Miss Trimble's Trapdoor by Lori Jordan-Rice

A former elementary school teacher, Lori Jordan-Rice set out to create a children’s book series that was entertaining and educational, with a back-to-basics approach to U.S. history. Her two new books, Miss Trimble’s Trapdoor (Synergy Books, October 2009, 978-0-9821601-4-5, $12.95) and Miss Trimble’s Trapdoor: The Perseverance of Christopher Columbus (Synergy Books, October 2009, 978-0-9821601-5-2, $12.95) usher in an imaginative new series featuring a fictional classroom full of memorable modern day characters alongside historical figures such as the pilgrims, the founding fathers of the United States and, of course, Christopher Columbus.

Miss Trimble's Trapdoor: Book 1 follows Tyler, a boy who hates school—that is, until he unlocks a secret trapdoor beneath his desk in Miss Trimble’s classroom. Tyler unexpectedly falls into a mysterious basement filled with old books and guarded by a magical talking dog named Barnabas Bailey. His new companion takes him back in time, guiding him through American history firsthand and teaching him life lessons along the way.

In the second book of the series, Miss Trimble’s Trapdoor: The Perseverance of Christopher Columbus, Tyler continues his travels through time with his trusted canine companion, Barney. As they witness Columbus as a boy, a young man, and finally sail aboard the Santa Maria with Columbus himself, Tyler realizes that even a great explorer can face setbacks before reaching his dream He learns he has to believe in himself to achieve his goals of playing on the school basketball team and delivering an oral report on Columbus in front of the whole class.

Kids can visit www.MissTrimblesTrapdoor.com to write to main characters Tyler and Barney, as well as for helpful educational links, crosswords and word searches. The books are perfect for kids ages 6-12.

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Your Astrology Guide 2010

Your Astrology Guide 2010
Sterling, 448pp, Isbn : 978-1-4027-6401-1 

What does 2010 hold for you?

The world's most accurate astrology team shows you how to apply astrology's ancient wisdom to reveal the turns in the road of life and describe the best ways to navigate everyday situations. Rick Levine and Jeff Jawer go beyond just predicting events -- they also report on the "cosmic weather" so that you can understand planetary events and energies, and learn how to use them effectively in order to enrich your life.

Rick and Jeff look closely at what 2010 holds in store for each of the 12 signs to help you gain a true perspective on your world -- and a deeper knowledge of yourself and your loved ones, friends, and colleagues. They provide the tools that make it easy for you to keep track of what will be happening during the year including:

• Forecasts for 2010 that tell you what to really expect and how to deal with the core areas of your life -- love, career, money, health, home, and personal and spiritual growth
• Concise forecasts for August to December 2009 containing a summary and mini calendar for each month
• Unique, in-depth, month-at-a-glance "calendars" of the major astrological events for your sign, with Key Dates and high-energy Super Nova Days
• Big picture tips for each sign -- for the year and every month

Author Bios
Highly-respected astrologers, sought-after consultants, and frequent lecturers, Rick Levine and Jeff Jawer have each written countless magazine articles, authored several books, and have been featured on radio and TV programs throughout the United States and Europe.
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Don't Look Down by David Laing Dawson

Four men, age 18 to 81, have murdered, and now share a room in the secure forensic psychiatry ward. Who better to get inside their heads, and find both the tragedy and comedy of their lives than psychiatrist and novelist David Laing Dawson.

Frank has just completed a ten year sentence in a Federal Prison for manslaughter. He is remanded for an assessment in the Forensic Ward of a Psychiatric Hospital. On this ward Frank shares a four bed room with Joseph, a man suffering from severe depression and delusions of jealousy, David, a young schizophrenic man, and Henry Thornton, 81 years of age, sometimes confused, and possibly guilty of the mercy killing of his companion and lover.

Dawson explores the comedy as well as the tragedy of these four lives as they intersect in a dramatic way in a place none of them wishes to be.

Don't Look Down (Bridgeross Communications, 194p, ISBN: 978-0981003757) has the ring of truth and insight only an insider can provide. And though the characters and events are tragic, the author finds many moments of shared humanity, warmth and good humor.

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Syren (Septimus Heap, Book 5)

National bestselling author Angie Sage returns this fall with Syren (Septimus Heap, Book 5), the fifth book in the funny and affectionate fantasy series that leads readers on a fantastic journey filled with quirky characters, clever charms, potions and spells, and a yearning to uncover the mystery at the heart of this inventive story:  Who is Septimus Heap?

In the fifth book of the Septimus Heap series, Septimus has returned from his Queste and Beetle, Jenna, Nicko and Snorri are waiting at a maritime trading post for Septimus and Spit Fyre to bring them home. However, the journey does not go as planned, and after a hair-raising flight they end up stranded on a captivatingly beautiful island. However, there are some strange things about the island, including a Magykal girl named Syrah, a cat-shaped lighthouse that has lost its light, and an eerie presence that sings to Septimus. Can Septimus escape the persistent call?

Septimus Heap, Book Five: Syren (Katherine Tegen Books, 640p, ISBN: 978-0060882105) is filled with more laugh-out-loud adventures, enchanting charms, magykal spells, and an ever-deepening understanding of the rich interior life of a young hero.

Warner Bros. Pictures has acquired the feature film rights for the seven-book fantasy series. The first book in the series will be produced by Karen Rosenfelt (The Devil Wears Prada) and directed by David Frankel (Marley & Me) with Sage as Executive Producer.

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Spotlight - Carol Zelaya's Emily Waits for a Family

Emily Waits For Her Family by Carol Zelaya
Ages 4-8, 32 p, Richlee Pub, ISBN: 0979626501

Synopsis:
Read Emily Waits for Her Family and follow the true story of the special bond between a tiny bird and a little girl, from first meeting to leaving, from new life to old friends.

This story is told in a timeless, three-part series, with an easy-reading rhyme, and is certain to delight and touch your heart.

Excerpt

As I look closer, what do I see?

In the nest there seems to be,

The little bird named Emily,

And a big surprise of one, two, three!

Yes, three little eggs for me to see.

You’ll soon be a mommy Chickadee!

This Book Excerpt is part of the book's virtual tour, courtesy Pump Up Your Book Promotion.

About the Author

Carol Zelaya lives and writes in the Portland, OR area. She has written Emily’s story in hope of educating children about nature’s precious gifts that are all around us when we take the time to notice.

Zelaya is touring the Pacific Northwest in 2008 and is donating signed copies of her book to several low-income neighborhood schools and libraries to share her love of reading and nature.

You can visit Carol online at http://emilythechickadee.com/about-carol.html

Like it?! Buy it!
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Triangle of Deception by Haggai Carmon

For two decades, Carmon himself led a life marked by deception. He held two jobs - publicly, he was an international attorney shuttling between Israel and the United States, and secretly, he worked undercover for the U.S. government, collecting sensitive intelligence and chasing multimillion dollar, white-collar fraudsters across the globe to more than 30 countries. Keeping his second life a closely guarded secret from all, including friends and family, was not mere precaution but life-or-death necessity given the dangerous realities of international espionage and terrorism that some of Carmon's cases involved.

Many of the adventures and horrors he experienced, he can never share, but the unique, first-hand knowledge of intelligence operations that has inspired his thrillers makes his tales of spies and terror both captivatingly intense and eerily real.

In Triangle of Deception (336p, Leisure Books, ISBN: 978-0843961928), the fourth installment in the Dan Gordon Intelligence Thriller series, U.S. Agent Dan Gordon is on the hunt for the source of funding to terrorist group Hezbollah - the world's most secretive and tightly-knit terror organization. He infiltrates Hezbollah's network in the Paraguayan terrorist hub Ciudad del Este with the help of a Lebanese expatriate, only to realize that his superiors have failed to give him the full picture. A chase for false documents turns a Shakespearean drama of double identities and uncertain loyalties into a web of lies.

Caught in the wrong place at the wrong time, Dan lands in a grim Romanian jail. Was it a security leak that got him in trouble? Why was he told to abandon top-secret CIA documents in a hotel room in Turkey? Was Dan made a sacrificial lamb for the CIA to make their plan look credible? Has he stumbled upon a much bigger plot whose mastermind is infinitely more vicious than what he had expected? And how will he extricate himself from his stickiest situation yet?

Triangle of Deception, a story about the joining of CIA and Mossad forces on the one hand, and the confrontation of rival terrorist groups on the other, will fascinate and entice both those familiar with Dan Gordon's acute intelligence and cunning and those new to his complex missions and riveting escapades.

Jacob Perry, former director of Shin Bet, Israel's legendary internal security service, writes in the introduction, "Haggai has assured me that the book is largely fictional, but still, I find instances where his word-weaving is so vivid, so realistic, that I have to remind myself that it is not reality that captivates me. Haggai is a master of the tradecraft and with each twist and turn of this, his fourth thriller, my appreciation for his fictionalized reality has grown." Introducing his previous works have been prestigious members of the intelligence community no less complimentary - an anonymous former top Mossad executive; Sarah McKee, former General Counsel of INTERPOL-U.S. National Central Bureau; former Israeli Deputy Defense Minister Dr. Efraim Sneh and former top CIA operations officer André Le Gallo.

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The Lovely Bones - Movie

Based on the critically acclaimed best-selling novel by Alice Sebold, and directed by Oscar® winner Peter Jackson from a screenplay by Fran Walsh & Philippa Boyens & Jackson, The Lovely Bones centers on a young girl who has been murdered and watches over her family – and her killer – from heaven.  She must weigh her desire for vengeance against her desire for her family to heal. 

Oscar® nominee Mark Wahlberg and Oscar® winners Rachel Weisz and Susan Sarandon star along with Stanley Tucci, Michael Imperioli and Oscar® nominee Saoirse Ronan.

Release Date: January 15, 2010
Website & Trailer: http://www.lovelybones.com/
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Article - How Will Barack Obama Fill Out His Census Form

How Will Barack Obama Fill Out His Census Form?: The Future of "Miscegenation" in America

by Rich Benjamin,

Author of Searching for Whitopia: An Improbable Journey to the Heart of White America

The President says publicly that he is "African-American."But will he check "black" or "two or more races" on his 2010 Census form?

My parents, two dark-skinned blacks, married in 1967, a year when miscegenation -- interracial marriage, cohabitation or sex -- was a criminal offense in sixteen states. But now, like the Obamas, my family descends from and lives across three continents and about a dozen nations. My cousins, nieces, and nephews have complexions reminiscent of a Ben & Jerry's menu ranging from Karamel Sutra to Chocolate Fudge Brownie.

Given America's growing and intermixed minority populations, controversy broils about how Uncle Sam categorizes, then counts, ethnicity and race (more vociferously from minorities than from whites). Black civil rights advocates strong-arm those with traces of African ancestry to identify as "black," so as not to dilute blacks' 2010 census numbers and future political power. Defining and counting mixed-race people in America has historically been riddled with conceptual and practical challenges. Now as much as ever. President Obama says publicly that he is "African-American." But will he check "black" or "two or more races" on his 2010 Census form?

Over the past three decades, the Census Bureau has documented a growing number of children living in mixed-race families. In 1970, the number of children living in mixed-race families totaled 460,000. That number more than doubled to 996,070 in 1980. And it doubled again to almost 2 million in 1990. In 1990, children in mixed-race households accounted for 4 percent of all children in American homes. And in 2000, 2.4 percent of census respondents were multiracial; they ticked "two or more races" on their forms.

Admittedly, scores of Americans will brag they have another race's blood coursing through their veins. Just listen. Black people will mention that they have Native American lineage. ("That's why my hair is good.") Mustering all the nonchalance available, white people will note having "some Latino blood." (Everyone knows that white person who claims having one-thirtieth of Latino or Native American lineage, especially when affirmative action goodies are in play.) Historians contend that a plethora of Americans have some degree of multi-ethnic lineage dating from centuries back.

The ephemeral lure of multi-racial pedigree notwithstanding, the number and percentage of Americans who credibly qualify as multi-racial -- the direct biological progeny of mixed-race parentage or grand-parentage -- is comparatively small: 6.1 million people in 2006, or roughly 2 percent of the population.

The media attention devoted to multi-racial populations and issues exceeds what seems warranted, at least based on sheer numbers. From the fascination afforded to Tiger Woods' "Cablinasian" character, to a growing cultural and political multiracial identity movement, to our President's much lauded social dexterity "between" races, we seem headed for an era of multi-racial mania. Mixed-race status is consolidating its cachet and earning media validation like never before.

Is race an anachronism in our very near future, presided over by that gregarious mixed-race leader (Oatmeal Cookie Chunk)? If Americans profess their yearning for a post-racial America, why bother to count race? Does the 2010 Census's conception and tally of mixed-race people say anything instructive to the rest of us, the unglamorous mono-racial supermajority?

Another fascinating conundrum lurks. We laud diversity and race-mixing in public, but our actions don't stack up. "Americans Say They Like Diverse Communities -- Election, Census Trends Suggest Otherwise," declares the title of a 2009 study just released by the prestigious Pew Research Center. "Despite most respondents stated preference for 'diversity,'" the study concludes, "American communities have grown more racially, politically, and economically homogeneous in recent decades."

The 2010 Census puts a reality check on our wildest racial statements and dreams.
©2009 Rich Benjamin, author of Searching for Whitopia: An Improbable Journey to the Heart of White America.

Rich Benjamin, author of Searching for Whitopia: An Improbable Journey to the Heart of White America, is Senior Fellow at Demos, a nonpartisan national think tank based in New York City. His social and political commentary is featured in major newspapers nationwide, on NPR and Fox Radio, and in many scholarly venues. He holds a B.A. from Wesleyan University and a Ph.D. from Stanford University.

For more information please visit www.richbenjamin.com.

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TEMPTATION EVE Contest

Enter the COUNTDOWN TO TEMPTATION contest here.

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Review -Teach Me About Series

When I was first approached about reviewing this series, I'd never even heard of author Joy Berry. A google search turned up 1,370,000 search results for her and I knew I had to check out these books, especially after I read this - For over 30 years, these books have been helping parents and children deal with childhood issues. Joy Berry has sold over 85 million books and influenced generations of children.

The Teach Me About Series helps parents teach very young children the basic concepts of responsibility through simple and fun books, read-alongs and songs. Filled with subjects such as mealtime, bedtime and getting dressed, the TMA series offers material for each stage of early childhood development.

The Special Times Pack comes with 6 of the most popular Teach Me About books along with a double CD featuring Read-to-Me tracks and fun songs for each book! Titles in Pack include Bedtime, Bathtime, Potty Training, Mealtime, Getting Dressed, and Illness.

• Bedtime explains why sleep is necessary and presents children with positive ways to approach and prepare for bedtime.
• Bathtime explains why bathing is necessary and tells children how they can make bathtime safe and fun. 
• Potty Training helps children accept their fear surrounding the toilet and teaches them how to use it properly.
• Mealtime encourages children to eat food that is good for them and provides helpful guidelines for eating properly.
• Getting Dressed helps children understand the purpose of clothing and teaches them how to dress themselves. 
• Illness teaches children what they can do to help prevent illness and what to do when they become sick.

These books are beautifully illustrated and in very simple terms and using repetition (very important for kids) teach a variety of concepts in an easy to understand manner. My toddler and I are having fun with and I know you will too!

About Joy Berry and her Books - 


Joy Berry Classics are broken down into six series, starting with Teach Me About for toddlers and going up to Winning Skills for tweens.

• Teach Me About, for Ages 1-3
• Let’s Talk About, for Ages 4-5
• Help Me Be Good, for Ages 5-7
• A Fun and Easy Way, for Ages 7-10
• Winning Skills, for Ages 11-12
• Good Answers to Tough Questions, for Ages 6-12

Updated and newly designed, the books are classics in every sense of the word. Joy states, “Children need to be taught from the beginning of their lives that the more responsibility a person assumes for his or her life, the more control he or she will have over his or her life. In order for children to acquire the control they so desperately want and need, they need to learn the information and skills that will allow them to become more responsible.”

And the wonderful thing about these materials is that they really work. To read more about Joy Berry’s background as an educator and her philosophy, visit www.joyberrybooks.com
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Encyclopedia of Haunted Places

Just in time for Spooktober, comes a great new read - the Encyclopedia of Haunted Places: Ghostly Locales from Around the World (978-1-60163-799-8, pages: 360, New Page Books) Revised Edition is the first book to document hundreds of haunts written by the dozens of paranormal investigators who know them best

The belief in ghosts may be one of the few beliefs citizens the world over have in common. Ghosts are everywhere. Every town has its haunted houses and cemeteries -- the kinds of places locals whisper about and children run past. Ghost legends are powerful. Authored by dozens of the world’s leading paranormal investigators, this book is filled with research notes, location backgrounds, firsthand accounts, interviews, and many anomalous photographs featuring ghostly manifestations of the haunted listings in this directory.

Now expanded, the Encyclopedia of Haunted Places offers dozens of new locations from all over the globe. From the gravesite of James Dean in East Fairmount, Indiana, to Bran Castle in Bran Romania (commonly referred to as “Dracula’s Castle”), ghost investigators tell their sometime harrowing experiences and give readers an overview of haunted locals. From private residences to inns and restaurants, from battlefields to museums and libraries, and from graveyards to churches, this directory offers supernatural tourists a guide to haunted points of interests the world over.

“To truly understand a haunted location, you need to get local,” said Jeff Belanger, editor and compiler for the Encyclopedia of Haunted Places. “What makes this book unique is that the entries are written by people who have done the haunted field work to back up each ghostly claim -- hearsay and urban legends weren’t enough. Each entry combines the history, the tragedies, and the eyewitness accounts of each haunted locale.”

Now in its second edition, the Encyclopedia of Haunted Places has been updated with dozens of new listings, new information on existing haunts, and a comprehensive directory of paranormal investigators.

For more information, visit www.NewPageBooks.com.

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Love Your Body, Love Your Life

Love Your Body, Love Your Life: 5 Steps to End Negative Body Obsession and Start Living Happily and Confidently

This inspiring book written for women offers a 5-Step Program  to over come Negative Body Image or NBO.   

At its essence, the book is about helping people break free from destructive beliefs, thoughts, and behaviors toward their bodies and themselves. The focus is on helping people discover that unconditioned part of themselves that is beyond time and space. A place where true beauty resides. By detaching from negative thoughts and connecting with one’s spiritual essence, the reader can begin to create a body and a life that she loves.  This is a book all women should read to share the wisdom’s of self-love, true health and spirit with your mothers, sisters, daughters and friends. 

The 5-Step Process includes:
Step 1: Set a Powerful Intention
Step 2: Identify and Detach from Your Destructive Voices
Step 3: Discover Who You Really Are
Step 4: Befriend Your Body
Step 5: Live Your Purpose

Complete with exercises, case studies, and testimonials, you can learn how to stop obsessing over food and your body and achieve permanent peace with both. You'll banish NBO forever, and feel healthy, radiant, beautiful, and desirable -- every day!

Author Bio
Sarah Maria, author of Love Your Body, Love Your Life: 5 Steps to End Negative Body Obsession and Start Living Happily and Confidently, is the founder of Break Free Beauty (www.breakfreebeauty.com), a company dedicated to helping people love and accept their bodies and discover the beauty that they already are
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Searching for Whitopia by Rich Benjamin

According to Rich Benjamin, by 2042, whites will no longer be the American majority. In his new book, Searching for Whitopia: An Improbable Journey to the Heart of White America, he reveals insights into white culture and white community living.

Between 2007 and 2009, Rich Benjamin, a journalist-adventurer, packed his bags and embarked on a 26,909-mile journey throughout the heart of white America, to some of the fastest-growing and whitest locales in our nation.

By 2042, whites will no longer be the American majority. As immigrant populations -- largely people of color -- increase in cities and suburbs, more and more whites are moving to small towns and exurban areas that are predominately, even extremely, white.

Rich Benjamin calls these enclaves "Whitopias" (pronounced: "White-o-pias").

His journey to unlock the mysteries of Whitopias took him from a three-day white separatist retreat with links to Aryan Nations in North Idaho to the inner sanctum of George W. Bush's White House -- and many points in between. And to learn what makes Whitopias tick, and why and how they are growing, he lived in three of them (in Georgia, Idaho, and Utah) for several months apiece. A compelling raconteur, bon vivant, and scholar, Benjamin reveals what Whitopias are like and explores the urgent social and political implications of this startling phenomenon.

The glow of Barack Obama's historic election cannot obscure the racial and economic segregation still vexing America. Obama's presidency has actually raised the stakes in a battle royale between two versions of America: one that is broadly comfortable with diversity yet residentially segregated (ObamaNation), and one that does not mind a little ethnic food or a few mariachi dancers -- as long as these trends do not overwhelm a white dominant culture (Whitopia).

For more information please visit www.richbenjamin.com.

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Ivy & Bean: Video Now - Book Soon

With over 700,000 copies sold, the Ivy and Bean series is a huge hit with kids, teachers, parents and librarians. The adventures of the irrepressible duo continue in the latest installment IVY AND BEAN DOOMED TO DANCE. Ivy and Bean beg their parents for ballet lessons and swear they won’t quit. Finally, they get what they want…well, not exactly. The girls thought ballet would be leaping and kicking and scaring the heck out of the Prince. It’s not. They have no interest in learning how to dance gracefully and must figure out a way to get out of their dance recital without breaking their promise.

About the author: Annie Barrows is the co-author of the New York Times Best-Selling The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society but Ivy and Bean was her first book for kids. She lives in Northern California with her husband and two daughters. One daughter is like Ivy and the other is like Bean.

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Book Excerpt - Stepmonster: A New Look at Why ...

Lessons From the Wicked One

by Wednesday Martin, Ph.D.,

Author of Stepmonster: A New Look at Why Real Stepmothers Think, Feel, and Act the Way We Do

Lifers seem to sense -- seem to have learned, from years of hard-won experience -- that the wicked stepmother has much to teach us about who we are and, counterintuitively perhaps, that she has a lesson or two to impart about surviving stepmotherhood with our self-respect intact. The happiest, most successful women with stepchildren, it seems, have first of all accepted the ugly truth that we will, some days, be ugly -- jealous, resentful, and angry. Slowly, the women who succeed at marriage to a man with children learn that these charged feelings are not only terribly taboo; they are also grounded in reality. Jealousy, as stepfamily expert Elizabeth Church writes, comes from feeling powerless, and stepmothers are certainly often that. Resentment indicates that we are feeling unappreciated and that our overtures of kindness are going unreciprocated -- another common and maddening reality of stepmother-stepchild relations. Anger may be a sign that our unrealistic expectations of stepfamily harmony have been dashed. Or it may be a healthy response to feeling spurned and unsupported for years on end, and it may eventually motivate us -- and our husbands -- to take constructive action.

Like the classic wicked stepmother, the happiest lifers no longer seem hobbled by the need to be liked by their stepkids. If things work out, that's fine. And if they don't, well, the lifers shrug as if to say, It's okay to stop trying if you know you gave it your best. Some battles just can't be won and aren't worth my energy. Nor do successful lifers seem gagged by the fear that stepkids, husbands, friends, or the world at large will think of them as stepmonsters if they speak up about wanting respect and civil treatment, or to be treated as a person rather than an obstacle in front of Dad or a maid. Such fears and the need for approval are likely the biggest obstacles a stepmother must overcome in her quest to put her own happiness on a par with that of the rest of the family. It may be difficult or frightening at first to assert ourselves, feeling like outsiders in the family hierarchy as we likely do, but the alternative is worse. Again and again, women with stepkids showed me that it is a quick slide from "I bite my tongue when his kids say something rude or mean to me because I don't want to get into an argument with them" to "I'm afraid to lay down the law in my own home." Next stop is "I nag my husband to get his kids to act better and be nicer to me, and then he and I have a huge fight." Then on to "I hate being a stepmother" and, finally, "I just can't do this anymore."

It might just be that some of the strategies of the classic wicked stepmother -- toned down but essentially gleaned straight from her ostensibly evil behavior -- can pull us back from the brink and even make marriage to a man with children pleasurable. Every day, for example, the wicked stepmother looks at her reflection and asks, "Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?" The real life lesson here is not to be a homicidal, envious narcissist, of course, but to put yourself first. Stepmothers, as we have seen from the studies of their rates of burnout and depression, constantly lose sight of their own needs -- arguably even of themselves -- as they deal with, blame themselves for, and attempt to fix stepfamily dynamics. Giving yourself a little love will counterbalance the powerful but unreasonable cultural imperative that you must put his kids first. And a little vanity is the best antidote to the typical step-dilemma of becoming so consumed with the unhappiness that sometimes surrounds you that you forget you are an attractive woman, an appealing wife, and a compelling, sexy person -- that is, that you have an identity apart from being a stepmom. As a stepmother of two teens told me, "Love thyself, because your stepkids won't."

The wicked stepmother does more than gaze at herself in the mirror, of course. She schemes, pulls strings, and consolidates her power. Real stepmothers have no need for any of that. Mostly. But it does pay for a woman with stepchildren to be canny, to observe, and to be strategic in her dealings with her husband and his kids. For example, there are worse things than helping your husband see that you are on the receiving end of quite a lot of bad treatment from his kids (whom he may naturally but unrealistically idealize until you help him see the truth about their behavior) and that it hurts you. It helps to remember that men generally have an easier time dealing with a wife who is sad or pained than one who is aggrieved and angry. Learning to show what is underneath your alienating fury -- vulnerability and sadness -- will not hurt your efforts. And as for power, don't forget that you are, in fact, the queen of your household. Pandering and kowtowing to stepchildren of any age who do not respect you as one of the two people who rule your roost will not get them to like you, and it will not make them easier for you to like either. Lifers know that everyone wins when you can find it within yourself to say "Please don't be rude to me in my home."

The classic wicked stepmother is, of course, cold and unfeeling. She is emotionally stingy. And she may just have a point -- sort of. After all, for a lot of good reasons, your stepkids are extremely unlikely to appreciate, let alone thank you for, your efforts with them. In all likelihood, neither will they gratify your desire to be loved. Your response should be never to give too much. Don't give stepkids the opportunity to break anything of value to you, including your heart. Lowering your expectations of them and maintaining your focus on your own life -- a toned-down version of being cold -- will create a pressure-free environment in which a friendship might eventually take hold and even flourish.

Perhaps most notoriously, the wicked stepmother loves her own children best and doesn't hesitate to put them first. The lesson here is not to be spiteful or petty, of course, or to overtly play favorites. But lifers and experts concur: don't try to pretend that you love his kids and your kids the same, and don't buy into the destructive belief that you should. His kids aren't yours, you likely didn't know them when they were beguiling babies or toddlers, and they are probably not making an effort to be lovable now. No guilt and no self-flagellating, then, when those without a clue observe, "You probably love them like they're your own," and it makes you want to roll your eyes. The expectations of the uninformed -- especially regarding "maternal" behavior -- are a particular burden for stepmothers. But others' hopes needn't become your obligation. Knowing the difference between what you can realistically achieve and what others think you ought to be able to do is the equivalent of a lifeline for women with stepkids.

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The above is an excerpt from the book Stepmonster: A New Look at Why Real Stepmothers Think, Feel, and Act the Way We Do by Wednesday Martin, Ph.D.. The above excerpt is a digitally scanned reproduction of text from print. Although this excerpt has been proofread, occasional errors may appear due to the scanning process. Please refer to the finished book for accuracy.

Copyright © 2009 Wednesday Martin, Ph.D., author of Stepmonster: A New Look at Why Real Stepmothers Think, Feel, and Act the Way We Do

For more information please visit www.WednesdayMartin.com.

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My Dog Bites the English Teacher

This book shows writers age 15 and up how to identify and fix fragments, comma splices, run-ons, commas, apostrophes, and other common mistakes using a logical, step-by-step method that always works. Writing correctly is like driving; it s a necessary skill that most people need to learn. But you don't need to rebuild a transmission to be a safe and capable driver. And you don't need to know the difference between a direct object and an indirect object in order to write correctly and well.

This book is different from other grammar books in two important ways. First, it starts with vital information and moves toward the less important information. Students can start at the beginning and go as far as they wish. Those who just want to fix their comma mistakes can stop after chapter 4. Those who want to learn more can continue through chapter 10 which covers the intricacies of traditional grammar which are rarely studied anymore, even by college English majors.

The second difference is that this book is based on a logical, step-by-step process for analyzing and fixing sentence mistakes. Students who have a natural gift for writing will learn the reasons why the comma goes here not there, and students who are more mathematically inclined can understand grammar at last. This book is very user-friendly with extensive cross-referencing throughout, a detailed Table of Contents and Index, and a Quick Reference Page at the end. The language is comfortable for students and the example sentences are light-hearted for a fun reading experience.
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Review - Stereobook: Dinosaurs

Stereobook: Dinosaurs
32 pp ; stereo sound audio modules, full-color throughout, ages 4 and up, Chronicle Books, ISBN 9780811864664

Stereobooks feature built-in stereo speakers, so readers feel surrounded by sound as they listen to the 15 action-packed scenes in each book. This book presents Dinosaurs - prehistoric creatures bellowing, eating, fighting rivals, and more, with paleontologist-approved sounds and facts.

It's a wonderful way to introduce your blood-thirsty little reader to the wonders of an extinct species, the Dinosaurs. My toddler was a little scared at first of the roaring and bellowing and honking creature sounds that the speakers put forth so effectively (honestly, it's like sitting in a theater watching Jurassic Park, one of my all-time favorite movies!). But he soon got used to them, and now when this book comes out, he's happily roaring along with it. It's a fun and educational book for young readers and even adults can learn something from it too.

Dennis Schatz is senior vice president at Pacific Science Center in Seattle and an award-winning author and science educator
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Children's Book - Scarecrow Finds a Friend By Blume Rifken

Scarecrow Finds a Friend by Blume J. Rifken
Children's fairy tale (ages 4-8),ISBN: 978-0-9796948-0-6, 32p, Whirlpool Press

The heartening tale Scarecrow Finds a Friend involves Tally, a good witch, who loses her power to fly. She befriends a Scarecrow who devises a clever plan to regain her flying ability. Together they are able to recover Tally's flying power, express their gratitude to each other, and give young readers a few surprises along the way.

The story illustrates to children how comforting and rewarding a good friendship can be, as well as how much fun it is to solve a problem with the help of someone who cares about them.

The story's real cute and full of meaning. And the illustrations are very realistic, especially the Scarecrow who can add one more feather to his straw cap - he scared my toddler as well, lol! My adult eyes didn't find it that scary, but I guess things look different to young onesmn, especially those who have never seen or heard of a scarecrow before. I did explain the Scarecrow's significance and how he's useful to the farmers to my son before we started reading the story. But I don't think anything sank into his brain, excerpt that he's a scary looking dude. And that's because he's younger than the 4-8 years old readers this book is meant for.

I also have to add, if you're looking for an engaging Fall book for a little one to both teach and entertain, this one is very suitable!

About the author: Blume Rifken is a former fashion illustrator and attended the Syracuse University School of Fine Arts. She is the author of Silhouettes in America, 1790-1840: A Collector's Guide. Inspired by her two grandchildren, Blume penned her first children's book, Scarecrow Finds a Friend. Blume and her husband reside in Lewiston, New York, and enjoy attending period plays all spring and summer at the Shaw Festival, in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada. Visit http://www.emeraldbookcompany.com/authors/rifken/.

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Wounded by School by Kirsten Olson

Education is often viewed as a "product." Culturally we think about learning too narrowly in schools, most educational tasks are about following the rules or memorizing material. Does this really prepare our students for the world?

Wounded by School: Recapturing the Joy in Learning and Standing Up to Old School Culture is a book that opens the doors of the typical American classrooms. The author Kirsten Olson is a seasoned educational consultant and has worked on the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Kennedy School at Harvard, numerous large public school systems and charter schools. This is a controversial book that exposes the devastating consequences of the educational approach that values conformity over creativity, flattens students' interest, and dampens down differences among learners. The pages are filled with true stories of students who were wounded by experiences in school and offers solutions on how to move forward producing a more dynamic classroom and a better educated youth.

For more information please visit http://www.kirstenolson.org/
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Randy Kazandy by Rhonda Fischer

Randy Kazandy, Where Are Your Glasses?
By Rhonda Fischer, Art By Kim Sponaugle
32 p, Whim Publishing, Isbn-978-0-9820163-0-5

Author Rhonda Fischer has created a colorful and fun filled children’s book all about Randy Kazandy, a young boy who needs glasses to correct his vision problems. Only Randy Kazandy hates his glasses. He thinks they make him look like an alien from outer space.

So he does everything he can to not wear his glasses, and even gets rid of them in some very ingenious and devious ways. Only his mother has another pair, and then another pair, and even another pair. Will Randy ever get used to wearing his glasses?

With colorful illustrations by Kim Sponaugle the rhyming verse builds confidence and self-esteem, and makes for a quality reading and learning experience at home with your child.

About the Author - Rhonda Fischer is a musician, writer, and educator. She lives in Rancho Santa Margarita, California. Randy Kazandy, Where Are Your Glasses? is based on the real life experiences of the author's brother in-law, Randy Jacque, who was born cross eyed, had to have corrective surgery and wear corrective lenses from the age of 17 months. He struggled with having to wear glasses, and did everything he could to get out of it. It took Rhonda 12 years to write the book and get it published.

For more information visit www.RandyKazandy.com

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Article - 12 Signs to Connect With Your Significant Other

12 Signs to Connect With Your Significant Other

By Gary Goldschneider,

Author of Gary Goldschneider's Everyday Astrology

ARIES
March 21-April 20
Strengths: Independent, Honest, Energetic
Weaknesses: Self-unaware, Demanding, Pushy
Interactive Style: Purposeful, Focused, Dynamic

The Aries Relationship
Aries romantic partners can be counted on for their honesty and desire to maintain a close involvement. However, their dynamism is so great that you may not be able to meet their constant demands on your energies. Although they are extremely independent -- and most likely will encourage you to be so also -- they will also want to have daily contact with you, whether virtual, auditory, or physical. They would hate being called needy, since their self-image is one of total independence, yet they are in fact very dependent on their boyfriend or girlfriend, at the very least to listen to them, take their advice seriously, and obey their commands.

TAURUS
April 21-May 21

Strengths: Loving, Caring, Involved
Weaknesses: Overpossessive, Controlling, Manipulative
Interactive Style: Forthright, Frank, Giving

The Taurus Relationship
Tauruses tend to be very possessive in matters of love. They will look at you as belonging to them as much as their home, their car, or their clothes, and they will consider this a great compliment to you. Problems arise, of course, if you do not entirely agree with them, insisting that you are your own person and have the freedom to do as you wish. They may even seem to agree with you, since it only reinforces their belief in their own fairness and shows how secure their love for you really is. But, in fact, they will never want to share you or give you up when their feelings go deep enough.

GEMINI
May 22-June 21

Strengths: Fascinating, Spicy, Sparkling
Weaknesses: Unpredictable, Abrupt, Misleading
Interactive Style: Oblique, Persuasive, Flirtatious

The Gemini Relationship
Having Gemini boyfriends or girlfriends will certainly bring some spice into your life, as well as a good dose of uncertainty, since it is difficult, if not impossible, to predict their behavior. Changing moods guarantee few dull moments but can also put a crimp in your plans or undermine the structure of your relationship. Making appointments can be particularly difficult since, although they usually arrive on time (when they do show up), the greatest danger is that they will abruptly cancel an appointment they never really intended to keep anyway. Exasperating but fascinating, these ephemeral creatures will lead you on a merry chase.

CANCER
June 22-July 22

Strengths: Affectionate, Kind, Giving
Weaknesses: Irritable, Selfish, Withdrawn
Interactive Style: Self-protective, Accepting, Dependent

The Cancer Relationship
Cancers enjoy being in a steady relationship. Very much creatures of habit, they get used to having their partners at their beck and call. As a result, they will count on them for everything from financial help to sex. Liking things to go well, these folks are affectionate and kind, as long as they get their way. When denied their wishes, they get very crabby and irritable, often withdrawing into their shell and striking out in anger and resentment. Like their symbol, the crab, they are highly self-protective but are also no strangers to pain.

LEO
July 23-August 23

Strengths: Confident, Enthusiastic, Supportive
Weaknesses: Career-oriented, Ambitious, Egotistical
Interactive Style: Proud, Demanding, Pushy

The Leo Relationship
Leo boyfriends/girlfriends are involved, committed, enthusiastic, and, in general, supportive of your relationship with them, up to a point. They can be counted on not only on weekends but occasionally during the week as well, as long as you do not interfere with their ambitious career plans. Avoid situations in which they must choose between devoting time to you or to their job, since even if they choose you it may be because they feel pressured to do so. Remember that although Leos may hate to lose you, they are always confident in their abilities to find a replacement.

VIRGO
August 24-September 22

Strengths: Structured, Orderly, Prepared
Weaknesses: Compulsive, Tight, Unyielding
Interactive Style: Calculated, Precise, Orderly

The Virgo Relationship
The fringe benefits of Virgo boyfriends/girlfriends become apparent when scheduling travel, making arrangements and reservations, and planning for the future. Virgos will leave little room for error in their shrewd calculations and need to put such matters in order. Sometimes you will wish they did not need to pin down everything so precisely and left a bit of wiggle room for last-minute changes, but for the most part, they will spare you a lot of time and trouble. Generally speaking, Virgo boyfriends/girlfriends serve the relationship rather than their partners and do their best to preserve its integrity as well as its limits.

LIBRA
September 23-October 22

Strengths: Giving, Affectionate, Loving
Weaknesses: Unhappy, Needy, Selfish
Interactive Style: Selective, Expectant, Affectionate

The Libra Relationship
If you are to be Libra's boyfriend or girlfriend, you had better talk, act, and look good. Libras are very choosy when it comes to those they want to be seen with in public; they also expect to be treated well and shown a good time. You can expect rewards from Libras, but it will be clear that your constant appreciation of them is expected without any thought of receiving anything in return. That said, Libras are very giving in relationships, and those who have their love and full attention are indeed blessed. Problems arise when Libras become unhappy, and these difficulties should not be ignored but addressed as soon as possible, before things get out of hand.

SCORPIO
October 23-November 21

Strengths: Caring, Protective, Interested
Weaknesses: Jealous, Possessive, Angry
Interactive Style: Involved, Serious, Self-contained

The Scorpio Relationship
Scorpio boyfriends/girlfriends can be both jealous and possessive. They fully expect your unilateral involvement with them, and at the first signs of your interest in someone else, they are likely to either lash out in anger or become silent, withdrawn, and depressed. Scorpios figure that because they give a lot they should also get a lot, and that you are lucky to have them. But beyond that, for a Scorpio, love is a territorial thing -- they just don't like someone messing with their chosen one. Also protective, they have a real interest in the well-being of their loved ones and can show quiet concern over them in times of illness and need.

SAGITTARIUS
November 22-December 21

Strengths: Ardent, Good-humored, Positive
Weaknesses: Disappointed, Hopeless, Abandoned
Interactive Style: Optimistic, Philosophical, Improving

The Sagittarius Relationship
Sagittarians make ardent and intense boyfriends/girlfriends. Yet they can also be quite relaxed, enjoying conviviality, good humor, and delighting in the many pleasures of life. Their positive orientations and excessive energies make them a valuable partner, one who will always seek the best in any situation and bring out the best in you, as their partner. They are not good at handling disappointment, however, and may sink into deep depressions when things are not working out. Easily disappointed, their positive orientations can plummet when rejected, leaving them feeling hopeless and abandoned. However, their buoyant spirits revive quickly, and their philosophical orientation urges them to do better next time.

CAPRICORN
December 22-January 20

Strengths: Selective, Efficient, Deep
Weaknesses: Opportunistic, Snobbish, Picky
Interactive Style: Serious, Demanding, Direct

The Capricorn Relationship
Capricorns are likely to treat sex in a very matter-of-fact but also highly natural manner. A typical Capricorn attitude is "I got into bed quickly with the other person to get that out of the way; then we could get to know each other better." Although they are very physical beings, going beyond sex is important to a Capricorn, who usually prefers to develop a serious and deep relationship rather than a brief, superficial one. Capricorns are quite capable of holding back until the right person comes along. Thus their innate efficiency and selectivity keeps them from wasting time and energy on losers.

AQUARIUS
January 21-February 19

Strengths: Fun, Interesting, Exciting
Weaknesses: Drifting, Noncommitted, Unfaithful
Interactive Style: Bright, Cheerful, Open

The Aquarius Relationship
The Aquarius boyfriend/girlfriend is faithful up to a point -- that point usually being when something more interesting comes along. Thus if you can manage to keep Aquarians' faces turned toward you and can satisfy their prodigious and often kinky needs, you stand a chance for longevity in the relationship. Invariably you will have to be forgiving when they do inevitably stray, and be able to laugh off some involvements as being trivial. Your own self-assurance may be the one most important anchor for the ever-drifting Aquarius ship. Needless to say, Aquarians can be more fun than a barrel of monkeys, albeit just as difficult to keep under control.

PISCES
February 20-March 20

Strengths: Passionate, Seductive, Romantic
Weaknesses: Possessive, Controlling, Fearful
Interactive Style: All-involving, Uncompromising, Committed

The Pisces Relationship
Pisces boyfriends and girlfriends give their all in any full-blown romantic relationship. Even the most ordinary or prosaic pairings are given new life and suffused with the profound emotions of a Pisces partner. Those involved with them will attest to their demanding, possessive, seductive, controlling, and passionate natures. Even the most fickle or independent of boyfriends or girlfriends will find it difficult or impossible to carry on other relationships at the same time, and long after their Pisces friend is gone they may well remain in an exhausted state of shock for some time to come.

The above is an excerpt from the book Gary Goldschneider's Everyday Astrology by Gary Goldschneider. The above excerpt is a digitally scanned reproduction of text from print. Although this excerpt has been proofread, occasional errors may appear due to the scanning process. Please refer to the finished book for accuracy.

©2009 Gary Goldschneider, author of Gary Goldschneider's Everyday Astrology, Quirk Books

Author Bio Gary Goldschneider, author of Gary Goldschneider's Everyday Astrology, is an astrologer and the author of several best-selling books, includingThe Secret Language of Birthdays, The Secret Language of Relationships, and The Secret Language of Destiny.

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An Article by Peter Leonard

Peter Leonard showed remarkable maturity for a first-time novelist in his debut novel Quiver. In Trust Me, he reaches for new heights as he crafts a classic noir thriller loaded with double- and triple-crosses. With relentless suspense, striking characters, and plot twists that will leave you white-knuckled, Trust Me marks the continuation of a powerful new voice in crime fiction and more than delivers on the promise of Peter Leonard’s talent.

Boy, You're on Your Way

By Peter Leonard

I remember when I was nine years old, going down the stairs to the basement, seeing my dad at his desk, white cinder block wall behind him, concrete floor. He was writing longhand on unlined, 8½ x 11 yellow paper, typewriter on a metal stand next to his chair. Across the room was a red wicker waste basket, balls of yellow paper on the floor around it, scenes that didn't work, pages that didn't make it in the basket. In retrospect, it looked like a prison cell but my father didn't seem conscious of his surroundings, deep in concentration, midway through a western called Hombre that would be made into a movie starring Paul Newman.

Forty years later I remember visiting my father after work one evening. I was stressed out after presenting a new ad campaign to Volkswagen that got lukewarm reception. Elmore no longer wrote in a cinder block basement. With forty novels and a dozen scripts to his credit, he now worked in the living room of his manor home in
Bloomfield Hills, a tiny suburb of Detroit. What struck me was that his desk looked much the same as it had that day when I was nine. Same yellow pad, and half a dozen balls of yellow paper next to the waste basket against the wall, electric typewriter on a metal stand behind the desk. No computer anywhere in sight. Elmore in Levis and sandals and a dark blue Nine Inch Nails T-shirt, talking enthusiastically about the opening scene of his new book called The Hot Kid.

Watching my father, I thought, here's a guy who really loves what he's doing, and I didn't. Earlier that afternoon, during my presentation, the VW ad manager had taken my first campaign board and flung it like a frisbee across the conference room. And I thought that was our best idea.

I don't know if my observations that day were the final motivator, or if it was my continued disinterest in advertising, but a couple months later I decided to write a novel. I was forty nine. I remember sitting on a couch in the family room, writing the opening scene of a book called Invasion, while two of my kids, Alex and Max, were doing their homework. I read what I had written and thought: this isn't bad, maybe I can do it.

The last piece of fiction I had written was in 1974. I had taken a creative writing class my senior year in college and really enjoyed it. I never aspired to be a novelist, but after graduating I wrote a six page short story -- I can't remember the title -- and mailed it to my father to see what he thought. A few days later I received his three page critique. One line summed up his point of view. "Your
characters are like strips of leather drying in the sun. They all look and sound the same." That from a writer who never used similes or metaphors.

I had not written another word of fiction in twenty five years. But as I looked back, it had less to do with Elmore's comments and more to do with getting a job and getting married and raising kids and starting a business. I may also have been intimidated because my father was so good. In fact, I remember having dinner with Senator Don Riegel -- he lived in the neighborhood and our daughters were friends. I told Don I was writing a book and he said, "You writing a book is like Michael
Jordon's son trying out for the NBA."

I said, "Don, thanks for your support."

He said, "No, I was kidding. I'm sure you'll make it.'"

It took a year and a half to finish Invasion. I didn't want Elmore involved in any way, so he suggested sending it to Jackie Farber, his former editor at Delacourt.

He said, "Jackie's good. She'll tell you the truth."

I was excited. I thought it was a good story with good characters. I mailed the three hundred page manuscript to Jackie and called her a week later. I said, "What'd you think?"

"You've got a nice facile style," Jackie said. "But I have one question. Who's your protagonist?"

I knew who the main character was, but if it wasn't obvious, I had a problem. I was disappointed, but I could understand what Jackie was saying. I had thirty seven characters, and a murky plot that needed thinning out. I didn't try to defend the book. I put it aside remembering the prophetic words of Russell Banks:
"Most novelists have a failed attempt or two, books that didn't work,
didn't make it. Pages in a desk drawer somewhere."

I didn't dwell on the failure of my first novel. I had another idea and began writing Quiver, a story about a woman whose husband is killed in a bow hunting accident by her sixteen-year-old son. While the main character, Kate McCall deals with the loss of her husband and her son's surly guilt, her ex-con, ex-boyfriend comes back in her life and sets into motion a series of events culminating in a life or death confrontation with a gang of killers.

I sent Quiver to my agent, Jeff Posternak at the Wylie Agency. He read it and said, "I guarantee this is going to sell."

And it did.

I remember when Jeff called with the good news. It was an overcast day in March. I was in my office, looking out the window, trying to think of a headline for an ad. The phone rang and I saw the New York caller ID. I picked it up and said, "hello."

Jeff said, "I've got good news for you. Are you sitting down? You're going to be published. St. Martin's has made an offer for two books."

I can't tell you how elated I was, finally breaking through after three and a half years. It's a real kick to hold your first published book in your hands, and then to see it on a shelf in bookstores. I don't think that'll ever get old. I called my father and told him.

He said, "Boy, you're on your way."

©2009 Peter Leonard, author of Trust Me

For more information please visit http://www.peterleonardbooks.com/
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