Free Kindle Book - Live To Write Another Day

Live To Write Another Day, A Survival Guide for Screenwriters and Creative Storytellers

Author: Dean Orion

Publisher: Sky Father Media

Date: March 5, 2013





FREE Kindle Book on Amazon.Com - May 29, 30 and 31!

 

"Live to Write Another Day" is a real treasure for writers and everyone interested in the written word. This book is a survival guide for writers and an example of what excellent writing looks like. Highly recommended.

I read this book and wrote a review on this blog on May 2. Please take a few minutes to read my entire review. This ebook is being offered as a FREE Kindle book for the next three days.

Grab it NOW!

Book Review: Burning The Page by Jason Merkoski

Title: Burning The Page; The Ebook Revolution and the Future of Reading

Author: Jason Merkoski

Publisher: Sourcebooks

Date: April 9, 2013



About The Author
Jason Merkoski was a development manager, product manager and the first technology evangelist at Amazon. He helped to invent technology used in today's ebooks and was a member of the launch team for each of the first three Kindle devices.

The Future of Reading
This is a comprehensive story about the history of books, the development of ebooks and the future of reading itself. Mr. Merkoski shares his experiences as one of the founding members of Amazon's Kindle team, a small group of people with the goal to make all books downloadable in less than sixty seconds.

Jason Merkoski was at the helm of the ebook revolution. The Amazon Kindle (and other ereaders) has changed the way we live, think and perceive the world around us. The author provides "insider" details about how the first ebooks and ereaders were designed and how they functioned.

This book offers some fascinating thoughts and ideas about the future of reading, writing and publishing. Reading will no longer be a solitary activity. Ereaders provide readers many avenues to share thoughts with authors and other readers on the world-wide web.

The author discusses the use of ebooks with children in great depth. The following quotation is an excerpt from the chapter, "Education: Print or Digital?"

"Children are highly adaptable by nature, and with the exception of the almost blind, I've never met a child of reading age who couldn't get into an ebook. As adults we may prefer to cling like Socrates to the old way. But trust me, we can all "get into" an ebook. There's no barrier in the brain to reading once you're engaged with a book. Children who are brought into ebooks now have the golden opportunity to start fresh without any preconceptions."

Mr. Merkoski states that "fewer people are developing the reading habit every year". What does the future hold for readers, writers and publishers?

My Thoughts
I accepted my first job as a school librarian in 1975. I worked as a librarian for 30 years...my whole life revolved around books. I admit that I was very skeptical when I heard about the first ereaders. I decided to give it a try in 2009 when I downloaded the Kindle for PC application to my laptop computer. I got my first ereader (a Kindle 3) in October, 2010. I received a Kindle Fire HD for a Christmas gift in December, 2012. I am HOOKED on the Kindle!

This book is incredible and should be required reading for educators, librarians, authors, publishers and anyone interested in the future of books and reading. Jason Merkoski has done a great deal of research and writes in a scholarly, understandable and enjoyable manner. Educators and library professionals need to be educated in the latest trends in publishing technology. This book is an excellent place to find valuable and practical information.

The author provides links to share your thoughts about the book on Twitter and Facebook.  Get the book and read it today! Let me know what you think in the Comments Section below.

My Rating: 5 Stars Out Of 5

FYI ~ I received a complimentary digital copy of this book to read and review from the publisher via NetGalley.

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Kindle Books For Kids: Eville, USA by Julia Dweck

Eville, USA (KiteReaders Monster Series)

Author: Julia Dweck
Illustrator: Fian Arroyo

Publisher: KiteReaders

Date: September 30, 2012


About The Author

Julia Dweck writes children's stories for digital and traditional publication. Her stories span the spectrum of humor, fantasy, and edutainment in rhyme and in prose. Julia's background in elementary education affords her the opportunity to be in touch with what children want to read about and what makes them giggle.

Monsters On Vacation 

Question: Where do monsters and zombies go to play?

Answer: EVILLE, USA!
 

Monsters and zombies need a vacation just like the rest of us.

"Evil-doers cross the nation
take a sinister vacation,
away from plotting, planning, lurking,
These villains need a break from working".

The monsters have all kinds of fun in Eville, USA. They relax by a swimming pool with a refreshing beverage, they attend a monster's convention and they compete in athletic contests. 
 
This rhyming story with colorful full-screen illustrations will have children laughing out loud and begging for more. 

My Thoughts 
I worked as an elementary school librarian for 30 years and read many, many, many monster picture books. This ebook is right up there with the best of them! 

Ms. Dweck writes original, entertaining and humorous text that will delight young readers. The monsters in this story have unique personalities that children will find playful and even lovable. These are NOT frightening monsters. 

Mr. Arroyo has done an outstanding job with the illustrations. Children will be captivated with the details in these monster drawings. I spent an extra 20 minutes looking at these pictures after I read the book.

I read this book on my Kindle Fire HD. The formatting is superb and a perfect fit for the Kindle. There are four lines of rhyming text with each full-screen color illustration. The text is bright and an appropriate size for easy reading.

Kudos to Julia Dweck! She is one of the bright shining stars in the digital publishing revolution. She is taking children's book publishing to the next level and I applaud her.

My Rating: 5 Stars Out of 5

This book is available as a FREE Kindle book at Amazon.Com TODAY! These promotions don't last very long so grab your copy NOW.

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Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

  

Children's Book Review: WBI; Witches Department of Investigation

WBI: Witches Bureau of Investigation

Author: Richard Capwell

Publisher: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.

Date: August 7, 2012

Guest Reviewer: Cindy Phelps Thomas



About the Author 
Richard Capwell is a popular author of books for children and young adults.

Case of the Missing Mother
Nate and Herman's mother had been missing for six months when they stumbled across Agnes Weatherby searching for her silver Phantom Rolls Royce limousine. Mrs. Weatherby was the former director of the Witches Bureau of Investigation. The eleven-year-old twins asked her to help them search for their missing mother.

Mrs. Weatherby was retired so she was hesitant but did agree to help and contacted some old friends to assist in the search. The old friends were a wacky bunch including a shape shifting butler, an orangutan, a nervous praying mantis, and a mechanic who worked on more than just cars. Nate and Herman were introduced to the little-known world of the WBI. 

The boys discovered that there were big problems at the WBI. The whole world could be in danger because of a rogue witch. The boys went to the new director of the WBI, but she was no help because the rogue witch had her fooled. They were going to have to do this on their own. With the help of their new friends, Nate and Herman must find this bad witch and their mother before it’s too late.

My Thoughts
WBI was a quick and easy read. It was written with a younger audience in mind, but is a lot of fun for adults also. The adventure started in the first chapter and continued throughout the book with no lagging parts. Capwell even took the time to add a bit of education, teaching nice vocabulary words and quotes from history. If you enjoyed the Harry Potter series or the Percy Jackson series, I believe you will also find this book appealing. I will definitely pick up the next book in the series.

Rating: 5 Stars Out Of 5

Cindy Phelps Thomas is a U.S. Navy Veteran (2001-2005). She earned her BS in Psychology/Criminal Justice from the University of Houston at Clear Lake. She received an elementary teaching certification and is a former kindergarten teacher in the La Porte, TX School District. She is currently a stay-at-home mom and is working on her MBA degree at the University of Houston.

I would love for you to FOLLOW this blog. You may use either the Google Friend Connect or the Networked Blog widget to show your support and encouragement.

Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below. 

Kindle Books For Kids: C Is For China

C is for China
By Robyn Chance

Publisher: Rhemalda Publishing
(March 1, 2012)

About The Author
Robyn Chance lives in Olympia, Washington.  She is a teacher and an artist. Over the years she has developed a real passion for telling stories about the enchanting world in which we live. Her goal is to help children explore and become curious about the world around them.

Rhymes and Pictures
 "C Is For China" is a beautiful picture book that features some of China's history, mythology, language and character. The author wrote this book for her adopted daughter and for all children. She used rhyming text and beautiful watercolor paintings to illustrate the geography, history, people and culture of China.

This book consists of several lines of rhyming text and an illustration for each letter of the alphabet. Here is an example of the rhyming text;

G is for the Great Wall, which took years to create.
It was built for protection, and is anything but straight!
It careens through the mountains and dives through the valleys.
It was made from strong stone and it has many alleys.

The author encourages the young readers to look for Chinese characters that appear on each illustration. The Chinese character that appears on each page represents the main idea presented in that narrative.

My Thoughts
This ebook is a real visual feast. The watercolor illustrations are superb and the rhyming text is an excellent way to engage children in facts and fun.

I viewed this book on the small screen of a Kindle 3 with black-and-white illustrations. The illustrations were printed on the top 1/3 of the page and the text appeared under the  picture. The formatting was good and I could easily view the picture and text on each page. I also read the book on my Kindle for PC application on the big screen of my laptop computer. The large color illustrations were outstanding on the larger screen and I enjoyed seeing the details that were not visible in the smaller images on my Kindle.

It really is a small world and a book like this is a great way to make learning an enjoyable experience for kids. I loved this ebook and I think it is a valuable resource for children of all ages. Highly recommended.

My Rating:  5 Stars Out Of 5

FYI ~ I ordered this book when it was offered as a free download from Amazon.Com. Please check the price before ordering.

Please share your thought in the Comments Section below.



Books, War Dogs and Me

The time has come for me to do something with my print books. I have been using a Kindle ebook reader for the past 18 months. I have dozens of boxes of books packed away and more lining my bookshelves. I bought these books new, at thrift shops and at yard sales. I have read some of the books and others were purchased with the intent of reselling them on eBay.



My Problem
Last week I received an email from eBay congratulating me on 15 years of using their site. I listed my very first item on eBay in May, 1997. The problem is....I lost my enthusiasm for listing items on eBay but I did not lose my enthusiasm for hoarding books and other various treasures.
The time has come for me to do some serious decluttering and clearing out my living space. I am going to start with the books.

What Is My WHY?
Your WHY is the purpose behind your actions and the primary motivation for accomplishing your goals. 

My WHY is that I am ready to let go of these books. They are cluttering my space and no longer serve a useful purpose in my life. I would like to use these books to earn a little money for myself and to support some worthy causes.

The Solution
I have decided that I want to pass along my books to people who need them and will appreciate them. I will do this by selling the books on eBay and in my Etsy shop. The books that do not sell will be donated to my local Friends of the Library group and thrift shops.

I have decided to donate 25% of the proceeds that I earn from selling books on eBay to the United States War Dogs Association, Inc. This is a nonprofit organization of Former and Current US Military Dog Handlers and supporting members committed to promoting the long history of the Military Service Dogs, establishing permanent War Dog Memorials, and educating the public about the invaluable service of these canines to our country.
I believe our canine veterans should be recognized and honored just like the other brave soldiers who serve our country.

My Goal
My goal is to have all my boxes and bins of books sold by August 31, 2012. Books that are not sold by this time will be donated to local charities.
I will only save books that fill a specific need in my life or that have emotional value to me.

My eBay seller ID is jandeantx and my Etsy shop is named Shepard Hill Farm.
I will post progress reports on this blog.

How do you feel about getting rid of your print books? Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

Kindle Books For Kids: My Little Pet Dragon; Bilingual Edition

Would your child like to have a smart, helpful pet dragon? Most kids love to read about the mythical winged monsters that can be frightful or friendly. "My Little Pet Dragon; Bilingual Edition (Spanish and English)", by Scott Gordon, is a delightful picture ebook for young children. The story is illustrated with colorful 3D images that kids will adore. The first half of this book contains the story in English and the second half of the book is the same story in Spanish.


About the Author
Scott Gordon is the author of several children's books, including My Little Pet Dragon, My Crazy Pet Frog, Pigtastic, A Little Book About You, A Pocketful of Dinosaurs, Ninja Robot Repairmen, Happy Healthy Hearts, My Daddy's Cool Car Collection and If I Were A Robot. Currently he is hard at work on his next project: Braedyn Bunny and the Missing Eggs.

A Dragon For Christmas
A child receives a pet dragon for Christmas. The dragon's name is Neka and she is very smart and helpful. Neka spends all of her time helping and entertaining the child and his family. She helps the child with his homework, fixes his computer and even helps brush his teeth!

Neka also loves to help the child's mother. She goes shopping, helps with the cooking and makes sure Mommy brushes her teeth each morning. Neka loves her family very much.

The next Christmas the child receives another dragon for Christmas. His name is Ness. There is love in the air and it looks like there is going to be a new target for Neka's affections!

My Thoughts
This is a very cute story for young children and the 3D illustrations are outstanding. Children will love to study the pictures and tell the story in their own words.

This special edition presents the entire story in English and then repeats the entire story in Spanish. I do not speak Spanish, but I have a basic understanding of the vocabulary and sentence structure. The translation of this story appears to be very good. There are some differences in the illustrations in the two versions. One of the most obvious differences is that Neka is a red dragon in the English version and a green dragon in the Spanish version. Children will enjoy comparing the text and the illustrations in the two versions.

I worked as a school librarian for many years in a community that had many bilingual students. I was always looking for easy picture books in Spanish. This book is a good fit for bilingual students, children who speak English as a second language (ESL) and students who are learning Spanish.

I think the demand for high-quality bilingual books for children is huge. I am glad to see that Mr.Gordon recognizes this need and is providing these books in digital format. This author is a real pioneer in the field of digital books for children. I highly recommend this book for pre-schoolers and early readers. You really don't have to be bilingual to enjoy both versions of this picture book.

My Rating:  5 Stars Out Of 5

FYI ~ I ordered this ebook from Amazon.Com when it was offered as a free digital download. Please check the price before ordering.

Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

Kindle Books For Kids: My Daddy's Cool Car Collection

Kids love cars. "My Daddy's Cool Car Collection", by Scott Gordon, is an impressive display of a dad's car collection. This collection includes every vehicle that the dad ever owned. The 3D illustrations provide a visual treat for car enthusiasts of all ages.
At the end of the story, the dad shares the one thing that is more valuable than all his cars combined.


About the Author
Scott Gordon is the author of several children's books, including My Little Pet Dragon, My Crazy Pet Frog, Pigtastic, A Little Book About You, A Pocketful of Dinosaurs, Ninja Robot Repairmen, Happy Healthy Hearts, My Daddy's Cool Car Collection and If I Were A Robot. Currently he is hard at work on his next project: Braedyn Bunny and the Missing Eggs.

Cars, Trucks, Jeeps and Much More
This ebook for children begins with a boy inviting us to visit his dad's car collection. The dad narrates the tour of a very interesting collection of vehicles. The first exhibit in the collection is an old taxi cab. The dad explains that he once drove a taxi for a living. The next vehicle is a tow truck because Daddy towed cars for a living when he was young.

Daddy no longer drives a car because he is very wealthy and rides in one of his limos. The car collection includes antique cars, hot rods, sports cars, race cars, jeeps and other unique and beautiful vehicles.

The story has a very touching ending when the dad shares the one thing that is more valuable than all the cars combined.

My Thoughts
I think the author wrote this book as a "book for boys", but girls will also find this book very entertaining. The colorful 3D illustrations are just amazing. Kids will love the details of these fancy vehicles.

When I worked as a school librarian, children were always asking for dinosaur books and car books. They also liked drawing books. Mr. Gordon has a very good understanding of what kids like to read.

I viewed this ebook on my Kindle 3 (black and white illustrations) and my Kindle for PC Application (color illustrations). The formatting is excellent with a large picture and several lines of text on each page.

The text is written in all capital letters. This is unusual for a children's book but in this case, I think it works. The large text seems to be in balance with the large 3D pictures.

I think the highlight of this book is definitely the 3D illustrations. These pictures look good on the small screen of my Kindle and great on the larger color screen of my PC.  This book will probably inspire older children to do some research on the more extravagant vehicles displayed in the book.

I highly recommend this ebook for kids of all ages. It will work as a read-aloud for pre-schoolers and an independent selection for older children.

My Rating: 5 Stars Out Of 5

FYI ~ I ordered this ebook from Amazon.Com when it was offered as a free download. Please check the price before ordering.

Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

Kindle Books for Kids: A Lovely Day

Happy Valentine's Day to all my family, friends and loyal readers! Love is in the air and this is a special day for lovers everywhere.

I recently read "A Lovely Day; A Valentine Picture Book for Children" by Sujatha Lalgudi. This is a story about a young boy who finds a perfect Valentine's Day gift for each member of his family.

About The Author
Sujatha Lalgudi was born in Bangalore and holds a Masters Degree in Computers. After working for several years in the Silicon Valley, she moved back to India. She is currently residing in Mysore, a heritage city. She and her husband Raghavendra Mocharla run and operate www.yumdeal.com and www.hippidoo.com.
Both her children, daughter aged 8 and son aged 3 love books. All her books pass through their test first :-)
Sujatha Lalgudi has written many ebooks for children. They are all available on the Amazon Kindle.

Valentine's Day
This is a very simple ebook for children that features a young boy and his family. Each page of the book shows him presenting a different family member or friend a Valentine's Day gift.

The boy gives his mommie a bouquet of red roses, his daddy some tasty cupcakes and his best friend a bunch of balloons. He gives his dog a special bone and his cat a cozy blanket. He presents his "Valentine" with a big red paper heart!

The story ends with a picture of the boy and his parents embracing and looking very happy ~ "lots of kisses, loads of hugs, all for me!"

My Thoughts
This 13-page ebook is a short and sweet story for young boys and girls. Each page includes a full-page color illustration and one sentence of text. The text is written above or below the illustration in big print.

I read this book on my Kindle 3 (black and white illustrations) and my Kindle for PC application (color illustrations). I enjoyed the pictures and text on the small screen of my Kindle. The formatting is very good and I did not have any problem reading the text.

The color illustrations are very expressive and truly convey the joy of giving that the boy experienced as he gave gifts to his family and friends. I love the way this book emphasizes the spirit of generosity. The gifts were all inexpensive and many of them were homemade.

The last page of the story is so sweet. It shows that the boy received the very best gift of all ~ Hugs and kisses from his loved ones.

I think this is an excellent story to share with young children on Valentine's Day. Highly recommended!

My Rating:  5 stars out of 5

FYI ~ I ordered this book from Amazon.Com when it was offered as a free download. Please check the price before ordering.

Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Kindle Books for Kids: Mortimer's Sweet Retreat

This imaginative picture book offers children a sweet adventure that they will not soon forget. "Mortimer's Sweet Retreat", by Mandi Tillotson Williams, is a rhyming story that will entertain and delight young readers. 




About the Author
After experiencing a personal family tragedy-turned-miracle, Mandi Tillotson Williams has decided to pursue her lifelong dream of writing for children on top of having her own photography business and juggling three kids and their activities. She has also written "Moritmer's Book of What-Ifs (A Children's Rhyming Picture Book)".

Mortimer Crump's Sweet Adventure
Mortimer Crump was plucked off a stump by the flying Boo Woolly Weave. Mortimer was shaking with fear until the Boo Woolly Weave plunked him down in a land of "marshmallow bees, lollipop trees, and a lake full of jelly bean stew."

Mortimer loved this new magical place and he realized that the Boo Woolly Weave wanted to be his friend. When Mortimer decided to explore the inside of a gingerbread house, his new friend was kidnapped and carried off to another land. Mortimer had one day to find the Boo Woolly Weave or he would turn to sand! Even though Mortimer could be in danger, he wasted no time in going to rescue his friend.

Was this all a dream? The Boo Woolly left Mortimer a sweet souvenir of their magical adventure.

My Thoughts
I haven't read a children's book that offers such a fresh and original plot in quite some time. The author has a great imagination and the story is sweet in many different ways. There is suspense, adventure, drama, friendship and fun in this short children's ebook.

I viewed this book on my Kindle 3 (black-and-white pictures) and my Kindle for PC application (color pictures). The formatting is perfect for the Kindle with a full-screen illustration and several lines of text in each screen view. The text is placed above or below the images so it is easy to read. The pen drawings are colored in with crayon/colored pencils and are a great fit for the story. This book really NEEDS to be viewed in color because the illustrations are so delightful.

I highly recommend this ebook for children of all ages. I bet parents will enjoy it just as much as the kids. They don't get much better than this!

FYI ~ I ordered this ebook from Amazon.Com when it was offered as a free digital download. Please check the price before ordering.

Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

Kindle Books For Kids: Big Book of Sight Words - 95 Essential Nouns

I was excited to discover this set of Kindle Flash cards for children. This is an amazing way to use your ereader, phone, tablet or laptop to teach your children to recognize basic words and pictures. You no longer have to buy paper flashcards that get tattered, torn and lost.

"The Big Book of Sight Words; 95 Essential Nouns", by Suzy Morris,  is an ebook that contains 95 nouns from the Dolch sight word list for kindergarten students and first graders. Dolch words, or sight words, provide an excellent base for reading at an early age.   


About the Author
Suzy Morris is a typical busy mom who spends a lot of time shuttling her kids from one activity to another. She always found she had an extra 10 minutes here waiting for dance class to start or an extra 7 minutes there waiting for martial arts to begin.

Her daughter also needed a little extra help each week learning her sight words so Morris decided to make up index card books to have on hand to practice whenever there was extra free time.

But so many of the index cards got lost or damaged, Morris decided there had to be a better way. That's when her husband suggested she write an electronic version for her Smart Phone. When the other moms at Ballet and Karate saw her daughter practicing sight words (instead of wasting time playing Angry Birds), they soon began asking for copies. That's how the Big Book of Sight Words electronic flashcards was born.

My Thoughts
I love the idea of having sight words for kids on your electronic devises. This is a great way to show children that these devises are kid-friendly and can be used for learning material that is taught in school.

I viewed this ebook on my Kindle 3 and saw all the pictures and photos in black-and-white. I then viewed the book on my Kindle for PC application to see the illustrations in color.

Children will enjoy the color pictures but the black-and-white illustrations are clear and detailed. Each noun listed in the book has a photograph or a line drawing that goes with it. The words are listed in alphabetical order. There is one word and one picture on each page.

The first word in the book is "apple". There is a picture of a hand-drawn red apple to illustrate the word. The second word in the book is "back". There is a photograph of a row of children wearing skis with their "backs" to the camera.  This photo might be a bit confusing to a non-reader...you see children, snow, coats and hats in the picture. Parents should "play the word game" with the children to offer support and reinforce correct answers.

The words on each page are in large print and will be easy for beginning readers to learn. The flash cards could be used for pre-school children to help them build vocabulary skills.

Suzy Morris has six sets of flash cards for the Kindle available on Amazon.Com. The sets sell for $0.99 each. Children will enjoy using their parent's electronic devises and will build vocabulary and reading skills. Highly recommended.

Rating:  5 Stars Out of 5

FYI ~ I ordered this ebook from Amazon.Com. I received this item when it was offered as a free digital download. Please check the price before ordering.

Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

The eBook Revolution and a Happy Book Blogger

The year 2011 is quickly coming to a close. This year has seen some dramatic changes for the book publishing and marketing industries.  I can honestly say that the Amazon Kindle has made this a fabulous year to be a reader and a wonderful year to be a book blogger.

The ebook revolution has made a huge difference in the accessibility of books, reports, articles, magazines, newspapers and essays. Amazon has reported that they are selling more ebooks than print books. I believe this trend will continue and I think this opens new doors of opportunities for both authors and readers.

I would like to share a few of my personal observations about the Kindle and the way it has changed my life for the better.

• I downloaded the free Kindle for PC Application to my laptop computer in 2009. I ordered several ebooks and was very pleased with the experience of receiving them in a matter of seconds and reading them on my computer screen. The only problem was that I could not carry my laptop computer in my purse and it was a difficult to curl up in bed with a computer.
• I began dropping hints to my husband that I would like to have a Kindle ebook reader. He didn't know what a Kindle was until he noticed a co-worker using one at his job. She showed him how it worked and he liked it. He also knew that I would like it. In October of 2010, my husband surprised with a Kindle 3.
• I had been writing book reviews on this blog for over a year, but I did not have access to the kinds of books that I really wanted to review. When I got my Kindle, a whole new world opened up to me. I was able to purchase and receive new books on their release date, receive books from authors via email and access free ebooks from Amazon.Com. I am now able to check-out ebooks from the public library and read them on my Kindle.
• My goal for 2012 is to continue to read, review and promote ebooks using this blog, social media outlets and video book trailers. I am a happy book blogger who is dreaming of writing and publishing a book for the Kindle during the next few months.

I would like to thank everyone who has taken time to read this blog during 2011. I appreciate your time and your participation. I wish you all a HAPPY NEW YEAR and hope to see you again in 2012.

Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

Book Review: One Little Christmas Tree

Life is good for the trees on Carl's Christmas Tree Farm. They are all looking forward to the excitement of the Christmas season.

One Little Christmas Tree, by The Curto Family and Rusty Fischer, tells the story of how one small tree finds the true meaning of Christmas. This children's picture book tells the story of how little Alfred waits patiently until he grows tall enough to be real live Christmas tree.

Children will love the excitement of visiting a Christmas Tree Farm and choosing a special tree to take home and decorate for Christmas.

Life On a Christmas Tree Farm
Alfred is a very small tree on Carl's Christmas Tree Farm. He stands next to Mr. Phipps, the tallest tree on the farm. Mr. Phipps tells Alfred that some day he will inherit a wonderful family who will make him the center of their Christmas celebrations. Alfred can hardly wait to be a Christmas tree!

December comes around and many of Alfred's friends are loaded onto the tops of cars and taken away. One day, a family stops in front of Mr. Phipps. They love him and he is soon gone. It was a sad and lonely Christmas for Alfred that year.

Several years pass and Alfred is still living on the tree farm. He is now taller than most of the trees around him. One Christmas Eve, a young boy comes walking among the trees. The boy doesn't seem very happy and is not even interested in looking at the trees. Alfred knows that it is his job to be this little boy's Christmas tree!

Alfred comes up with a unique idea to get the boy's attention and to persuade the family to choose him as their Christmas tree!

My Thoughts
Many children do not have the opportunity to visit a Christmas Tree Farm. This book will give parents an opportunity to tell children about how trees are grown especially to be used as Christmas trees.

This is a delightful Christmas story for children of all ages. The color illustrations  complement the text and give the trees in the story unique personalities. I read this book on my Kindle and the full-screen illustrations and text are a great fit for the ereader.
The end of the story is poignant and sweet...Alfred fulfills his life's purpose by bringing happiness and joy to a special little boy. Recommended for children of all ages.

FYI ~ I ordered this ebook from Amazon.Com. I received this book as a FREE download for my Kindle. Please check the price before ordering.

Share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

Book Review: The Mystical Wood

"The Mystical Wood", by Simon Jenner, is a story about a boy and his dog. Max gets out of the yard through a hole under the gate and the boy runs to rescue him. The boy learns some very valuable life lessons as he searches for his beloved pet.
This ebook is available from Amazon and can be read on the Kindle and all of the Kindle applications.





About The Author
Simon Jenner is an independent author who lives in the United Kingdom with his wife and son. He has worked as an accountant for the past 20 years.

A Boy and His Dog
This is an exciting adventure story about a boy in search of his lost dog. The story is written in rhyme and has some repetitive text that children will love. The boy opens the gate to leave his yard and falls down into a magical kingdom. He meets a wizard who warns him,

"Little boy, oh little boy, what business have you here?
This wood is full of monsters and other things to fear."

The wizard gives the boy a magic green bag with three boxes inside. The wizard tells the boy that he can use the bag to help him find Max.

The boy walks through the woods and meets a dragon, a giant bumblebee and a T-Rex dinosaur. Each of these animals threaten to do great harm to the boy. The boy is brave and uses the magic green bag to barter with the monsters and go safely on his way.

Did the boy find his dog? You will be happy to discover the fate of Max at the end of this story.

My Thoughts
I found this book absolutely delightful. The color illustrations by Pierrre Fihue are wonderful. They add a great deal of excitement and suspense to the story.
The boy faces some very real dangers in the woods but he never gives in to fear. His determination to rescue his beloved pet is his only concern. This book will entertain young readers and teach them some valuable lessons about life.
I am so happy to see new books for kids being written for the Kindle. The  Kindle Fire has a color screen so this will make children's books very appealing to parents. I believe the future will be very bright for authors who write ebooks for children and young adults.

If you would like to learn more about "The Mystical Wood", please view The Mystical Wood [Book Trailer].

Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

Book Review: Storytelling About Your Brand

We all have stories to tell. Storytelling makes your personal brand come alive by allowing you to express your key attributes, values, passions and accomplishments in a relevant and compelling way.

Storytelling About Your Brand Online and Offline by Bernadette Martin provides tips, tools, resources and examples that will help you decide what you want to say and how you can deliver it through the power of storytelling.


About The Author
Bernadette Martin is Founder of Visibility Branding, LLC and is a Career Transition Brand Strategist where she offers career development services for individuals (professionals, entrepreneurs, MBA and Executive MBA graduates) and organizations (universities, associations and corporations).

The Power of Storytelling
The author begins this book by sharing the "D-words" that are used in the Reach personal branding process. You will DISCOVER and DEVELOP your stories, DISTILL the ones that resonate with your target, DIGITIZE and then DISCLOSE and DISSEMINATE online and offline. Finally, you will DOCUMENT and DESIGN with your unique visual branding.

The author provides several examples of product brand storytelling. Brand stories are designed to create emotions like desire, craving and trust to win the hearts and minds of customers. The Walt Disney Company has used storytelling to market it's brand for many years.

This book features interviews with Susan Guarneri ("Career Assessment Goddess"), Rebecca Castleton (Certified Myers-Briggs Type Indicator practitioner), Julie Vetter ("Google Goddess"), Lou Bortone (Founder of Online Video Branding, LLC) and several others. These experts offer a wealth of information about developing your personal story and telling your story.

Ms. Martin offers detailed information on developing online portfolios, summaries and bios. She gives guidelines for creating an "elevator pitch" that can be used online or offline. The book provides some very helpful tips for using storytelling during the job interview process.

How Can I Use The Information In This Book?
This book is a fairly short read but it is packed full of useful information. I worked as an elementary school librarian for many years so I was attracted to the word "storytelling" in the title of this book.

I am often hesitant to share personal details about my life. The author explains that these stories make you unique and marketable. People will forget your statistics but will remember your stories. I was inspired to write the blog post, My Little Girl Joined the Navy, after reading this book.

This book provides some excellent information on developing online portfolios, summaries and bios. I learned that I really need to work on my "Summary" on LinkedIn. I also need to work on the "Bio" on my blog and on Facebook. This book provides tips that will help you develop the "brand that is you".  I recommend this book for anyone who wants to take their personal brand to the next level.

FYI ~ This is the first Kindle book that I checked out from my public library. I am so excited about having this resource available. I am very impressed with the selection of quality books that are available. Woot!!!

Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

Book Review: Smart Self-Publishing

Zoe Winters details her first-hand experiences with self-publishing in "Smart Self-Publishing: Becoming an Indie Author". She shares the secrets of her success and she tells of difficult lessons learned the hard way. Her writing is candid, honest and entertaining.
This book will serve as a blueprint for self-publishing from beginning to end.

About The Author
Zoe Winters has sold over 50,000 ebooks independently. She's taught self-publishing techniques along with April L. Hamilton at Publetariat.com with their Vault University series.
Zoe independently produces a series of quirky paranormal romance books, called The Preternaturals Series. The first book, Blood Lust, is a compilation of her three previously-released novellas: Kept, Claimed, and Mated. Blood Lust is available in ebook and print. The second installment in the series, Save My Soul, is now available.

The Life Of An Indie Author
This book is a crash course on self-publishing. It begins with discussing the meaning of self-publishing and determining if it is going to be right for you. Ms. Winters lists the following "success predictors" in indie authors;

• You need to be a good writer.
• You need to have the ability to separate yourself from your work.
• You have to be a self-starter.
• You have to be organized.
• You have to be in it for the long haul.
• You need the ability to blaze your own trail and forget the naysayers.
• You need to be a good money manager.
• You need the ability to determine the difference between quality and crap.
• You need to have passion.
• You need to be a self-promoter.
• You need to know what you hope to gain from all of this.

If you are still interested in self-publishing after reading this chapter, the rest of the book explains the steps that you must take to get your book into the marketplace. She explains her method of writing and editing. The information that she provides about finding critique partners, beta readers and editors is very good.
She provides valuable information about choosing the correct format for your book. Ms. Winters tells of her personal experiences with producing books in print, ebook and audio formats. The author states that "digital is where the money is for indies." She explains the process of publishing ebooks at Smashwords, Barnes & Noble and the Amazon Kindle Store.
Ms. Winters offers detailed information about creating the cover art for your book. She gives advice for working with artists and also explains how you can do-it-yourself (if you have to).
Ms. Winters provides step-by-step details on formatting your book and publishing it. She offers many tips that will help the newbie self-publisher succeed. She is not shy about warning authors to avoid expensive and non-essential services.
The final part of the book deals with marketing. The author provides details on platform building and Internet marketing. She discusses blogging, social media sites and forums. She advises authors on how to approach book reviewers and how to interact with readers. She also offers good advice on contests, giveaways and book trailers.

My Thoughts
I saw this book mentioned in several book reviews on Amazon. The reviewers all noted that this was "one of the best" books on self-publishing.  I purchased the book and was not disappointed. This book is a "must read" for indie authors.
This author is the real deal. She writes about experiences and processes that she has actually done...and her unique personality comes shining through. Great reading!

Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

New Digital Book Bloggers Directory

Do you use an eReader to receive books to review on your blog? Are you always looking for new books to read and review? Are you hooked on your Kindle or Nook?

I am setting up a new digital book bloggers directory that will feature book bloggers who PREFER to receive their review books in digital format. This directory will help authors connect with bloggers who are interested in reading and reviewing ebooks.


BOOK BLOGGERS ~ Get the word out about your blog!
This directory will help book bloggers connect with authors and readers who are interested in book reviews. Please check the following points before you submit your blog;

• Your blog should be mostly about books and reading. I will visit your blog before I add it to the directory. If I have any questions about the content of your blog, I will contact you.
• I am asking you to post the URL to the Home page of your blog. Please be sure to have a "Review Policy" on your blog so that an author will be able to learn more about the kinds of books that your review.
• Your links will be posted in the directory on a first-come basis. The first link I receive will be at the top of the list.
• You do not have to be a "digital-only" reviewer to be included in this directory. This will be a list of bloggers who "encourage" authors to send books in digital formats.
• The "Digital Book Bloggers Directory" will be a separate page on this blog. I will frequently post links to this directory on Twitter and other social media sites. I encourage you to help me pass the word among your favorite book bloggers.

I Am Hooked On My Kindle Because....
I received my Kindle as a gift almost one year ago. I can honestly say that I am hooked on my Kindle! I can't compare the Kindle to other eReaders because I have never used another product. I can only tell you that I am very, very pleased with the Kindle.

• I now receive 90% of the books that I review on this blog in digital format. I sometimes have a book read and the review posted in less time than it would take an author to send me a print copy in the mail.
• I find that I no longer have stacks of review books that I don't know what to do with. I have about 700 books on my Kindle and it takes up less space than a single print book.
• I like to think that I am making it a little easier for independent authors to send me a review book without incurring the cost of shipping me a print book.
• It is easy to add highlights and notes with the Kindle. I always hated to mark in print books. I can now review all the key passages and notes that I made before I write the review.

Please add a link to your book blog in the Inlinkz widget. If you have any questions or comments, please post them in the Comments Section below.

Book Review: Best Friends With Anabella

 

Dr. Nev Nickelz (author) and Mariah Grace (illustrator) have written a new ebook for children. Best Friends with Anabella (I Love Anabella) is a charming picture book about a little girl who can't stop giggling. The girls learn that it is better to laugh together than to be the target of a friend's joke. This is the second book in a series about Anabella and her friends.


About The Author
Dr. Nev is a full-time professor, wife, and daughter. She enjoys giggling, hulahooping, and writing.

It Isn't Funny!
Imani thinks it is too quiet when Anabella is not giggling. So....Anabella starts to giggle at Imani's very red cheeks.
"Did a woodpecker
peck your freckles with his beak
or did you squish a tomato
all over your cheeks?"
Imani is embarrassed because Anabella is giggling at her red cheeks. She did not intend for Anabella to laugh at her, so she becomes angry and commands Anabella to stop giggling. The angrier Imani becomes, the more Anabella giggles. Imani speaks angrily at Anabella and announces that she will no longer be her best friend.
Anabella said that she could stop giggling if Imani would be her very best friend. The girls find something that they both think is very funny. They decide that they will be best friends again because they love to giggle together. 

My Thoughts
I read this book on my Kindle and then I read it on my Kindle for PC application so that I could see the color pictures. This is a cute rhyming story with delightful color illustrations. Anabella loves to giggle but gets in trouble when she laughs at her friend's red cheeks.
Young readers should be encouraged to think about the reasons why Imani would be angry. How does it feel when others are laughing at you? Why didn't Imani think her red cheeks were funny?
It is much better to laugh together than to be the target of a friend's joke. Happily, the girls find something they can both giggle about and remain best friends.
Here is another Anabella story by Dr. Nev that I reviewed a few months ago;
Anabella Giggles All Night! (Volume 1)

Disclosure: The author sent me a complimentary digital copy of this book to read and review.
Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

Book Review: Empower Yourself!

Change your thoughts and change your life! This ebook gives you the practical tools, insight, and guidance you need to transform your life, and make your dreams and goals a reality.

Empower Yourself! Reclaim Your Purpose, Passion And Prosperity, by Carolyn Johnson-Lee, will encourage, inspire, and empower you to keep moving forward until your dreams come true. This ebook is available in digital format from Amazon and Smashwords.


About The Author
Carolyn Johnson-Lee has lived most of her adult life in Los Angeles, California. Her work as a hypnotherapist, empowerment coach, holistic counselor, motivational speaker, human rights and woman's rights advocate, community activist, and writer, reflect her passion to inspire others to create a better life, a better community, and a better world.

Contents
This is a quick read (approximately 6500 words) but a great deal of material is covered in a limited number of pages. The following chapters are covered in this book;

• Reclaim Your Power
• Reclaim Your Mind
• The Power Of Words
• Reclaim Your Passion
• Reclaim Your Purpose
• Reclaim Your Prosperity
• Living On Purpose
• Affirmations
• Suggested Readings

The author has done some extensive research on these topics and shares the most important concepts that she has learned from her studies. This little book really packs a powerful punch!


My Thoughts
I have had this book for about a week and I have read it three times! This book is so full of encouragment and inspiration that I want to read it over and over. There are specific suggestions for setting goals, managing fianances and spiritual growth. The end of the book includes a list of positive affirmations that will inspire positive thinking and good results. There is also a list of "Suggested Readings" that will provide more knowledge and inspiration.
Ms. Johnson-Lee has shared her "secrets" for living on purpose. It all comes back to your thoughts. Thoughts are things because thoughts produce things. Your thoughts control how you react to your circumstances. Is your mind full of "stinkin' thinkin'" or are you thinking powerful, positive thoughts? This book will inspire you to start thinking about your thoughts, words and actions. If you are ready to make some positive changes in your life, this book is for you!

Disclosure: I want to thank Ms. Johnson-Lee for sending me a complimentary digital copy of this book to read and review.
Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

Book Review: Bumps In The Night

Those awful bumps in the night! Kids hear the strangest sounds when it is time for bed. Bumps In The Night, by Melaine Ryther, is a delightful picture book for pre-schoolers through early elementary graders. This book is available as a Kindle ebook from Amazon. The current price is $2.99.
Kids will love the rhyming text and the humorous illustrations in this story. The surprise ending will have them begging for more.

About The Author
Melaine Ryther is a professional freelance writer whose work has appeared in a variety of print and online magazines, including Boys' Life, National Geographic Kids, Stories for Children and many others.

Kindle Books For Young Children
Several months ago, I wrote an article about children's picture books for the Kindle. I am not saying that young children should be allowed to play with a Kindle like a toy, but I believe that this is a very appropriate way for a parent to spend some time reading and showing children what an electronic book reader is all about.

Bumps In The Night is a great fit for the Kindle. Each page displays a half-page illustration and four lines of rhyming text. The text has an easy rhythmic flow and kids will love the humorous illustrations.

The illustrations are compatible with the black-and-white Kindle screen. There is very good contrast and the details are easy to see. If you want to view the illustrations in color, you can download the Kindle for PC application and read the book on your computer.

An Enchanting Book For A Great Price
I really like the way Ms. Ryther includes the entire extended family in this book. Each family member (mother, father, sister, brother, grandma, grandpa...even the family dog) is responsible for one of the strange bumps in the night. The end of the story should encourage children to talk about those "bumps" that are not so easy to explain.

I have to warn parents that your child will not let you stop at reading this book just one time. You will be reading it over and over again...especially when it is time for bed.

Disclosure: Melaine Ryther sent me a complimentary digital copy of this book to read and review. Thank you!

I would love to hear from you ~ Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.