New Book Giveaway Contest

Check out this month's book giveaway.  It's a copy of the new children's book, Dream Big Little Pig! by Kristi Yamaguchi.  You can read the review here and then enter the contest here.  Good luck!

BISG e-book survey

The BISG (Book Industry Study Group) has just posted results of a new survey on consumer attitudes and changing buying habits when it comes to e-books.  No surprise, consumers are embracing e-books and sales are increasing.  To read the full report, head on over to the BISG website.

Friday Finds

Friday Finds is hosted

by Should Be Reading

Breaking Silence The Slabaugh family are model Amish farmers, prosperous and hardworking, with four children and a happy extended family. When the parents and an uncle are found dead in their barn, it appears to be a gruesome accident: methane gas asphyxiation caused by a poorly ventilated cesspit. But in the course of a routine autopsy, the coroner discovers that one of the victims suffered a head wound before death—clearly, foul play was involved. But who would want to make orphans of the Slabaughs’ children? And is this murder somehow related to a recent string of shocking hate crimes against the Amish?

The Elf Queen When Jelani tries on a real glass slipper left lying on the sidewalk, it splits in half and out pours dozens of two-inch high creatures who scurry away into the shadows. As if that's not bizarre enough, she is soon approached by two men claiming (of all things) to be elves who need her help to rescue their queen.

The Gods of Greenwich Jimmy Cusack is the tough kid from a blue-collar neighborhood who made good on Wall Street. Well, almost. After a sterling start to his career, things have soured. His hedge fund has collapsed. The bank is foreclosing on his upscale condominium. And his wife is two months pregnant. That's the good news. When Cusack takes a "must-have" job with Leeser Capital, a Greenwich fund impervious to the capital market woes, his real troubles begin.

Abandon New from #1 New York Times bestselling author Meg Cabot, a dark, fantastical story about this world . . . and the underworld. Though she tries returning to the life she knew before the accident, Pierce can't help but feel at once a part of this world, and apart from it. Yet she's never alone . . . because someone is always watching her. Escape from the realm of the dead is impossible when someone there wants you back. But now she's moved to a new town. Maybe at her new school, she can start fresh. Maybe she can stop feeling so afraid. Only she can't. Because even here, he finds her. That's how desperately he wants her back. She knows he's no guardian angel, and his dark world isn't exactly heaven, yet she can't stay away . . . especially since he always appears when she least expects it, but exactly when she needs him most. But if she lets herself fall any further, she may just find herself back in the one place she most fears: the Underworld.

Author Interview with Sam Moffie

Today we're talking with Sam Moffie, author of The Book of Eli


FQ: Let’s start out with the fact that your ‘look’ into Heaven was extremely hysterical. Now, I have to ask, you write that when the reading and writing of a culture goes down the toilet, so will the culture. Tell readers what you truly believe about the school systems nowadays, and the fact that penmanship and reading seem to have taken a backseat to the electronic world?


First you're extremely nice to me with your comment about Eli being 'hysterical' and then you hit me with the haymaker - making fun of my penmanship. How did you know that my hand writing was terrible? I for one would have loved to have had access to the technology that we have today way back when I went to high school and college (Boardman Senior High and Wittenberg University). Why? Because at both those schools - most of my grades and tests were of the essay variety and my grades would have been better because my penmanship stunk. My teachers/professors would have been able to read my answers and my grades would have been better and my parents would have been happier....

Now public (and probably most private/charter schools) seem to be about babysitting and not educating. I have to base this upon a gut feeling as my kids are way out of the school systems and graduated college. It's all about college for a child to be educated - and only if the child and his/her parents can afford the damn institution. But we must not blame the kids but blame our system that spends gazillions on schools and DOESN'T educate. The return on the investment is terrible.

Technology is getting better every second. People are reading and writing - but it's texting! Did you ever think that texting vernacular would make the dictionary? Great patience is needed everywhere.

FQ: Along those same lines, the arts truly show the intellect of a society. Do you believe that we are, perhaps, headed for the same outcome as the Romans had?


All great civilizations fall from within. History does repeat itself over and over and over again. There are over 300,000 books published every year. And not all are about teen wizards, werewolves, vampires, diets or the celebrity of the month's biography. Unfortunately those are the books that sell - because they have the marketing dollars behind them. What I could do with Eli and one of those high priced marketing plans! Thus, in the world of books, we have diversity, genre and style - we don't have the mass readership that all these books require. Blessedly, we have blogs like yours to help the little guys/gals. Reality TV and movies about comic books have really insulted our collective culture and intellect. The art world is for investors - not painters. Music can be summed up in the fact that Bob Dylan went to China to play and when asked to see his song list, he didn't tell the government to stick it where the sun doesn't shine - he showed them the list! To sum up, it's all about greed. When arts and entertainment are all about the dollars - it's a very bad sign for the culture. Don't get me wrong, capitalism is a good thing. It's just been way out of whack for a while.

FQ: I’m sure, because of your particular subject matter, there are fans out there who ‘protest’ about your books. Do you believe that being dull and conforming is bad for the society? And how should we go about teaching the next generation to appreciate the arts…not to mention humor?

My coffee cup reads 'Conform and be Dull'. But it is way easier in today's world to be an ass-kisser than a rebel. Political correctness has gone crazy and brought near ruin to the humor business. All we can do is keep on trying and never give up. I will always try to make my points with satire and good old fashioned laughter.

FQ: Celebrities and comedians are certainly nothing like Groucho Marx nowadays. Do you wish that comedy could go back to real satire without all the swearing?


Anybody can swear. The f-word doesn't mean what it did years ago. At some point it was important to say the f-word and not be jailed for saying it. Now all they say is 'f-this'. 'f-that', etc. Heck in the movies Scarface, Goodfellows and Casino I don't think one line in each DIDN'T have a f-word in it. Some might say 'those are gangster movies. That is how they talk'. I don't remember The Godfather having any any f-words in it. Anyways... in today's society, when it comes to comedy The Three Stooges should be making a huge comeback. Slapstick, no deep thinking required and the story is very short - perfect for the attention span less America.

FQ: As a personal question - If you were up there, whose line would you most want to stand in to get to speak with them?

I am a patient man, but I wouldn't stand in a line that wasn't moving. I'd go see my Dad if he hasn't gone back to Earth as a dog or a cat. Moses, Ayn Rand, Lincoln, anyone who was deeply involved in leading the French Revolution and of course Groucho!

FQ: Can anyone live by the ten commandments anymore?

Sure, if they are in a coma! I am sure that some people do, I just don't think I will ever meet them or have known them.

FQ: I love the fact that up there Groucho is always surprised when politicians make it through the Pearly Gates. Do you believe any of the ones in the past few decades will be there?


I am surprised that we haven't had a revolution in America. One that brings back the blade of justice. I can't think of one politician (isn't that terrible?). My muse - my wife Juliette said I was too kind to the politicians in the book. But I wanted to blast today's professional athletes and that is what I did. In my next book - the politicians from the 1950's do not fair too well.

FQ: James Lipton is known for his specific questions, so I would like to borrow one. When you reach the Pearly Gates, what would you like to hear God say? (And, whose voice would it be?)

God will say "Samuel... I was just kidding! Go back and have more fun. But remember, I will be watching!" Most likely the voice of God to me will be my Mom. She is still living and I am only 51. I do not want to hear that voice for a very long time. (I will be hoping for John Wayne's voice though).

FQ: I want to thank you immensely for the books you create. Humor is so needed in this difficult and sedate world, and I can honestly say I wish there were more authors like you.



To learn more about The Book of Eli please read the review at: Feathered Quill Book Reviews.

Friday Finds

Friday Finds is hosted

by Should Be Reading

New and Selected Poems Cherie Burbach's poetry has been described as inspirational, uplifting, lyrical, and diverse. She regularly writes about empowerment, self-esteem, and the power of faith. In New and Selected Poems, she includes several new poems combined with the most popular works from her books The Difference Now, A New Dish, and Father's Eyes.

Vivian's Song In the spring of 1998 the residents of a small Missouri town are alarmed to learn that a New Age cult from California has bought land nearby. The leader of this so-called cult is a former champion bull rider, Cadillac salesman, and Viet Nam vet from Texas named Duke Tanner. Duke built his group on the concept of creating wealth through the power of thought, and he proved his theories by investing in the red hot dotcoms of the San Francisco Bay Area. However, it turns out their nearest neighbor is Senator Charles Wentworth, one of the most conservative members of Congress. The local clergy, outraged by Duke's iconoclastic ideas, organize with Senator Wentworth to oust him. The animosity intensifies when Duke befriends Jimmy Hollingsworth, the grandson of one the wealthiest men in Missouri and the heir to MidWest AgPro, the largest corporate backer of Senator Wentworth. It all comes to a head during a massive protest rally in the tiny town in which supporters of both sides clash.

The Palomar Paradox Each of the characters in 'The Palomar Paradox' deals with the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) in their own way. As in real life, some believe; others don't want you to believe. 'The Palomar Paradox' sees Luper Beauchamps, a brilliant scientist, back in an astronomical observatory searching for signs of extraterrestrial intelligence. He finds himself working with Leila Keiler, a young student recovering from leukaemia, and Karina Lowenhaupt, an experienced astronomer. Other characters include, Trent Foresyth, a senior Pentagon official, and his intern, Rihanna Sørensen. They are charged chiefly with quashing all reports of, and evidence for, extraterrestrial activity.

The Burning Lake Another prominent journalist is found murdered in Putin’s Russia, shot to death on the banks of the Techa River near the radioactive village of Metlino. Katarina Mironova, known around the world as Kato, could simply fade from the public eye, one more journalist killed during Putin’s war on the free press, one more statistic in a grim tally. But to Russian agent Alexei Volkovoy, Kato’s murder evokes far more emotion. It summons too many memories, haunts him in too many ways for him to allow her death go unavenged. Volk's investigation takes him from Moscow to Mayak, the site of a nuclear reprocessing plant where a massive explosion occurred in 1958, then to Las Vegas. All the while the life he has known with his long-time lover, Valya, and his patron, the General, slowly unravels as details about his secret ties to Kato begin to emerge. Meanwhile, American contract agent Grayson Stone and shadowy French assassin Jean-Louis have secrets of their own to protect. Secrets born in the Afghan desert and the streets of Fallujah. Secrets about the tragic consequences of a nuclear alliance among venal Russian, American, and French politicians. Secrets the American and the French governments will pay anything to protect. In the end, Volk becomes both the hunter and the hunted in the glittering neon jungle of Las Vegas. Equally at home in the snow-covered woods of the Ural mountains and the seamy alleyways of Industrial Boulevard, Volk tracks his prey across the world trying to learn the truth about the story Kato died trying to report.

A Dog Name Slugger The true life story of a dog who changed everything for one woman. For the first time in my life, I didn't need to pretend, I didn't need to be tough: I only needed to be honest. "I have cerebral palsy. I walk funny and my balance is bad. I fall a lot. My hands shake, too. That means I'm not so good at carrying things. And if I drop stuff, sometimes it's hard to just bend down and get it." I waited anxiously for the interviewer's response. She smiled. "It sounds like a service dog could be great for you." So began Leigh Brill's journey toward independence and confidence, all thanks to a trained companion dog named Slugger. The struggling college student and the Labrador with a "a coat like sunshine" and a tail that never stopped wagging became an instant team. Together, they transformed a challenge into a triumph. Together, they inspired and educated everyone they met. Now, Leigh honors her friend with the story of their life, together.

A Friendly Life S. Prestley ("Pres") Blake and his brother Curtis Blake started the Friendly Ice Cream Company in 1935, in the midst of the Great Depression. Their parents gave them their initial capital, their mother kept the books, and Pres and Curtis worked day and night in their tiny shop. This small family business kept expanding, and over time grew to a 500 plus restaurant chain. The brothers eventually sold their business to the Hershey Corporation. This autobiography of Pres Blake's life starts with this humble beginning. It shows how the brothers invoked straightforward business principles to guide their growth, and by dent of hard work and good advice from other business people, they were able to rapidly grown their restaurant chain. The book also shows Pres' adventures after retirement, including his fascination with cars, with exploring, and with giving back to people and educational institutions. But just as Pres was enjoying his retirement, he was roused to come back and save his "baby" from the management team that had bought the company from Hershey. The last third of the book is devoted to the amazing saga of Pres' fight to liberate his old company from mismanagement. Pres began the fight at age 86, and it took him seven years and tremendous legal fees to make the current ownership say "uncle." This is a fascinating portrait of a man who fought for principles. Age was not going to be a barrier to Pres Blake, who was motivated to make sure his creation continued to be managed properly.

Just Because

by Amy Lignor of The Write Companion

A Touch of Humor Blog:

I have always harbored a dislike of the incredible Joanne Woodward.  Not as an actress or a person, mind you, simply because of an interview that I saw long ago where Joanne was speaking about all the nice things that her husband did for her - even commenting on the fact that they still have the same bed in their bedroom that they’d purchased in Las Vegas (where they were married.)  There was just something about that which irked me.  Now, before anyone gets their hackles up, I believe Joanne Woodward was an amazing talent and one heck of a lady.  But ever since that interview, when women come to me and say how sweet and kind their spouse is, I put them in the “Joanne Woodward” category.  Of course, my wording is not as nice when I mumble it, but this blog is public, after all.

In the simplest terms, I am speaking for all single women out there with my attitude.  Oh, come on…there must be some!  I’ve spoken briefly in the past about my father taking a second job (a secret lawn-mowing gig) so that he could get extra money to send my mother flowers.  Not because it was her birthday, their anniversary, or a super-duper-holiday like Valentine’s Day, where history (and, Hallmark) demands men to give gifts.  No, no.  The card my mother received with her bouquet read simply, ‘Just Because.’  To be honest and state it plainly, I would cut my own arm off for ‘Just Because.’  I also don’t think it’s out of the realm of possibility for me to swim with sharks for ‘Just Because,’ if that’s what it takes.

And, speaking of sharks, my daughter who is nineteen and wants more than anything to save all the sharks on the planet through a career in marine biology, has a young man who is extremely respectable and hard-working.  He gave her roses for Valentine’s Day.  I know, the ‘norm.’  However, the card read that he would love her until the last rose died.  I thought.  Hmmm.  Does he realize that roses die quickly?  Is this some kind of warning?  Will I have to rip HIS arm off soon for breaking my daughter’s heart?  No, no.  In the middle of the bouquet was a plastic rose.  Hence, the message in the card.  Yup.  I would rip my leg off for that one.

There was also a necklace given lately that is a key on a chain - I know, key to your heart and all that.  Fluffy?  You bet!  A little on the shtick-y side?  Absolutely!  That one I’d only give up my hand for.

Apparently, I have not yet found the club where these men hang out, but these ‘Joanne Woodward’ women seem to be crawling all over the place like roaches.  The clubhouses I’ve seen are comprised of romantic beings that think “Get in the truck, woman” and then belching loudly in your ear, is the same as taking bended knee and saying, “Will you marry me, sweetheart?”  Also in the clubhouses I’ve seen are true intellectuals who can’t seem to understand why I don’t have a British accent if I’m from New England.  Nope, not kidding.

You know what I think?  Joanne Woodward made a pact with Fate to make sure that when I used her name in vain, I would be delivered the most UN-charming Prince in the kingdom.  Bitter?  Heck, no.  I still have all my body parts, after all  AND I get more time to clean the house  In fact, this past weekend I scrubbed my shower so clean that it shines like it just came off the Home Depot floor.  Of course, I sprayed so many chemicals that I am still recovering.  I felt very much like a cross between a Marilyn Manson follower and a Jack the Ripper wanna‘-be for a time.  But I suppose once in a while it’s good to see vapor trails as people pass you by.  Makes almost everyone you see look like Mr. Darcy.  Ahh…Mr. Darcy.  He could be buried in a pile of pride and prejudice and I’d still stand in the corner and drool.

So, for all you Joanne Woodward’s out there, I just want to let you know how lovely and wonderful it is that you have a sweet, kind man at your side.  And the only thing I can say is, I hope beyond all hope that they at LEAST leave the seat up once in a while…just to even things out.

Until Next Time,

Amy

Book club contest winners to receive personal visit by New York Times bestselling author Andy Andrews

One lucky book club will be selected to receive a personal visit from Andy Andrews. 

Andy Andrews, author of the New York Times bestselling novels The Traveler’s Gift and The Noticer is giving book clubs across the nation the opportunity to win a personal visit from him at their book club.

Though he was once living under a pier on the Gulf Coast, Andy Andrews has since written numerous bestselling self-help and personal growth novels.  He is a popular speaker who is highly regarded for his masterful story-telling, family-style humor, and life-changing advice. He has met personally with four U.S. presidents and the Department of Defense regularly flies him to hot spots around the world to speak with members of the armed forces before they are deployed. He walked the golf course with LPGA Hall of Fame golfer Nancy Lopez as she played her last tournament as a touring professional.

The contest is free and open to the book clubs anywhere in the United States. To enter, a book club member simply needs to register online. Any book club with five or more members can enter. The entry form is located at:

www.andyandrews.com/pages/bookclub

The deadline for entering the contest is June 14, 2011.  One book club will be selected at random at 1 PM Central Time on June 15, 2011.

The winning club will be contacted and Andy Andrews will schedule an appearance with the book club IN PERSON, at a time and location to be determined.

All members of the winning book club will also receive a copy of The Final Summit autographed by Andy Andrews in person.

Andy will come to a book club meeting and be prepared to discuss his books and answer any questions the book club members have.

This book club contest coincides with the release of his latest novel, The Final Summit, available nationwide April 12.

The Final Summit

By Andy Andrews