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.

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.

Guest post from Ed Grizzle, author of 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.

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

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

• Visit Glenn Bassett’s website.

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. 

Character Interview with Llad Fleck from Wave Links by 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

• Visit Randall Boleyn’s website.
• Connect with Randall on Facebook and Twitter.
• Visit Randall on Goodreads.
• More books by Randall Boleyn.

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.

  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

•  Amazon.
•  Barnes & Noble.
• Scribd
• iTunes
• Kobo
• Inktera

Warrior of the Way by Nathan Chandler Book Feature

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.

  

 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.

Behind the Taffeta Curtain by Verne Castress Book Feature

Title: Behind the Taffeta Curtain
Author: Verne Castress
Publisher: iUniverse
Pages: 102
Genre: Women's Fiction
Format: Paperback/Kindle

 Clair, a small-town girl attending Iowa State University in 1940, has her palm read for a laugh—and gets a surprisingly specific prediction about her career, marriage, and children. She laughs it off, with no idea of how accurate it will turn out to be. After a failed romance, she hastily marries a man named John, has two children, and very soon finds herself miserable. John is not only abusive and controlling, but also a compulsive gambler. In an effort to support their family, Clair finds work in a nearby department store, and her career in fashion begins. In the sixties and seventies, Clair works her way up through the industry, chipping away at the glass ceiling of a field with far fewer women executives than the ad firms of Madison Avenue at the time. As an executive buyer for numerous retail conglomerates, she travels the globe searching for innovative fashions and meets regularly with iconic designers such as Coco Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, and Oscar de la Renta. Among the fashion elite living the high life, there are steamy affairs, drugs, and suicides, as tragic elements mark the lives of these women in fashion whose insecurity remains hidden beneath their stoicism. This novel tells the story of Clair’s journey through the fashion world, a single mother contending with the conniving wiles of men and women and facing obstacles in the devious, behind-the-scenes political struggle of those climbing to the top.

Verne Castress retired following a forty-five-year career as a fashion executive, for which she traveled the world in search of innovative fashions for the American market. The mother of two adult children, she currently lives in Scottsdale, Arizona.

GIVEAWAY

Tom 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 November 10 and ends November 21.
• Winner will be contacted via email on Monday, November 24.
• Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Darkest Side of Saturn by Tony Taylor

Title: The Darkest Side of Saturn
Author: Tony Taylor
Publisher: iUniverse
Pages: 492
Genre: Science Fiction
Format: Ebook

Purchase at AMAZON

It’s 1997 at a mountaintop observatory in Southern California where spacecraft navigator Harris Mitchel and astronomer Diana Muse-Jones discover a dangerous asteroid which may hit the earth within two decades. As the asteroid tumbles through space towards an uncertain impact, Harris and Diana fight bitterly over how to announce their discovery. When Harris goes public to a skeptical world—at the cost of his and Diana’s careers—he sends their already turbulent relationship into a blaze of conflicting passions. As his notoriety builds, a fanatical preacher and his unhinged followers stalk him while an obnoxious radio personality provides disruptive help. Harris becomes an unwilling Pied Piper for his own overzealous followers hungry for belief and eager for guidance into an uncertain and tumultuous future. In this science fiction drama the characters battle each other in contests of Damn your world view! against a background of hard science, religion, romance, metaphysical speculation, and the forces of nature versus human passions and dreams. Meanwhile an asteroid hurtles through the solar system and global salvation or disaster hangs in the balance. “A courageous and visionary work … an instant classic.” —BlueInk Reviews

Tony Taylor spent a long career navigating NASA spacecraft—including Voyager, Cassini, Mars Polar Lander, Galileo, and MESSENGER—to every planet in the solar system. He graduated from the United States Air Force Academy and earned an MS in physics from the University of Arizona. Tony and his wife, Jan, live in Sedona, Arizona.

One Month Week Day Hour Minute Second by Rebecca Marie Book Feature

Title: One Month Week Day Hour Minute Second
Author: Rebecca Marie
Publisher: iUniverse
Pages: 113
Genre: Self Help/Personal Growth
Format: Ebook
 Purchase at AMAZON 

Abuse knows no boundaries. It doesn’t care if you are rich or poor, old or young. It can enter your life at any time and stay as long as you let it. In One Month Week Day Hour Minute Second, author Rebecca Marie discusses that the key is to release the secrets, talk about the abuse, and take the power away from the abusers. In this memoir, she shares her personal journey surviving sexual and physical abuse, describing how abusive patterns started at a young age, how negative self-esteem continued to grow, and how it ended in her falling in love with a psychopath. One Month Week Day Hour Minute Second narrates how Marie was victimized and lived in daily fear and despair, but discusses how she chose not to remain a victim and took power over her own life. Hoping to break the cycle of domestic abuse one victim at a time, Marie tells her emotional story to call attention to the problem of domestic violence. Her story shows there is hope for others.

    
Rebecca Marie enjoys being a mentor and her goal in sharing her story is to help others see there is hope.

I've Got Some Good News and Some Bad News: You're Old by David Bernstein, M.D.

Title: I've Got Some Good News and Some Bad News: You're Old Author: David Bernstein
Publisher: Dynamic Learning
Pages: 202
Genre: Health/Fitness
Format: Paperback/Ebook

 Life is an aging process. Each of us will go through it in our own way. How we lead our lives when we are old, particularly as we near the end, is, I believe, worth pondering. In this way, "I've Got Some Good News and Some Bad News: You're Old" serves as a guide for all of us as we age, providing topics for contemplation and discussion with friends, family and colleagues. "You're Old" uses real patient experiences to explore what happens as we age-physically, mentally, and socially. The book also examines the tremendous abilities of medicine today as well as its limits, and the social issues that adults in America face as they age. Each chapter concludes with Notes on Living Longer, and a resource section, providing topic-specific information on organizations, websites, and other expert sources that can help the reader better understand and prepare for the prize of surviving youth and middle-age: becoming old. "You're Old" is written for the aging and the aged, their children, and younger people who aspire to grow old. It is written for the physicians, nurses and other providers who care for the elderly. The experiences explored in this book include the "good news and the bad" as the inevitable ravages of age intrude into the lives of Dr Bernstein's patients. From the most mundane situations to the truly sublime, the tales illuminate the emotional, psychological, and spiritual aspects of aging along with the diverse strategies people use to adapt to its realities.

For More Information

• I've Got Good News and Some Bad News: You're Old is available at Amazon.

David Bernstein, MD is a highly respected physician who is board certified in both Internal Medicine and Geriatrics practicing in Clearwater, Florida. His 30+ years of experience have provided him with opportunities to observe and empathize with thousands of adults as they age. His compassion and ability to see the souls of his patients has compelled him to share his stories in his book “I’ve Got Some Good News and Some Bad News You’re OLD: Tales of a Geriatrician What to expect in Your 60s, 70s, 80s and Beyond” Dr. Bernstein has served as chairman of his hospital’s Pharmacy and Therapeutic committee for 20 years helping to improve patient safety and outcomes. During this period of time, he also served on the board of the local Jewish Family service and as chairman. As an associate clinical professor in the department of medicine at the University of South Florida College of Medicine, he has taught the skills he has acquired over the years to first and second year students. Dr. Bernstein has been a nursing home medical director for 20 years. He was responsible for addressing administrative and quality assurance issues. “When you give, you get back” he says about what his patients have told him and taught him about life and aging. His writing style of telling stories about his patients allows the reader to understand the complex emotions and struggles of growing older and losing independence. He lovingly tells these stories adding his own insights about this complex process. Dr Bernstein is an avid public speaker, addressing various medical topics with his colleagues and with the community at large with a focus on families facing the complex problems as they near the end of life. For More Information

• Visit David Bernstein’s website at www.davidbernsteinm.com 

Four Before Their Time by Timothy Spillane

November is "National Prematurity Awareness Month" (Nov. 17 is "World Prematurity Day").There are nearly a half million babies born prematurely in this country every year. 

Title: Four Before Their Time
Author: Timothy Spillane
Publisher: Skitterbird, LLC
Pages: 342
Genre: Memoir
Format: Paperback/Kindle

Anne had it all. She was a physician, an Army officer, and a great wife. She'd be a great mom, too. But the joy of pregnancy is short-lived after an ultrasound reveals that Anne isn't just pregnant, she's really pregnant - with quadruplets! Now her dad, Tim Spillane, is a grandfather four times over, and much too soon. Just 24 weeks into her pregnancy, Anne delivered, and not one of Tim's grandkids weighs more than half a mug of coffee. So underdeveloped that even calling them babies feels wrong, the odds of just one of them surviving - let alone all four - are heartbreakingly low. And even if the children pull through, they face the likelihood of disabilities so severe that they'd have no real quality of life. It all seems hopeless until Tim's wife observes that just seeing the quads is like "being allowed a glimpse into the miracle that grows in a mother's womb." Four Before Their Time is the true story of four babies surviving on a razor's edge, one mom's overwhelming and guilt-ridden entrance into parenthood, and an entire family's experiences with extreme premature birth. It will take all the faith, hope, and resilience the Spillane family can muster - along with more than a few miracles - just to get the quadruplets home.

For More Information

• Four Before Their Time is available at Amazon.

Tim and his wife live in Chester County, PA and are the parents of three daughters. They became grandparents when their daughter, Anne delivered quadruplets in April, 2010. A graduate of Colorado College (1979) with a degree in English Literature, Tim returned to school to earn his Masters of Public Health from Drexel University in 2005. He has worked in residential construction for more than three decades but is now focusing full-time on his writing. He currently serves on the executive board of Graham's Foundation, an organization for parents and families going through the journey of prematurity. 

For More Information

• Visit Timothy Spillane’s website.
• Connect with Timothy on Facebook.

Impure by J.R. Bailey Book Feature

Title: Impure
Author: J.R. Bailey
Publisher: iUniverse
Pages: 272
Genre: Fantasy
Format: Ebook
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 "As darkness spills down from the north and stains all it touches with sin, a den of vampires known as the Great Citadel reaches out with its snaking hands. A change in the winds is signified by the death of an emperor—and the time for retribution has come. No one desires vengeance more than Koristad Altessor, a young necromancer and son of the legendary Black Guardian. Although it has been nearly twenty years since the Vampire King murdered his father, stole his throne, and then unleashed barbarians upon the defenseless villages of the foothills, Koristad’s thirst to kill the evil king remains unquenched. As he relentlessly searches for the monster and attempts to protect those he loves, Koristad’s own legend begins to take shape. With the powerful Executor Blade in hand, he sets his sights upon the Great Citadel and the Vampire King. But now only time will tell if he is prepared for the terrible secrets he may find there. In this continuing tale, a child of darkness instigates a mission of revenge against the lord of all vampires—a conflict destined to shake the very pillars of hell and test him in ways he never imagined."  

J. R. Bailey began writing as a child after his first encounter with a typewriter and has never stopped. He is an eccentric dreamer who spends more time exploring the worlds of his imagination than the one at his fingertips. J. R. currently resides in southern Nebraska.

J.R. is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

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The Shining - Movie Review

From Wikipedia

The Shining is a 1980 British-American psychological horror film produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick, co-written with novelist Diane Johnson, and starring Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd, and Scatman Crothers. The film is based on Stephen King's 1977 novel of the same name, though there are significant changes.

In the film, Jack Torrance, a writer and recovering alcoholic, takes a job as an off-season caretaker at the isolated Overlook Hotel. His young son possesses psychic abilities and is able to see things from the past and future, such as the ghosts who inhabit the hotel. Soon after settling in, the family is trapped in the hotel by a snowstorm, and Jack gradually becomes influenced by a supernatural presence, descends into madness, and ultimately attempts to murder his wife and son.

 Unlike previous Kubrick films, which developed an audience gradually by building on word-of-mouth, The Shining was released as a mass-market film, opening at first in just two cities on Memorial Day, then nationwide a month later. Although initial response to the film was mixed, later critical assessment was more favorable and it is now listed among the greatest horror movies, while some have viewed it as one of the greatest films of all time. Film director Martin Scorsese, writing in The Daily Beast, ranked it as one of the 11 scariest horror movies of all time. Film critics, film students, and Kubrick's producer Jan Harlan, have remarked on the enormous influence the film has had on popular culture.

The initial European release of The Shining was 25 minutes shorter than the American version, achieved by removing most of the scenes taking place outside the environs of the hotel.

My Review

I can't remember how long it has been since I have read The Shining - now that Doctor Sleep is written it is certainly time for a re-read so I can brush up on the details of the book. I have seen the movie many, many times. Now that my girls are older, they really love watching scary movies. The Shining was on last night so we decided to watch it (I can quote many of the lines, that is how many times I have seen it).

Let me start out by saying that Jack Nicholson is one of my favorite actors, just like Stephen King is one of my favorite (if not my favorite) authors. So, while writing this review I do struggle just a little. I think it is a good thing I haven't read the book in quite some time, that way I can review the movie on its merits, and not on the shortfalls it may have compared to the book (from what I remember, there are many).

Jack Nicholson in the role of Jack Torrence is truly brilliant. You know from the beginning of the movie that something is 'off' with him, and as the movie progresses that is more and more evident. An alcoholic writer, Jack takes the only job available to him at the time, the caretaker/overseer of The Overlook hotel. He will oversee the upkeep over the winter months with his wife and young son, Danny. But, Danny has 'The Shining', a power that allows him to see things in the future and also to communicate without speaking. He sees terrifying images of the hotel and does not want to go. Once the snow falls the family will essentially be trapped in the hotel for the duration of the season, not leaving until April.

When they arrive they become acclimated, and Danny meets Dick Halloran, the chef and someone to also has 'The Shining'. He explains to Danny what it is, and that they are not alone. Danny is afraid of the hotel, but Dick reassures him, telling him that everything will be ok. Jack takes up writing, and Wendy and Danny fall into a routine of their own. But, things start happening...terrible things. And Jack is at the helm.

The descent into craziness that Jack Torrence portrays is absolutely frightening. When he talks with Danny in his room (when Danny goes to get a toy and Jack is supposed to be napping) the look on Jack's face when Danny answers says it all...along with the conversation they have. And, let's be honest, with one of the most recognizable scenes, even those that haven't seen the movie know this scene:



I would highly recommend this movie if you are looking for something to give you the creeps, if not downright scare you. Nicholson's acting is truly the star and he does a fabulous job. Have you seen it? What do you think? Do you think Shelly Duvall did ok, or do you think she didn't portray Wendy like she should have? What about the hotel, do you think it gave off an aura of its own? I'd love to know!

Guest post from Natsuya Uesugi, author of grydscaen

ABOUT GRYDSCAEN

Title: grydscaen
Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy
Author: Natsuya Uesugi
Publisher: Xlibris
EBook: 288 pages
Release Date: July 21, 2011

 Follow the lives of the main characters as they come together in the backstory to grydscaen:retribution, the first volume of the grydscaen saga. Faid is tired of life on the run in the Echelons, trying to keep his psychic power in check, he founds the Packrats establishing a safe haven for psychics. As a hacker he uses his jack to support his neurocyne habit. Lino is recruited by the Psi Faction and is sent on a mission to kidnap Faid. Riuho, Lino’s half brother becomes a prisoner of the Elite military and they experiment on him, train him and subject him to mind control, then send him out on a mission. On his return, Riuho is set on escaping and recruits Faid who hacks into the Psi Faction systems. They escape and return to the Packrats leading up to the start of grydscaen:retribution.

Xlibris

The grydscaen series which is set in 2055 in the near future is a microcosm of today’s society. Technology is pervasive and infiltrates the day to day lives of the people recounted in the book. The lead character of grydscaen is Ameliano “Lino” Dejarre who is the son of the Viceroy of the Pacific Territories and a prince. Lino is a clandestine psychic operative of the Psi Faction who’s job is to fight against cyber terrorism and the infiltrations of the Atlantea Federation which dropped the nuclear bomb called the Dionysis Effect on the Pacific Territories.

Lino and the psychic operatives of the Psi Faction are set against the Packrats which are seen as cyber terrorists by the government. The grydscaen series makes a commentary about freedom and anti government actions. Today we have activists and hackers standing up against oppression in various countries. I think that grydscaen gives voice to that fight and shows how things could happen in a world where there are less freedoms and the government rules everyday life.

Psychics are oppressed in grydscaen and I wanted to make a commentary about marginalized groups in society such as the transgender and gay community. LGBT youth also have to face bullying in schools and can have a difficult time adjusting to just being who they are. I wrote grydscaen to provide positive role models to today’s youth and show them that they can be different and still be respected. Bullying is a big problem today in person and online. I remember being bullied in high school for just being who I was and who I liked. This shaped who I am and I wrote grydscaen because I wanted to give back and let gay and trans kids know that they can be accepted for who they are.

The other topic that I touch on in grydscaen is mental health. There is stigma about mental illness that is pervasive in society. One of the grydscaen characters named Sati Ima has schizoaffective disorder but he is a pilot in the military. He just needs to take medication and otherwise he handles his symptoms. There are many people who deal with depression and other mental illnesses that take medication. There should be no stigma to that. I wanted to shed light on this and make it clear that people with mental illness can lead full and fulfilling lives and they should be treated with dignity and respect.

Grydscaen deals with difficult themes all rolled up into a science fiction backdrop. I also talk about LGBT homeless youth in the series as one of the characters Rom who is 16 years old lives on the streets. I wanted to detail the plights of homeless youth and give them a voice that is often not heard. Many people think this is just a problem in the inner cities but there are many cities where gay kids come out and tell their parents and then they are kicked out on the street, or for some reason or another they are running away from abusive situations. Homeless youth need a voice and I just wrote a grydscaen short story which is available on the grydscaen blog called “A Storm’s Coming” which is about Rom the homeless LGBT youth.

Grydscaen makes a commentary about life and marginalized groups in society. It calls for equal rights and equality like the marriage equality initiative that is getting media now. When I was in college I wished that I had strong LGBT role models that I could look up to who would have helped me find out more about who I am. I wrote the grydscaen series to provide this voice for those that might not feel that they were worthy of having a voice or had no means to speak up. Grydscaen shows that a gay teenager can have a position of power and rise up and make a change in his environment for the better. Lino is that character and the grydscaen series revolves around him. I wanted to give him a voice and tell about his struggles and his triumphs. Grydscaen is about respect and being recognized for your talents. I wanted to give back and grydscaen allows me to do that.

There are currently 4 books published in the grydscaen series: grydscaen: utopia, grydscaen: beginnings, grydscaen: retribution and grydscaen: war with a fifth book grydscaen: alliance due to be published this year. I hope that you would take a look at grydscaen and the positive message that it brings for today’s youth.

For more on grydscaen visit http://www.grydscaen.com

Interview with Zack Zaibak, author of The Hidden Truth Behind Beautiful Smiles

Title: The Hidden Truth Behind Beautiful Smiles
Author: Zack Zaibak
Publisher: iUniverse
Pages: 152
Genre: Medical/Dentristry
Format: Ebook
 Purchase at AMAZON

 We are often judged by how we look, and the first thing people notice is a smile. In The Hidden Truth Behind Beautiful Smiles, author Dr. Zack Zaibak tells how modern cosmetic dentistry can transform ordinary smiles into stunning gorgeous ones. Dr. Zaibak, honored by the Consumers Research Council of America for the last five years as one of America’s top dentists, discusses important issues relating to dental health and improving your teeth, your smile, and your self-esteem. Dr. Zaibak has been featured on national and local media outlets including ABC, WGN Superstation, Fox and Univision, and has served as an expert commentator for the Chicago Sun-Times. He is also a provider of cosmetic dental care to winners of beauty pageants. People with bright, beautiful, and healthy looking smiles are seen as more attractive, competent, and happier. In fact, a dazzling, radiant smile can make all the difference in romance – as well as career success. In only two visits, you can gain a sparkling white, perfectly shaped, celebrity smile as modern innovations make your dental visit a satisfying, comfortable, and even enjoyable experience. Dr. Zack Zaibak’s all-inclusive book unveils the hidden truth about today’s state of the art choices in cosmetic dentistry for creating smile makeovers and gorgeous Hollywood Smiles, including Lumineers porcelain veneers, Invisalign metal-free braces, teeth whitening, bonding, implants, crowns, bridges, Snap-On Smiles and gum lifts. The health of your teeth and mouth affect the well-being of your entire body. The Hidden Truth Behind Beautiful Smiles reveals the secrets to enhancing your teeth to produce an exquisite, engaging smile that will positively transform your self-image and your life.

   

Do you have any suggestions for upcoming writers?

It really helps if you're inspired about something. Yes, there can be great joy in working with words and finding the best ways to use them to communicate, but it is so helpful to have somethin you passionately want to communicate.

Frankly, I was inspired by my patients. While I practice General Dentistry (an actual leggal termP that covers everything you'd expect in terms of dental health, my practice focuses primarily on cosmetic dentistry, which has seen a huge upsurge in popularity with the advent of incredible technological advances, such that today, nearly everyone can have a gorgeous, engaging smile.

What is it you like to do when you are not reading/writing?

I have many interests. First and foremost, I love spending time with my wife and daughter. They are my treasures in life. I also enjoy scuba diving, horseback riding, and serving my country as a Lt. Commander in the United States Navy Reserve.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Interestingly, my parents pointed me toward dentistry early on, partly because they alwasy saw me enjoy working with my hands, often on very small objects - opening up video games, assembling things. Interestingly, my dad was originally a jeweler, working delicately with small precious materials. So one might say it was genetic that I'd become finely skilled with my hands as well. Perhaps another influencing factor for them was that I was also always telling people, "You have a beautiful smile." Admittedly, a bit unusual for a kid to say. The truth was, I was always attracted to people's smiles and faces, and dentistry proved a natural extension of this. I was fortunate to be able to focus my interests and energies at such a young age toward my eventual career, create a very successful practice, and now be able to create a book about what I love. 

 Zack Zaibak, MS, DDS, is a licensed general dentist in the state of Illinois and one of the top practitioners of advanced cosmetic dentistry in that state. Honored by the Consumer Research Council of America as one of America’s Top Dentists, Zaibak has the latest advanced training and certification in Lumineers, Invisalign, and laser surgery.

Pieces of Me by Daron Kenneth Book Feature

Title: Pieces of Me
Genre: Poetry
Author: Daron Kenneth
Publisher: AuthorHouse
Pages: 108
Language: English
ISBN - 978-1-46852-289-1

Pieces of Me, is Daron Kenneth's newest offering of poetry that takes the reader on the real and often surreal ride through the mindscape of the author's soul. Pieces of Me is an electric journey into some of life's richest and most memorable moments.

Purchase your copy:

ABOUT DARON KENNETH

Author, Daron Kenneth, a teacher, writer, play wright and poet gives us his current collection of poetry and insightful observations about the things that mean the most: life, love, friendships and relationships.

Misery - Movie Review

From Wikipedia:

Misery is a 1990 American psychological thriller film based on Stephen King's 1987 novel and starring James Caan, Kathy Bates, Lauren Bacall, Richard Farnsworth, and Frances Sternhagen. Directed by Rob Reiner, the film received critical acclaim for Bates's performance as the psychopathic Annie Wilkes, and Bates won the 1990 Academy Award for Best Actress for her role,making Misery, as of 2014, the only Stephen King adaptation to be an Oscar winning film.The film was ranked #12 on Bravo's 100 Scariest Movie Moments.

My Review

It has been many years since I have read the book Misery, but I always remember how much I really enjoy it. Hopefully it won't be too long before I get the opportunity to read it again. But, my oldest is home from school today with pneumonia, so we decided to watch Misery - it was on one of our movie channels. 

We both have seen it before (me quite a few times, her only a few) but to be honest, I never get tired of it. I just read an interview with Stephen King in which he compares Annie Wilkes to cocaine...if you are interested in finding out why you should pick up the Rolling Stone and read it, it is excellent. When Paul Sheldon finishes his latest novel, he heads out in a horrible snowstorm, veering off the snow covered road. Thankfully (yeah right) Annie Wilkes comes across his car and drags him out, bringing him back to her home to mend him...after all, she does have a nursing background. At first, Paul is somewhat flattered that his #1 fan is the one taking care of him, even though he seems to know right away that something is a little off. But, he quickly realizes that she isn't only taking care of him, but holding him prisoner as well. 

James Caan is just ok as Paul Sheldon - I do feel that this role could have been better served. But, Kathy Bates won the Oscar for her portrayal of Annie Wilkes, and I will tell you it is extremely well deserved. 

If you haven't seen Misery, or think that because it is King you will be scared, I am here to tell you, you won't. But, please read the book first...I believe that this is necessary with all book/movie adaptations, but especially with King's. 

Have you read the book and/or seen the movie? I'd love to hear your thoughts.