:46.444-04:00Meet Krista D. BallOver the next couple of days, I'd like everyone to welcome science fiction author <a href="http://www.kristadball.com/index.php">Krista D. Ball</a>. Krista has a new book out called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Harvest-Moon-ebook/dp/B0042JUAIC">Harvest Moon</a> .Here is what Krista's main character has to say about what she is about to embark upon:<br />
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As I sat on the bank of the swallow river, the drums pounding in the distance, I asked myself why the ancestors abandoned me. I had always behaved the way my elders taught me. I worked hard, shared with those around me, and never took more from the Earth than what I needed. I listened to my chief and my elders and respected the wisdom that the Spirits offered them. Why, then, would I be called “Cursed One”, never to be a person again?<br />
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The crowd in the distance sang and whooped in excitement, rhythmic drums echoing back to my isolated patch of ground. My job during the Gathering consisted of fetching water from the cold stream. Fearful of my presence polluting the festivities and angering the ancestors, several small children were designated to collect the bladders of water from me and run them back to the celebrating people. I could not even bring the water itself.<br />
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I was no longer Dancing Cat, messenger of my people. I was Cursed One. I would not experience the opening of the Sacred Bundle and receive guidance.<br />
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I looked out and over the endless field of grass opposite of the river and sighed. Someday, I will find a way to deliver myself. Even if I have to call upon death to rescue me.<br />
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Tomorrow, I will share with you an excerpt from Harvest Moon. Today, I leave you with this:<br />
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<a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://joyce-anthony.blogspot.com"><img alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/tech-fav-1.png" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">For more great book reviews and author interviews, visit Books and Authors at http://joyce-anthony.blogspot.com</div>Joyce Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16406383790048223850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7608280730277367134.post-73715196463309111502010-10-26T00:01:00.006-04:002010-10-26T00:01:00.244-04:00Women Can Succeed in Business--A Lecture By Barbara Weaver SmithTo finish off our visit with Dr. Smith, I'd like to share with you a very inspirational talk she gave. Enjoy!<br />
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<embed id=VideoPlayback src=http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=203417952973835407&hl=en&fs=true style=width:400px;height:326px allowFullScreen=true allowScriptAccess=always type=application/x-shockwave-flash> </embed><br />
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The Whale Hunters is a strategic sales coaching company that helps small businesses achieve explosive growth by landing bigger deals with bigger customers. Our business development process has consistently helped hundreds of companies create a repeatable, disciplined sales culture that optimizes the company’s ability to land and harvest whale-sized accounts in any economic climate.<br />
<br />
<br />
Small business is the best way to reinvigorate the American economy. Barbara Weaver Smith, founder of The Whale Hunters, shares a lot of information of benefit to business people who want to grow their business. The question is how can small businesses grow at a rate that will show results sooner rather than later? That’s where The Whale Hunters comes in – and we invite you to register for a free account which gives you access to the wealth of information on the new expanded Whale Hunters website– <a href="http://www.thewhalehunters.com/">http://www.thewhalehunters.com/</a> <br />
<br />
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<a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://joyce-anthony.blogspot.com"><img alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/tech-fav-1.png" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">For more great book reviews and author interviews, visit Books and Authors at http://joyce-anthony.blogspot.com</div>Joyce Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16406383790048223850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7608280730277367134.post-79988519440002721662010-10-25T00:01:00.001-04:002010-10-25T00:01:04.011-04:00Freelancing and Whale Hunting -- Guest Post by Barbara Weaver SmithDr. Barbara Weaver Smith has kindly offered a guest post today. Read on for some wonderful advice:<br />
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<u>Freelance Whale Hunting</u><br />
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If you have heard of my book, <em>Whale Hunting: How to Land Big Sales and Transform Your Company</em>, then you may know that ”whale hunting” is about growing your business by making bigger sales to bigger customers. It’s a business-to-business strategy typically undertaken by a team of people, not an individual freelancer.<br />
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That said, there are many whale hunting practices—strategies, tactics, and states of mind—that can be very useful to a “solopreneur.” You too can think like a whale hunter, act like a whale hunter, and sell like a whale hunter!<br />
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Today I’m going to offer three of the Whale Hunting practices that are useful to freelancers who want to grow their business.<br />
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1. Create Your Target Filter. This is a tool that helps you define your ideal customer. If you’re thinking like a whale hunter, your ideal customer is one that can give you orders that are ten to twenty times your current average job. You may have industry verticals, key needs that you fulfill, specific characteristics that make a prospect ideal for you. The goal is to identify characteristics of those clients who can provide you with continually recurring business, rather than selling piece by piece or project by project.<br />
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2. Populate Your Boat. The Whale Hunters define the “boat” as the team of people who hunt a particular whale. You, as a freelancer, may do all your hunting alone. But what could you hunt if you teamed up with some other freelancers—say, if you are a writer, team up with an illustrator and a graphic designer to offer a complete outsourced service? Or, if you want to go after big technical writing jobs (say, revising all of the Department of Motor Vehicles documents for a state), you could bid as a team of technical writers and design artists who can complete the entire project in record time. These are ways you can compete against larger companies.<br />
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3. Find Your Whales in Pods. If there is a particular kind of customer who is especially good for you, think about and research where these customers gather. With whom do they associate? What conferences, conventions, online communities, etc. draw them? What organizations do they join? Any time you can send a single message to a large number of ideal targets, you are whale hunting. Can you do a joint venture with a membership association, offering a discount to each of their members who engages your services.<br />
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Of course, there are as many flavors of freelance services as there are of ice cream. But if you are accustomed to finding your jobs one by one, if your customers do not have frequent repeat business to offer, or if you have to pass up bigger opportunities because you lack the capacity, these are problems that Whale Hunting can help you resolve.<br />
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I invite you to join our online sales and business development community at http://www.thewhalehunters.com . Basic membership is free. You will find the Target Filter and other tools for growing your business plus a wealth of resources dedicated to the fast growth of small companies.<br />
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Thank you, Joyce, for hosting me today!<br />
<br />
Barbara Weaver Smith<br />
<br />
October 2010<br />
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The Whale Hunters is a strategic sales coaching company that helps small businesses achieve explosive growth by landing bigger deals with bigger customers. Our business development process has consistently helped hundreds of companies create a repeatable, disciplined sales culture that optimizes the company’s ability to land and harvest whale-sized accounts in any economic climate.<br />
<br />
Small business is the best way to reinvigorate the American economy. Barbara Weaver Smith, founder of The Whale Hunters, shares a lot of information of benefit to business people who want to grow their business. The question is how can small businesses grow at a rate that will show results sooner rather than later? That’s where The Whale Hunters comes in – and we invite you to register for a free account which gives you access to the wealth of information on the new expanded Whale Hunters website– <a href="http://www.thewhalehunters.com/">http://www.thewhalehunters.com/</a> <br />
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***<br />
<a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://joyce-anthony.blogspot.com"><img alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/tech-fav-1.png" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">For more great book reviews and author interviews, visit Books and Authors at http://joyce-anthony.blogspot.com</div>Joyce Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16406383790048223850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7608280730277367134.post-78466718837954108962010-10-22T06:02:00.000-04:002010-10-22T06:02:07.564-04:00The Whale Hunters Website is GrowingNot long ago, I introduced you to Dr. Barbara Weaver Smith and her Whale Hunters book and website. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeenzOqDF5bOIDAGiX4MeP7O_3Y74EVHqvBznapzfLUNaYO6xg5DXVisiPOvRB0BPnqxJG5G58J4VrAsEOBOVpQW4QG8mIrumVJGLaWzQNemCc0BynXzDo7hImU9Pv0Z0FOwfov6G0DkQ/s1600/BWH+-+pink+jacket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeenzOqDF5bOIDAGiX4MeP7O_3Y74EVHqvBznapzfLUNaYO6xg5DXVisiPOvRB0BPnqxJG5G58J4VrAsEOBOVpQW4QG8mIrumVJGLaWzQNemCc0BynXzDo7hImU9Pv0Z0FOwfov6G0DkQ/s320/BWH+-+pink+jacket.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Dr. Barbara Weaver Smith, founder and president of The Whale Hunters<sup>®</sup>, has an exceptional leadership background that began in higher education and successfully transitioned to entrepreneurship. With partner Larry Smith, she built the consulting firm Smith Weaver Smith, Inc., now celebrating 15 years of significant achievement in the education and economic sectors. In 2004, Dr. Smith founded The Whale Hunters to bring this proven change-management process to small and mid-sized companies. Dr. Smith guides entrepreneurs, CEOs, and sales leaders with education, peer coaching, and team training on this winning process that has helped transform more than 300 companies and counting. </span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Visit <a href="http://www.thewhalehunters.com/"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: purple;">http://www.thewhalehunters.com</span></span></a> and <a href="http://blog.thewhalehunters.com/" target="_blank"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: blue;">http://blog.thewhalehunters.com</span></span></a> for much more information.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">As Dr. Smith and her staff attempt to improve the services they offer clients, they develop more programs to reach this goal. <span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The Whale Hunters is introducing Pier9, a new online community for entrepreneurs, small business owners, executives, and sales representatives who want to grow their business fast by making bigger sales to bigger customers. Pier9 offers a wide variety of resources for small business development: articles, podcasts, recorded teleconferences and webinars, blog, and new material produced daily and available 24/7. At Pier9 members can check the calendar of upcoming events, both virtual events and face-to-face events in their local communities, hosted by a Whale Hunters Certified Partner, located in many major markets throughout the United States and soon to be introduced in Europe.</span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Monday, I will be featuring a guest post from Dr. Barbara Weaver Smith telling reader how you too can obtain "big whale" accounts </span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The Whale Hunters is a strategic sales coaching company that helps small businesses achieve explosive growth by landing bigger deals with bigger customers. Our business development process has consistently helped hundreds of companies create a repeatable, disciplined sales culture that optimizes the company’s ability to land and harvest whale-sized accounts in any economic climate.</span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
Small business is the best way to reinvigorate the American economy. Barbara Weaver Smith, founder of The Whale Hunters, shares a lot of information of benefit to business people who want to grow their business. The question is how can small businesses grow at a rate that will show results sooner rather than later? That’s where The Whale Hunters comes in – and we invite you to register for a free account which gives you access to the wealth of information on the new expanded Whale Hunters website– <a href="http://www.thewhalehunters.com/">http://www.thewhalehunters.com/</a> <br />
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<a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://joyce-anthony.blogspot.com"><img alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/tech-fav-1.png" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">For more great book reviews and author interviews, visit Books and Authors at http://joyce-anthony.blogspot.com</div>Joyce Anthonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16406383790048223850noreply@blogger.com1