Following is a a review about a book written by a very talented young man, Christopher Shiveley Welch. Christopher’s mother, Debra, is also an accomplished author…please look for her name in the “Anything Book Blogroll” to the right. Christopher’s book has been reviewed by John Helman of allbookreviews.com and his review was passed along by Debra, so I thought I’d share it with you here:

“He is adopted and very proud of it,” reads the blurb on the back cover of this interesting little paperback. “Just Chris” begins just as one would expect – at the beginning of Chris. We learn some of the difficulties encountered in finding willing adoptive families for those babies, which on the outside lack the appearance of perfection. We grow along with Chris as he grows. We learn as he learns. We go through the painful surgeries with him, as he relies upon medical science and the love and support of his parents to become and to obtain what so many of us take for granted.

Chris just lives and grows and takes us along with him for the ride. We share with him some very rich and rewarding events along the way. What these are can only be discovered, by becoming a traveler alongside Chris in his young life.

This is a well-written little tome. It makes for very enjoyable reading due to its flowing style. The reader goes from place to place and event to event with grace. The author is sentimental without being maudlin and preachy. Chris lets the reader know just what he thinks, but doesn’t tell the reader what to think. That is one thing that makes this book refreshing. The reader is trusted just to go along on the journey.

Young Mr. Welch’s first book is called “Christopher the Bullfrog Catcher.” This book, as is available through any bookseller

To find a complete list of all of Debra and Christopher’s books, please visit Debra’s website.

This is a helpful guide for those who are going to school and training to work in the Social Work field, and attracted my attention because I have a sister-in-law in the field.  With the many changes that are affecting our economy, this is a field that will be seeing more activity, I’m sure.  If you are preparing to take the social work test as part of your education, this is a guide that will be helpful to you in passing the licensing exam. The titles include the following, and can be purchased individually, or in combination with each other as described on the socialworkguide.com website:

• The Complete Guide to Social Work - Bachelors
• The Complete Guide to Social Work - Masters
• The Complete Guide to Social Work - Clinical/Adv. Generalist
• The Strategic Guide to the ASWB Exam: Mastering Multiple Choice

The refund policy is excellent, if you aren’t satisfied, you can return your purchase within 30 days for refund…please read all details carefully at the site.

I have the pleasure of introducing you to a very special book written by a very special woman.  Pam Archer has written a book that is so timely, as many are planning their Spring and Summer weddings, or if you are an advance planner, fall or winter weddings!   I was planning my daughter’s wedding 5 years ago at this time, and know that anything that you can get your hands on to help is a blessing, and this book would have been on the top of my list.

The book is “99 Things You Wish You Knew Before You Planned Your Wedding“, part of the all new “99 Series”, many future books are in the works. The “99 Series” is a brain-child of Michael Wells and Helen Georgakalis.  But the focus of this post is on Pam’s wonderful book…it is available for download in eBook form for under $8.00 at the link provided, and will soon be available in book form through the author and on Amazon

Pam Archer’s sites include:

http://www.pamelaseventdesign.com and http://www.idoweddings.wordpress.com

I never missed the opportunity to watch this adventurous French diver when one of his many documentaries would be on television.  He enjoyed his life and his work to the fullest.  Cousteau spent enough time in the oceans to be well aware, back in the 1970’s and 1980’s, of the damage being done to our ecosystem and made each of us watching aware of the damage that we were doing to our oceans.  But he also let us see into a spectacular and beautiful world that most of us never would have seen without his help.  Today is the anniversary of the publication of one of his classic books, “Silent World“, published in 1953, which later was made into a film.

A few days ago I received a beautiful cookbook, sent to me from one of my favorite States in the Northeast, Massachusetts. My dear grandparents lived there and we visited and vacationed in MA many, many times.  The cover of the book is warm and inviting, a family gathered together and enjoying each other, and good food outside in a beautiful New England setting.

The title of this yummy book is “Table Talk; Food, Family, Love” and it is written by Carol McManus, the proprietor of “Espresso Love” a cafe and gathering place in Edgartown, Massachusetts.  As a mother of 5 grown children, she knows a lot about bringing family together in a world where jobs and activities seem to be pulling families apart.

This cookbook is really a work or art, the photography is beautiful, the pictures of food are simply mouth-watering.  Other heart-warming pictures embrace the authors life in her New England island home in Martha’s Vineyard.  The look and feel of the book says “quality” from page to page, cover to cover.

The Cookbook contains 80 recipes, ideas for organizing simple meals, cooking with your children, and inspires the desire to come together as family to enjoy food, love, conversation, and story-telling.

This would make a wonderful gift for yourself, or someone you care about.

Click here to visit Carol McManus’ blog, and here for book purchase information.

Title: Table Talk; Food, Family, Love…a Cookbook
Author: Carol McManus
Publisher: Vineyard Stories
Copyright: 2008

A book entitled “Nice Average Guy” is written by a more-than-average guy named Ned Mansour. He’s a “more than average” guy because he donates the profit from his books to charities, I’ll tell you more about that at the end of this post.

The book is about a man living an every day life with his everyday wife, and widowed mother.  He is settled into an accounting position, until he is challenged to face up to what has the potential of being a mundane life, with the help of a therapist. He begins an introspective journey that leads him to face up to the basic fears that adults face, and to a life less mundane than he expected.

I suppose all of us have fears in common and different ways that we might deal with them. Things like what does the future hold? What will happen with my children? Things about relationships, our mortality, and more can be the beginning of a journey if we chose to approach these fears by looking inside..personally, I count on my faith and my God to make the way straight, but it will be interesting to see how our 43 year old accountant, Fitz, finds his way.

This is a story of redemption, lessons in self-worth, and meaningful relationships. Oh, and don’t worry, this isn’t all serious…it’s balanced with fun.  The profits from the sale of the book are donated to the TrinityKids Hospice Care, so when you buy this book, you’re not only receiving, but giving.

Introducing a book launch that is taking place TOMORROW! Don’t let the title fool you, this isn’t just a book for marketing during the holiday season that has just past, it’s much more!

Recession Proof Your Business In 2009 with “The 2009 Weird & Wacky Holiday Marketing Guide!”

Title: 2009 Weird & Wacky Holiday Marketing Guide
Author: Ginger Carter-Marks

This is an invitation to an Amazon.com eBook Launch of “The 2009 Weird & Wacky Holiday Marketing Guide”, Your business marketing calendar of ideas

Launch Hours:

(48 hours only): From 12.00am Thursday, 8th January 2009 USEST
to 11.59 pm Friday, 9th January 2009 USEST
(http://www.worldtimezone.com/)

So… How will you be rewarded for taking action… between 12.00am Thursday, 8th January 2009 USEST and 11.59pm Friday, 9th January 2009 USEST only?

With an incredible array of inspiring and empowering resources that can support you in all areas of your life! They are truly valuable, unique and have a retail value of over $700. However, for 48 hours only, they are yours absolutely F-R-E-E because you simply purchased a copy of The 2009 Weird & Wacky Holiday Marketing Guide between 12.00am Thursday, 8th January 2009 USEST and 11.59 pm Friday, 9th January 2009 USEST only at Amazon.com!

Yes, you can buy the book any time, but it is only during these 48 hours that you’ll get these precious bonus gifts!

To get a sneak peek at what is inside please visit http://www.holidaymarketingguide.com/

(NOTE: When it says “Out of Print–Limited Availability” it means it’s an eBook ONLY!)

The holidays are over, and here in the Northeast, it’s time to settle in for the remaining cold months of the winter, which for many means time to snuggle up with a warm cup of something and read a good book.  I have a few in progress right now.

It also can be a time of bringing family together.  I look outside today at our ice-laden trees and feel the desire to cook something warm and soothing, good “home cooking” and that makes me think of a friend that I haven’t mentioned in a while, Betty Lynch, and her cookbook “Back to the Table with My Country Kitchen” which is available on Amazon and Lulu.com. I did a post over a year ago about Betty’s book, and thought it a good day to mention it again!

Stay warm, eat well, and happy reading!