Nikki Leigh Does it Again!

We all have people we know that inspire us with all they manage to do; Nikki Leigh is such a person in my life. She writes, both fiction and non-fiction, sets up incredible virtual book tours and can be found helping out or setting in motion any number of projects no matter what else is going on in her life. I'm here today to tell you about her newest book, Book Promo 201.

Take a peek at the Table of Contents:


Introduction to Online Book Promotion

Part One - Prepare to Use the Internet to Promote Your Books

Chapter One – Online Promotion Basics
Chapter Two – Identify Your Target Market and Create A Brand
Chapter Three – Financial and Personal Benefits to Promoting on the Internet
Chapter Four – What is This Thing Called Web 2.0?
Chapter Five - Viral Marketing – What Is It and How Can It Help Me

Part Two - Social Sites: Where to Find Them & How to Use Them

Chapter Six - Social Opportunities Online
Chapter Seven – Large Social Site Options
Chapter Eight - Social Sites That Focus on Books and Authors
Chapter Nine - Social Bookmarking

Part Three - Use Blogs for Promotion

Chapter Ten - A Blog Is a Necessity
Chapter Eleven – Are Blogs Useful for Promotion
Chapter Twelve – Use a Virtual Blog Tour to Promote Your Book

Part Four - Use Audio and Video Multi Media to Promote

Chapter Thirteen - Book Trailers – What Are They and How Can You Use The
Chapter Fourteen - Creating a Book Trailer
Chapter Fifteen– Internet Radio Shows and Podcasting

Appendix A - Online Forums
Appendix B - Sites That Charge to Promote Books
Appendix C - Author Interview Opportunities
Appendix D –Blog Resources
Appendix E - Sites to Post Book Trailers
Appendix F – Radio Shows for Author Interviews
Appendix G – Google Products to Use in Promotion
Appendix H - Book Prom 201 Participants

This book certainly covers a great deal! By the time you get through it, you will be a pro at online promotion! If you would like to read what people are already saying about Book Promo 201, Take a peek at this page:

http://www.nikkileigh.com/bp201-reviews.htm

If you would like to find out more about this book and how to order, visit here:

http://www.nikkileigh.com/books_4_sale.htm

Finally, to get insight into this incredible woman, visit this page:

http://www.nikkileigh.com/nikki_leigh_info.htm

for a list of links to interviews with Nikki Leigh!

I can personally guarantee that this is one book every writer in today's world must have on their reference shelf.

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Rajah and the Big Blue Ball-A Review

Rajah, the black lab, loves his yard-that is until he visits his special tree one day and a blue ball hits him with a pinecone! Trying to overcome his fear, Rajah sets out to find the blue ball, with the help of the other animals that live near him. What he finds will both surprise and delight children of all ages.

I knew this book was special when I first held it in my hands. The cover speaks for reader's to pick it up. Dr. Penick Phillips obviously knows her dogs, as I had no doubt Rajah was thinking exactly what she wrote.

Mosetta Penick Phillips has created a book that will be enjoyed by children of all ages, as well of those with a bit of childhood still in their hearts. Unlike many children's authors, she does not write "down" but even the earliest of readers will be able to read her tale.

Children still too young to read will also be delighted with this story. Rather than illustrations, this book has wonderful photographs of Rajah and his friends gracing the pages!

Rajah and the Big Blue Ball is sure to be the favorite in every child's library-and one that will be passed down for generations to come.

Rajah and the Big Blue Ball earn seven colors--a perfect rainbow!

Rajah Joins Us For a Candid Bark

Anyone who knows me is aware of what a huge animal lover I am. Dogs have always been my favorite, so I'm especially honored to have this chance to interview Mr. Rajah Le Beau, the star of Rajah and the Big Blue Ball. Rajah learned a lot about facing his fears in this book.

Here is the synopsis: Rajah, the big black dog, likes to play in his big back yard. He chases the leaves. He sniffs the air every day. It is his favorite place. One day a strange thing happens. Something hits Rajah on the head. It scares him. A blue ball is up in the sky. Where did the ball come from? Did it do it on purpose? Did it want to make him afraid? Rajah has to find the courage to take back his own world.


Tomorrow, I will be sharing with you my thoughts on this book. For now, please welcome Rajah!


Can you tell us your name and the title of the book you live in?

My name is Rajah LeBeau. My mommy me calls me LeBeau. I am a real dog, so I live in a real house with my mommy and my cat friends. Mommy wrote this really neat book about me called Rajah and the Big Blue Ball. So I guess I kind of live there, too.

Describe to our readers what your role in the book is.

In the book, Rajah and the Big Blue Ball, I have to face a bully that is trying to take over my backyard. I have to learn to be brave.

How did you convince your author to put you in this book? For example, did you visit a dream or make yourself known some other way?

Mommy says that she loves to watch me and all the different things that I do.
She says that it is like watching a child explore his/he environment. So, she writes about those things that she thinks will help real children.

Is your author easy to work with or controlling?

I think that she is easy to work with. She likes to play with me and throw my ball.

Would you tell us about one of your favorite friends from this book?

Chynna is my favorite friend. Her full name is Chynna Blue. We do everything together inside the house. We even sleep together most days.

Do you plan on appearing in another book or are you happy to be where you are?

Mommy said that she has completed five more books about me. The other books have all kinds of surprises in them. I guess I am full of surprises.

What would you like our readers to know about you?

My mommy adopted me from the Cleveland Animal Protective League. Mommy and I have selected them as one of our favorite charities. Each book that we sell benefits the Cleveland APL.

Did you learn anything during your adventure in this book?

During this adventure, I learned that courage is more than not being afraid. Courage is being afraid, but still doing what you need to do.

Can you tell us what you think is the most exciting thing that happened to you in your book?

I think that the most exciting thing that happened was when I decided to face the challenges directly and find the blue ball.

Is there anything in your story you wish you had not done? Why?

I wish that I had not spent so much time being afraid. I let the big blue ball keep me from enjoying my life, and my big backyard.

What was your main motivation?

I think that my main motivation was to face the bully in my life, to be able to demonstrate to children that you can take back your world. But, I also needed to show the wisdom of getting outside advice. I couldn't talk to mommy because she couldn't understand what I was trying to say. Plus, I was concerned that if she knew about it, she would allow me to roam my backyard by myself.

Introduce us to your main adversary?

In real life, the attacks went on for a long time. The blue ball would drop sticks and pinecones on me. It would dive at me and hit me on the head. It would yell at me with loud screeching sounds.

Is there anything you would like to have done but your author stopped you?

I wanted to tell everything that the big blue ball did to me, but mommy felt that it might make the book too scary for little people. She said that if I was that frightened, them it might frighten my readers. I didn't want to do that!

Here’s your chance to speak your mind. What do you want to tell everybody?

Rajah and the Big Blue Ball is a wonderful chance for mommies and daddies of real boys and girls to read to their children and discuss how to handle people and things that scare you. It is an opportunity to learn to talk things out rather than fight or hide from the situation.

Please tell everyone where they can find out more about your story and where they can purchase it.

Rajah and the Big Blue Ball is published by PM Moon Publishers, LLC. They have a website and you can purchase a book for mommy and me to autograph at

www.pmmoonpublishers.com/Dr.html.

Or, you can visit Publishers Graphics Bookstore

http://www.publishersgraphicsbookstore.com/Rajah-and-the-Big-Blue-Ball-by-Mosetta-Penick-Phillips-Cermak-40sw41_p_386.html),

Alibris Bookstore

http://www.alibris.com/booksearch.detail?invid=9845496482&query=Rajah+and+the+Big+Blue+Ball&qsort=&page=1

Barnes and Noble, and Google .

At Barnes and Noble, you still have to ask for my book

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Rajah-and-the-Big-Blue-Ball/Mosetta-M-Penick-Phillips-Cermak/e/9780981777740

and sometimes they say it is out of print, but it is not And, it will be available soon, on Google if it is not, already.

Mommy says that she will most likely not be putting her books on Amazon.com because they want 55% discount off the cost of the book. She would have to raise the price of the book in order to support the Cleveland APL. She doesn't want to do that. But, she said that she will talk to them. Mommy says that every problem can be helped by talking directly to the person with whom you have a disagreement.

Thank you for having me on your Blog. I appreciate everything that you are doing for mommy, the Cleveland APL, and for me.
Rajah LeBeau




Thank you for barking with me today, Rajah :-) Everyone, please leave Rajah a treat in the comments!

Meet Dr. Mosetta M. Penick Phillips-Cermak

I have a very special guest today--and another one tomorrow. Anyone with children (or the young at heart) will enjoy the next couple of days. Before I get into today's post, however, I'd like to make two quick announcements. First, take a peek at the botom of today's post; there is this cool new gadget I found that I hope all of you will enjoy. Second, I'm a guest blogger over at Katie Hines' blog today and would love to have you stop by and take a look :-)





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This is Dr. Mosetta M. Penick Phillips-Cermak. Mosetta lives with her two Labrador Retrievers, one black and one yellow, and two Siamese cats in West Park, Ohio. Dr. Penick Phillips-Cermak is the mother of two, grandmother of two, and great grandmother of two. A native of Cleveland Ohio, from a family of educators, she is a retired psychotherapist/counselor and a teacher of many years. Over the years, she has taught everything from kindergarten through teacher education, English, psychology and sociology.

Mosetta’s first short, short story was published in the local newspaper when ,at the age of ten, she won first prize in a creative writing contest. In college, her literary essays and short stories were published in the colleges’ literary magazine, The Spectrum. Eventually, she rose to serve as editor-in-chief of the very same magazine.

A woman with a myriad of talents, she performed as both an instrumentalist and vocalist, played the piano and flute, as well as teaching chorus, and both instruments.

She is also a dog trainer, registered with the State of Ohio to train and certify Handicap Assistant Dogs. A relatively well-known speaker in the Cleveland area, this writer has presented more than a dozen papers and workshops throughout the State of Ohio.

A minister ordained in 1980, she states that her main strength resides in her absolute faith and tenacity, a desire to know all that is knowable, a love of research, and the ability to consistently identify the truth of any subject matter. She is a member of has attended numerous writers’ workshops, and is currently active in a critique group. She also has completed several other short stories, a children’s interactive picture book to teach educational concepts, and her first middle-grade children’s fantasy novel that she expects will be published soon.


Tomorrow, we will be looking at Rajah and the Big Blue Ball and get to talk with Rajah. Today, however, I want to share with you an interview I had the honor of doing with Dr. Mosetta Penick Phillips-Cermak.

What three words do you think describe you as a human being?

If I only had three words with which to describe myself, I think that I would choose, loyal, tenacious, and religious.

How do you think others would describe you?

I think that others see me as very smart ( I hear that all the time), and very accomplished. I don't necessarily see myself that way. If I were as smart as I am told that I am, I would not have missed so many opportunities or have so many regrets.

Please tell us what you are most passionate about outside of writing.

Beside my writing I am passionate about my faith, my absolute belief in God and his son, Jesus Christ. I am passionate about animals and children. And, I am passionate about learning. Not just my personal learning, but the academic,moral, and ethical education of our children. When I see people that won't buy their child a book, I cringe. Not that they have to buy my books, but these are the same people that tell me that books are too expensive, yet they spend $100 bucks every month on cable TV. I once challenged a mother to accept a free copy of one of my books, if she would sign a statement that she would read to her child every night before bed, and she refused.

Do you have any pets? If so, introduce us to them.

Shhh! it is a secret. I can only introduce you to Rajah LeBeau and to Chynna at this point. Actually, I am currently living with my two labs and two cats. But you will meet them in other books, rather soon.

What is your most precious memory?

My most precious memory is of my mother reading to me at bed time every night. It felt so safe to have my mother hold me as I fell off to sleep. My mother worked outside the home. I think that I spent the days being afraid that I would never see my mother again. War does that to young children, even when the war is very far away. I think that along with those memories are spending every summer with my Nana, my mother's mother. She, too, was an educator, and she told me stories every single day during the summer, until I was old enough that I started to tell them back to her, and make up new ones. When I was about 6 years old, I wrote a play. I decided to stage it in the backyard. My grandmother helped me make the puppets and all the costumes for the puppet performers.

What is your most embarrassing memory?

I am not sure. I think that I was most embarrassed when I gave birth to my first child. We were very modest in those day. At my age, very little can still embarrass me. If I try to evoke memories of being embarrassed, I no longer can. I have done a lot of stupid things in my life, but I cannot feel the emotion of embarrassment about them, anymore.

If you weren’t a writer, what would you be doing with your life?

If I had been born at a different time in the world, I would have been a Veterinarian, or a Thoracic Surgeon. I think that for me a better question would be what do you do when you are not writing. I say that because I believe I was born a writer. I have always been a writer, although I have made my living as a psychotherapist, as a counselor, a social worker, and as a teacher.

In two paragraphs or less write your obituary.

This is a very hard one. I think a lot about dying these days.

Author of children's books dies at the age of 210 years old (Ha ha ha..wishful thinking).
Dr. Mosetta Penick Phillips-Cermak, world renowned author of more than 1000 books dies as she completes her last made for TV movie. The worlds oldest person, Dr. Mosetta's works have been turned into 500 children's TV series, 400 feature length movies, and 100 interactive computer games.

Dr. Mosetta was attended at her bedside by her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and her great-great-grandchildren.

Can you describe the time you realized you were indeed a “real” writer?

I have always been a "real" writer. I was 9 and 1/2 or ten when I won a writing contest. The prize was publication. That didn't seem like a big deal in those days because I always won the creative writing and essays in my school.

I remember when I was a freshman in college, I had to take this test, before I could take English 101. The instructor said that it was standard procedure. I completed the test on grammar and composition early, and then I wrote a short story about being forced to take an inane test prior to signing up for English 101. The instructor, who was the faculty advisor for the school literary magazine, published the short story.

What is going on with your writing these days?

I am under contract for 5 more books in the Rajah series.

I am editing my middle grade chapter book, The Book of Moncoto.

I have completed both a young adult novel and a picture book for preschool/kindergarten.

What are your future goals for your writing?

I have a new children's series in mind. But, no hints, yet. But I promise that you will be the very first to know what it is.

In addition, I have three new stories that I am trying to hone. These three stories are related to things we, as parents, want to teach or children. And, I hope to start an adult horror that I outlined. Finally, I have been working on a parenting book. I hope that after rearing successful children, who have also reared successful children, that I may have something to offer related to this concept.

Can you describe a typical writing day for you?

Most days I start my day at 4:45 a.m. I write only about 2000 -2500 words per day. I usually write straight through from 7a.m. until about 2:30 p.m.

Why do you write?

I write because it is the same as breathing for me. It makes me happy. I guess I never grew up in some ways. When I was a child I wanted to be "Peter Pan." I have always felt a connection to children and to animals. When I look at a little child or at an animal, I truly believe that I know what s/he is thinking. Of course, with my background in psychotherapy, I am a keen observer and a student of behavior.

I write because I love children, and because I am a teacher. The foundation of this writer's philosophy is predicated on one simple belief, which is that all children can learn. I believe in inspired teaching. I believe in helping children to love to learn, just for the sake of learning.

Good teaching is primarily based on the premise that every student can learn, show concern for one another, and choose to act responsibly in the classroom, and in life. From this concept springs all other aspects pertaining to this philosophy. A secondary theorem is that all learning springs from a desire to develop understanding of the world, and it is the responsibility of the teacher to nurture this desire within her/his charges.

And, I am a definite believer in discipline. If students develop discipline, they learn persistence, the ability to see a matter through to its conclusion.

It is particularly difficult these days. Instead, our children are being taught a demand for instant gratification, instead of the discipline of patience. Many parents are too busy in an attempt to support their children and provide for their physical need that they do not have the time or energy to connect with the child's emotional needs.

The purpose of teaching is to provide a positive environment where all students can learn and the purpose of my writing is to construct a positive universe for the children who read my books. When I write for my audience it is another way of imparting information and affecting a child's life. As a writer I create a world where children can reach out and test the limits of their imagination in safety.

What writer most inspires you? Why?

I cannot choose just one writer. First, I would say the Bible. The metaphors are outstanding and very moving, and the imagery is incredible. Next, I would have to say Greek mythology. I loved the stories of Homer, even when I was very young.

As a child, our library had a rule that you had to be 12 years old to get an adult library card. They needed to waive that rule for me. By the time I was eight and one-half, I had read all the books in the children's section of our branch of the Cleveland Public Library. The newspaper wrote a story about me. It was the first time I was in the newspaper.

Once I received my adult library card, the world of literature opened up for me.
My journey into literature was eclectic. So, of course I was influenced by Shakespeare and Voltaire (François-Marie Arouet. My great aunt had left the United States to study fashion in Paris during the 1920's and she brought back copies of Candide and La Princesse de Babylone with her. An advanced education in Fashion was not available to women of color in the United States at that time).

I loved to read anything...from the breakfast cereal boxes to the New York Times. I think that the first grown-up, mainstream, book that I ever read was Sinuhe the Egyptian by Mika Waltari, (the English translation by Naomi Walford) and then, Marjorie Morningstar by Herman Wouk.

I most definitely read the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Ralph Ellison, Lorraine Hansberry, Dorothy West, Langston Hughes, Alexander Dumas, Henry James, L. Frank Baum, Edgar Rice Burroughs, William Makepeace Thackeray, and the Grimm fairy tales. I could go on and on with such writers as Edward Gorey, F.Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, John Steinbeck, Dr Seuss, Margaret Mitchell, Pearl Buck, Aldous Huxley, Virginia Woolf, George Orwell, and John Dos Passos. Somewhere in my youth I read T.S. Eliot, C. S. Lewis, Jules Vern, and H.G. Wells. I think Vern and Wells helped me develop a love for science fiction.

I also enjoyed reading plays, and I spent a great deal of time at the Karamu Theater, in my pre-teen and early teen years, where I had a very small part in Seventeen by Booth Tarkington. I think that in my world, both plays and books, were equally important to developing my imagination. But, I am not a playwright by any stretch of the aforementioned imagination.

How do you define your writing?

I don't know. I guess I am a Scientific fantasy writer for young people.

In one sentence—what do you want people to say about your writing in fifty years?

Dr. Mosetta M. Penick Phillips-Cermak was an enduring talent, and an inspired author for children.

Can you tell us where to find more information on you? Website? Blog?

I would love to have people follow my blog at http://www.docmosetta.blogspot.com/ . I think that my blog is a little different. I only write when someone or some event spurs me on...forces me to write, so to speak, because I have something that must be said.
I am also posting at http://hubpages.com/profile/MaiaCer .

Is there a place where readers can reach you?

I invite your readers to connect with me on facebook or twitter. My facebook and twitter addresses are as follows:
http://fblink.com/MaiaCer
http://twitter.com/MaiaCer

Can you list all your book titles so people can look for them?

I only have four books currently in print at this time. They are The Wishing Flower, The Magic of Laven-Rock, and Rajah and the Big Blue Ball. In addition I have a little book on promotion for authors.

For new readers—what can they expect when they read your book(s)?

When a new reader reads my books, they can expect to be transported into a magical and sensory heighten world...A world of imagination. In all of my worlds, they will find a respect for life and a lesson to be learned.

Take as much space as necessary to speak to our readers—what would you like them to know about you and your writing?

I want to thank you for this opportunity to discuss my personal philosophy and my latest book, Rajah and the Big Blue Ball.

All of my life I have watched animals. As a child, I used to look into my dogs' eyes, and try to imagine just what they were thinking. Our protagonist, Rajah, is my real dog, Rajah LeBeau. He really does love running around our backyard. He chases the squirrels, and sniffs the air.

Rajah has such a wonderful personality He tries very hard to communicate with me.
As I have mentioned in my blog, I dedicated this story to one of my favorite second grade classes. It was for these children that I wrote "Rajah and the Big Blue Ball". The book evolved from their "Tell Me a Story" time. I would makeup a story about what things Rajah did each day.

One of my students had watched as his cousins was shot in the head by a drive-by shooter. The child was so traumatized by the sight of blood and neural material splattered all over him, that he did not speak for six months. But when he did, he asked me to tell him a story.And the story I told was "Rajah and the Big Blue Ball".

My special cause is the Cleveland Animal Protective League. $1.00 of every purchase of Rajah and the Big Blue Ball goes to the Cleveland APL. I am currently working to raise money to sponsor a cage. Sponsorship is $1500 per year. This would guarantee a puppy or older dog a cage of his/her own until he or she is adopted.

In addition, I encourage people to buy one of my books and donate it to an inner city school or library.

People have to buy books and share them with children. It hurts my heart when I hear someone say that a book is "too expensive". Yet, many of the same people spend one hundred and fifty dollars for a pair of tennis shoes, or $300 for a gaming console. We need to re-think our values in order to save our children.

Today, I would like to share with you an interview with Brigitte Thompson, author of Bookkeeping Basics for Freelance Writers.

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

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

2. What made you decide to write this book?

My first book was published in 1993 and it was for a specific business, home daycare providers. Since then I have written additional books for this market and widened the scope to include other professions. Creating this book for writers was a natural step for me. As a writer, I would attend meetings and conferences with the intent of expanding my knowledge in the field; however, I would end up in conversations with other writers who had questions about their recordkeeping. The more questions I answered, the more I realized there was a huge need for this information. Writers can take advantage of some wonderful tax deductions, but only when they are aware of the possibility and know how to accurately document the expenses. My book explains it all.

3. Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself? Children? Pets?? Hobbies?

I live in the Green Mountains of Vermont with my husband and three children. We have three cats and two dogs. I enjoy walking, dancing and horseback riding. I love take walks on summer nights and curling up with a book in front of the fireplace in the winter.

4. What makes knowledge of bookkeeping important for writers?

Writers are earning money and this money needs to be reported as income on our income tax return. Claiming income without expenses means the tax liability will be higher than if we had documented expenses to post against it. Understanding what can be claimed as business expenses when you are a writer and how to properly document these expenses will help ensure the success of your business.


5. What is the one most important thing a freelance writer needs to know about keeping financial records?

Save all receipts. There are so many tax deductions available for writers, but without those receipts - it's hard to prove your case when audited.


6. Is there anything else you would like to add?

Please join us on the Writers In Business Blog

http://writersinbusiness.blogspot.com

as we explore the business side of the writing profession. I will be sharing recordkeeping tips and interviewing other writers about their success.

Bookkeeping Basics For Freelance Writers

Today I'm going to discuss everyone's favorite subject-math! Actually, the subject is book keeping. Writers don't make tons of money, at least few make enough to hire an accountant. We are faced every year with trying to organize our finances into a neat little package--many do not even know where to start. Today's featured book will help you feel like an accounting pro.

Bookkeeping Basics for Freelance Writers addresses issues writers face daily such as how to deduct travel expenses, determine taxable writing income, and claim home office deductions. Navigating through the recordkeeping required for a small business owner can be difficult. This book is written exclusively for those of us who earn money by writing. It includes useful information to help interpret the complexities of our federal tax code and proven techniques to reduce taxable income.

Throughout the book we have included tips from both new and seasoned writers. In the Tips for Success feature writers share the wisdom they have acquired over time. In the Writer’s Block feature you will discover specific questions writers have submitted which, when answered, help clarify points made about that topic.You will also find that each part of this book works together to assist you in forming your overall business plan. Each chapter steps through a comprehensive plan that works as a building block towards a successful writing business.

Bookkeeping Basics for Freelance Writers was written by Brigitte A. Thompson, the founder and President of Datamaster Accounting Services, LLC in Vermont. She has been active in the field of accounting since 1986 and is a member of the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers and the Vermont Tax Practitioners Association. She is the author of several finance books for business owners, contributing author to two business books, and a freelance writer whose articles have appeared nationally in print and online publications,

This book includes all the forms you will ever need to stay financially organized in your freelance business. It tells you how to use each one, when to use it, etc... Tomorrow, I will be talking with Brigitte about Bookkeeping Basics for Freelance Writers. Please stop back!

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Reviews and a Message

There is so much talent and knowledge around that I have decided to open up my blog to the occassional guest post. This will give you guys a chance to meet some new people, learn some new things--and not be bored stiff with me doing all the talking :-) Today, I'd like to share with you some reviews for you. These reviews are not written by. Please leave comments for the authors.

Winter Queen - Seasons of Fantasy
Aubrie Dionne
Reviewed by Kira for ReviewYourBook.com(17 years old)

We all have our reasons for who we are and what we do in our lives, in the past the Winter Queen had been a princess in a powerful family with all the riches of the world. Everything in her world had changed when she fell in love with a commoner, who held her heart. But all good things come to an end, her love then broke her heart into pieces with a great betrayal, which would never be healed. Now the Princess is controlling the cold winds that come across the lands and those who are in her way feel the wrath of the heart that was once whole, but now broken. To heal the coldest, most fragile heart in life all it takes is the kindest in a person’s heart.

Reviewed by Kira for ReviewYourBook.com(17 years old)

Check out Winter Queen - Seasons of Fantasy written by Aubrie Dionne
http://reviewyourbook.com/component/simple_review/?review=1712-Winter-Queen---Seasons-of-Fantasy

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Dreams Of Beauty - Aubrie Dionne

Publisher: SynergEbooks http://www.synergebooks.com
ISBN: 0-7743-1097-0 Tweens

Almost every night Emme sees the man of her dreams. She has no idea who he is. He seems so real. Davian is trapped in Emme’s dream. He was cursed by a Sorceress a hundred years ago, destined to live in a dream until a kiss breaks the curse.

Davian’s niece, has assumed control of the Hawthorn Estate. She had a plan to get rich quick. The whole village with be disrupted if she follows through with her plan . There was only one way to stop the evile woman from destroying the village, Davian. Emme set out to rescue Davian and the village.

Reviewed by Lynn for ReviewYourBook.com

Check out Dreams Of Beauty written by Aubrie Dionne
http://reviewyourbook.com/component/simple_review/?review=1626-Dreams-Of-Beauty

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How To Train A Rock
Paul Steven Stone
5 stars
9781442117211

For approximately twenty-five years, Paul Steven Stone wrote a syndicated column, “A Stone’s Throw.” In his own words, the column was quirky. How To Train A Rock is a compilation of those columns.

My favorite entry was 1-800-Stones-Throw, where he addresses the annoying trend toward automated answering services. I become so frustrated with the list of Press 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. What button do I push to talk to a real person?

“How To Train a Rock” written by Paul Steven Stone _

Reviewed by Debra for ReviewYourBook.com

http://reviewyourbook.com/component/simple_review/?review=1832-How-To-Train-A-Rock

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How to Get What You Deserve by Making People and Companies Deliver on Their Promises, Products, Goods and Services…
Myron Z. Bernstein
Kambs Publishing
9780982206904
5 stars

How to Get What You Deserve by Making People and Companies Deliver on Their Promises, Products, Goods and Services…

Myron Z. Bernstein is a consumer advocate. Despite the term Customer Service, few companies care about you. Their goal is to make money even if thar means cheating you. Bernstein exposes the abuses and the schemes behind warranties, insurance, contractors, rebates, and a number of other consumer “services.”

The difference between most consumers and Myron is –HE FIGHTS BACK—and he WINS
“Have You Been Royally Screwed: How to Get What You Deserve by Making People and Companies Deliver on Their Promises, Products, Goods, and Service” written by Myron Z. Bernstein

Reviewed by Debra for ReviewYourBook.com
http://reviewyourbook.com/component/simple_review/?review=1836-Have-Your-Been-Royally-Screwed

Whale Hunting Women by Dr. Barbara Weaver Smith--A Review

ISBN 978-0-9822091-5-8 (eBook)

When I first read the title of this book, my curiosity was peaked. I wanted to know what whale hunting had to do with business. Once I had a chance to listen to the video I shared with you this past Monday, I understood the concept and was intrigued enough to want to know more.

Dr. Smith states in her introduction that women have always participated in big business dealings, but rarely realize the importance of what they do. She goes on to state that there are "three key traits that women bring to their whale hunting
endeavors: listen, align, and empathize. It’s not that men do not have or cannot
develop these capabilities. Rather, it’s recognition that women are nurtured to
cultivate these traits and rewarded when we do."

Expanding first on these three traits, She then proceeds to identify what is necessary to land big business deals, how women often avoid doing these things--and finally how women can change these things and take positive action. Whale Hunting Women is set up with many bulleted points that lead you step-by-step through what is necessary to accomplish big deals.

I enjoyed Barbara Weaver Smith's friendly yet professional tone. She does not talk down to the reader. She has set this book up with many bulleted lists, making it easy to comprehend. At first glance, I thought this might be one of those books that talks in circles and says litle. I was wrong. The words may be few, but Dr. Smith packs meaning into each one, not wasting space or the reader's time on details that are meaningless. Yet, she has left nothing out that will cause confusion.

I believe that this book is not only highly valuable to business women, but also to women outside the business arena. The principles contained within the pages of Whale Hunting Women can be applied to any area of life to achieve success. As I read, I felt strengthened by the words I read. This is a must-read book for any woman who wants to take ownership of her inate power to achieve.

***

To learn about Whale Hunting Women & to order your copy today, visit

http://cli.gs/WHWEbook

Thank you for visiting this post about Barbara Weaver Smith and Whale Hunting Women. Two people who comment during the tour will be entered a giveaway – post a comment on any post about the tour and you will be entered. The winners will win a three-volume audio set of Whale Hunters Wisdom. Volumes include I: Mind of a Hunter, II: The Hunt, and III: The Whale Hunting Culture ($90 value).

Barbara Weaver Smith’s website - http://www.thewhalehunters.com

Barbara Weaver Smith’s blog - http://blog.thewhalehunters.com

Order your copy of Whale Hunting Women – http://cli.gs/WHWEbook

To see the tour schedule visit

http://virtualblogtour.blogspot.com/2009/04/whale-hunting-with-barbara-weaver-smith.html

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Today I have the honor of sharing with you an interview with Marvin Wilson. I believe you will find him both interesting and entertaining :-)

1. Marvin, how would you define yourself as a person? As a writer?

Someone who cares for and loves people. I’ve had a lot of life experiences and learned some things along the way - some marvelous peaks and a few sojourns into the valley of the shadow of death. Along my life’s path I’ve made some stupid mistakes and grown as a result, and I like to live my life and write about life in a way that hopefully imparts some wisdom and inspiration to others.

2. What makes you want to get out of bed in the morning?

A compulsion to first spend a few silent moments communing with God and nature, getting my spirit uplifted, my molecules all humming, and then it’s time to write. I’m an early riser, I love to witness the sunrise and feel the day coming alive and I get so inspired by the majesty of a new day’s creation that I just have to blog and write books about it.


3. You are on a steady climb upwards as a writer and you exude a certain air of confidence that inspires many. Is this confidence a steady part of you--or do you find yourself wondering at times if it will all end suddenly? If so, what do you do to regain your sense of balance?

It is steady and I don’t worry about it all ending. I don’t worry about anything. One thing I’ve learned about worrying – it doesn’t help at all. You can stress all you want, what’s going to happen is going to happen, so premeditated anxiety will not change that one bit, except to maybe make you physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually ill. I read once that of all the things we worry about, upwards of ninety five percent of them never happen! And a lot of those negative things that do happen can be the result of your own worrying and focusing on them so much that the Law of Attraction brings it into your reality.

So take all the energy that goes into worrying and use that for positive thinking. “We are what we think. With our thoughts we make the world.” Buddha said that, twenty five hundred years ago, and it is an eternal truth.


4. You currently have three books published. Would you please tell us the titles? In addition, there is always one special thing about each of our works; what one thing makes each of your books most special to you?

I Romanced the Stone (Memoirs of a Recovering Hippie) is my first publication. It will always be special to me not only because it is my first baby, but also because it tells the true story of my descent into the depths of a deadly narcotics addiction and how I found cure, peace and freedom through a powerful spiritual experience. That book has gotten me more feedback – letters, emails, etc., from people whom I’ve never met who were inspired to turn their lives around after reading it. And that’s what it’s all about for me as a writer.

Owen Fiddler is my second book, my first novel, and the first in a series I am writing. Owen is special in that he is an “everyman” character. Every one can, if he or she is honest with themselves, relate in some or many ways to Owen Fiddler. He’s just an average sort of guy who takes no responsibility for any of his thoughts and actions and figures everything going wrong in his life has to be someone or something else’s fault other than his own. It’s about personal responsibility, taking control of and living your life on purpose. And remember – if you want to dance, you have to pay the fiddler!

My latest release, Between the Storm and the Rainbow, is an anthology of the best of the best posts from my Free Spirit blog during the last two quarters of 2008, which was the period of time when I first started taking blogging seriously, began posting daily and aggressively promoting my blog globally. Last I checked there are well over one hundred countries now that have readers stopping in regularly for their daily dose of Free Spirit. There is a richness contained in that book of some of my best essays, inspirational musings, and musings about spirituality and life in general. Also a lot of humor – an important ingredient that I make sure is prevalent in all my literary works. Laughter taps into the deep well of the soul. I don’t expect that book to be among my best sellers, but a surprising amount of people have gotten it because they enjoy having the backlog of posts available in print form rather than having to dig through the blog archives to find them. I will probably publish one of those anthologies each year.


5. On your Free Spirit blog, you have a regular ongoing story about Adam Atom. Would you please tell us a bit about him and how you came upon this idea?

Adam Atom came to mind as I was reading – and I’m sorry I can’t remember the author or book, it was a long time ago, years – but I read the astounding fact that with every breath we take, we inhale atoms that have at one time been a part of every other part of the universe. Right now I am breathing in part of the former physical body of Christ, some of the atoms of Attila the Hun, thousands of tiny bits of atomic fallout from Hiroshima, fragments of the asteroid from some remote corner of the universe that slammed into the earth 65 million years ago destroying the dinosaurs, etc. Everything is one, and nothing is a thing unto itself.

I took that basic fundamental truth and created Adam Atom, who travels through time and space and dimensions on comical and educational swashbuckling exploits that illustrate the interconnectedness of all things. It’s great fun, entertaining, and informational. I use lots of hyperlinked text in the posts so as people read they can gain education in physics, history, spirituality, geometry, all the sciences, as they bop along with their little buddy Adam. The story has become one of the most popular features on my Free spirit blog; lots of people have encouraged me to publish a YA book with Adam Atom, and one publishing house has already offered to publish it if I can get around to assembling and formatting it in book form.


6. This may be a hard one. The world is about to end in the next three minutes--What do you want your final words to be?

I would ask all within earshot to please gather round. I would read them the following passage from Owen Fiddler. It’s where Owen meets Kris (Christ) in the never world while his body is in a near death coma back on earth. And I would exhort them to search their hearts and souls for anything they need to be cleansed of before passing through the veil into the next plane of existence.

***

The eye spoke.

“Owen, Owen, my friend, it is good to finally have an audience with you and to have your undivided attention. I have been here all the time. I have witnessed your sincere apology to your daughter and your acceptance of her forgiveness. Now here comes the bigger question. Can you do the same with me? I promise it won’t hurt.”

Owen was thunderstruck. He thought back to all the followers of this god who he had helped into adultery and hypocrisy. He remembered the innocent pastor who had taken the rap and lost his spiritual career over his misdeeds. His heart sank as he recalled all the foul epithets and curses he had thought and said guided toward anyone and anything that represented in anyway a believer in the Way of the Christ. He bowed his head and closed his eyes in an attempt to escape the stare of the inquisitive omnipresent eye.

The eye spoke.

“Owen, I know of all these things you are thinking. They are not you unless you hang on to them in your mind and do not repent of them. I offer you a release. I possess the capacity, with your permission and help, to rid you of your dark clinging to those deeds as if they represent the true and essential you. We are the same, Owen, but you have forsaken me in your deluded sense of self and separation from the All. Listen carefully, my friend. You are not a human being having a spiritual experience. You are a spiritual being having a human experience, the knowledge of good and evil, the temptations of the flesh and free will.

You have not done so well with your choices so far, on that we are agreed. Your basic error has been in not understanding the interconnectedness of all things and beings. Everything is one, Owen. Because of this truth, this basic law of the universe, it is impossible to take from another without taking from yourself. When you harm another, you harm yourself. When you deceive others, you deceive yourself. Conversely, giving to, helping and loving others are none other than loving and helping your self. Do you understand this now, Owen?”

Owen did understand, in a momentous flash of enlightenment. He got it. His eyes went wide open. He felt strange and light. He could scarce believe the calm and happiness in his heart as he said, “Yes … I understand.”

“I can see it is true,” the eye of Kris said, “Now that you know the truth, the truth can set you free. Change is possible. Are you ready to change?”

“Yes.”

“Are you sorry for the mistakes you’ve made?”

“Yes, yes!”

“Do you believe in the Truth, and believe that I the One, the Truth, the Light and the Way, can cleanse you of your errant ways?”

“Yes, in Truth, I believe!”

“Good. You are forgiven. Go now, and stop making stupid mistakes.”

***

Then I would wave with a smile and say, “See you on the other side!”

7. Will you please tell everyone where they can find your work?

Sure. All three books are available online on Amazon.com, both in trade paperback and in Kindle book format, at: http://tinyurl.com/m8jeh4 - and you can also order them from any major bookstore.

Owen Fiddler can also be ordered directly from the publisher, Cambridge Books, at: http://www.writewordsinc.com/owen-fiddler.html

For information, reviews, excerpts, etc., about Owen Fiddler, the book website is:
http://www.owenfiddler.com/

Between the Storm and the Rainbow is also available through All Things That Matter Press, at: https://www.createspace.com/3372206

You can also now subscribe to Free Spirit and Tie Dyed Tirades blogs on your Kindle Book Reader, for those who have one, for a mere $1.99 per month.

8. Anything else you would like to add?

Just to say thanks, Joyce, for having me on your blog and the opportunity to share with your readers. We go back a ways, now, and your continued friendship is something I value very much. And hey everybody – I love meeting and hearing from new people! Please visit my blogs, leave a comment, sign up to follow if you like what you experience, and feel free to contact me at: marvwilson2010@gmail.com

Free Spirit Blog is at: http://inspiritandtruths.blogspot.com/
My Groovy Old Hippie blog is at: http://tiedyedtirades.blogspot.com/

And in closing I’d like to say to everyone, above all, live your life with intent and purpose, fashion your thoughts and deeds by following the Golden Rule, and remember these most important words from Kris to Owen Fiddler:

“You are not a human being having a spiritual experience. You are a spiritual being having a human experience.”


Here is something to take with you, folks-Marvin's book trailer for Owen Fiddler: