Welcome to the World of Make Believe and Books!

We enter the "Make Believe World" when we open a book and begin to read. In that little corner is a world that can fill us with wonder, where dreams can come true, where we can go on an adventure, learn about history, or we can fall in love all over again...reminding us of the first time we fell in love.A historical/fiction novel is on the market for ages 16 through adult. Melinda and the Wild West, (ISBN: 1-58982-367-2) was a Semi-finalist for the Reader Views "Reviewers Choice Award 2007." Debra Gaynor, from Reader Views, wrote: "From the first page I was captivated by this book. I had to continue reading, rushing to turn the page, I had to see what next adventure would catch up with Melinda. The plot is interesting: mixing history with fiction, adventure with romance. This is good Christian fiction. Ms Clarke, this is a piece to be proud of, well done!"In 1896 Melinda Gamble-a very elegant, naïve young woman from Boston-decides to give up her life of monotonous comfort for the turbulent uncertainty of the still untamed Wild West. Driven by her intense desire to make a difference in the world, Melinda takes a job as a schoolteacher in the small town of Paris, Idaho, where she comes face-to-face with Butch Cassidy, a vicious grizzly bear, and a terrible blizzard that leaves her clinging to her life. But it's a rugged rancher who challenges Melinda with the one thing for which she was least prepared-love."Melinda and the Wild West is a tender love story. Clarke's characters are well developed and her setting is compelling. But what separates this book from others is Clarke's historical accuracy and meticulous attention to detail." -- Betsy Brannon Green, Best-Selling Mystery AuthorWhen a rugged rancher and a determined schoolteacher meet, they tend to butt heads and clash with each encounter, but at the same time there seems to be an underlying interest in one another. In this story, Melinda is trying to help a rebellious student through acceptance and love, and at the same time, she is trying to understand her own heart.Melynda Gascoyne, The Amherst Bee Newspaper: Buffalo, New York, wrote: "For anyone who likes to read classic-styled romance novels that also have a drop of history, this is the book for you. From one of her students coming to class with skunk oil that explodes, to her encounter with a black bear, there's always something for the imagination in the book. It is very easy to picture the scene you are reading. Clarke was able to write about love in a soft fashion, not full of the same type of sexual writing of most romance novels. I was impressed with the eloquence in which Clarke spun her story. It was dramatic in some spots and yet contained simply placed bits of humor. I would recommend this to anyone."Melinda and the Wild West: A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho is the first in a series. The remaining books will be released in the following order: Edith and the Mysterious Stranger, Jenny's Dream, David and the Bear Lake Monster, and Elena, Woman of Courage.Page One Literary Book Review wrote: "Linda Weaver Clarke displays an easy and excellent style of writing, blending adventure/romance/history/humor and courage. A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho is an instant classic and should put this author on the literary map all over the world." dr seuss cat in hat quotes

It Can't Happen Here - Sinclair Lewis's Prophetic Warning

"It Can't Happen Here" by Sinclair Lewis is a political novel focusing around a folksy, self-conscious plain spoken Southern politician named Berzelius "Buzz" Windrip rises to power during a period of profound unrest in America, appealing to the "common man" of the American voters. At this time (in a very pre-World War II setting) the United States is facing a slew of its worst existential crises to date, and the American people, once sunny, confident, and striving, are now scared, angry, and disillusioned.Buzz Windrip appears to be a regular guy, personable, easy to get along with, and reasonable. He claimed to want America to be whatever one wanted, the land of the free and the brave, better than all others. Guided by his secretary Lee Sarason, he cozies up to the electorate by stoking their disdain for fancy ideas and encouraging them to follow their hearts, not their minds.When Windrip is elected, all hell breaks loose. The dissent is crushed, the Bill of Rights is gutted as he stacks the Supreme Court, blame is placed on foreigners and war is declared (on Mexico), and "rehabilitation" (labor) camps are established to help shore up Windrip's vaunted "New Freedom," which toted the beauty of American freedom and branded anyone who disagreed or even questioned the President, as anti-freedom and anti-America while quietly killing freedom.All that's really left of the old America are the flags and patriotic songs, which for many is more than enough because they have others to blame. The blame falls on the "it can't happen here" crowd, those who have yet to realize that being American doesn't change your human nature. Americans are not inherently better than others. Whatever it is in human nature that attracts people to tyranny is in Americans like it's in anyone else. The problem is that Americans are arrogant and oblivious, and so saying they have freedom is enough that they don't believe tyranny can happen in their country, even as it is going on right in front of their eyes.Windrip's most formidable task, convincing Americans to renounce bedrock democratic principles, was already accomplished well before he took power. The United States was ripe for a Fascist takeover, it was just waiting for its moment. Through a combination of influences-his easy bearing chief among them (along with massive cash donations from Big Business, spineless disorganization in the liberal opposition, a stuffy aloof opponent, and support from religious fanatics who felt like they've been unfairly marginalized)-he wins the presidential election (sound familiar?).Once in, he appoints his close personal friends and political advisers to high-level positions, stocks the Supreme Court with 'surprisingly unknown lawyers' who called him by his first name, takes away most of the power of Congress under the guise of national security, allows Big Business to dictate economic policy, consolidates the media to a few rich corrupt owners, and fills newspapers with syndicated gossip from Hollywood to keep everyone distracted.Newspapermen worry that America is moving backward to a time when anti-German politicians renamed sauerkraut "Liberty Cabbage" and "hick legislators"...set up shop as scientific experts and made the world laugh itself sick by forbidding the teaching of true silence while silencing real scientists,'' but newspaper readers, wary of excessive negativity, stop paying attention, even when journalists who don't tow the line start disappearing.Given the nature of "powerful and secret enemies" of America, who are always hiding infiltrated in your neighborhood, and always on the verge of "planning their last charge" to take away our freedom-an indefinite state of crisis is declared, with freedom tossed aside "until the threat passes." The President assures this is for America's own safety, and as soon as the threat is over, the freedoms will come back.Sure, some say these methods are extreme, but enemies are around everywhere, and since everyone is permanently in danger, and plain folks are tired of wishy-washy leaders, and feel the president's decisiveness is good leadership in a time of emergency-not a Fascist takeover. Besides, as one man says, a Fascist dictatorship "couldn't happen here in America...we're a country of freemen!" dr seuss cat in hat history

The Path of Daggers Audio Book - Fantasy at Its Finest

The Path of Daggers book, penned by the acclaimed author Robert Jordan, is a brilliant piece of work and is a great example of the fantasy category of book. As many of you know, not so long ago the fantasy genre had been the classification that many readers looked towards for new and unique subject matters presented in a most creative manner. This is partially what made the fantasy genre a very popular style that grew its dedicated reader base to many millions of people. To the non-initiated this was quite surprising, particularly because most newspaper book reviews ignored the massive growth in popularity of this type of book.Unfortunately the fantasy genre's popularity was also accompanied by a flood of low quality, poorly written works. This in turn hurt the appeal of the genre with many undecided buyers electing to steer clear of the fantasy style novels.The standard of fantasy novels has been somewhat lifted with the release of The Path of Daggers. This is Jordan's eighth book in The Wheel of Time series and is a wonderful example of the fantasy genre at its finest. This amazing tale of all that is magical, interwoven with examples of finest swordsmanship, will prove to be truly enjoyable to all those readers who love this style of fictional writing.For those readers who enjoy reading it, there is another way to enjoy the novel and that is through listening to the audio version. The Path of Daggers audio book is available both online and in bookstores at very affordable price. The high quality recording and audio production is definitely a bonus and makes The Path of Daggers audio book a most enjoyable and entertaining product.What is particularly appealing about The Path of Daggers audio book is that it is not in anyway a boorish reading of the material. Like many good example audio books, this is a captivating production that will engage the imagination of the listener and transport them to a far away place. Without doubt The Path of Daggers audio book is a must have for all fans of Jordan's work, as well as those who enjoy fantasy genre books in general.If there is one negative aspect to it, it would be that generally the audio book version of the novel is an abridged one. That is, it is not a complete and uncut reading of the novel, but an edited version, We would however assure potential buyers that none of the major plot points are excluded so the story can still be easily followed. If you do want to read the entire story, you need to get your hands on a hard or soft back of the novel. Actually, the best deal would be to go to the book-sore or online and buy both a copy of the novel as well as The Path of Daggers audio book and you will be able to enjoy both versions of this excellent book. dr seuss cat in hat book

Shadow of an Indian Star

Shadow of an Indian Star is a 500-page historical fiction set in the early 1800's. It accurately brings life to a fascinating era of gun slinging, saloon drinking, hard work, rough living and bittersweet romance. The exploits of heroes, villains and those just trying to survive during this tumultuous era are certain to keep readers aching to turn the next page.A rich family lore, with momentary appearances of well-known historical characters such as Billy the Kid and General Custer, was remembered and passed on to each new generation until Bill Paul and his wife Cindy became curious enough to determine the accuracy of the tales. As it turned out, the stories were true!Map-lovers will enjoy the insert within the first few pages, which depicts the area that this story takes place in. Three generations of the Paul family history and their bitter feuds are divided into segments, one for each generation. A simple family tree is provided on the last page.Little known facts of the Native Indian tribe known as the Chickasaw Nation along with the life of early settlers in Oklahoma could be excellent reading for history classes. Readers will witness the Trail of Tears and learn about callous and greedy settlers and a corrupt government. Readers will also see the grace and pride between both peoples in their uninhibited generosity, genuine grief for each other and intense inter-racial romances.Authors Bill and Cindy Paul are both well educated individuals. Bill holds a degree in animal science, while Cindy has degrees in biology and environmental science. The couple resides in the very same valley and maintains the family graveyard that is written about in their first novel, Shadow of an Indian Star.I am completely in awe of the authors' talent and superb story-telling capabilities.This tale was amazing and I enjoyed the ride immensely. There is no doubt in my mind that this book needs to be seen by movie or TV series producers.ISBN#: 097559222X
Author: Bill and Cindy Paul
Publisher: Synergy Books dr seuss book collection

Four Great Books On The Theme Of Creative Living

If you think the creative life is the one for you and you'd like some practical advice as well as inspiration on the topic, just take a look at these four superb books...1. Creating A Life Worth Living by Carol Lloyd.Billed as 'A practical course in career design for artists, innovators, and others aspiring to a creative life', there's a clear message right from the start that creativity can take a vast number of different forms. Simply assigning someone the label of 'creative' is a serious generalisation. Your version of creativity might be making art, teaching, generating ideas, inventing objects, interpreting music... and Carol Lloyd is most helpful in encouraging you to understand your own unique brand of creativity.The book begins with a section somewhat similar to Julia Cameron's Artist's Way programme - a process of search and research through your childhood desires, your timeless inclinations and present needs. From there it goes considerably further into the dreaming, planning and design stages for a new way of living. And on into the development of a down-to-earth action plan for your day-to-day life.There's a chapter on the various kinds of day jobs which can support or undermine your long-term creative goals. Another on how to deal with indecision and competing interests. And one that asks you to analyze your current lifestyle and build a new model for your everyday creative process.This book is an excellent tool if you want to undertake some self coaching. I have learned much from it to enhance the life/creativity coaching that I do. So if you want to redesign your life in a way that will support and inspire your creativity, this is the one for you.2. Your Life As Art by Robert FritzWhat a great concept! To take the nuts and bolts of the creative process and apply them to creating your life. Your Life As Art takes that idea and explores just how you can make it real.The interesting thing about this book is that it concentrates on the structural processes that make up the creation of works of art, be they paintings, musical compositions, films, novels, poetry. It's not about ways to find inspiration - in fact it advises strongly against relying on inspiration. The theme is more about conscious creation through the application of appropriate structure, and how to achieve it in your life.The first half of the book looks at the concept of structural tension as it applies to both creating works of art and achieving life goals. This involves having a clear and realistic sense of where you are now, combined with a vision of what you want to achieve. The structural tension is the gap between the two and it's what pulls you towards your vision.The second half of the book looks at the structural patterns in our lives. Some people have structural life patterns which lead them through one successful project and onwards to the next, and the next. Others have repeating life patterns which take them round in less successful circles. Robert Fritz explains how the self concepts you hold can get in the way of your success and lead you into the frustration of a repeating pattern. He also explains (hurrah!) how to stop going round in circles and to change the structural patterns in your life.If you want your thoughts provoked on the nature of creativity as a structural form, both in relation to art and to life itself, this will really get you thinking. It may sound complex, but it's well written, easy to follow and well worth the read.3. Coaching The Artist Within by Eric MaiselEric Maisel is described as 'America's foremost creativity coach' and in this book he offers well-structured advice, illustrated with anecdotes and personal reflections on his many years of creativity coaching experience.The book is divided into twelve sections - each one covering a skill that will help you along the path to becoming your own creativity coach. To give some examples, three of the skills he covers are: 'Passionately making meaning', 'Becoming an anxiety expert' and 'Creating in the middle of things'.As is the rule with all self development books, there is no quick fix here, but the advice offered is shot through with the occasional artistic twist and steeped in common sense. All the books I've read on the topic of the creative process are unanimous in stating that, ultimately, it's a case of simply getting down to and getting on with the work. This book is no exception, but it includes an interesting extension to the theme by advocating positive forms of obsession. Maisel explores the fine line that divides emotional stability from instability when you're in the midst of a creative obsession. In those moments when you produce your most inspired work, how sane are you?I found this book to be both practical and inspiring. So if you want to try a spot of creative self-coaching why not take a look?4. The Creative Habit by Twyla TharpThe full title of this book is 'The Creative Habit. Learn it and use it for life. A practical guide'. And that's genuinely what it is... a practical guide, setting out and exploring the habits and attitudes that sustain a fully creative life.Twyla Tharp, the world famous choreographer, now in her sixties, details with clarity, style and authority how to keep yourself productive and motivated even when you think you've run completely out of enthusiasm.She writes about the structure and organizational aspects of creative projects - 'Before you can think out of the box, you have to start with a box'; scratching for inspiration in potentailly productive areas, like scratching a lottery ticket to see if you strike lucky; mastering the underlying skills of your creative domain and building your creativity on the solid foundations of those skills; getting out of ruts (stuckness) and creating grooves (productive flow).The habits she describes are woven together with stories from her long career and anecdotes from her wide-ranging creative friendships. Unlike other books I've read on the topic of active creativity, she includes a chapter on what a creative life means in 'the long run'. How the great masters continue to grow and develop their skill over many decades.The Creative Habit is a personal account of what works by someone who's lived a vibrantly successful creative life. Tharp's style is crisply clever and captures a strong sense of authority and vitality. seuss book collection sets cat hat

Review - Going Home by Doris Lessing

It is fifty years since Doris Lessing published Going Home, an account of her return to Rhodesia, the country where she grew up. By then in her thirties, she had already achieved the status of restricted person because of her political allegiances and her declared opposition to illiberal white rule. These days Zimbabwe makes the news because of internal strife and oppression. It is worth remembering, however, that fifty years ago the very structures of Southern Rhodesian society were built upon oppression, an oppression based purely on race.Fifty years on Doris Lessing's Going Home an historical record of this noxious system, a record that is more effective, indeed more powerful because of its reflective and observational, rather than analytical style. Doris Lessing, a one-time card-carrying Communist, laid a large slice of the blame for the perpetuation of discrimination firmly at the door of the white working class. Though not all white workers were rich - indeed she records that many were abjectly poor - what they had and sought to preserve was an elevated status relative to the black population. She describes white artisans as white first and artisans second. Though trade unions actively sought equal pay for equal work, they never campaigned for any kind of parity for black workers. On the contrary, they demanded the maintenance of racially differentiated pay rates. How's that for the spirit of socialist internationalism and brotherhood! (I accept there is a misplaced word there...). In fact Doris Lessing records that it was the relatively liberal capitalist enterprises that demanded more black labour, their motive of course arising from cost savings, not philanthropy. So trade unions spent much of their time making sure that companies hired their quota of higher paid, white labour.Even in the 1950s, she remarks on the likelihood that many Africans were already better educated than their white counterparts. White youth shunned education as unnecessary, while Africans saw it as a possible salvation. She notes that the people who treated the African population the worst were recent immigrants from Europe, particularly those from Britain, who tended to be less educated themselves and drawn from the ranks of the politically reactionary. Such people, apparently, were equally critical of immigrants from southern Europe, and expected Spaniards and Greeks to work for African wages, not the white wages that they themselves demanded.The situation in Rhodesia, clearly, had to change. Not only was such crass discrimination unsustainable, it was also comic, as are all racially posited class systems. While the South Africans over the border created honorary whites of the Japanese they increasingly had to do business with, the Rhodesians went through their own equally idiotic contortions. An example of such nonsense is quoted by Doris Lessing when she remarks that there was a privileged group of Africans who were granted the right not to carry passes with them at all times, as long as they carried a pass to record their exemption.But it is also worth remembering that Doris Lessing, herself, was a banned person, unable to travel to certain places and very much under the watchful eyes of the authorities. In Going Home she observes a society that had to collapse under the weight of its unsustainable contradictions. The fact that this took more than twenty years after the book was written was nothing less than a crime, and probably contributed to the subsequent and equally lamentable reaction.Doris Lessing records seeing a British film towards the end of her travels. She describes it as a "cosy little drama of provincial snobberies and homespun moralities played out in front of African farmers in their big cars". Fifty years on, Britain is probably cosy and provincial, and the snobberies are still rife. But now it is not Rhodesia where these reactionaries look down on people of other races overpay and under-educated themselves. It is not in Africa where corporations would dearly love to employ cheaper labour, imported if need be. Rhodesia's white privilege of the 1950s was obviously absurd. But there are some parallels with economic and class relations in the Britain of today and, like all good books, Doris Lessing's Going Home may even add prescience to its qualities. dr seuss cat in hat quotes

Karaoke DJ or Karaoke KJ

In my book "Karaoke Krazy," I give advice on the many ways to be successful as a Karaoke DJ or "KJ." Here is an excerpt:"Style"If you are a KJ, your style is every bit as important as your reputation because it is PART of your reputation. It is what defines you.There is a lot you can do to create a style of your own and it does not always involve how you speak on a microphone.
This section includes things about me, and things I have done to enhance my style.You may get some ideas, or perhaps you have a style all of your own that you are happy with. Either way you might learn something."The Art of Illusion"There is an art to creating an illusion in the room, one that will draw in and sustain a crowd. It is your job to provide an environment that did not exist prior to your arrival.
The way you dress, the music you play, and how well you work a room and motivate people, are integral parts of the whole. If you miss doing one of these things well, you may survive. However, if you miss more than one of these things, you may not.What you wear sets the tone in the room. If you are in jeans and a T-shirt, your crowd will wear jeans and T-shirts too.
If you wear trendy clothes, tails, or pink gym shoes and a bow tie, you will set a better tone and people will respond to that. You will also inform people that you are an entertainer and they will prepare to be entertained.My former manager, J.R., insisted that I always dress like a star. If I was getting off of a tour bus at a gas station, I was required to be picture perfect. His motto was, "If you look like a star and act like a star, you are a star." He was right about this. People treat you like a star if you dress like one.
Obviously, if you are doing a private function you need to ask what the theme will be or what dress is required. You will look very out of place at a formal function if you are wearing a cowboy hat and jeans. Likewise, you will feel out of place if you are wearing tails and the guests are wearing cut-offs.Another detail you might pay attention to is the lighting. I do not advise a lot of bright lights. The room needs ambiance and 'mood.' Bright lights make people want to hide.
Dimmed or diluted (ambient) lighting helps people to relax. It also makes people feel like they look younger (wrinkles are obscured) and this makes them feel better.
People who feel good about themselves are more likely to stick around all night.Make sure all of the tables and chairs are neatly arranged. You may think this is not your job, and perhaps it isn't. But you want to do everything in your power to make the room as presentable and inviting as possible.You will often see me pushing in bar stools. This is something J.R. taught me to do years ago. I detested doing it at first, but later I realized that an untidy room is a reflection on me.
Periodically during the evening, you should also help pick up empty beverage bottles and glasses. Not only does it look bad when these are sitting around, it slows the drinking process.
People are more likely to order another beverage if they are unaware of how many they have already consumed.Remember that your job is to fill the cash drawer. This is why your club owner is having the promotion.
Do not worry if you are a KJ who goes solo and you are too busy to handle all of these extraneous jobs at once. You will gradually become comfortable and skilled enough to multi-task.Regarding "in-between" music, keep the beats per minute above 120. Keeping the BPM's high will cause a subconscious assault on the central nervous system of your patrons, causing them to become more exited, more thirsty, and less bored.
To determine what the BPM's are in a particular song, use a stopwatch. Play the song and count the beats for one minute. If you count 112 BPMs, the song is no doubt a slow one.If you can, flash the stage lights off and on during dance sets. This will produce another assault on the central nervous system.If you happen to sustain a high level of BPMs with both in-between music and Karaoke songs, you may have to "dump the dance floor."Although it is rare (because there is almost always a barrage of slow Karaoke songs), there are times when you have an overly excited crowd. Good for you, you are doing your job!
However, it may become necessary to slow down, and calm down your patrons. Take the time to drop in a slow song and dump the fast dancers off of the dance floor. Fights can be avoided through use of this technique. People will also take this opportunity to order a drink.Let me express that I am not advocating getting every individual in the bar as drunk as possible. However, there are reasons that your club owner owns this business, and you should know how to enhance it.For more information, or to order my book, go to: karaokekrazy.org dr seuss cat in hat history

A Few of the Unknown Sayings of Jesus

As we all know, there are many books (or
scrolls) outside the Bible that quote sayings of
Jesus. Many of these are quite close to sayings
recorded in the New Testament, while many others
are not.The Unknown Sayings of Jesus (Harper San
Francisco, 1998) is such a collection, compiled
by Marvin Meyer, one of the top authorities in the
field and a translator of the Gospel of Thomas.
Note: Because these early writings generally did
not employ capital letters, Dr. Meyer has declined
to introduce them in his translation-but feel
free to do so in your mind as you read these
excerpts.Many of these sayings are quite intriguing.
For example, "Then my mother the holy spirit
took me by one of my hairs and carried me to the
great mount Tabor." (Gospel of the Hebrews)
Mount Tabor is thought to be the site of the
Transfiguration of Jesus (Matthew 17:1-13), and
in Judaism as well as in the later Jewish Kabbalah,
the Holy Spirit is represented as the feminine
Shechinah-the Presence of God.Another saying from the Gospel of the Hebrews
is both touching and beautiful: "And never
be glad except when you look at your brother with
love."In a deeply mystical vein, from the Gospel
of Philip, "He said on that day, in the thanksgiving,
'You who have united the perfect light with
the holy spirit, unite the angels also with us, the
images.'" We need to meditate on the meaning
of this one for a while, but I feel it contains a
profound truth.Another statement from the Gospel of Philip
is close to the version in the Gospel of Thomas.
It reads, "He said, 'I have come to make what is
below like what is above and what is outside like
what is inside, and to unite them in that place.'"
This saying is often interpreted as being similar
in meaning to "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be
done, on earth as it is in heaven," with the additional
thought of making our inner selves and
our public selves more like one another.The Secret Book of James (brother of Jesus
and leader of the church in Jerusalem) emphasizes
being completely filled with the light
of the spirit, as in "Be filled with the spirit";
"For this reason I say to you, be filled and leave
no space within you empty"; and this parable:
"For heaven's kingdom is like a head of grain
that sprouted in a field. And when it was ripe, it
scattered its seed, and again it filled the field with
heads of grain for another year."So also with you, be eager to harvest for
yourselves a head of the grain of life, that you
may be filled with the kingdom."In the Edgar Cayce readings, there are
many references to universal consciousness. He
described this as the consciousness we have when
we are on the other side, not incarnated in the
world of forms, and which we may enter into in
meditation. The readings encourage us to attune
ourselves to universal consciousness. Compare
this now with yet another saying from the Secret
Book of James: "Again, I admonish you, O you
who exist. Be like those who do not exist, that you
may dwell with those who do not exist."Two more from the same source warn
against spiritual pride:"Do not let heaven's kingdom become a
desert within you. Do not be proud because of the
light that enlightens."And this, my favorite of the sayings from the
collection-because, although it is astonishing,
it is also the most poignant: "I say to you, if I
had been sent to those who would listen to me
and had spoken with them, I would never have
[needed to] come down to earth." dr seuss cat in hat book

Declutter Strategies - A Book Review

Let's face it. Clutter can be overwhelming. If you are swimming in clutter, whether it is at your home or in your office, you know how frustrating it can be.I decided a long time ago that gathering declutter tips that I can actually use is better than gathering more clutter. "Good-bye Clutter -- Organize and Simplify Every Room in Your Home" by Susan Wright offers ideas for decluttering in every area of your life. But is the information useful? Here's what I found.-- Do you need someone to tell you the truth about your clutter?Susan does that up front in the first chapter. I did not find that information as helpful as other portions of her book simply because I have read that before. I was eager to find new declutter tips!However, if you've never given yourself the chance to discover the 'why' behind your clutter, do yourself an enormous favor. Read "Good-bye Clutter" chapter one and ponder it, honestly. You'll only need to do this once and then you'll be ready to take action.-- What are your clutter collections?I admit it; I'm an information junkie. I want to save everything I read that is meaningful to me or that I think I might need to re-read some day. Of course, when I need that information, I either can't find it or I simply search for a new source.Then one day it hit me. I'm online everyday. I don't even need a dictionary anymore as long as I have a computer and internet connection. I can look up ANYTHING at the click of my mouse. I honestly don't need to keep the information clutter machine running anymore!Susan discusses clutter collections in her book, too. From knickknacks to photographs, she offers some interesting ways to cut ourselves loose from 'collecting' these items but not enjoying or using them.If you see yourself here, 'Clutter Collections' might be the chapter for you.-- A step-by-step approach."An efficient, well-kept household is not an impossible dream. Only two things need to be kept in mind: Get rid of things you don't use and put the things you do use in the area they are used or nearby." Susan Wright "Good-bye Clutter".The author emphasizes usefulness in her organizational structure. Her tone seems to be geared towards someone who is ready to make changes...now. The book goes through each major room in the house describing ways to declutter step-by-step, but not in too much depth.If you read this book, you'll be asked to think about how you use items and spaces around your home. I know how well this concept works. I recently remodeled my kitchen and I spent hours considering how I work in that space and what items needed to be grouped together. Now all that effort has paid off handsomely as multiple cooks can work in my kitchen with ease and clean-up is shockingly simple.All because of a new organizing system based on how we actually use our kitchen.The kitchen section of this book has numerous declutter tips but is overall too lightweight for me. Most women spend a lot of time in their kitchen and need it to flow well and work hard but don't know where to start. Still, if you started with these tips in a month or so you'd probably be ready to declutter even further.-- Who's to blame?I love the section in "Good-bye Clutter" on dealing with household clutterers. We all have them! No matter how organized you and I may be, if our family is not, we're going to lose the clutter battle!Living in a family requires teamwork and nowhere is that more apparent than in the amount of clutter found around a home. Again, while this section is not extensive, it IS very helpful, as I think this idea is important and often overlooked in organizing resources.Sections on storage solutions, home entertainment and dealing with clothing are included, too. The author has a fairly extensive section on paper clutter and for most of us, this will be welcome news. Unless you run a home office, the information found here will probably be sufficient to get you decluttered and making sense of your paper flow."Clutter slows you down and it creates confusion." writes the author and she's right. Her final chapter is entitled "Uncluttering Your Time". If you suspect that you are struggling with a time management challenge as well as a clutter problem, then this section will get you started toward freedom. The trick is, of course, not to get overwhelmed by the notion of all this change and give yourself permission to do what you need to do one step at a time."Good-bye Clutter" by Susan Wright is a good place to start if you've never read an organizing book before. (It can be found in your local library or online bookseller.) You will find practical tips to help you declutter your spaces and then you can decide if you want to move onto something more in-depth later on.And that's fine because the war on clutter is won one step at a time. dr seuss book collection

Chicken Soup for the Network Marketer's Soul - Book Review

Just released! Chicken Soup for the Network Marketer's Soul!The buzz has just begun with this book. The initial release has just hit the network marketing market and it won't be sold on Amazon or in the major book stores. Chicken Soup for the Network Marketer's Soul will be marketed the good old fashioned network marketing way - word of mouth and sharing with others.In my opinion, any book that changes ones thinking is a book worth reading and this Chicken Soup book does just that. Even though I have been in network marketing for over 9 years and have been very successful as a network marketer, this book really changed my thinking about my business.I was fortunate enough (and I mean very fortunate enough) to be able to read the stories and even the manuscript to the Chicken Soup for the Network Marketer's Soul book before it went to print. And why I say fortunate is because even before the book was launched, I personally experienced the benefits of this wonderful read.What I realized by reading the stories in this book is how much I was limiting my prospecting base - this even after 9 years of successfully recruiting thousands of people, I realized I was limiting who I was inviting into my business. I had been speaking to people just like me and taking for granted the many other individuals who may want to join network marketing for many varied reasons!The stories in this book come from a wide range of individuals: doctors, moms, dads, blue collar workers, business professionals and even individuals who were previously homeless!Not only that I found the book more inspirational than any I have read on network marketing - why? Because frankly some of these stories made me ask my self some personal questions such as "What am I worried about?" and "What am I complaining about?" Some of the individuals in this book went through life changing, life threatening situations that I will never have to experience and they still succeeded at network marketing.For anyone new in network marketing this book is a must read!In Michael Losier's book The Law of Attraction, he states that "the opposite of doubt is proof" and this book gives anyone looking at or already in network marketing - proof! Proof that it works and proof that network marketing can be for everyone for different reasons and that it's a real industry for real people. It's a great gift for anyone in network marketing or looking at network marketing.I also believe that this book is powerful for the existing, for the doubtful, and for the seasoned. Anyone in network marketing knows that the business has its up days and down days like any other business. I've found that this book is one of those reads that one can pick up on days when they're feeling down, read a story or two and back to work it is!Another big challenge in network marketing is explaining to those who are not in the industry how great it can be once you get on the "inside". I like that finally there's a book on the market that brings together many network marketer's in an intimate, connected, big picture way so that everyone can get a feel for what it's all about.Personally what I love about the network marketing industry is the people and the stories and it's still one of my favorite parts about network marketing. Now many of those stories are in one place from many different sources with a very credible name attached. It's all good Chicken Soup for anyone's soul. seuss book collection sets cat hat

Disney Vacation - Tips for Affordable Disney Vacation Ebook Reviewed

We have reviewed Beth Hayward's ebook on how you can have an affordable Disney World vacation. We have given it a "thumbs up". She is a former Disney employee and best selling Travel Author who obviously knows her stuff.In her ebook, she gives great information which will help people definitely plan an affordable Disney World vacation. Beth teaches you not only how to save money at Disney, but also the best Restaurants and attractions to visit at Disney World so you can enjoy your vacation.Included are money saving tips and other strategies such as:
The "shortcuts" to theme parks and attractions to bypassing most of the crowds. There are several of them.
Eat at downtown Disney. It is much cheaper and the food is just as delicious as in the theme park.
What places not to miss such as the Hoop-Dee-Doo Dinner show at Pioneer hall and Downtown Disney Pleasure Island.
Buy souvenirs in downtown Disney and you will pay anywhere from 10 - 75% less than the Disney World theme park.
The one attraction Downtown attraction that Beth would recommend is Disney Quest. It is a five story high, state of the art, interactive playground for kids and for adults. There are 250 attractions there.
Disney World has a toll-free number. Who would have known?
You can bring certain foods into Disney World... but some you can't. Beth tells you which ones are allowed.
Disney World also offers a "Magical Express" shuttle and baggage service. That way, you don't have to wait for your baggage at the Airport. It can be delivered directly to your hotel.
Which line you should stand in for the rides ... the left or the right. Beth says it matters!
She also gives you 9 easy steps to save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars at Disney World... definitely making it an affordable Disney Vacation. dr seuss cat in hat quotes

Book Review - Amrita Suresh's "When a Lawyer Falls in Love"

Amrita Suresh's "When a Lawyer falls in Love" is an exquisite piece of hilarious fiction that reflects originality in experience, and truthfulness in expression, to unravel the intricacies that lie beneath human thought and action.The writer seems to make capturous use of the layering technique, where-in the mind's eye and maturity coincide with the layers of meaning to be expressed. On the visible layer, it is legal campus life, with law graduates-in-pairs are fixed in a 'to be or not to be situation,' with only one couple actually witnessing a real-life wedding, when Jaishree turns Jaishree Bose and ravishingly presents the charms of a Hindu married lady.The writer quite graphically presents this "For the first time in her life perhaps, Jaishree Subramanian decided to openly assert herself in college. She came for the Farewell wearing sindoor and a mangalsutra. Even some of the guys in the class actually felt their jaws fall to the ground. Even some of the lecturers were shocked. Yet it was the final send off and Jaishree didn't want to do any more hiding".The writer presents truthfully the concerns of man for woman's love. Men as children are blessed by the comforts and warmth of the mother's lap, and later in youth shown to be lost in gauging woman's beauty, "Ankur remembered well, the first time his lawyer brain got enmeshed in Sonali's freshly shampooed hair s she swayed with the gay abandon of a seventeen year old, during the Fresher's party."A woman appears man's sole concern for all generations to come. She becomes his breath and mind, the lone purpose in life, making life itself worth living. "She is actually the reason behind him actually maintaining a rank in class and not selling his law text books to a recycling unit, which Ankur every other day was tempted to do. Sonali Shah, in a word was his life".It is action that is celebrated over thought, with Souvik being declared a man of action and Jaishree garlanding him for a whole life ahead. Jaishree wants Souvik to take the first step, giving expression to the Indianness in an Indian lady allowing her to-be-partner to take the first step, inspite of being doubly sure of her boldness to do on her own. At the lake-side finally Jaishree gives Souvik the strength to spell out, before which he confirms
"Will you swim with me?" and then poses the question, a question that jittered the whole of man's world, for the excitement or depression that follows, with her reply. Souvik pulls himself together, symbolically presented as "adjust his pants in an effort to kneel sit" and then Souvik quietly asks "the most beautiful girl in the world, will you marry me?"If thesis is love at first sight, antithesis is coming close to one's partner, but it is synthesis which as a marriage bonds couples for a life of joy and happiness. All the young legal couples, are shown rather anxiously graduating from thesis to antithesis and later to synthesis. If Jaishree and Souvik have been blessed to achieve synthesis, though "Ankur drove the nervous groom to his final", Ankur is still to graduate, and the writer leaves it open for the readers to decide. Ankur, it appears still seems confused to choose between marriage as "Bossed over for the rest of his life" or "Sonali meanwhile, had different plans up her pretty sleeve. Having known her for over half a decade, Ankur have known."This indecision in Ankur is carved into Ankur's words to Sonali "a woman's love should never be trusted...since it has no empirical evidence to support it" and Sonali retorting "You ought to find yourself a guy then..." leaving "Ankur turn to be slightly ruffled" and this kit-pit appears to continue for long self-hurdling in escalation towards Synthesis. Indeed, the writer couldn't have drawn a better comparison between the two young legal couples, Jaishrees and Sonalis.The thesis of 'graveyard' love of Vyas, and his lover-girl Caroline's desperation to reach out to him, rather begins with an ending note. The first chapter announces the death of love even before life actually took birth. This is rather humorously presented, with the criminology Professor Prakash questioning Vyas in the dark of the night "So you have already made plans of meeting in your after life." He continues to faithfully laugh away at the youthful passion rather misplaced "I must say the stress levels of students has seeped through their heads. Imagine hanging out at a graveyard!"The writer reflects on accepted belief, that life is full of suffering. As one grows older there is a realization of pain constant due to illness or disease. All make efforts at every age possible to be without pain, and to make fellow humans become free of pain. If we could choose to be without pain we certainly would. Souvik's desperation to give relief to his ailing mother, through his marriage with Jayashree seems to be a cure from all illness that torments her.By presenting Jaishree to Bose's house-hold, Souvik considers giving it a new lease of life. He faithfully tries to return the care and happiness blessed on him by his mother all through. Jaishree for Souvik is the "Nibbanam paramam sukham", meaning "Nirvana is the highest happiness" and Jaishree is sure to deliver this to her just kidney-transplanted mother-in-law. The announcement in the hospital "A match has been found" awakens Souvik to the realization that Jaishree's coming to the hospital and later into his life will bring fresh rays of hope "Jaishree had come visiting for the fourth consecutive time."With her care and respect for elders Jaishree "touched the old man's feet and vanished from the room" leaving Souvik to re-affirm himself of how much his mother needs Jaishree, with thoughts of "Jaishree was truly the sunshine of his life" occupying his mind, totally. Even before this, he firmly announces his wedlock with Jaishree, even if it meant upsetting his plans to go abroad. "Ma will approve of Jaishree...I know it."Astrology and obsession of common human lives to know what is in store for them in the future is very well captured all through the novel. The Leo Sonali sounds very assertive when she lectures her way through the importance of astrology. It really bugs her when Caroline rather sarcastically points out "it doesn't make much sense, does it?...But how can one's future depend on the movement of some star and moon and other such crap?" She starts "Astrology is based on bio-rhythmic cyles...Positive energy and Negative energy...has to come back to you."By saying that "everything depends on everything else" she confirms that it is focus that is really missing in many human lives, with every scope to create or negate one's life, she says "the cosmic force has ordained, that if a person genuinely wants to make amends, circumstances are arranged to provide for evolution of the soul." Change and diversion has to be met with consistency and focus.Sonali wants Caroline-like beings to realize this fast, she says "The human body, as also the world, is in a constant state of flux. Therefore astrology in its truest form, involves going deep within through meditation, to uncover the answers that the soul already knows." Finally there is a message for all "astrology is all about bringing out the best in a person. Since one's future or career depends on doing something one is inherently good at. After all, most catastrophes are caused due to human failings." This hints at the catastrophe of the love life of Caroline, to leave Vyas as cheated and wreaked, and also to lead a life in an alien land self-imprisoned in a self-imposed heartless marriage in times to come.Astrology is also employed as an avenue to announce the 'iceberg' in us all. Caroline's rather practical approach towards life, her deserting of Vyas for her Dubai cousin is very well prophesied through the medium of astrology. Sonali notes, "You can try doing some business of your own, working under someone won't suit you...If you run a business it will be successful, since you have rather shrewd business skills." Bringing the 'profit motive' into human lives and relationships is sure to make one materialistic and inhuman, finally to be isolated from people, near and dear, and Caroline is sure to meet her fate.Sonali's rather frustrated flirtation with Rohit, and his gross misbehavior, much to the anxiety and anger of helpless Ankur evokes neither laughter nor sorrow. The writer means to convey that, every individual is a slave of circumstances, which bury us many a time, before we are actually buried. It is not whether Sonali's self-interests have served her internship, but what happens along the way is the causing of intense pain and anxiety in her undecided lover.Starting from the day when "Sonali called Rohit to come sit next to her...For Ankur, the line between normal and abnormal had begun to blur. He could still be abnormally obsessed with feelings he had for the Sonali he once knew...A Paradox. That's just what love was." No doubt the middle classed Sonali might also have been carried away by the "farm house" charms of Rohit, where all play "Let' play spin the bottle" game, prophesying Sonali's life is sure to spin from Rohit to Ankur again.The writer weaves the comic and hillarious intricately into the thick of the plot. Ankur questioning Vyas, as Vyas is busy searching for a gift amongst darkness ridden graves in the first chapter "What did she gift you...a space in this grave yard?" Pavan's ambassador car which breaksdown at the slightest of movements appears to be a perpetual source of humour."The car groaning was under understandable, but the collective groans of the lawyers as they tumbled out of the car, was something that even the best mechanics couldn't rectify." Vyas's annoyance on finding that Caroline has been moving closer to her cousin from Dubai evokes more humor than pity in the readers towards him.On being advised to stop her from doing so, he complains his lost case "she says I am being stupid." Legally Ankur is the most eligible bachelor to suit Sonali. But he is not sure of his singing abilities, rather humoursly he says "forget courtship, if he ever sang to his girl during their honeymoon, she'd make the lawyer himself draft divorce papers."Even little happenings and the fall-out can evoke laughter, this is what the writer aims to prove when Ankur's teeth-focus is elaborated. Ankur "took good care of, it was teeth.
Infact as a six year old Ankur remembered holding a solemn burial ceremony each time he lost one of his milk teeth. A welcome party would follow, with the first traces of his new tooth. That's why probably his teeth served him well, accentuating the smile on his chubby face."At the VJ hunt the comic is compounded by Ankur's spontaneous replies triggered off by his "art of sounding intelligent while speaking nonsense." For the female judge's question "If you are invited for a pool party and you arrive wearing your swimming trunks only to realize it is a billiards game in progress, how would you react and why?" Ankur ventures further to erupt the party to cheers saying "I will pretend like it is my normal outfit... after all presence of mind is what counts the most in life." The expected crowds' cheers may be due to Ankur's pool party outfit like mind, which exposes him dumb, or may be his outfitting to pose smart that ends in an expose of ignorance. Whatever, the end-result is rib-tickling laughter.Pavan is a world apart. He is typically different from his fellow legal graduates. In one way he is ahead of the generations with whom he shares the same classroom. His humoruous narrative is sure to split all to laughter. "There was this one time when I was seated at a fancy restaurant next to a girl who ordered 'fresh salted crabs,' I was accompanying my dad for a business do and this girl was probably his boss's daughter. Yet she was just so hot!! When her crab arrived, I thought I was being very smart when I said, "Wow! Even the crab still has his yes... probably he wanted to watch you all through dinner! That was it! The girl got delusional! She actually felt the crab was looking at her and probably that's why she simply refused to look at both the crab and me...!!"The man and woman relations in the Indian context are to be dominantly decided by the society. The young legal graduates naturally question this state of affairs. They look for an air of change, with Sonali laughingly says "After all a guy and girl alone on a terrace at dusk, is never a good sign!" The system of arranged marriage is debated "the most annoying thing about arranged marriages, thought Jaishree, everybody knew the precise reason for which everybody else was here, yet there was a forced facade of casualness."All through the novel, the writer's concerns for trust in man-woman relations and for creation of a healthy and positive thinking in the tradition bound Indian society are expressive and evident. Before you convince your elders and society, convince yourself first. This is what the author seems to convey to the rather displaced-minded youth who wish to love, and marry the person of their choice. Many youngsters cannot do this, the resultant is failure in love and of marriage.The secret to love's marriage success is very well unraveled. If one partner fails, other should stand rescue by offering a helping hand, this is what sustains love, this is what sustains marriage, and this between couples is a blessing for children to have a happy and congenial home environment.When Jayashree is confused about a marriage proposal, Souvik comes to her mental rescue says supportingly "Listen, I am not going to let them happen...you somehow put off the engagement for a year... we are getting married the first thing after college" that is it, she gets the focus, the inner strength to counter argue her father saying "Appa, I don't want to get married now!" Finally the couples' strength to stand together survives their relationship, and become one forever and ever. When your thought is right, you action is sure to yield the result.Uniquely, this young writer presents the essential harmony of the mundane and metaphysical, by condemning all intellectual pride says, "Since those who make predictions, begin to believe they are celestial bodies themselves, given the amount of reverence they get. They forget that they are mere post men and that the letter has been drafted by the Highest Power there is. The very Power which has created the mosquito as also the mighty mountains."Amrita Suresh employs an idiom which is evidently expressive of her thoughts and beliefs. In addition to strict adherence with the common everyday expression of young legal graduates, she leaves no stone unturned in inventing altogether a new phraseology. This is clearly seen in the description of the Dean's presentation, "IT'S LEGAL of course 'kick start' ed with a lengthy formal speech by the Dean, which the collective crowds wanted to 'kick stop'..."If the College Festival at AIU heralds the celebration of final year's legal graduates' college life, Bhoomika's arrival brings in a wiff of fresh air, for the new graduates to start afresh as legal professionals. Bhoomika rather in a ridiculing tone of male's ego says "A bulb is easy to fix... A male ego isn't." This leaves to the readers thought, that the legal graduates are sure to carry forward with unquestionable pride their irrational and age-old legal practices, giving no scope for creativity or modesty.The writer sums-up the message even before eight chapters are still to be read, by saying "Ankur would be the best man. The legal and practical aspects that were tickling the lawyer's conscience could be dealt with later." The message is loud and clear. If life is an opportunity to better one's self, indecision hurdles the process, overcoming which by focus and good efforts means happiness all the way. dr seuss cat in hat history

"No Experts Needed" by Louise Lewis - Book Review

Losing a job has probably happened to everyone at least once in their lifetime. Do you see losing your job as devastating or an opportunity to discover something different in your life? It all depends on how you look at it. Louise Lewis had lost her job of eleven years. There were all the emotional and financial concerns to get through. She had a mortgage which required payment and needed to get back on her feet again. Where do you go for comfort when a blow like this one gets delivered to you?Louise decides to embrace life and find out just what life means. Through many interviews with people and getting their definitions of life, a book is born. Sometimes people are brought into our life for just a time and for a specific purpose. There is comfort in the scriptures as noted many times throughout the text of this book."No Experts Needed" is more than just a book in dealing with job loss. It is a book of self-discovery, insights into what life is, and how to make the most of every opportunity as it is presented. The book doesn't bring out the expert's advice, but rather everyday people who share what they believe, and how they face the bumps along the road of life. If you catch yourself wondering just what life means, you can come to your own decisions. There are truly "no experts needed" when making life what you want it to be. dr seuss cat in hat book

Interview with Louise Lewis, Author of "No Experts Needed"

Louise Lewis has two decades of experience in marketing and advertising, having held senior-level positions on the client, advertising agency, and ad sales sides of the business. Louise considers herself a self-growth junkie, continuing to seek light, love, and wisdom in her daily life. With an innate passion for spiritual growth, she has a strong desire to give back to the world. Along with the inspiration and direction received from Spirit, Louise continues to touch the lives of all she meets. Born and raised in Louisiana, she received a bachelor's degree in communications at California State University in Fullerton. She now resides in Southern California and volunteers at Children's Hospital of Orange County.Tyler: Thank you for joining me today, Louise. To begin, I understand writing "No Experts Needed" was the result of what most people would consider a traumatic experience, the loss of a job. Will you tell us a little bit about how losing your job led to your writing this book?Louise: It's my pleasure to be here with you. Yes, losing my job was traumatic since I'm a single gal with a mortgage and the industry (high tech) had been laying off people for two years prior to my pink-slip day. But fortunately, the trauma of it all lasted only minutes. Sounds strange, I know. But my world turned around just minutes after getting "set free" from my job.It all started in the San Jose, CA airport. I sat in the departure area panicking over where I'd find a job. As I said, everyone-co-workers, clients, competitor companies-had already been hit by the "dot com bomb."In my weakened, vulnerable state, I said, "God, what am I going to do?" I began to see a mental image of myself in slow motion falling into a deep dark depression. Suddenly, from below me I "saw" two cupped hands rise up to catch me. They were the hands of God and I plopped into His palms. The plop was so great that it brought my mind back to reality and to the airport waiting area. I looked around to see if anyone saw me jump in my seat from the plop.With a deep breath and my head hung low, I again asked, "God, what am I going to do?"My head was lifted and I received His message, "I'll take care of you, Louise. This is just a new chapter in your life." In that moment, the heaviness from my worries lifted from my body, and I was able to take a deeper breath.He repeated, "This is just another chapter in your life. You hold the pen, I'll guide your hand, and together we'll write one hell of a chapter."
In that moment, I knew I had been set upon a dramatically different path in life. I didn't know the answers to the why, how, when types of questions. I merely promised myself that I would continue to listen to and follow Spirit's messages.From the start, I wrote down in my journal every detail of the journey of receiving these messages. Ultimately, it was another message from Spirit that told me also to begin asking people: what is the meaning of life?The journey, the messages, and the Spirit surrounding the many amazing events grew so large that I just had to put the story between covers and share it with the world.Tyler: Louise, will you tell us a little bit more about these messages. How do you receive them? Would you share with us an example of a typical or special message?Louise: Well, I'll quickly state that I don't hear voices; just don't want anyone to think I'm bonkers! We all receive messages in some form or another. Who has not said something like, "I don't know why I did that, but I just knew I had to do it." Others fully admit that the reason for a particular action could have only come from divine intervention. Messages are being sent to all of us. But are we all listening?For me, I can tell the difference between a "normal" message-one that comes from my own intuition or intellect-and one that comes from Spirit. The best way I describe receiving a message from Spirit is by calling it a "heavy thought." It's a thought that, instead of whizzing across my mind as do most random thoughts, drags slowly, deliberately across my consciousness. And the impact it has on me...well, there's not enough time to describe that!As for special messages, I have received many that have taken my breath away. One, of course, is the message I received just minutes after getting "set free" from my job as I mentioned earlier. Another message so very close to my heart is the message I received from my Dad as he was passing. It's one chapter that is a favorite among readers.Tyler: Louise, will you tell us what that message was?Louise: His message was "Go call your Momma." It was his way of honoring one of my requests of him before he would pass away. I received his message just in time...it came just minutes after I left his hospital bed and just minutes before I boarded my flight back home. Just minutes after I returned to his bedside, he passed away. Coincidence?Tyler: Of course, everyone wants to know "the meaning of life." We also often go to self-help gurus, religion, and various teachers for answers, so I am intrigued by your subtitle, "The Meaning of Life According to You." Why did you choose this subtitle?Louise: Let me first say that I don't have anything against "experts." Collected knowledge and wisdom is very valuable and can be used to guide or motivate us to our Truth. However, when it comes to answering the touch questions about (our) life, we are left to our own knowledge of what we know to be True. In other words, no one can tell you your Truth; that is a journey you must travel alone.So, even though I would encourage people to obtain guidance if they're stuck in life, I think it is absolutely imperative for people to think for themselves and search for their own answer to the big questions in life. Once you do the work, you will learn that your answers to all of life's question live within you.Tyler: Louise, I'm interested by your statement that no one can tell a person his or her own Truth, and that the answers to life's questions are inside of us. We live in what is relatively a Christian country, and a lot of conservative Christians will tell you Jesus is the truth and the only way to salvation is by belief in Him. Are you able to reconcile your messages with that belief, or are you not operating within the belief system of Christianity?Louise: Does God not live within us? Should we not have a deep and personal relationship with our Creator? Do we not speak to God with our hearts?Sorry if I'm about to "split hairs" here, but when I said, "no one can tell a person..." I really mean no human (hence, no experts) can tell you what's inside your heart and soul. A human can guide you, etc., but only you know what you see and feel when you look inside your heart, your mind, and your soul.Personally, I believe a person's Truth (capital T intended) can only come from a higher source. And to hear that Truth, one must go within.As for me operating within the belief of Christianity, simply put, I am a Christian, so it's impossible not to operate from that base. Also, I walk through life allowing my inquisitive brain to glean a bit of understanding from the teachings of eastern philosophy. And, I also love learning and experiencing different peoples and their cultures.When all of this (faith + knowledge + experience) marinates in my soul, a Truth rises up. I guess the quickest way for me to describe that Truth is by using the old saying, "all roads lead to Rome." I know full well that it's possible for people to have their own definitions or versions of this belief, so I am able to respect all interpretations. "A rose by any other name"...well, it's still a rose!Let me also add that I intentionally kept "No Experts Needed" on a Spiritual level vs. one of a particular religion because while walking on my Spirit-led journey, I welcomed a conversation with all people, all faiths/religions, and all cultures. Why? Because I want to be a part of the movement that gets all people thinking about the meaning of life... It comes full circle...eventually.Tyler: Louise, will you tell us a little bit about how "No Experts Needed" is organized. I understand it is made up of many people's stories. Why did you organize it the way you did?Louise: Let me first admit that I am not a writer, so I had no experience as to the "right" way of doing anything. But I thought it was necessary to tell my story exactly how it occurred. Meaning that as much as possible, the story unfolds in chronological order. As my feet moved along my new path, I wrote about it and laid the adventures "end to end."I hope that when people read the story of my journey, they say, "Wow, she just walked through her daily life, listened to Spirit's direction, and met so many wonderful people who shared their amazing life stories with her.It still makes me giggle when I tell people I want to be the poster child for how enriching life is when you take the time simply to turn to the person sitting next to you and begin a conversation.Tyler: Would you share with us one of the other stories in the book?Louise: Thank you for not asking for my favorite story. That would be like asking a parent who is their favorite child! I love them all because to this day, I am still amazed at how I was "delivered" to meet certain people and receive their story. One such event is about meeting Dan.One evening I decided to go out to dinner. I got in my car and started driving even though I didn't know where I was going. My brain juggled many restaurant options until I received word from Spirit, "Go to Bayside." By this time on my journey, I had learned not to question the messages I received."Hmm, Bayside?" I thought. "That's the restaurant where my book began." In that moment, I just knew that something good was about to happen.After ordering a glass of wine, I looked around the bar, thinking, "Okay, bring it on, God. Why am I here?" Was I brought there to meet my next boyfriend? Well, that didn't happened but something better did.I passed the time writing in my journal when from my right shoulder I heard a man say, "Are you writing a book?" Now some might say that was a good guess, but I knew differently. "Yes, I am. Would you like to be in it?" I asked. Never before had I just blurted that out. But, once again, I knew tonight was different.I told him that to be in the book he would have to answer one question, but that I would not tell him the question until he agreed to be in the book. It was an all-or-nothing deal. He abruptly said, "No," and turned his back. About 2.3 seconds passed when he spun back around and said, "Okay, ya got me. What's the question?"He read the paper with the question "What is the meaning of life?" He smirked, "I've been thinking about this for over a year now." I waited. Then he continued."Within the past eighteen months, my son was killed in a car accident. And my father died of a heart attack. And my brother died of liver failure."As he wrote his answer, I revisited all that happened that led me to meeting Dan. Some people call it "coincidence." Not me.So, you see those are the kinds of stories that are in the book.Tyler: Louise, that's an amazing "coincidence." But if you don't believe it's a coincidence, how do you think Spirit brought you together? Tell us more about Dan and why his beliefs about the meaning of life are important to you.Louise: Great question, but these days I am trying my best to stop my analytical mind from having to find such answers. I no longer ask the how's or why's. It is what it is. When something wonderful like that happens to me, I gently shift my mind into a state of gratitude and simply say, "Thank you for bringing us together. Keep it comin'!"Thank you for wanting to hear more about Dan. I so love the story and could go on and on, but I'll try to keep this short.As he wrote his 'meaning of life' answer, I watched Dan from the corner of my eye. Mind you, this was after he told me of the consecutive losses of family members.I looked into his face to see if I could detect any shades of anger, resentment, or bitterness. You know, some of the stages of grief. But there was none. I tried to read his energy to see whether there was some sort of dark cloud hovering over his head. But there was none. Instead, Dan's face and energy was nothing but peaceful."How can this be?" I thought. "He must be very spiritual."Dan handed me his answer. After reading it, I acknowledged it with a knowing nod. But as is my inquisitive nature, I pushed the envelope a bit further and asked, "How have you survived?" With eyes locked on mine, he quietly stated, "I believe in God."Why is the story of Dan and his answer so special? Because this entire event, experience, adventure was all Spirit-driven, and I can truly weep with deep and immense gratitude that I was given yet another opportunity to play a role.Tyler: Will you tell us a little bit about your writing process in creating the book?Louise: Not being a writer, I first had to develop a writing process. But actually, the truth behind my writing process was to allow room for my writing process to develop on its own. I merely stayed true to my commitment to trust that I knew what was right...for me.Having said that, there were many times I stared at a blank screen. Yet other times, it was like the book wrote itself because I found that the more I stayed true to the experience of my journey and told the story using my own voice, the struggle ended and the words flowed freely.Tyler: Many writers discuss writing block, but I think it's more that we need to get ourselves into the right state of mind and relax enough to make the words flow through us. How did you make sure you were staying "true to the experience of my journey" and when did you realize you weren't?Louise: I knew I was being true to my journey whenever I wrote from Spirit, my version of what you call the "right state of mind." Unfortunately, throughout the writing of my book, my Ego always tried to take center stage by yelling in my ear negative things, like "You're crazy to think you can write a book." Or, "People will think you're nuts if you tell the story exactly how it happened." Or, "No one will believe you!"Fortunately, I have a secret weapon for dealing with Ego. Each time Ego raised its voice, I simply asked myself, "In this moment, am I living in Spirit or in Ego?" Pardon my "French," but since I am hell bent on always living in Spirit, merely asking myself that question aligned my every thought and action with Spirit. And once in Spirit, I gained the confidence to tell the story my way, in my words, with my voice.Tyler: Louise, what advice would you give to people who have lost their jobs?Louise: Goodness! That's a tough question because every situation is different. But overall, I would encourage people to look for the positive opportunity hidden just beneath the layer of trauma. Sure, a person has to deal with the reality of it all. But when possible, step back and take a large view of what this could really mean for you. Sometimes, losing a job just may be the boot in the butt to change direction in life.Tyler: Why do you think the loss of a job, specifically, led you on this spiritual journey, rather than some other life-changing event?Louise: That's a great question and difficult to answer in a sound bite. But I will say (only somewhat jokingly) that if God were trying to get my attention so that he could put me on another path in life, having my financial security taken away sure did the trick.The shock and panic of not knowing where I'd find a job left me feeling tremendously vulnerable. Before, I always felt in complete control of my life; well, as much as one can control things. But losing my job did me in. All I could do was surrender and ask for His help. I think that anytime we truly hand our life over to God, we are in for one hell of a journey!Tyler: Now how do feel when you look back on that day when you felt devastated by the loss of your job?Louise: With immense gratitude!Tyler: What impact do you hope "No Experts Needed" has upon people?Louise: I'd love for people to finish reading the book saying, "If she could do it, so can I." And the "it" doesn't mean writing a book.At the end of the day, I'm just a simple gal living a simple life. In my moment of crisis, I turned inward and sought my Truth, explored the meaning of my life, and then allowed myself to be Guided. Truly, if I can do it, so can you.Tyler: What response have you received so far from readers?Louise: Oddly enough, I am getting somewhat of the opposite reaction of what I imagined. I thought people would love reading everyone's 'meaning of life' answer. And they do. I thought they'd love reading the moving stories as told to me by the people I met along my Spirit-led journey. And they do love that as well.But, over and over, I'm told that what people-readers and reviewers alike-most love about reading "No Experts Needed" is my storytelling...my thoughts...my experiences. That has been an unexpected yet welcomed surprise.Tyler: Have you had any skeptical readers, ones who don't believe life has any meaning? What is your response to them?Louise: Oh, sure. There are always a couple of "life has no meaning" people who cross my path. Thankfully, I've learned to walk through life with an open mind, heart and ears. And I've also learned how to disagree respectfully with someone.So when people say, "I'm sure you don't like hearing me say I don't believe," I simply tell them my intent is to learn from them...not to change their minds. It takes a lot of practice and I'm still a work in progress!Tyler: That's a great response, Louise. Do you have plans for any additional books?Louise: Yes indeed. "No Experts Needed" will be a series. I have the children's version ready to be pulled together. And I am currently crossing the country attending motorcycle rallies for the biker version. Yep, there's a story behind that one.Tyler: The biker version? I love it. Besides being an author, where else in life do you think or hope Spirit will guide you?Louise: Oh, Tyler, right now I'm happy just to be a pawn on Spirit's chessboard of life. I know that with each Spirit-guided "move," my journey just gets better and better. And because I've experienced this for so many years, I know simply to embrace the future and say, "Bring it on!"Tyler: Thank you for joining me today, Louise. Before we go, would you tell our readers your website address and what additional information they can find there about "No Experts Needed"?Louise: Thank you, Tyler, for this wonderful opportunity. I invite everyone to visit my website-[http://www.noexpertsneeded.com-to] find book excerpts, reviews, additional Q&A sessions. Also provided are easy order links to all major online booksellers like Amazon and Barnes & Noble.Tyler: Thank you, Louise. Best of luck with your book, and we hope you come back when the children and biker versions come out. dr seuss book collection

"Bones of the Dead" by Elle Newmark - Book Review

"Bones of the Dead" is set in Venice during the Renaissance Period. Luciano is an orphaned street urchin who has been rescued from the streets by a chef, Amato Ferrero. Luciano is to be apprenticed to him. Amato sees something special in Luciano and plans on teaching him more than just culinary skills. Luciano senses a mystery about his background and why Amato took him in. He also wonders about the doge that he works for. Early on in his apprenticeship, Luciano witnesses the doge killing a peasant and then pouring an elixir down his throat. He doesn't understand why he would do that to a corpse, but sets out to find out. Along the way, he learns that the doge is seeking a mysterious book that some believe has the recipe for the elixir of immortality, others believe it reveals the alchemy behind how to turn objects into gold.The chef Amato knows of the mysteries in this book. He is more than a chef, he is also a guardian. Guardians hide secrets in their recipes. They also create concoctions with their recipes that can affect the outcome of decisions that are made in politics. The food sets the mood for how the guardian feels the outcome of a meeting should be. The chef Amato says, "...the prep of food was a tool to illuminate the mysteries of life." In Luciano's haste to find the answers to secrets, he reveals information to untrustworthy sources, this puts himself and Amato in danger. The answers are revealed to him, but at a great cost."Bones of the Dead" is an incredibly written novel. I found myself hooked immediately. The author traveled to Venice to create this story. She has a gift for describing the sights, sounds and smells of Venice exactly how you would imagine at that time. She also draws upon the political intrigue and drama that involved The Church. I really liked that the Chef had a great deal of integrity within himself. Under his guidance Luciano was destined to become a great man with integrity, however, because of his background and human nature, it was a struggle. I cannot imagine anyone not enjoying this novel; however, I highly recommend it to people that enjoy historical intrigues. If you like books like "The Da Vinci Code," you will be thrilled to discover "Bones of the Dead." I look forward to reading other novels by Elle Newmark. seuss book collection sets cat hat

Interview with Elle Newmark, author of "Bones of the Dead"

Elle Newmark is an award-winning writer whose books are inspired by her travels; she explored the back streets of Venice to cook up her delicious novel, "Bones of The Dead." Elle also trekked through the rainforests of Costa Rica to write "The Cloud Forest," and she toured India by car and elephant to write "The Devil's Wind." Both new books will be coming out soon, but today she is here to talk about "Bones of The Dead."Tyler: Welcome, Elle. I'm glad you could join me today. First of all, I understand "Bones of The Dead" is a novel with a bit of a mystery, set in fifteenth century Venice. How did you become interested in fifteenth century Venice, and what made you decide to make it the setting for your novel?Elle: The Renaissance is an incredibly rich period for a writer to tap. Man waking up from a long intellectual nap-art, science, humanism all exploding at the same time-and most of it happening in Italy, my ancestral home. How could I resist?Of course, Venice is utterly unique. A city of palaces built on water is an outrageous idea, and yet there it is. It's fabulous-the pageantry, the architecture, the history-fabulous! I lived in Europe for seven years and I've traveled on almost every continent, but I've never seen any place quite like Venice.To quote my narrator: "Venice has always been a perfect setting for secrets, seduction and the melancholy thoughts of a poet. Tainted by iniquity, Venice invites moral surrender, not with a playful wink, but with the understanding that she is, and always has been, sluttish under her regal disguise." That's perfect for "Bones of The Dead."Tyler: The main character, Luciano, is apprenticed to the doge's chef, and together they become involved in a dangerous adventure. How would you describe their relationship?Elle: In a rather Dickensian move, the chef plucks orphaned Luciano off a squalid street and takes him into the palace kitchen. Luciano is grateful, even though the chef has ulterior motives; he has a long-standing wish for a son and he needs an heir to a secret legacy. The chef is an enigmatic character whose real mission is slowly revealed.But the chef and Luciano come to love each other as father and son. The chef becomes Luciano's mentor, his protector, and his teacher-his father in the truest sense.Tyler: In your book you use food as metaphor to advance the plot. You say, "Intrigue escalates and schemes thicken like stew while the enigmatic chef uses metaphorical soufflés and mysterious sauces to guide Luciano through a dangerous but delicious maze." Why did you choose to use food as a metaphor?Elle: My father is a master chef, so I suppose food-as-metaphor was inevitable. I grew up in an Italian family, and food played a central role, not only on special occasions but every day. My first job, at the age of ten, was stuffing homemade ravioli on a long, pasta-covered table in our basement. Of course, I learned to cook, and I've often thought the preparation of food is loaded with metaphorical possibilities. Also, I just like the notion of a culinary historical.We talk that way all the time, don't we? "Variety is the spice of life," "You are what you eat," "Dry as toast," "The salt of the earth," "Peaches and cream complexion," "He stewed in his own juices." Food engages all our senses. Everyone loves the satisfying crunch of peanuts, the narcotic aroma of fresh bread, the sight of ripe cherries, the sound of sizzling bacon. Food overwhelms the senses. One wonders whether we consume food or it consumes us.As for metaphors, could there be a more perfect metaphor for the impermanence of life than a soufflé? Well, maybe a rose, but that's a cliché. The soufflé blooms, it's magnificent, and then it's gone. Either you were present to appreciate it or you missed it. The chef's spiritual message is "Be here now." I'm Buddhist, so I guess when a Buddhist writer grows up with a chef you're going to get soufflés instead of roses.Tyler: I understand the plot revolves around Luciano learning that powerful men are plotting to unearth an ancient book rumored to contain heresies, love potions, alchemy, and even the secret of immortality. Where did you get the idea for this book?Elle: Books were tremendously important during the Renaissance-the printing press was new and it was the dawn of humanism. Until then, the power structure in Europe maintained iron-fisted control of the people by limiting the flow of knowledge. When books presented crazy new ideas (like the earth revolving around the sun) there was trouble. Books were always monitored for seditious content.However, there's no squelching human ingenuity. People find inventive ways to protect their ideas, like the scrolls stuffed into jars and hidden in caves near the Dead Sea. The chef hid his subversive ideas in plain sight-he encoded them in recipes. One way or another, the written word is preserved to illuminate the past and show the way forward.In "Bones of The Dead," is about a book that holds forbidden secrets. Human nature being what it is, everyone thinks the book has what he wants most. Luciano wants a love potion, the old doge doesn't want to die, one person wants gold, and another wants power. No one knows exactly what's in this book, but they all know what they want it to be.Tyler: Immortality and alchemy have frequently appeared as dreams or goals in fiction. What do you find fascinating about them?Elle: I find them interesting for the same reason everyone else does. Immortality fascinates because no one wants to die. We try to fool ourselves into thinking we don't age-we dye the gray out of our hair and we spend billions on wrinkle creams, diet plans, and cosmetic surgery because we idolize youthful beauty. Getting old isn't cool because it smacks of death.In spite of all that, we do die, but we achieve immortality by what we leave behind. Whether we intend it or not, we all leave something, even if it's only a mote of DNA. Most of us make an effort to leave something more meaningful-art, skills, ideas, values. I believe we achieve immortality by passing these things along to the next generation. That's why I dedicated this novel to teachers.Oh, and alchemy, yes, that's an old favorite because it speaks to something embedded deep in the human psyche. Alchemy is about greed and a wish to believe in magic. If people didn't fantasize about getting rich quick, the lottery would go broke. Last time I checked it was doing astonishingly well.Tyler: Why did you choose "Bones of The Dead" for the title?Elle: The title works on several levels. First there is a scene in which the doge and the pope's astrologer eat Italian cookies called bones of the dead. As the characters munch through the bones of the dead, they talk about the illusion of defeating death, and this introduces the theme of immortality.Second, all the churches in Europe have catacombs and bones of saints preserved as relics. The chef points out that they are only bones, only symbols of the real legacies-lives lived with courage and wisdom, the things he wants to teach Luciano.Third, as the chef tells Luciano, "Civilizations are built on the bones of the dead." Teachers of every description pass knowledge from one generation to the next, and thus humanity advances. That's why I chose the quote from Sir Isaac Newton for my epigraph: "If I have seen farther than other men, it is because I have stood on the shoulders of giants."Tyler: I understand the book has some political intrigue involving the Church. The novel sounds like it has a conspiracy theory feel to it. Do you feel the issues in it speak to the world's current state of affairs?Elle: Any novel worth its fictional salt speaks to the world in its current state, that is, to some universal theme. In medieval times, the Church wielded political influence and popes conspired with heads of state. During the Renaissance, free thinkers challenged that power structure. These days, it might not be the pope, but we all know that far-reaching deals are made behind the scenes. Politics are politics, then and now."Bones of The Dead" carries the message that we don't have to be personally defeated by shrouded power struggles at the top. We can choose to live with decency and purpose, no matter what plots are hatching behind closed doors.But if, by conspiracy theory, you're referring to the passages about the Gnostic gospels and Jesus, well, there's nothing in my novel that hasn't been suggested before. It's not new; it's just controversial.Tyler: Which writers or books would you say have influenced you in your writing?Elle: Oh, there are so many. Early influences were the two Johns-Steinbeck and Updike. Steinbeck for his humanity, and Updike for lives imagined down to the last quirky detail. I also love the magical realists-Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Isabelle Allende in particular-for the way they bend reality and take me along for the ride. Ian McEwan stuns me with his ability to portray the dark side of human nature with insight and compassion. Ann Patchett has a lovely gentle touch; Rohintin Mistry offers us a moving and unflinching look at India; Toni Morrison colors outside the lines, but brilliantly; Tim O'Brien depicts war with an admirable willingness to mine his own pain; Sebastian Faulks draws me into foreign landscapes of time and mind; Kasuo Isaguro is a genius...Honestly, there are so many fine writers out there I could go on forever. I wish everyone would just go to a library, go to a bookstore, and try new authors. Experiment.Tyler: What about writing historical fiction intrigues you, and do you find anything specifically difficult or frustrating about it?Elle: I love everything about historical fiction-reading it, writing it, and researching it. What broader canvas could I ask for than the history of mankind? And what richer palette could I use than the tapestry of human experience? The historical writer draws on vast resources of human behavior, but with the benefit of hindsight.Tyler: Would you tell us a little bit about the next two novels you have coming out?Elle: "The Cloud Forest" tells a story of indigenous people in an Amazonian rainforest and their struggle to escape the intrusion of the 20th century. Researching that book took more than a year, as well as an unforgettable trek through a rainforest."The Devil's Wind" is set in India, 1948, the year of Partition and Gandhi. That one is about the power of forgiveness, and researching it took me to India. Elephants are surprisingly easy to ride.Tyler: Obviously you love to travel. What is it about traveling that inspires your writing?Elle: A sense of displacement kicks my creativity into high gear. In familiar surroundings it's easy to get into a routine and walk around half awake. But when you travel, everything is new, you don't know what's around the next corner and you're awake to every moment. I'm addicted to that feeling of discovery.To experience the world and its people is a great and humbling adventure. To write about it is a way of understanding and sharing.Tyler: Where do you plan to travel next, and will you be researching another book?Elle: I'd love to go back to Africa just to see more of it and, who knows, a book could come out of that. But right now I'm thinking my next book might take place in cyberspace.I'm fascinated by the meeting-of-the-minds happening on the Internet. These days, many of us live a good chunk of our lives virtually and, as a result, our internal worlds are becoming significantly larger. We interact with people we would never otherwise encounter in our daily lives. This is unprecedented, and I'm interested in how it's changing us.Tyler: Thank you for joining me today, Elle. Before we go, would you tell our readers where they find out more about "Bones of The Dead" and where to buy a copy?Elle: With pleasure: You can visit my website at http://www.ellenewmark.com, or order "Bones of The Dead" from Amazon.As my personal thank you, I'd like to invite everyone to a virtual Renaissance party at http://www.bonesofthedead.com on November 27. If you order Bones of The Dead that day, you can use your Amazon confirmation number as a password to get into the party. We'll have music, I'll be serving food for thought, and I'll be giving away a bundle of free downloads as party favors. Invite everyone. dr seuss cat in hat quotes

Agatha Christie - The Queen of Crime

The very first Agatha Christie book I ever read had languished in 'the front room' for ages before I took any notice of it. As this room was kept in a state of immaculate and chilly readiness for special occasions such as Christmas, I rarely ventured in, but on that particular day I had just finished my latest Famous Five book and was desperate for something else to read. I was eleven years old at the time and possessed of an unquenchable thirst for reading.The glass-fronted bookcase that housed my parents' books was a last resort. How could I have known that it contained a slim volume that bore within its pages the seeds of an incurable addiction? 'Three Act Tragedy - with a murder in each act' proclaimed the blurb.'I selected it without any great expectation of enjoyment, read it within two days and was irrevocably hooked.Since then I have read many, many crime novels by many different authors but none have affected my heart, mind and psyche as has Agatha Christie. Agatha's brilliant story telling is the yardstick by which other murder mysteries are measured and almost inevitably found to fall short.Agatha Christie Novels:For sheer intricacy of plot an Agatha Christie novel is quite simply matchless. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is often, perhaps justifiably, quoted as her masterpiece. But consider Hercule Poirot's Christmas, -I defy anyone not to be astonished at that particular denouement.Murder on the Orient Express has been filmed so often and seen by so many people, that the ending may have lost some of its 'wow' factor, but when I read it for the first time I was, quite literally, flabbergasted.And how about Agatha Christie's perhaps most chilling novel which we nowadays call And Then There Were None - absolutely astounding!Agatha Christie's Detectives:But there is another factor, which makes Agatha Christie unique amongst crime writers. She created not one famous and infallible detective, but two!The Belgian Hercule Poirot - precise, dapper and conceited; and Miss Marple, quintessentially English, harmlessly inquisitive and prone to self-deprecation. Two apparently completely different personalities.However, I believe that it is possible to identify many points of similarity, the most obvious one being that they are both introduced to the reader as elderly people.It is interesting to speculate on the reason for this. The Murder at the Vicarage, Miss Marple's first case, was published in 1930, ten years after we were introduced to Hercule Poirot in The Mysterious Affair at Styles.Given the already enduring nature of Poirot's appeal, one might have supposed that Agatha would have realised the problems caused by beginning her characters' careers in the autumn of their lives! Both Poirot and Miss Marple lived to unfeasibly ripe old ages - but who cares? One can only thank heaven that she held back 'Curtain - Poirot's Last Case' for so many years or the world would have been denied many more instances of his brilliance.Tommy and Tuppence Beresford, on the other hand, start life in The Secret Adversary published 1922 as bright young things, are found to be middle-aged in N or M published 1941 and by the time By the Pricking of My Thumbs is published in 1968, are reintroduced to us as decidedly elderly. Interesting!Agatha Christie, of course, also wrote several crime/adventure stories, which featured none of the above characters - the previously mentioned And Then There Were None is a case in point.Universal AppealI once heard a discussion on an Arts Programme where one contributor said of Agatha Christie disparagingly 'She doesn't write about people who live in council houses.' 'No' someone replied, 'But she's read by people in council houses.'And there can't be many homes that have not had an Agatha Christie book on their bookshelves at some time or another.Just like the one in my mum's front room.For free and comprehensive information on the life and writing of Agatha Christie visit www.all-about-agatha-christie.com dr seuss cat in hat history

Lewis Hamilton's My Story - A Biography Full Of Thrills

Life is full of exciting experiences. Often autobiographical sketches have fascinated the readers. As these genres contain more realistic revelations than other fictions or novels readers have much more to know from such writings. "My Story", is another addition to the fabulous world of autobiography which is very recently released for sale (November 5, 2007).It is worth mentioning that it is an exciting narration by English Formula One (F1) racing driver, Lewis Carl Hamilton. At a very young age itself Lewis Hamilton have proved to be a genius in the field of racing. Of course his biography would be no less thrilling than any other thrillers and suspense stories. This young racer who recently plays for the McLaren team was born on January 7, 1985 in Stevenage, Hertfordshire."My Sory" is a complete account of Lewis Hamilton's life where for the first time he speaks about his stunning debut season. He vividly describes about his career, his dad Anthony, childhood experiences and most importantly his gripping climax to the 2007 F1 World Championship. As a motor racer Lewis Hamilton almost thrilled the world by his stupendous performance. Winning one after another race, he created records by his victories in Canada, Hungary, America and in Japan till the last race of the season he led the Drivers' Championship.He was almost successful as being the most sought after motor racer at the early period of his career. His autobiography "My Story", gives genuine account of his amazing life on and off the racing track. He also explains about his hardships he had undergone during his childhood. In an interesting episode Lewis tells about his first go-karting in Ibiza while he was on tight-budgeted family holiday.The book also reveals some of the amazing events of his life at a motor sport dinner, where wearing a borrowed suit, Lewis approached Ron Dennis, the team boss of McLaren. His approach changed his career for ever, raising him to unparalleled heights. In "My Story", Lewis recollects his march from junior level to formula ranks, dominating his contemporary racers with better speed and marvellous race craft.Readers also become aware of the sacrifices his father has made for shaping his career. He also expresses his gratitude to his father Anthony who has struggled hard in shaping the career of his son. Lewis also talks about his inspiration, how he copes with frequent travelling and the physical and mental challenges he faces, his personal life and lot more all in Lewis' own words. "My Story", provides inspirational insight to all the youngsters and the reminiscences of the race of 2007 F1 World Championship, of which Lewis's Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team was the most dominating team." My Story", indeed is an inspirational book. Unlike other fictional stories "My Story", is a real account which describes the long march of a teenage boy to an inspirational superstar. dr seuss cat in hat book