Review of Everything You Need to Know to Write, Publish, & Market Your Book by Patrika Vaughn

Everything You Need to Know to Write, Publish & Market Your Book couldn't be written by anyone more experienced in the publishing industry than Patrika Vaughn. She has been widely published and has worked as a literary agent and professional writer for over thirty years. Throughout her book, her mission is simple: to set writers up for success.

In this self-proclaimed manual, she addresses both the writing and business side of a book. Her overview is brief but takes on the amount of depth necessary for the reader to start on the path to writing and provides a step-by-step approach to creating a book.

Vaughn begins by walking the reader through the writing process and assisting the reader in creating a vivid story or work of nonfiction. Vaughn provides a more systematic approach to writing; therefore, her method may not work for everyone. However, it is worth reading and is a perfectly adaptable format to any writing style, as she takes into consideration the aforementioned possibility.

As Part I and II are about the process of writing, Part III is about the business—what to do with what you have written. In this part of the book, Vaughn gives a general overview of self-editing, the preparation of manuscripts, and of the various markets that might take the completed work. Following these sections, there are two chapters that focus specifically on self-publishing and marketing the self-published book. Because this book was originally published in 1997, the advice given here should be taken with some caution and the reader should research today's book market for up-to-date information.

The one thing I dislike about this book is that the author tries to cover too much in a small space. Also, its focus is very broad, attempting to cater to both fiction and nonfiction writers when both need different kinds of attention, which limits the book to being a good general overview for the writer just starting out. Though Vaughn's book is geared more towards the beginning writer, any writer should be able to benefit from this information-packed book.

Patrika Vaughn's book, Writer, Publish & Market Your Book, is available from Amazon.com in print and Kindle editions.

Review by Diana Reed

Review of Death with Dignity by Robert Orfali

Author Robert Orfali examines all the intricacies of dying for the terminally ill and structures his arguments in a logical and helpful way. Whenever I had thought of suicide for terminally ill people I had always thought they could use the running car in the closed garage option which I have heard is pretty painless, but the one thing I hadn’t thought of was the dilemma that Orfali addresses head on in this book. What if you want to live as long as possible, but do not want overwhelming pain at the end? Are you going to be able to go to the car, start it, and complete the necessary tasks at that stage? Are you even going to be able to swallow?

Orfali points out that many times people die in ICU while being treated aggressively and painfully to try and prevent that death. He makes a case for belief that this aggressive treatment, in terminal cases, is more like torture than treatment.

Orfali’s perfect (but in most states illegal) solution is to be able to administer either by swallowing or by injection, a fatal dose of Nembatul. Orfali points out that we treat our dying pets better than we do our dying human loved ones. He support his argument with solid data from Oregon where physician-assisted dying is now legal.

The author provides logical arguments in his Great Debate chapter structured as points and counter points. He invites activists to use his book to create a better death options in all states. he says he knows that most people are not highly motivated enough to fight for legal death with dignity, but it hopes that some will. He makes that even easier by pricing the ebook at only 99 cents.

Review of The Dream Crystal by Mark O'Bannon

In the first book of Mark O'Bannon's The Dream War series, Erin is a student in Seattle studying to be a fashion designer. Her dream is to bring beauty to a broken, saturated world. Piece by piece, her dreams are dismantled: she's kicked out of school, her martial arts mentor banishes her, something malevolent is stalking her, and she discovers she isn't human—she's a Changeling named Aisling, who, as a baby, was traded with the baby of her mortal parents. In other words, she's a Faerie. She enters the Land of Dreams in the midst of a war with the Shadow People, and with the help of friends she fights to rescue her sister, the real Erin, from the Land of Shadows.

The dreams that the title of the series refers to are the dreams inside anyone; not the ones one has while they are asleep, but the ones that come alive when we think of the future before us, the ends we want to meet, our desires. Throughout Aisling's journey, there's much debate inside herself about whether dreams exist and about the nature of freedom, with which those dreams can be exercised. Many different views of freedom and beauty are confronted, as she struggles with her shattered dreams. However, there's no simple answer to Aisling's questions.

There were a few times when the story seemed staged, when the seams that hold the fabric together could be seen; however, O'Bannon's way of writing gives a mystical, dreamlike quality to the story that works very nicely. O'Bannon is able to depict the faeries as potentially lifelike beings in an interesting world, where their magic is fueled by their dreams. The author focuses primarily on Aisling and her development, so the reader may find some of the relationships and personalities of the supporting cast as not nearly as fleshed out as Aisling's. In spite of this, the author brings the characters together well and does well to illuminate on Aisling's inner struggle and how it correlates with her outer struggle. On the other hand, there's also much action, as Aisling battles for her sister, and the reader is presented with a strong female lead.

Although the story may be more appealing to a young adult, any fantasy lover will enjoy this book, especially if they are interested in Irish mythology and folklore.

Mark O'Bannon's The Dream Crystal is available from Amazon in both print and Kindle editions, among other vendors.

Review by Diana Reed

Review of Soaring Above Co-Addiction by Lisa Ann Espich

The author Lisa Espich says in her note to the reader that her goal was to inspire the reader and show them that recovery is possible. Espich describes her cycle of co-addiction. "I was living a constant cycle of arguing and crying, driving around late at night looking for my husband, buying back our belongings from pawn shops, putting myself in dangerous situations, feeling alone and confused." Any co-dependent who reads these words knows this is a person who truly understands. When Espich berates herself for not leaving and admits she just wasn't ready, the reader knows this book will have tips she or he can really use -- and it does.

Espich found her way using journaling and after each chapter she has tips for journaling. I was struck by her honest relating a very personal dream she had when her husband was at the depths of his addiction, and how she analyzed the dream and received its message. As Espich worked to take control of her life, her husband began to make positive changes as well. They now enjoy a healthy marriage. However, she makes it clear that she will have to continue on her path regardless of whether or not her husband remains clean.

The book echoed a journey I had taken myself, I wish I had read this book earlier in life, but I can testifiy that it will work and it worked the same way for me.

Review by Julia Widdop

Review of Shaman Healer Heretic by M. Terry Green

Shaman, Healer, Heretic ISBN number 9780983292500 is a fantasy novel about a group of people who have mutated and have psychic powers. The mutants aren’t that welcome to the world, in fact they are locked up if they are detected, but some of them have learned to pass as normal. In this world of the future, if someone begins to shows signs of being psychic early in life they are taken to work centers where their powers are harnessed and used. Most normal people in the future are fearful and avoid shamans, but many hire them to intervene with the spirits in the upper and lower worlds.

The heroine of the book is a techno-shaman. She has special goggles that allow her to journey to other worlds. The story is the classic struggle between good and evil. Someone has opened Pandora’s box letting out evils spirits and our heroine, Olivia, must put them back in the box. It’s also a coming of age novel because Olivia is just discovering all her powers and how to use them.

The story begins with a giant Kachina doll entering Olivia’s apartment to warn her about the evil that has been unleased. I thought the author did a good job of communicating the essence of the future world as well as the upper, middle and lower worlds of the spirits.

Inkings: Very Short Stories and Other Babies Born of Ink by Aparna Warrier

Aparna Warrier's first book, Inklings: Very Short Stories and Other Babies Born of Ink, is a short anthology of twelve stories, covering several different topics, such as youth, young love, politics, heartbreak, some of which are humorous. Most are brief glimpses into ordinary situations, fleeting moments that might contain the flicker of a revelation or an emotion. Warrier captures the minute feelings, which are many times lost on us with the possible exception of pain.

There is no common thread between the stories, except for its reoccuring themes. The book is simply a compilation of vignettes. Due to its length, it felt more like a sampling, but is an enjoyable book, nonetheless. Warrier's style is simple, light-hearted in her humor and heartfelt when necessary; however, there is room to grow. I'm curious to see how this anthology is followed up and see what Warrier is capable of.

Inklings is available from Smashwords.com.

Get the Best Medical Care – You Can Navigate the Medical Maze by Donna Maldonado-Schullo

When you are in pain and not feeling well you aren’t being your most resourceful self. Get the Best Medical Care – You Can Navigate the Medical Maze by Donna Maldonado-Schullo is a very good guide which outlines a logical and practical way to approach your health care providers. I highly recommend that a patient keep the book handy so they can remember where to go and what to do.

One of the points made by the author early on in the book was how the American Health Care system seems designed for frustration and expense. Americans are pretty isolated from the rest of the world so they do not realize that there are medical systems that work much better and cost much less. She points out that many European nations have universal health care and their taxes are no higher than ours, in fact the systems work to eliminate many of the costly problems with the American system. That said she goes on to explain how to work our system to your best advantage.
For example the author recommends that sick people have a patient advocate; preferably an adult who is educated, tactful, feisty, and unemployed. It’s hard for a patient to be his or her own advocate because it’s hard to be tactful and feisty when you’re sick. It may also be difficult to spend the time required to educate yourself if you are sick, or have a full-time job. She points out that patient safety is related to how well that advocate understands the health care system and procedures.
The book lists out patient responsibilities and rights and lets you know where to go to find out more, or place complaints. This is the best thing about this book. It is loaded with references, email addresses and names of agencies you might need. The author includes long lists of questions to ask doctors about themselves and about procedures. It would be worth buying this book for the lists of questions.
The book is available on Amazon.com.