Blogging in 2012

Last year at this time I was committed to writing a blog a day. As you well know, I started out strong and fizzled out half way through. This year I am going to be much more realistic in my goals. I make no promises for a daily blog. I do hope to post weekly but if writing, teaching, and/or spending quality time with my family interfere, so be it. I will get back to posting as soon as possible.

At best this new plan will result in better blog content and more followers. At worst it will give me a little time to goof off and that’s not bad at all.

So, what can you expect to find here?

1. Installments of a fiction piece titled,  Girl in the Wind.

I’m not sure how long it will be or how it will end. It’s a story that is writing itself as I type it. Reading that last sentence will drive writers who have a clear outline in place before they begin a little crazy. I apologize for that. But, I’ve discovered that when a story starts telling itself it’s best to let it flow. I’m often delighted by how things work out in the process. In this case, I hope you will be too.

I repeat, the story is fiction. However, in places I will draw on my life for inspiration. If I write it well you will be left wondering what is true and what is pure imagination. When asked, I will smile an inscrutable smile and assure you I am innocent of all wrong doing. And please, don’t rely on whether or not I blush when saying so in order  to determine the truth of my assertion. Blushing  happens often to fair-skinned people like me and, at my age, it could be signaling the onset of a hot flash.

2. Guest bloggers. Authors, aspiring authors, bloggers and others with something of interest to writers and readers are invited to contact me about doing a guest blog.  Readers enjoy a change of pace from time to time and so do I.

3. Book reviews.  I will post my review on my blog, Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com. I also write a monthly book review column for About Families Publications with a circulation of 48,000 families. I prefer hard copies of books but I do have a Nook e-reader so I can accept electronic copies.

4. Odd comments and things of interest as they come to my attention.

Installment one of Girl in the Wind will be posted tomorrow with future installments appearing weekly after that. I look forward to your comments.

 

Refugee Without Refuge – Book Review

Buy the Book
By Bobbi Carducci

* Good
** Very Good
*** Recommended
**** Reviewer’s Choice

**** for this excellent book by one of the most intelligent women I know.

Author Dixiane Hallaj has done it again. In Refugee Without Refuge she continues the story of the Saleh family introduced in her first novel, Born a Refugee. It’s hard to imagine a more compelling story about the effects of politics and war on the lives of ordinary people.

I believe I’m correct in stating that most American’s don’t understand the dynamics of living in a region constantly in strife or how a simple act by a young girl can have such devastating consequences.

Politics are much more in the forefront of this book and that may be a plus for this vastly underappreciated author. If her books get into the hands of the right reviewer, one with an audience large enough and a voice loud enough, perhaps politicians will begin to see that “they” are no different than “us” and that the time has come for the insanity of war to come to an end.

Self Published Author Flames Reviewer – OMG!

Who is at fault if we dont’ submit our best work?

As a writer who is traditionally published who also has a book coming out that was published by a non traditional  publisher and  who writes book reviews professionally, I find the rant by an author against a reviewer on Big Al’s Books and Pals blog appalling and  sadly indicative of why it’s so hard for self published writers to earn respect. Please weigh in with your thoughts on this very timely subject.

Click here to read the full exchange.

What do you think of the author’s behavior?

 What would you do if you read a less than favorable review of your book?

Is it ever a good idea to argue with a reviewer?

What can be learned from this exchange?

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Heaven is Real – Book Review

Buy the Book
By Bobbi Carducci

* Good
** Very Good
*** Recommended
**** Reviewer’s Choice

Heaven is For Real
A Little Boy’s Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back
By Scott Burpo and Lynn Vincent
(Thomas Nelson)
Inspirational $16.99
Rating ****

One can only imagine the fear and pain of having a precious child close to death or the absolute joy of having that child come back from the brink  and begin to describe what it’s like in heaven. Having read this book, and learned of Colton Burpo’s experience in his own words my faith is stronger than ever.

Sometimes a book comes into your hands at the exact moment you need it. Just weeks after reading Heaven is For Real my elderly father became gravely ill and passed away. For everyone who loves another, and is loved in return, this book is a true gift from an extraordinary family.

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• Life After Death-Colton Burpo (merovee.wordpress.com)
• Schoolboy says he went to heaven and met dead sister he never knew about (dailymail.co.uk)
• An authentic mystical experience, or just a child’s imagination? The story behind the bestseller “Heaven is For Real” (kdvr.com)
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Book Review – Everything We Needed to Know About Business We Learned Playing Music

* Good
** Very Good
*** Recommended
**** Reviewer’s Choice

Everything We Needed to Know About Business We Learned Playing Music
By Craig M. Cortello
(La Dolce Vita Enterprises)
Business/Education
Rating: ****

In his book, Everything We Needed to Know About Business We Learned Playing Music, author and musician Craig Cortello interviewed 32 highly successful business men and women who credit music education for helping them achieve success.

‘There are three principles in music that absolutely, positively, overlap in business. One is the concept of teamwork. The second is creativity within that team and trust that’s developed. And the third is spontaneity.’ Andrew Mackenzie, CEO of Yamamoto, Moss, Mackenzie is quoted as saying on page 158.

“For Andrew, the obvious benefit of music education that correlates to the corporate sector is the capacity for original thought.”

When deciding where to spend money to educate our children, more and more schools are deciding that music, art, and creative writing classes are expendable. Technology, science and engineering are the focus. If we want our young people to be able to compete in the global marketplace of the future we must recognize that they need both. Buy the Book, then pick up that old guitar of yours and teach your son or daughter to play. You and your kids will be glad you did.

Related Articles

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Bees in My Butt by Rebecca Shelley

Bees in My Butt
By Rebecca Shelley
(Wonder Realm Books) An E Book Publisher
Young Readers $0.99
Rating ****

Bees in My Butt is a hilarious book for young readers. Combining humor and adventure it is the first in book in the Smartboys Club Series. “Take Monkey, a literary genius with flatulence; Bean, a science and math guru; Vinny, a computer whiz who can’t keep her mouth shut; and Art, an artist who can shoot a basketball like a pro, confront them with a mess of fourth grade trouble, and watch the fun explode.”

Personally, I loved the super-water-gun wielding Ninja Moms who try to take over the school. The cost is affordable, story is great and the message to smart kids is priceless.

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