Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Your Divine Fingerprint: The Force That Makes You Unstoppable by Keith Craft

Title: Your Divine Fingerprint: The Force That Makes You Unstoppable
Author: Keith Craft
Publisher: Harper Collins
Pages: 277
Genre: Christian Life/Motivational
Format: Paperback/Kindle

 Discover the key to all your future success and achievement, and learn that what makes you different, makes you great. According to science, 99 percent of our DNA sequence is the same as other humans. Pastor Keith Craft believes that the 1 percent difference in each of us is a type of glory that God has given us. Within the pages of his motivational and inspirational self-help book, Your Divine Fingerprint: The Force That Makes You Unstoppable, are the tools to help you discover a unique fingerprint that you have been given. These tools will help you deploy your unique difference that your family needs, your marriage needs, your job needs, your faith needs—that the world needs. And when you embrace and live in that uniqueness, you celebrate the glory of God.

For More Information

Keith Craft is the founder and lead pastor of Elevate Life Church in Frisco, Texas. He speaks in the world’s largest business/success seminars and has shared the stage with former world leaders such as Bill Clinton, George Bush, Mikhail Gorbachev, and Margaret Thatcher. For the past twenty years he has spoken alongside Super Bowl–winning coaches such as Mike Ditka, Don Shula, Mike Shanahan, and Tony Dungy; MVP quarterbacks such as Terry Bradshaw, Joe Montana, and Peyton Manning; and entertainers such as Jerry Lewis, Bill Cosby, and Goldie Hawn. As a leadership coach and strategist, Craft is also the founder of Leadershipology.com, an online quote service. You can visit Keith Craft’s website at www.keithcraft.org. For More Information
 

Keith Craft is giving away a $100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Payment!

Terms & Conditions:
  • By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
  • One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive the prize.
  • This giveaway begins December 1 and ends on December 31, 2014.
  • Winner will be contacted via email on Monday, January 5.
  • Winner has 72 hours to reply.
  • VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.
Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

Friday, December 19, 2014

Interview with Douglas Gardham, author of The Actor


The ActorTitle: The Actor
Author: Douglas Gardham
Publisher: iUniverse
Pages: 352
Genre: Fiction
Format: Ebook
Purchase at AMAZON
It is 1991 when Ethan Jones finally wins the role of his dreams in an upcoming, big screen movie. With the envelope holding the script clutched in his hand, he arrives at his California apartment where he can hardly wait to tell his girlfriend the exciting news. But when he finds the door unexpectedly ajar, he has no idea that in just a few seconds, the life he has fought so hard to obtain will be shattered.
Eight years earlier, Ethan is attending university in Ottawa, Canada. One evening after seriously contemplating suicide, he finds his way into a club where he meets Mila Monahan, a beautiful acting student who saves him from himself. After he watches Mila rehearse a university play, Ethan catches the acting bug and decides to pursue his own creative passions, causing a collision with his more secure ideals. But when Mila suddenly disappears, Ethan vows he will never stop chasing the dream she inspired in him, believing in a world entirely different from the one he is living in.
The Actor is a gripping tale of a young man’s unforgettable journey of self-discovery in overcoming the trauma of a personal tragedy. It is a story of love, hardship, persistence and overwhelming joy where The Actor learns he can portray anything he can imagine.

amazon


Douglas Gardham is a writer who loves music, movies, and books. He lives near Toronto, Canada, with his wife and dog. This is his first published novel.

How did you come up with the title of your book?

The concept for The Actor: A Novel came after seeing the Titanic movie and becoming fascinated with the idea of someone getting up from what they were doing and chasing dream. I love the movies and the world of Hollywood (a subject I never get bored of) so decided to make it the focus of the novel. The title came easily from there and was reinforced by one of the themes of how we are all actors in our lives.

What is your writing environment like?

Depends on what I’m doing. In writing and creating the story, I can be anyplace. I have a home office but often find myself at the kitchen table, a coffee shop, the living room. Wherever I have a pen and paper or can carry my laptop. Sometimes I listen to music. Whatever enables me to get the story out. Editing is usually in my home office or the living room as I find I need quiet. Unfortunately, I often find music distracting because I love it so much.

What are some of the best tools available today for writers?

Pen, paper, laptop w/writing software and the internet.

What inspires you to write?

I can’t help myself. There’s always something buzzing around in my head. Sometimes its words and phrases. Sometimes its story ideas. I love the act of writing—pen to paper. I like the puzzle of trying to write what you’re thinking, putting words into sentences and paragraphs and finally the story.

Did you learn anything while writing this book?

Words from the great John Irving “you write a good story but you edit a great story”. Also, how much creating a novel is like painting or sculpting. It takes time for the creation to take shape.

What is your favorite quality about yourself?

I like and care about people.

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Writing, Caregiving and Alzheimer's Disease by Barry Tutor Guest Post

ABOUT NEVER GIVING UP & NEVER WANTING TO

Like most, I knew about Alzheimer’s disease. It causes old people to forget. When my relationship with this disease began, it highlighted how little I knew. Following my widowed mother’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis, I researched this disease to gain insight about my new role as her caregiver and decision maker. What I learned and experienced during her affliction still left me somewhat unprepared for what was yet to come. Sixteen months following my mother’s diagnosis, my dear wife and best friend was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s. Though now I was familiar with this silent killer, my wife’s diagnosis set into motion many changes and challenges in our lives. Someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s every sixty-eight seconds. Currently, Alzheimer’s is the only disease in the top-ten causes of death that is on the increase and has no means of prevention and no possible cure. Given these facts, support for those afflicted relies on increasing levels of caregiving as the disease progresses. Let me explain something about this “old folk’s disease.” Alzheimer’s affects more than just parents and grandparents. It is also the disease of siblings, spouses, and children. Alzheimer’s forces many families to decide between home versus institutional care. An estimated fifteen million caregivers provide some level of care to the Alzheimer’s victims still living at home. No matter what level of care you are providing, the importance of preparation is paramount. Arming yourself with knowledge begins that preparation process. I was unprepared for the roller-coaster ride my life became as the sole caregiver for two Alzheimer’s victims. To meet their varied challenges, I adapted and developed multiple techniques for targeted personalized care. If only I knew then what I know now. By sharing my knowledge and experience, I hope to better prepare you for your caregiving journey.

Purchase your copy:

Trafford Publishing

Writing, Caregiving and Alzheimer’s Disease
When you become a new author questions always arise from interviewers, publicists and readers: “Why did you write this book” or “What was your inspiration?” While I would have enjoyed writing about wizards, superheroes, spies or master detectives I chose instead to write Never Giving Up & Never Wanting To about the true heroes that often go unnoticed in the world of Alzheimer’s care. This is a world I know far too well as I have faced the horrors of Alzheimer’s twice; my late mother lost her battle in 2010 and my wife is currently in her fourteenth year fighting the disease. What sets my book apart from most who have authored similar books; I cared for both of them on my own and simultaneously until I was forced to put my mother into Alzheimer’s assisted living in 2007 because, even though I am talented at all things caregiving, I could not be in two places at once. At present, there are some 5 million Alzheimer’s patients in the United States and most are cared for by approximately 15 million caregivers. What do the majority of these 20 million people have in common? When the newly diagnosed receives the bad news, they are essentially cast to the wolves with little more than a patient starter pack of medication and instruction to go to the Alzheimer’s Association website for assistance. In Never Giving Up & Never Wanting To I assist caregivers in recognizing many aspects of caregiving and planning that are often overlooked when assuming the responsibilities of another adult’s life as the disease takes over. Along with addressing the activities of daily living I make the reader aware of facility planning, financial and legal preparation, hospice care, psychological issues, clinical trials, and evaluating institutional care facilities should home care become unrealistic or impossible. In my interactions with other caregivers, both professional and volunteer, I found that I was not alone in my “seek, and ye shall find” instructions from the diagnosing physician. While I am an experienced computer user, it dawned on me that so many of the people that receive this diagnosis and the “instructions” may not be computer savvy enough to access the necessary information for what’s next. One of my inspirations for writing Never Giving Up & Never Wanting To came from another author. A few months after my mother was diagnosed my wife and I attended a health fair where an independent author was speaking about her husband’s diagnosis of Early Onset Alzheimer’s and his care. Being fairly new to Alzheimer’s care, like most others in my situation, I welcomed the chance to gain more information from someone who had been there before. By the fourth chapter, I realized this woman did not author a book about Alzheimer’s care but instead penned a book about Alzheimer’s care in Fantasyland. I occasionally think back to her book having spoken with hundreds of other caregivers, watched over my mother until her death and while I stand watch over my terminally ill wife of nearly 32 years and feel this woman must have had it pretty easy in caring for her Alzheimer’s patient. I did not set out to write the next bestseller but instead an unvarnished, no holds barred look at the real world of Alzheimer’s caregiving. While I would like to sell many copies; becoming the next longtime resident of the bestseller lists; I am a realist that understands that nobody, let me repeat nobody, expects this disease to come barging into their lives until after losses begin. When I began my “career” as an Alzheimer’s caregiver, I knew little more about the disease than it causes old people to forget things. In that regard, I feel I was as informed as the average person that has not experienced Alzheimer’s or the caregiving involved. Every 68 seconds someone receives the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s. It is imperative that the potential Alzheimer’s patient, as well as his or her caregivers, understand the disease, caregiving requirements and how to plan for the future. The purpose behind my book is to help current caregivers, especially those who are new, potential caregivers of which there are many and the Alzheimer’s patient who may not fully understand that Alzheimer’s is a progressive degenerative neurologic condition that is always fatal and there currently exists limited treatments to assist them through the course of the disease. I have written my book with an “I have been there, so I know what I am talking about” attitude. I wish for the reader to come away with an appreciation of what my wife and I lost when Alzheimer’s invaded our lives, but also the level of care that I render everyday from a knowledge-base of observation, in-depth research and the love and respect that I have for my best friend.

ABOUT BARRY TUTOR

As a lifetime problem-solver, I faced the challenges of caring for my two AD victims by researching the disease and developing caregiving skills to assure their comfort and care.

Friday, December 12, 2014

Sagacious Teens by J. Thompson Book Feature

Sagacious Teens Title: Sagacious Teens
Author: J. Thompson
Publisher: iUniverse
Pages: 208
Genre: Fiction
Format: Ebook/Paperback
 Purchase at AMAZON

 Adolescents are wiser than we believe. Today’s youth face multiple challenges—many of which are portrayed in the adolescent drama, Sagacious Teens, that shares a multicultural glimpse into the lives of more than a dozen teenagers from diverse backgrounds. From Carlos who shares a far-fetched story of a weekend gone awry with his friend Ernesto to Richard who is having trouble balancing his girlfriend’s demands with his own needs. Seasoned teacher J. Thompson provides eye-opening insight into how teenagers face problems and learn to deal with them, either on their own or with the help of friends. Carmelita loves two boys – one who is a compulsive liar and another who connects with her soul. Aretha is frustrated with the police and her community’s lack of involvement. Artie and Rich are concerned about a school administrator who claims the students are his responsibility. Rob is upset when a well-liked teacher picks on him for wearing a hoody. Sagacious Teens offers a look into the compelling experiences of a group of teenagers that helps bring awareness to parents, other adolescents, and teachers about the lives, interests, and challenges of today’s youth.

  amazon  

J is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

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Terms & Conditions:
  • By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
  • One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Amazon Gift Certificate or Paypal Cash.
  • This giveaway begins December 8 and ends on December 19.
  • Winners will be contacted via email on Monday, December 22.
  • Winner has 48 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Last Casualty of the Great War by Gregory M. Galvin Book Feature

The Last Casualty of the Great WarTitle: The Last Casualty of the Great War 
Author: Gregory M. Galvin 
Publisher: iUniverse 
Pages: 250 
Genre: Historical Fiction 
Format: Paperback/Kindle

John Alston quietly wonders what it is about his face that makes other people think he is someone else. Even though he looks nothing like his three siblings or anyone else in his family, in his eyes, he is just a normal middle-aged man trying to make his way in the world. But one day during a chance encounter with a German visitor at the World War I museum, everything changes. John is taken aback as he is introduced to a German man who shares the same features as him. It is as if he is peering into a mirror. Even more odd is that he shares the same first name with the man. After he eventually parts ways with the stranger and his family, John cannot shake his feelings of uneasiness—especially when he learns that his father has just received a letter in the mail, all penned in German. Inspired by the strange chain of events, John embarks on a quest to find answers that lead him to research his own family history, question everything he has ever known, and uncover a shocking truth. The Last Casualty of the Great War is the poignant tale of one man’s journey through history as he attempts to discover his identity and the reality of his roots.

  amazon

Gregory Galvin earned a degree in French language from the University of Missouri at Columbia and a degree in accounting from the University of Missouri at Kansas City. He and his wife are parents of five adult children and live in the Kansas City, Missouri, area.

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Love is Poetry: My Dreams and A Tribute to My Dad by Charles and Boyd Hooks Book Feature

Title: Love is Poetry: My Dreams and A Tribute to My Dad Author: Charles and Boyd Hooks
Publisher: Xlibris
Pages: 188
Genre: Poetry
Format: Paperback/Kindle

 I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR…..That was my oath to my god and country in August 1963. I was an infantryman and a paratrooper for the U.S. Army. I fought for my country in Vietnam. After my discharge I was a self contractor and had a son and daughter. To this day that has been my life. Literally no legacy to be remembered by maybe my great or great great grandchildren. Now I need something so if someone asked them who I was, they could prove I was a real person and maybe I’d be noted for something special. I dream constantly and write poetry and would like to publish a memoir. It has to start now at the age of sixty nine as my life has consisted of nothing special to this point. I would like to continue writing and publishing more poetry and a novel. My heart has stopped five times and now I am obsessed in having a legacy to put me in a category where I may be extra special for something. Maybe in thirty or forty years someone may say “OH Yes, I Do Remember Him” He…..??  

GIVEAWAY

Charles and Boyd are giving away one $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Terms & Conditions:
  • By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
  • One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter.
  • This giveaway begins December 1 and ends December 12.
  • Winner will be contacted via email on Monday, December 15.
  • Winner has 48 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

Monday, December 8, 2014

When Santa Goes to Church by Sonja Grimsley Fambro Book Feature - Win a $25 Amazon Gift Card!


Title: When Santa Goes to Church
Author: Sonja Grimsley Fambro
Publisher: AuthorHouse
Pages: 82
Genre: Fiction
Format: Ebook/Paperback
 Purchase at AMAZON

 Storytellers have long filled our imaginations with stories about Santa, Santa’s elves, Mrs. Claus, and Santa’s Christmas Eve trip. In fairy-tale land, it is no mystery that he, along with Rudolph and the rest of the reindeer, must have the busiest Christmas Eve night ever. After all, they are famous for going from town to town leaving gifts for good little girls and good little boys. Santa is a right jolly old fellow! Sometimes we’re told that he gets a plate of cookies for sliding down chimneys, or going through the back door, or whatever his entrance may be. Yes, fairy tales do what fairy tales are supposed to do; they take us on imaginary journeys. However, in this fairy tale about Santa, he remembers that Christmas IS NOT really about him. Do you know the real Christmas story? Well, in case you don’t, and even if you do, come and follow Santa as he hears the real Christmas story, which is NOT a fairy tale. It is the story about the greatest gift in the whole wide world! Do you know who He is?

  amazon 

 Sonja earned her B.A. degree with honors from Albany State University in Albany, Georgia. Later, after attending the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, she received her teaching certificate from the State of Florida. As an educator, she taught English in the Continuing Education Program for Norfolk Public Schools in Norfolk, Virginia. After returning to Florida, Sonja taught Business English at CareerCom School of Business in Jacksonville. Sonja is a multitalented writer whose literary works have intrigued audiences for the past several years. She writes plays, songs, essays, speeches, short stories, and poetry. Her poems entitled “Foolish, Bold, Prejudice” and “Operator, Get Me Jesus” have been published in anthologies. For two consecutive years, 1994 and 1995, Sonja received the Editor’s Choice Award for Outstanding Achievement in Poetry which was presented by the National Library of Poetry. Her poem, “The Church in the ‘Hood,” is a favorite among her friends. She has often been applauded for her inspirational speaking and her gospel plays, including Nobody, but Jesus. Sonja is also the author of another children’s book entitled Santa Spent the Night with Me! Additionally, she has plans for another project which will be on the market in the near future. In addition to writing, Sonja enjoys teaching, reading, spending time with her family, and traveling with her husband, Lewis. They have traveled extensively throughout the United States and to Canada, Mexico, Israel, and Europe. Sonja and her husband currently live in Dallas, Georgia.

Sonja is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

645
Terms & Conditions:
  • By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
  • One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Amazon Gift Certificate or Paypal Cash.
  • This giveaway begins December 8 and ends on December 19.
  • Winners will be contacted via email on Monday, December 22.
  • Winner has 48 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday, December 5, 2014

Islam in the Heartland of America by Imam Omar Hazim


Islam in the Heartland of America Title: Islam in the Heartland of America Genre: Religion/Spirituality
Author: Imam Omar Hazim
Publisher: Xlibris
EBook: 279 pages
Release Date: January 28, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-45685-798-1

"The purpose of this book is to inform and educate the general public of how Islam is taught in a mosque in the heartland of America. It includes the Friday khutbah (sermons) by Imam Omar Hazim and several other Imams (Spiritual Leaders). The hope is to help to clarify some of the misconceptions and distortions about the religion of Islam. In addition to the sermons, there will be articles from other publications, excerpts of sermons and photos. Included also is information about the diversity among the Muslim population in the Heartland of America. This book is very timely, as Islam has been reported as being the fasting growing religion in the World. For anyone who ever thought about or wondered what is taught in the Friday services at a Mosque, this book is a must read for them."  

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Xlibris

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Saw: The Final Chapter - Movie Review



I have to admit - sometimes I just want to watch a movie that is exactly what it is supposed to be. In the horror genre, this can be hard at times. Sometimes they try to make it into so much more. I have only seen the first SAW movie, and to be honest I don't really remember it. I do know that I enjoyed it but I don't remember many of the details.

During the Halloween season I dvr'd quite a few movies, and some of them I started to watch and actually turned off. So, when I decided to watch Saw: The Final Chapter I wasn't sure what to expect. But, I have to admit, I LOVED this movie. Is there some extremely involved plot? No. But, I don't always want that in a horror movie - sometimes all I'm looking for is suspense and gore, which this movie delivers in spades.

Reminiscent of Seven, Jigsaw seems to mainly target individuals who he feels aren't good citizens, and the main target in this installment is a man claiming to have been a previous victim of Jigsaw - someone who has survived this monsters torment. In fact, he is just someone looking for some attention, and to make money off of the best seller he penned. Needless to say, he has to go through his own puzzle, trying to save those he hold closest to his heart.

I certainly need to watch this entire series, as these movies are right up my alley. What about you, have you watched them? If so, what are your thoughts?

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Sahara by Angella Ricot Book Feature - Win a $25 Amazon Gift Card!


Title: Sahara
Author: Angella Ricot
Publisher: AuthorHouse
Pages: 240
Genre: Fiction/Suspense
Format: Ebook/Paperback
 Purchase at AMAZON

 When three sisters overhear their father’s overwhelming deal to sell them into prostitution, they immediately take fate into their own hands in search of their own destiny. They embark on a powerful and compelling journey that takes root in the exotic realm of the Caribbean island of Labadee, later to spring fully fledged in the glamorous cosmopolitan city of New York. Out of the struggle emerges the valiant and beautiful heroine, Sahara, a sensational gold thief who gets herself entangled in sensuous political games and dangerous liaisons. Sahara is a story of love, lust, money, and betrayal that is ingrained with power, politics, and prejudice. The plot spins to a volatile climax that sets the stage for the ultimate scandal in the White House.

  amazon    

Angella is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

645
Terms & Conditions:
  • By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
  • One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Amazon Gift Certificate or Paypal Cash.
  • This giveaway begins December 1 and ends on December 12.
  • Winners will be contacted via email on Monday, December 15.
  • Winner has 48 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

The Real Benefit of Social Media by Steven Fujita, author of Toe Up to 10K

Toe Up to 10K 1Title: Toe Up to 10K
Author: Steven Fujita
Publisher: BookBaby
Pages: 168
Genre: Self-Help
Format: Ebook

 In June 2012, Steven Fujita went to the emergency room, and was diagnosed with meningitis. After four days of improvement, he was scheduled to be discharged when his condition worsened dramatically. His blood pressure, body temperature and sodium levels all became dangerously low. He started to lose consciousness. He was rushed to the Intensive Care Unit. He had suffered spinal cord damage at the T4 level. Upon regaining full consciousness, Fujita could not speak, eat, breathe independently, control bodily functions, nor move his legs. “Once we understand what we have to go through, become resolved to see it through, and know we will survive, we feel our ordeal is not so bad,” Fujita writes. In this book, he takes the reader on a journey of recovery from a spinal cord injury. It is not only a journey of determination and hard work, but of positive attitude, of drawing inspiration, of gratitude towards those around him: his family, his friends, co-workers, and medical professionals.

Purchase Your Copy At:

 

The Real Benefit of Social Media
Like many people, I joined Facebook to keep up with current friends, and to re-establish ties with old friends.  I joined Twitter for my “more real time” updates.  Alas, I didn’t have much to say, and I was pretty inactive, even when it came time to promote my books.

Back then, Facebook didn’t have community pages, and Twitter, in its infancy, was used to post whimsical tweets, such as “I am now sitting in front of the tv.”  When my current book, Toe Up to 10K was released, I found it easier to get involved because it was so much easier to “syndicate” posts, i.e, what I posted to my blog could easily post to Twitter and Facebook at the same time.
As I re-acclimated myself back into social media, however, things had changed.  Facebook now had community pages for causes, and such, and Twitter was basically scooping traditional media regarding breaking news.

But I learned the real power of social media is in creating a world community.  On Facebook, when someone has taken ill, or is facing some other obstacle, a “page” is created so that person’s friends can be updated.  On Twitter, I follow people who share inspirational and motivational tweets (in addition to the whimsical and promotion of entertainment mediums, such as books, movies, music, photos).


With a click of the button, I can “like” someone’s page, or “follow” someone’s tweets.  I don’t have to personally know the person.  Upon that action, we get updates from that person, and we can comment, reply or share that post with others.  With these posts we can be inspired or inspire other, be motivated, or motivate others, receive support, or support others.  And what’s cool about this?  Many times, it is strangers inspiring, motivating, and supporting each other. 

Steven Fujita was born in Los Angeles and raised in Torrance, California. He attended college in Washington, D.C., and currently lives in Long Beach, California.

 Listen to Steven Fujita's interview on the Book Club with John Austin, which aired November 2, 2010, about his novella, Sword of the Undead, a re-telling of Bram Stoker's vampire novel, Dracula. http://www.internetradiopros.com/bookclub/?p=episode&name=2010-11-01_zbookcub_for_110210_1st_segment_steven_fujita.mp3

 His other book, $10 a Day Towards $1,000,000, is available on Kindle. This book promotes the idea of using time and savings to build wealth. His new book, Toe Up to 10K, was released in September 2014. This book chronicles his recovery from spinal cord injury he sustained in 2012. Visit his website at: www.stevenfujitaauthor.com   

Monday, December 1, 2014

A Guide to the Study of Basic Medical Mycology by Kee Peng Ng Book Feature - Win a $25 Amazon Gift Card!



Title: A Guide to the Study of Basic Medical Mycology Author: Kee Peng Ng
Publisher: Partridge Singapore
Pages: 92
Genre: Medical
Format: Paperback/Kindle

 Mycotic diseases are gaining importance because of the increase in opportunistic fungal infections in patients whose immune systems are compromised. The identification of fungi isolated from clinical material has posed a variety of problems to many laboratories because of lack of expertise and experience, especially in the identification of recently emerged rare fungi that had not been previously reported. A Guide to the Study of Basic Medical Mycology offers an overview of the basic characteristics of fungi frequently isolated from clinical specimens. This comprehensive guide, developed by authors Kee Peng Ng, Tuck Soon Soo-Hoo, and Shiang Ling Na from the Department of Medical Microbiology, University Malaya Medical Centre, Malaysia, details the macro- and microscopic features of each fungus through graphics and illustrations. Including specimens not often found in all teaching modules, A Guide to the Study of Basic Medical Mycology serves to help medical students identify and learn to deal with clinically important fungi and fungal pathogens.

  amazon

GIVEAWAY

Kee is giving away one $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Terms & Conditions:
  • By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
  • One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter.
  • This giveaway begins December 1 and ends December 12.
  • Winner will be contacted via email on Monday, December 15.
  • Winner has 48 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

Friday, November 28, 2014

Would a Maharajah Sleep Here? by Stephen and Leanne Troy


Title: Would a Maharajah Sleep Here?
Author: Stephen and Leanne Troy
Publisher: iUniverse
Pages: 324
Genre: Memoir
Format: Paperback/Kindle

 Inspired by a movie, television show, book, or stories from friends, we may find ourselves daydreaming about trips to exotic locations with exciting adventures. For some lucky ones, these dreams become reality. Would a Maharajah Sleep Here? presents firsthand stories of luxury travel and discovery by two fun and experienced travelers. Authors and travelers Stephen and Leanne Troy provide accounts of historic exploration, luxury hotel stays, and encounters with interesting people around the world. Each trip is private and planned in great detail to make sure each and every adventure is unique and experienced in five-star luxury. Chronicling their exploits at the end of each day, the Troys describe checking into the finest hotels in the world and getting whisked away for incredible tours of some of the world’s greatest treasures. In addition to personal anecdotes, this travelogue shares information about sites, history, culture, and food in countries around the world. The Troys reveal the good, the bad, and, of course, the fun and funny events that they encountered on their trips around the globe.

Stephen Troy earned a BBA from the University of Miami in Florida. He is the founder, owner, and CEO of AeroFund Financial. He is also the author of Business Biographies: Shaken, Not Stirred … With a Twist. He and his wife, Leanne, have visited six continents and more than forty countries. They have three children, two grandchildren, and live in Carmel, California.

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Four Noble Truths by J.D. Buxton


Title: Four Noble Truths
Author: J.D. Buxton
Publisher: iUniverse
Pages: 397
Genre: Action/Adventure
Format: Paperback/Kindle

 Dragon is a handsome, passionate and deeply devoted young man with a hidden, horrible past that haunts him into his present life. After suffering unimaginable abuse in a child pornography ring in Taiwan and an addiction to Heroin, Dragon’s only light on a path of darkness is his love, Raven, who more than fulfills his physical and emotional needs. United by the organization that found and ultimately saved Dragon, he and Raven happily bask in the love of an adopted family of lost souls touched by similar pasts that includes their mentor Sensei, and Wax and Sarge, Dragon’s right-hand men. As they execute their missions to explore the underbelly of the world of human trafficking and the sex trade, and serve the purpose of the organization: to right the wrongs, they have no idea the path they are on will lead them to unlock the door to their freedom. In this compelling story about redemption, love and fate, a young man, his love and his devoted team embark on a dangerous journey to execute vigilante justice for one purpose; to seek out and eliminate the perpetrators of the very crimes from which they all suffered.

 J D Buxton was born and raised in Southern Ontario. After graduating from college, she pursued a career in sales and marketing and lived in Vancouver, British Columbia and Calgary, Alberta where she raised her family. She is married with three children and currently resides in Southern Ontario where she enjoys all things equine, country and western music and home cooking.

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Guest post from Ed Grizzle, author of It's Your Decision


It's Your Decision
Title: It’s Your Decision
Author: Ed Grizzle
Publisher: iUniverse
Pages: 128
Genre: Family Relationships/Parenting
Format: Ebook
Purchase at AMAZON
Children are gifts from God, but parenting those children can often be a difficult task. In It’s Your Decision, author Ed Grizzle shows how parenting can be successful when it’s carried out according to God’s plan.
Using his life’s experiences as a guide, Grizzle explores the importance of making the right decisions in life—from choosing the right lifestyle and the right mate and to raising children according to what God has planned for you. It’s Your Decision discusses
• planning for children;
• knowing what children need;
• being aware of the important years in a child’s life;
• understanding that children will test parents;
• valuing the role of grandparents;
• dealing with abused children;
• communicating openly and honestly;
• clarifying family roles.
Grizzle presents a guide to strengthening lives and making your family life more enjoyable. He shows how this is possible when you accept Jesus Christ into your life; he will show you the way in the difficult times.

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My name is Ed and I lived a horrible childhood like many young people are living today. After meeting my wife to be, things started to change for the better. My parents didn't seem to care much about me but Mary did. That is why the book was written. I wanted to tell people who are having a difficult life that a life with Jesus Christ can and will make all the difference in the world for the way you live your life. I got involved with smoking and drinking at an early age. My dad divorced my mom when I was 13 years old and that was when I committed my first burglary. That was the beginning of my criminal career.
After meeting Mary and getting married, my life turn completely around. Mary introduced me to Jesus Christ and we were both baptized into Him and started to live for Him, not necessarily for ourselves. We raised our children and they are now raising their children the same way we raised them. Bottom line is this. If we live according to Jesus Christ's way, we can have a beautiful life. Mary and our family did. So can you. The decision is up to you.

Ed Grizzle started a ministry called It’s Your Decision that helps addicts, prostitutes, and others who face difficult circumstances. He and his late wife, Mary, raised two children. Grizzle currently lives in Illinois

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Interview with Glenn Bassett, author of The Manager's Craft


Title: The Manager's Craft
Author: Glenn Bassett
Publisher: Organization Diagnostics
Pages: 216
Genre: Business
Format: Paperback/Kindle

Almost any job or profession you can think of has a set of specific requirements for knowledge and skill that must be mastered. Managing and supervising the work of others is an exception. In part that is because the job of managing requires a range of social and technical skills that can vary widely depending on business circumstance. An infinite diversity of technologies, materials, markets and work skills can figure into the mix of the manager’s job. The manager may be asked to coordinate technically skilled team players, or, alternatively, may need to discipline the application of basic skills to achievement of production goals. Materials may be common or exotic. Customers may have influence over or little concern for product quality and design. Work skills may be common or rare. Technology may be critical or peripheral.

Some central managerial skills like accounting and finance can be trained. Mostly, they are dealt with as competences that are best left to specialists. Highly technical problems that demand specific training are, in general, treated as staff support jobs. The part of the job that always stays with the manager is that of working with and through other people to achieve cost-effective productivity using formal authority, personal influence, economic incentives and an understanding of organizing processes. As skill sets, these are very difficult to define. They blend and merge to become a personal suite of action strategies that are put to use as needed. Formal education and training can provide a summary focus, but only practice and experience can make them effective working tools. Much of managing and supervising is thus learned from experience on the job. The manager’s challenge is to find a mentor who can guide him/her past the most critical traps and blunders.

Much that passes for management training is, unfortunately, superficial or just wrong. Economic incentives are clearly basic but always insufficient. Application of authority is indispensable but can backfire or fail. Motivational programs can turn out to be all PR and noise. Workers may be satisfied and unproductive. Cost control measures can gut the core of product quality. Balancing it all can be a juggling act that daunts average intellectual and social skill. Managing and supervising skills can be learned on the job if failure is tolerated. Only limited trial and error can be accepted. The best available advice and mentoring is required for survival over the long course. The chapters of this book will provide the working manager with the knowledge necessary to accelerate learning and skill mastery. When put together in a coherent, working package through experience, that mastery rises to the professional level.

The author, Dr. Glenn Bassett, applies his unusual range of practical and professional experience to defining and clarifying the requisite skill and knowledge. From his background as a working personnel executive, professor of management, GE corporate staffer, social science researcher, consultant and business school dean he critically and synergistically sorts out the realities of sound management practice. He deals with issues of authority and discipline rationally and realistically, disposing summarily of nearly all standard motivational theory. He challenges commonly offered “principles” of management showing that many are misleading or illusory. He lays out the principles of worker productivity that a manager must grasp to control cost and quality. What emerges is a description of the Manager’s Craft that summarizes the knowledge and skill required of the working manager who must exercise control in the workplace, build commitment among colleagues, and sustain high quality, cost-effective productivity. This is an intellectually rigorous analysis applied to achievement of practical managerial results. This is The Manager’s Craft.

For More Information

  • The Manager's Craft is available at Amazon.
What are you most proud of accomplishing so far in your life?  I have a wonderful wife, four great kids and a beautiful home built for us by our son.  What more could anyone ask?
How has your upbringing influenced your writing?  I grew up in a very safe, supportive community with excellent schools.  Family turmoil through divorce when I was a pre-teen created in me a need to better understand why people behave as they do.  The human condition is of great interest to me.  Writing about it follows naturally.
When and why did you begin writing?  In my first semester as an undergraduate at Cal Berkeley I realized that hand written papers were hard work for me and a turn-off for professors.  With the acquisition of a portable typewriter I discovered that the words flowed from my fingers fluently, almost magically.  I found great satisfaction from expressing my insights clearly and articulately.  That satisfaction continues to the present day.
Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?  I discovered that when I typed my thoughts onto paper, people gave attention to what I was saying.  A brief professional essay about the personnel selection process written during my first personnel assignment got instant attention from the editors of a business journal.  I have continued to write for publication continually since.
When did you first know you could be a writer?  Probably when my first article was accepted for publication.  After about the third article submission, it was suggested that I try writing a book on the subject.  I accepted the challenge, wrote it and it was published.
What inspires you to write and why?  Emergence of insights into human behavior and the human condition demand to be shared.  The writing process helps clarify and refine them into a clearly articulated statement.
What genre are you most comfortable writing?  Applied Social Science is my domain.  I am at core a realist and a pragmatist.  I want to know how social processes and human relations work so that I can understand and deal with them competently.
What inspired you to write your first book?  The invitation to make the attempt and the opportunity to examine processes I was intensely involved in were quite sufficient inspiration.
Who or what influenced your writing once you began?  I discovered that writing and being published gave me a significant edge over peers and competitors.  That plus the personal satisfaction from developing and expressing my thinking articulately were powerful incentives.
What do you consider the most challenging about writing a novel, or about writing in general?  I have considered doing a novel, but can’t get into it because I overelaborate roles and excessively complicate plots.  My interest in roles and complicated relationships resides in grasping  those I encounter in the real world.  I have the patience to study and research issues of interest and go to the core of them.
Did writing this book teach you anything and what was it?  I had to delve deeply into neuropsychology, cultural anthropology, the history of philosophy and a variety of emerging new psychological constructs to set the foundation for writing this book.  It was a major voyage of discovery.
Do you intend to make writing a career?  Writing is the complement to my current career which is publishing.  It already is my career.
Have you developed a specific writing style?  I detest wordiness and excessive verbal flourishes.  I want to solidly grasp and clearly express my subject.  I strive for clarity and parsimony in my writing.  I would never be able to write the typical college text book, partly because I would offend too many of my colleagues with tough critiques of their theories, partly because of the excess wordiness most text book publishers seem to expect.
What is your greatest strength as a writer?  I have great depth of practice and experience and a willingness to sit at the keyboard as long as it takes to make the message work. 
What is your favorite quality about yourself?  I am a no-nonsense realist with little patience for vague concepts or poorly defined abstractions.
What is your least favorite quality about yourself?  I am probably confident to a fault.  I know and manage most of my weaknesses.  That can be a turnoff to  some people.
What is your favorite quote, by whom, and why?  That would be FDR’s classic statement “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”  Fearlessness can be foolish, but fear can disable one from living the best life he/she can.  In the face of one of the most disabling diseases that one can endure, FDR persisted and gave the best he had to a troubled world in need of courageous leadership.  Those of us without such impediment should surely give as much.

Dr. Glenn Bassett is Professor Emeritus of Management and former Dean of Business at the University of Bridgeport.  A graduate of Berkeley and Yale, as well as a former corporate staffer at General Electric, Dr. Bassett’s career has focused on applied Social Psychology.  WordPlay is the result of exended research into the science of psycholinguistics. He is the author of numerous articles and published books, including The Managers Craft. For More Information

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Riding the Bullet - Movie Review


From Wikipedia

Set in 1969, Alan Parker (Jonathan Jackson) is a young artist, studying at the University of Maine. He becomes obsessed with death, and believing he is losing his girlfriend, Jessica (Christensen), he tries to commit suicide on his birthday. His friends surprise him and he cuts himself sending him to the hospital. He eventually recovers and decides to go with them to a John Lennon concert.

Before leaving he receives news that his mother, Jean (Hershey), is in the hospital because of a stroke and is near death. Alan decides to hitchhike to reach the hospital before his only relative dies. On his way there, he has multiple strange encounters with the living and dead. The film ends when Alan, now in his 40's, tells the audience that his mother died of a heart attack while watching television. He married his girlfriend Jessica, but it only lasted four years.

He never made it as an artist, but he does go to the theme park every summer in memory of his mother. While walking from the park, a person that looks like his friend George Staub offers him a ride, but he refuses. He tells him to "take your button and get outta here."

My Review

I don't believe that I ever read this story by Stephen King. I would like to think if I did it would be much better than whatever I just wasted the last few hours of my life on. This has to be one of the most confusing movies I have ever seen. I read the description and thought it sounded quite interesting. I can't even begin to write a logical review of this movie, because the storyline jumped around so much making it extremely hard to follow. 

I get that it was a story of a man confronting his demons, and have read some people compare it to A Christmas Carol. I guess I can somewhat see that. But it wasn't as clear cut as that and just seems jumbled to me.

Have you seen it? If so, what are your thoughts? Being a huge King fan, I was excited to see something I hadn't before. Major letdown. 

Friday, November 14, 2014

Character Interview with Llad Fleck from Wave Links by Randall Boleyn

Randall Boleyn When those first few novels transported Randall into the intrigue of other cultures and the complexity of foreign lands, his life changed forever. He wanted to experience those kinds of adventures and ended up traveling the world doing international business while living his own bizarre experiences. Realizing he wanted to create the same kind of stories he loved to read, Randall coaxed the Muse by writing, studying and learning the craft. After years of toiling with the words, the stories suddenly just seemed to happen. It was startling! It was the same joy and surprise he had relished as a reader in guessing how a plot might unfold affecting the characters’ lives. He now writes with the eye and passion of creating that next great story like he would want to read. Randall now lives in the hills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia and is focused on completing the Powers Meant for Gods trilogy to publish by December 2014. Read excerpts and more at RandallBoleyn.com and sign-up for Randall’s mailing list for publishing details.  His latest book is the Young Adult Fantasy, Wave Links. For More Information
Thank you so much for this interview, Llad Fleck.  Now that the book Wave Links has been written, do you feel you were fairly portrayed or would you like to set anything straight with your readers?

My portrayal was okay I guess, but a lot of the events that changed my life I had nothing to do with. And it made me look kinda like I screwed up somehow. It really wasn’t like that, things just happened and I got caught in the wash. I did the best I could even though it didn’t seem like enough.

What do you believe is your strongest trait? 

Well, I never thought much about questions like that, but I guess the fact that I am all- in with everything I do is a good trait. If I can get the psychic powers that I am supposed to have inherited figured out, that would be a big deal. 

Worst trait?

Probably the same answer, that I commit everything I have into any given situation and don’t always think of clearer solutions. Hey, I’m still a young buck, I’ve never experienced any of this stuff before. But I am getting better at seeing the big picture. And probably, that I like the ladies a little too much.

Do you have a love interest in the book? 

Kinda, I guess. There’s this red headed beauty that I saw at a party and then she haunts my dreams most every night, but I don’t think she even knows I exist. I’ve ‘known’ a lot of girls, but it was just for fun. That L word was never mentioned. 

At what point of the book did you start getting nervous about the way it was going to turn out?

Almost right from the start. There were so many crazy things happening to me that I has no control over or any experience with, it all seemed a little overwhelming. 

If you could trade places with one of the other characters in the book, which character would you really not want to be and why? 

That’s a question I’ve actually been thinking about. My nut-case cousin has everything; billions of dollars, an interesting Institute of learning he created, and powers most people can’t even comprehend, but he is so fixated on me and owning what I might have inherited, he has become obsessed and spends all his time making my life miserable. 

How do you feel about the ending of the book without giving too much away? 

Well, I sure as heck didn’t see that coming. It broke my heart. But I’ll tell you this much, it’s not over yet, not by a long shot. Not until I say it’s over. 

What words of wisdom would you give your author if he decided to write another book with you in it? 

Give me a little bit of time and the proper resources to learn all my crazy talents so that I can level the playing field. It also wouldn’t hurt anything to have a few more beautiful ladies in my life, either.

Thank you for this interview.  Will we be seeing more of you in the future? Absolutely! Although we just barely survived everything that went down in Wave Links, there are too many nasty loose ends still at play that need attending. I pretty certain it will take a least two more books, maybe three to understand the depth of the threat the Mind’s Eye Institute poses to the societies of world, and then someone has to fix it. Book two, Soul Links is in the works and should be out by the end of 2014. I think if you go to RandallBoleyn.com, you can opt-in to be on a notify list to receive an email about the publishing dates.

Wave Link cover 9-16 copy  They feared how the truth might alter Llad Fleck. No one ever told him about his talented ancestors, their extraordinary heritage, or how they died. He never learned that a powerful research institute in England considered him a lethal threat. Other than the need to move on to the safety of a different city every few months, the only thing Llad knew for sure was that the men he played ball against said he had “mad skills not suitable for a fifteen-year-old.” When Llad meets an eccentric parapsychologist, Dr. Jemma Rask, she explains that she has waited decades just to teach him how to expand his mind and utilize the unique traits which she believes he has inherited. Even though Dr. Rask and her stories come across as way too weird for Llad, he begins studying her techniques. He quickly realizes that just because the link might be there, it doesn’t mean he actually has the talent or the patience to develop his abilities. After multiple killings shatter Llad’s life, he still doesn’t know who is behind the brutal murders or why he’s involved. But he knows now that he’s fighting for his life against a unknown enemy. He must discover more about his family tree and learn how to control his psychic gifts―if he has any. Alone with his grief, Llad searches for clues about his cryptic lineage while being haunted by reoccurring dreams of a mysterious girl trying to help him master the bizarre talents he will need to survive.

To Purchase Your Copy

Warrior of the Way by Nathan Chandler Book Feature

Warrior of the Way Title: Warrior of the Way
Author: Nathan Chandler
Publisher: iUniverse
Pages: 376
Genre: Fantasy
Format: Ebook
 Purchase at AMAZON 

Civil war is a curse that touches everyone, including King Tashdar of the Mulamar. When he is ordered by a powerful and mysterious stranger to send warriors toward Kanai and Kadisha to slaughter everyone, Tashdar has no choice but to obey. As the Hebari emperor’s palace is invaded, only one man escapes—a captain of the guard to whom the emperor has entrusted the safety of his remaining two children. Moments later, the emperor’s legacy is erased from the face of the earth. More than forty years later, Pasha Nuvahli of the Sashramans tribe, greatest of the king’s warriors, is devastated when his wife is murdered and his son is kidnapped. Overcome with despair as war and a dangerous sorcerer threaten the southern tribes, Pasha soon finds himself in a crisis of faith as he ponders why Daiyu has allowed such sorrow to befall him. But after he learns of an ancient prophecy and his hidden connection to the last emperor of the south, Pasha is sent by King Juktan to seek an alliance with the five other Hebari tribes and lead them against an ancient enemy from the north. Suddenly, his life takes on a new meaning. In this compelling story, a worried king looks to his greatest warrior to unify the south with the hope the young soldier can save his people before all is lost forever.

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 Nathan Chandler received an associate’s degree in technical Spanish translation from Oklahoma State University–Oklahoma City and currently attends the University of Oklahoma, where he is majoring in international business with an emphasis in Chinese language. Nathan resides in Norman, Oklahoma, where he continues to write.