Book Review - How to Survive the Worst That Can Happen

How to Survive the Worst That Can Happen: A Parent's Step by Step Guide to Healing After the Loss of a Child

By: Sandy Peckinpah
Publisher: BalboaPress
Pubication Date: February 2014
ISBN: 978-1452582269
Reviewed by: Deb Fowler
Review Date: April 24, 2014

Admittedly, Sandy was “caught up in the magic of fairy tales” and walked not only the literal Red Carpet with her husband, David, but also that of motherhood. As a mother she was a star among four beautiful, shining ones in her life, Garrett, Trevor, Julianne, and one-year-old, Jackson. Although there were whimsical and fleeting hopes that David would one day write a script that would launch the family into a real fairy tale existence, the day-to-day reminders like bills brought Sandy Peckinpah down to earth. A growing family couldn’t be fed on dreams and things like philosophical musings were best left to others.

Any dreams that Sandy may have had for a star-studded existence would soon be shattered. "Lots of fluids and ibuprofen to keep his fever down," the doctor ordered. "He should be better in a few days." Yes, as mothers we’ve all heard that before. Add a cool compress and a dollop of loving care and call the doctor in the morning. Instead, Garrett’s heart stopped suddenly during the night. A virulent case of undiagnosed bacterial meningitis shattered the family into a million pieces and a young soul had flown into the universe, never to return again. Sandy’s fairy tale existence had turned into a nightmare, one in which her child would be “16 years, three months, and ten days ... forever.” Life would never, ever, be the same and the entire family was thrown into a deep abyss from which there seemed to be no return."

“You wake up in the morning,” Sandy later claimed, “and for a brief moment, you believe your loss was a terrible dream, and then it hits you.” There was no going back and the shift into the reality of Garrett’s death was staring her in the face. There were her other children to love and cherish, and the needs of young Jackson couldn’t be put on the back burner while she grieved. Yes, Sandy would go through Elizabeth Kübler Ross’s five stages of grieving, but would need to add one to the list ... resilience. The “haze of emotions” was overwhelming, yet there was a wealth of support around her, although she may not have recognized it at the time. There was her best friend, Melissa Gilbert, Paula, her “angel in the night,” and others who stepped forward to surround the Peckinpah family with a cocoon of love.

Sandy’s greatest gift to Garrett would begin one word at a time. She began to write, to move forward, and would eventually teach others how to do so as well. “No, you never forget,” she later explained. “You never get over it. You just learn how to live with it.” In this subtly soothing book, she explains how she taught herself to do just that and helps others via “Stepping Stones.” Sandy explains everything from planning the service to those first steps of recovery to the ultimate end ... healing. For those who are suddenly faced with a journey toward recovery they don’t wish to contemplate after the loss of a child, this book will be an immense comfort. How to Survive the Worst That Can Happen is not only a tribute to her own child, but one for every parent who has lost theirs. This book is a powerful, thought provoking, and singularly stunning guide to recovery.

Quill says: If you, or someone you know has lost a child, there’s no better gift you can give than a way to survive and flourish. In Sandy Peckinpah’s book, you will learn how you can heal and eventually bring joy back into your life.

For more information on How to Survive the Worst That Can Happen, please visit the book's website at: www.HowToSurviveTheWorstThatCanHappen.com

Book Review - Authorpreneur in Pajamas

Authorpreneur in Pajamas: Building Your Author's Platform Without Leaving Your Home

By: Geraldine Solon
Publisher: CreateSpace
Publication Date: March 2014
ISBN: 978-1495201677
Reviewed by: Diane Lunsford
Review Date: April 23, 2014

Bestselling author, Geraldine Solon, has delivered a wealth of valuable information across the pages of her latest body of work, Authorpreneur in Pajamas.

This book is tailor made for aspiring authors! The sheer notion (and joy) of marketing one’s labor of love that he or she has written and doing so in the comfort of ‘jammies,’ in my opinion, is a winner! Suffice it to say, while it is motivating to put my ‘big girl’ shoes on and a pulled together look, if I have blissful hours preparing myself for the ultimate face-to-face pitch in my jammies, sign me up! Before settling into the meat of Authorpreneur, the cover had me salivating with bestselling author Marsha Collier’s endorsement: "Authorpreneur in Pajamas is an inspirational guide for aspiring authors. It provides the beginning fiction writer with ideas to take their first steps to publishing their work."

With three solid novels in her own cache, Ms. Solon, has done what true writers are committed to doing: she has paid forward the insurmountable nuggets she has gleaned along her own writing journey and shared them with the up and coming ‘Authorpreneurs.’ The book is less than 80 pages in length and, in my opinion, packs more valuable insights, knowledge and information than some other works that have been lauded as the ‘must have guide if you ever expect to succeed...’ The chapter headers alone pique the reader/aspiring author’s interest; such as: ‘Identify Who Your Readers Are,’ ‘Research is a Must,’ ‘Why Advertising Matters,’ to name a few. As the reader delves further into each (succinct) chapter, Ms. Solon adeptly paints obvious logic with her word placement. She breaks down the concept and insists on the vital importance of engagement coupled with total commitment the writer must have if he or she covets being recognized by an audience of being just that.

Every chapter in this book has something valuable to offer and what consistently grabbed my attention was the ongoing message (and suggestion) of focus, focus, focus. Writing truly is a lonely craft at times, yet we do it (and willingly) to reap the rewards of tapping into the real emotions of our audience. Ms. Solon encourages the ‘Authorpreneur’ not only with words of wisdom from her own experiences, but a sublime message throughout of staying the course. Solon has packed a multitude of resources in this skinny, little book of anthology merit (websites, blogs, writing communities and forums, etc.) and backs the information up with a word of caution to start slow and steady with one or two options and build upon them once the writer has confidence that his or her initial choices have been put to the test (and are working).

I applaud Ms. Solon and genuinely thank her for her generosity in sharing the abundance of useful and helpful information she has penned in ‘Authorpreneur.’ She exudes confidence through her written word and without question, has provided a tremendous gift to many aspiring fiction writers (present company included). I plan to pay this information forward to many of my writing pals and am honored to do so. There is no self-puffery or overly braggadocios pontification in any of her delivery. Rather, there is solid and genuine care and concern to share what she has learned with a message that resonates her hope that she has helped that next up and comer to the next level in his or her writing career. Heartfelt thanks to you Ms. Solon. This is a terrific body of work!

Quill says: Authorpreneur in Pajamas is the penultimate guide for any aspiring author who is ready to begin the marketing and advertising journey of publication for a body of work just waiting to be recognized!

Books In For Review

Busy, busy, busy!  The books just keep on coming.  Here's a look at what has just arrived for review.

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TIME-LIFE World War II in 500 Photographs by TIME/LIFE BOOKS Time-Life Books' World War II in 500 Photographs brings the war to life today, in its most compelling moments and images. In this enthralling, illustrated, original volume, Time-Life Books explores the greatest conflict in the history of the planet. Here are the great battles and the great generals, the essential weapons and the tactics that made the years between 1939 and 1945 the most memorable in history. The visuals encompass Morocco to Malaysia, Berlin to Iwo Jima. With 500 dazzling photos--including rare color photos--this book succinctly and powerfully tells the full story of the war. History comes alive, thanks to scores of historic photos, first-hand accounts from a host of fronts, images of artifacts, and compelling maps and charts that clarify the politics of this vast war that shaped our modern world. Here is World War II as you've never seen it--and as you'll never forget it.  

TIME-LIFE Everything You Need To Know About the Bible by TIME-LIFE BOOKS Everyone can benefit from understanding the Bible, and Time-Life Books' Everything You Need to Know about the Bible is the ultimate visual guide. This helpful book is filled with photos, illustrations, art, and maps, plus sidebars throughout featuring fun facts, Top Ten lists, verses to know, and more. Learn the fascinating story of the Bible itself-how it was written and how its contents have survived over the centuries. Meet the great characters, from Abraham and Isaac to Mary Magdalene and St. Paul. Discover the life, works, and teachings of Jesus Christ and his disciples, with observations offered by today's most noted interpreters of the Bible. It's all gathered in an easy to read, compelling visual format that brings a fresh understanding to readers of all spiritual backgrounds, whether you're new to the Bible or a daily reader of its inspiring words.  

The Immortal Crown: An Age of X Novel by Richelle Mead Gameboard of the Gods introduced religious investigator Justin March and Mae Koskinen, the beautiful supersoldier assigned to protect him. Together they have been charged with investigating reports of the supernatural and the return of the gods, both inside the Republic of United North America and out. With this highly classified knowledge comes a shocking revelation: Not only are the gods vying for human control, but the elect—special humans marked by the divine—are turning against one another in bloody fashion. Their mission takes a new twist when they are assigned to a diplomatic delegation headed by Lucian Darling, Justin’s old friend and rival, going into Arcadia, the RUNA’s dangerous neighboring country. Here, in a society where women are commodities and religion is intertwined with government, Justin discovers powerful forces at work, even as he struggles to come to terms with his own reluctantly acquired deity. Meanwhile, Mae—grudgingly posing as Justin’s concubine—has a secret mission of her own: finding the illegitimate niece her family smuggled away years ago. But with Justin and Mae resisting the resurgence of the gods in Arcadia, a reporter’s connection with someone close to Justin back home threatens to expose their mission—and with it the divine forces the government is determined to keep secret.

Duel for the Crown: Affirmed, Alydar, and Racing's Greatest Rivalry by Linda Carroll In the Sport of Kings, the Triple Crown is the most valued prize, requiring a horse to win not just one race, but three: the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes. And 1978 would not be just for the record books, but also one of the greatest dramas ever played out in the racing world. There were names to conjure with, worthy of the Sport of Kings. The bloodline of Native Dancer. The teen wonderboy jockey Steve Cauthen. The once unbeatable Calumet Farm—the Damn Yankees of the racing world—now in eclipse and hoping for a comeback. The newcomer Harbor View Farm—owned by brash financier Louis Wolfson, who wouldn’t let even a conviction and a prison sentence for securities violations stand in the way of his dreams of glory. And the racetracks themselves: Belmont, Saratoga, Pimlico. And, of course, Churchill Downs. It has been thirty-five years since Affirmed and Alydar fought for the Triple Crown, thirty-five years when no other horse has won it. Duel for the Crown brings this epic battle to life. Not just two magnificent Thoroughbreds but the colorful human personalities surrounding them, caught up in an ever-intensifying battle of will and wits that lasted until the photo finish of the final Triple Crown race . . . and Alydar and Affirmed leaped into the history books.  

Early Birdy Gets the Worm by Bruce Lansky This Story is Told in Pictures so children 3 to 6 can “read” the pictures and enjoy the story. Waking up early one morning, Early Birdy watches Mother Birdy catch a worm. Inspired, Early Birdy wants to catch one too. But catching a worm isn’t as easy as it looks. Join Early Birdy on an exciting and funny adventure set in a beautiful springtime forest environment created by illustrator Bill Bolton. Don’t be surprised to find yourself “smiling from ear to ear”. Don’t for one minute think you’re going to “read” (aka narrate) this story to your child because you’re the adult and your child is, well, the child. Your child can “read” the pictures as well as you can. A fact that changes how this story will be read: this is a story you and your child can read together. You might start the collaboration by asking a question: You: What do you see in this picture? Child: A little baby birdy is waking up You: And in the next picture? Child: A big bird is catching a worm. You: Meanwhile back in the nest? Child: The little birdy is watching. Child: He wants to catch a worm, too. He flies down. Child: He sees a worm. Child: He bites it. Child: And then uh oh! That’s not a worm! See what just happened? you and your child were reading the book together, until your child got much too excited to wait for you to ask a question. Suddenly your preschooler is telling the story as fast as she can turn the pages. And you’re thinking, “Wait a minute! My 3-year-old doesn’t know how to read. But she’s so excited—I can’t stop her from telling the story. She’s running away with the story. What happened to our quiet little game of question and answer?”  

Don't Let Us Win Tonight: An Oral History of the 2004 Boston Red Sox's Impossible Playoff Run by Allan Wood Commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Boston Red Sox’ unprecedented championship run in the fall of 2004, this guide takes fans behind the scenes and inside the dugout, bullpen, and clubhouse to reveal to baseball fans how it happened, as it happened. The book highlights how, during a span of just 76 hours, the Red Sox won four do-or-die games against their archrivals, the New York Yankees, to qualify for the World Series and complete the greatest comeback in baseball history. Then the Red Sox steamrolled through the World Series, sweeping the St. Louis Cardinals in four games, capturing their first championship since 1918. Don’t Let Us Win Tonight is brimming with revealing quotes from Boston’s front office personnel, coaches, medical staff, and players, including Kevin Millar talking about his infectious optimism and the team’s pregame ritual of drinking whiskey, Dave Roberts revealing how he prepared to steal the most famous base of his career, and Dr. William Morgan describing the radical surgery he performed on Curt Schilling’s right ankle. The ultimate keepsake for any Red Sox fan, this is the 2004 team in their own words.  

How I Got Skinny, Famous, and Fell Madly in Love by Ken Baker “Thick. Heavy. Big-boned. Plump. Full-figured. Chunky. Womanly.” To Emery Jackson, these phrases are just nice euphemisms for the big “F” word of “fat.” But to her workout fiend dad, underwear model sister, and former Laker Girls mother, they are unacceptable states of being. Emery’s cash-strapped family’s solution? Signing up for a reality TV show in which Emery will have to lose fifty pounds in fifty days in order to win a million dollars. As the pounds start to drop and the ratings skyrocket, Emery feels the weight of success. And she must figure out how to turn the truths she uncovers—about beauty, love, fame, and family—into the keys to more than just fortune.

Book Review - Home Behind the Sun

Home Behind the Sun: Connect with God in the Brilliance of the Everyday

By: Timothy Willard and Jason Locy
Publisher: Nelson Books
Publication Date: April 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4002-0566-0
Reviewed by: Diane Lunsford

Review Date: April 22, 2014

Timothy Willard and Jason Locy team together and have penned Home Behind the Sun; an insightful (and soulful) read outlining their philosophies and self-perception of what God means to them, but what it can mean for all mankind.

Messrs. Willard and Locy open Home Behind the Sun with a prologue that speaks to their personal mission, compulsion and, most importantly, purpose in writing their book. Challenged from the onset, they share the sentiment of one friend, in particular, when they shared their information of embarking upon such a book: “...I love how you guys are reframing the whole image Dei discussion. I often feel like ‘the image of God’ gets narrowed into social justice compartments. If I’m not active in some cause, then I’m not fulfilling the gospel. Isn’t it gospel living to raise my four boys and to make a living, supporting my wife and family?...” While the question was taken to heart, it set the tone for both men to broaden the spectrum (and certainly shape the content) to include an important statement: “...the gospel of Christ extends into every facet of this life...”

The overall message that resonates as much as resounds throughout this body of work is the reality that we humans do exist under the guidance and direction of a higher power; and more importantly, He is God. There is an insistence of awareness to the aforementioned premise. Both men challenge the reader to consider how we have evolved as a civilization (generally speaking) when it comes to faith. Much has changed since the beginnings of time and in more recent times; the ‘gospel’ is used to fit our day-to-day, month-to-month personal needs—as a matter of convenience if it were. By no means have Willard and Locy written a 200+ page diatribe of sermons and prayers. Rather, they’ve broken down complexities and religious wonders and simply affirmed their beliefs of how blessed we are once we allow the concept and premise of God into our lives.

When asked if I was interested in reviewing this particular book, my initial reaction was trepidation. I don’t profess to be an ‘all knowing’ sort, but what convinced me to take on this book was my personal convictions and commitments to keep an open mind. Besides, I seek answers for a better understanding. However, I do have a deep-seeded aversion to a pulpit pounding delivery as much as fundamental insistence from a 'professed authority.' Much to my relief, Mr. Willard and Locy have writing styles likened to two men who simply want to share the joy they have achieved because of their devotion to God. They break their message down chapter-by-chapter using the innocence of children (their respective children) and how fresh and open they are to the message of belief. In yet another chapter titled “Mist Kiss,” they take the reader to Yosemite (which happened to be compelling for me, personally). El Capitan and Half Dome, located in Yosemite National Park, is their reference point. I have stood at the footpath of both majesties and asked myself the question: “How is it possible there is no God when one is here in the moment?” I commend both men for writing a carefully crafted book. I also thank them for delivering a body of work that truly has something in it for a culturally diverse readership.

Quill says: Home Behind the Sun carries a superb and beautiful message that strips away secularity and presents the premise of understanding and opening the heart and welcoming God into it.

Book Review - Plots and Pans

Plots and Pans

By: Kelly Eileen Hake
Publisher: Shiloh Run Press
Publication Date: April 2014
ISBN: 978-1-62029-958-6
Reviewed by: Diane Lunsford
Review Date: April 22, 2014

Kelly Eileen Hake conjures up a tasty tale of the wide open range and rustic romance in her latest novel, Plots and Pans.

Tucker Carmichael is set in his ways and determined to carry on the legacy and continued success of the Bar None Ranch. The period is the 1800’s and the setting is cattle farming at its finest on the open ranges of frontier Texas. The story opens with the passing of Bar None Ranch’s patriarch, Simon Culpepper. Once Tucker learns he is one of the heir apparents (Culpepper’s only son, Edward, the other), Tucker hunkers down and embraces his newfound responsibilities. All things considered, he’s succeeding in his new position of authority. However, the one thing Tucker wasn’t ready to accept was the return of Simon’s only daughter Jessalyn. Seven years prior to Simon’s passing, Jessalyn’s father made the difficult decision to ship her off to the finery and tutelage of proper English lady lessons. Difficult as the decision was, after his wife passed, it became clear to Simon that the rough edges and exposure to ranch life was no place to raise his daughter into becoming a proper lady. While Jessalyn may have been a lady by all definitions of the term, one thing Simon overlooked in his decision was the fact that his ‘lady’ was also a natural born cowgirl at heart.

To say the apple cart was turned on its side with the return of Jessalyn is an understatement. Not only does Jessalyn have to cope with the grief of the passing of her father, but she also needs to embrace the notion she has an aunt she never knew existed. Couple these facts with her reintroduction to the overly cantankerous Tucker Carmichael and Jessalyn has her own set of challenges ahead when it comes to re-establishing her rightful place in her Bar None Ranch home. Jessalyn has never been one to back down. Persistent to dig in for the long haul and prove to Carmichael she belongs is perhaps one of her greatest feats yet. Days before the cattle drive that will make or break the destiny of the Ranch’s future, Tucker is presented with a proposal he adamantly refuses to accept. The unfortunate reality for Tucker, however, is he isn’t the only person with the authority to accept or decline such a proposal.

Ms. Hake takes the reader back to a time long before strip malls and fast food restaurants. She patiently paints a tale with an abundance of allure and life on the open range. She secures the backdrop beautifully within the first dozen pages or so and accomplishes reader engagement in so doing. It is easy for the reader to feel as though he or she has entered a good old fashioned western with the right balance of drama, romance and the roughness and hard times long before modern medicines and comforts. She adeptly captures the essence of what it meant to face the consequences of having nothing more than gut instincts and common sense to survive. If I could make one constructive criticism, however, it would be Ms. Hake’s propensity to write too much character thought. It takes away from the flow of the story. I’m not sure if this was intentional or simply Ms. Hake’s writing style, but I found myself purposely reading over the italicized thoughts. Ms. Hake’s scenes are capable, in my opinion, of getting the intent across to the reader without adding affirmation (or clarification) with the added thoughts. They are a distraction. That said, I would read previous (and future) works by Ms. Hake. She is a strong story teller of this plot line and I would encourage her to continue to embrace the ‘Wild West’ as her inspiration. She knows how to spin a great western.

Quill says: Saddle up your pony and ride along the trail of Plots and Pans. It’s a terrific rendition of life and adventure on the wide open range.

Book Review - An Evolving Society

An Evolving Society

By: Fadi Hattendorf
Publisher: CreateSpace
Publication Date: November 2013
ISBN: 978-1492170839
Reviewed By: Kristi Benedict
Review Date: April 21, 2014

Having children is an amazing thing and many women want to experience this with all of their heart. Unfortunately, sometimes nature does not allow this experience for some women and if their desire for a child is strong enough they will look for other means of having children. That is just what this book shows as three unconventional families find out that they have more in common than they ever thought when the past is revealed to all of them. Choices that one generation made ultimately affected the next generation in how they viewed who they were and where they came from. For some, the news that they were created from completely unknown DNA was extremely hard to take and it changed forever the way they saw their own lives and everyone else they came in contact with. It was hard to shake the fact that now every person they saw could possibly be related to them in some way and they would never know it.

For Mana, knowing that her mother decided to use a sperm donor to have a child caused her intense confusion as she felt empty, incomplete, and a little lost. Even though her mother married after giving birth to her and she had a life full of support and love, there was no shaking the thought that she might have half siblings passing her by in the street. Eventually Mana is able to put these thoughts behind her and finds love in a man named Kalak who she has two sons with. Everything is going wonderful until Kalak learns from his mother that his birth was also the result of anonymous sperm donation. Mana and Kalak’s perfect world suddenly comes crashing down as each realizes that there is a slight possibility that they could be related! Will this information tear apart what they have built even though none of it was their choice?

The direction that Fadi Hattendorf presented this book in was something I did not expect but ended up finding very interesting. Some background information was given about the parents' choices to find other reproductive options but the main focus was on how these decisions affected the lives of their children. Using this view made the writing intriguing for me and it brought up the possible negative consequences of using alternative reproductive options that I had never thought about before. I do not have children of my own so I thought that it might be difficult for me to relate to this story. However, because the perspective of the children was highlighted, I found it quite easy to relate to and enjoyed seeing these different views. Hattendorf does a great job of connecting each of the families in the story and this keeps the reader hooked waiting for the next set of clues that will reveal how each person is connected. I was pleasantly surprised to find that An Evolving Society was not all filled with facts and figures but took a closer look at the emotional reactions of every person that is affected.

Quill says: This is a uniquely written story that keeps the reader thinking all the way through to the end.

For more information on An Evoling Society, please vist the author's website at: www.fadihattendorf.com

Book Review - Nothing Like A Dame

Nothing Like A Dame: Conversations with the Great Women of Musical Theater

By: Eddie Shapiro
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Publication Date: February 2014
ISBN: 978-0199941209
Reviewed by: Ellen Feld
Review Date: April 19, 2014

From Carol Channing to Chita Rivera, Sutton Foster to Patti Lupone, there are so many of the “GREATS” of musical theater in this book, fantastic stars who bear their souls, that you won't want to miss a page. If you want an insider’s view of life on stage, buy this book!

Nothing Like A Dame includes interviews with 21 luminaries of Broadway, all chosen by the author who had a strict criterion he wanted to follow. “...all had to have devoted the majority of their careers to the theater: no one who started in theater but moved on ... no stars from other media who visit Broadway...” (pg. xi). The selection of stars is fantastic and as soon as I received this book, I dived right in, heading straight for number one on my personal favorite list, Angela Lansbury. Rather than write a book that reads like a biography with a few juicy quotes sprinkled in for good measure, the author chose to use a straightforward interview format. There is a brief, one-page synopsis of each star’s career prior to the interview, but then it’s “game on!” and the fun starts. The author, Eddie Shapiro, is a die-hard Broadway fan, who has seen over 1200 Broadway performances and happily admits, “I saw everything, and I loved it all. Even the stuff I hated, I loved.” (pg. xi) His passion and understanding of the theater shows in his knowledgeable, probing questions and as each interview progresses, more intimate confessions and fascinating facts are brought to the surface.

Each interview has the air of two friends sitting down on a couch for a casual chat, a moment to reflect on a career, and all the ups and downs that entails. While Shapiro undoubtedly had a series of questions he wanted to ask each artist, the talks sometimes go wonderfully off tangent, as he follows his artists’ stories to unexpected places. For example, Angela Lansbury tells us about Sweeney Todd and how Stephen Sondheim played “The Worst Pies in London” and “...I thought it was so damned funny. It just killed me ... He kept slapping the piano for the dough. He kept getting the lyrics all mixed up. I was immediately terribly interested…” (pg. 86) while Kristin Chenoweth admits how shy she is, “...shy around celebrities. When I met Madonna my manager said, “She really wants to meet you,” but I barely said a thing. I’m a weirdo.” (pg. 284) There are so many great lines in this book, that I could go on quoting them forever ... but I won't. You'll just have to read the book yourself to get lost in the lives of these amazing women.

You’ll laugh, cry and come away with a lot of respect for the hard yet incredible lives these Ladies of Broadway have lived. This book is a definite keeper and I for one, am going to put it on my special bookshelf where all my favorite books live.

Quill says: If you’re a fan of musical theater, you have got to get a copy of Nothing Like A Dame!