Writers Books

Stand On Her Own takes an unusual heroine, combines her with a to-die-for hero and sends them off on a suspenseful journey. The characters are well-drawn, motivated and have internal and external conflicts to overcome. Their journey is filled with exciting, scary moments. I couldn't put the book down once I started it. It's a definite keeper.

A rich tapestry of a novel, Stand On Your Own is a remarkable, stunning work of romantic suspense. Intricate characterizations build a sympathetic heroine and mesmerizing hero that readers will love. Sit back and enjoy this intricately woven plot dipped in a relentlessly steamy romance." --Denise A. Agnew, best selling author of BRIDGE THROUGH THE MIST

Christine Janssen has written a wonderful romantic suspense. The story of Slade and Felicia finding each other and defeating the lingering ghosts from their pasts is as beautiful as it is exciting. This is definitely a keeper.

STAND ON YOUR OWN is an absolutely fantastic read. Author Christine Janssen taks us on a breathless ride of suspense and romatic tension. The characters lingered in my mind long after I finished. The hero is to die for, and the heroine is spunky and brave. I hear the sequel is scheduled for December, but I wish it was next week!

Stand on your own took me out of my day to day routine. It brought me out of myself and into the characters minds.

I would recommend this book to anyone

True to the topic, it transports you right there. Historical and old, but still current.

I thought this book was one of the best books Ive ever read it describes how people feel and view the world from inside themselves but can never express this externally or even realise they are thinking these things themselves.

For me It depicts how inadequate we all are men and women, when it comes to Love, and expressing it and sharing it. it flumoxes us all, Its too big for us, "the chickens had more sense"....pass the worms please.

Written about a South African farm. this book depicts the story of a family and how they interact throughout the book. The most striking dynamic in the book is the relationships of the women in it. It portrays female existence in a realistic light even for today. The story has a lot of character to it, and I would recommend it highly for teachers who want to teach about feminism.

Although I had to read this book for a college class, I would read it again in a second, I feel that I can only gain more and more from this book through rereadings. Its plot is at times disjointed to the style of the author and the message she is attempting to convey, so for those who are looking for a strongly Dickensian or "feel good" read, this is most likely not the book for you right now. But for me, from an analytical and heartfelt standpoint, the subtlety of the book and its beauty and its truth made me tear up a little bit. I'm currently writing a paper on Waldo and his artistic and personal growth throughout the novel, so maybe I'm a little biased, but although Lyndall is an incredibly interesting and advanced character, I think Waldo is often glossed over as merely suffering from a religious crisis of faith, and, being a man, not deserving of attention in this novel of the "New Woman". But Waldo ultimately reaches a place of amazing peace and understanding, and the lives of Waldo and Lyndall intertwined together is truly beautiful.

"Story of an African Farm" is a difficult work to describe. It must be read several times, and carefully pondered before all of its secrets are unlocked.

Ostensibly, the book revolves around the lives of three children (and, later, adults) who live in the Karroo plains of South Africa. The main focus, however, is on two of the characters - Waldo, the earnest and deeply curious son of the German farmkeeper, and Lyndall, the beautiful, outspoken and rebellious orphan who suffers all her life for her ideals.

The book itself is semi-autobiographical. Waldo represents Schreiner's journey from fanatical, childlike faith to bitter skepticism, who reaches a watershed of sorts when he hisses to Lyndall 'There is no God - none!'. Lyndall, on the other hand, embodies Schreiner's frustation with her station as a woman - barred from the upper echelons of society, and her inability to find a mate who is both her intellectual match and willing to accept her as an equal. "I want to love", she whispers to the grave of Waldo's father, "I want something great and pure to lift me to itself."

There are many other themes that flesh out the subtext of this extraordinary book - the tragedy of solitude, that ultimately, all humans are alone in the cosmos. "Dear eyes", the dying Lyndall whispers to her mirror, "they will never part us."

Readers who expect a narrative will be dissapointed. What narrative there is serves only to undersore the book's many themes. Often, the flow of the story is out of sequence, or devoid of context, and deliberately so. Roughly, the book is divided into three sections - the first introduces us to the characters as children, and reveals their innermost thoughts. The second, and shortest section is entitled "Times and Seasons". It is somewhat of a summary of what has gone before, dealing mostly with Waldo's journey from Christian fanaticism to dispairing atheism, and foreshadows some of what is to come. The third, and longest section, covers the lives of the characters as adults, and is by far the most powerful, and moving piece of the book.

The reader who is looking for mindless action is advised to pick up the latest Tom Clancy novel, or whatever passes for literature these days. Those who are willing to put aside all preconceived notions, and have their cherished beliefs challenged are invited to read this book. The search for truth is endless. But this book is a perfect place to begin.

Shorter than many of Williams' other similar works, Style is a great little book that any writer should read many times. His points on concision and clarity are must read for anybody who wants to improve their writing.

Teaching style is not an easy task. Just look at the number of books on the market that portend to do this task, and it becomes obvious that not all authors succeed in their efforts. Some manuals attempt to teach by rules, others by persuasion, and still others by example. This book takes all three approaches and illustrates that the art of stylistic writing is a matter of know-how. Unlike most books in the field, I find this one generally successful.

The book's method is heuristic. It begins with causes of bad writing, and progresses to clarity, cohesion, emphasis, coherence, concision, length, and elegance. Each principle is given a bad examples compared to a good one. Direct, subject-verb-object writing is extolled, and certain anathemas of other texts are approved under the right circumstances. While I disagree with one its principles: That it is acceptable to begin a sentence with "There" and "It," these are minor quibbles in an otherwise strongly argued case.

Strunk & White's "Elements of Style" now has a major competitor, and this book is it. Whether one writes in fiction or non-fiction, the principles and examples given throughout this book are to be commended. I know of one author, a philosopher, who took these principles to heart. What once was ambiguous and contorted writing is now lucid, clear, and vivid. If this book can make this kind of progress, I certainly recommend it to all writers.

While on the subject of good writing, I also recommend Corbett's "Classical Rhetoric" for those authors who want to write convincing arguments. One on style, the other on substance. While William's book on style will make prose more readable, Corbett's book will make it more intelligible.

The longer version of Joseph Williams "Style: Ten Lessons in Clarity and Grace" has been justly praised for many years. But as a director of writing programs at NYU, Princeton, and Yale, I never felt right adopting that text: it was too expensive, and more than the average student needed. This "Basics" Style is the perfect solution. All the brilliance of the longer book at 1/3 the price, "Style" perfectly balances explanations of style rules with practical examples. The rules that Strunk and White encourage are good ones, and American prose would be leaner if their precepts were universal. The problem with that book is that the advice is not explained systematically. You can use their suggestions when you face similar cases, but only Williams' text breaks down topics like elegance, coherence, and cohesion in ways that will let you carry the ideas into every text you write. I would not recommend this book for the casual 10th grader; although it's clearly written, its ideas are somewhat advanced. But for professionals, college writers, and any teenager who takes writing seriously, "Style" is an indispensable tool, a book you'll use for the rest of your life. For learning to write good college papers, I also highly recommend his "Craft of Research."

I found an used copy of " The Basics of Clarity and Grace" at bookstore. After reading 3/4 of the book I ordered two more copies. One copy for my son who is a journalist major and the other for my eldest son who writes good comedy. I liked its size and its no nonesense approach.

I am a non native speaker, and even though my grammar is not too bad, my writing style has always been a source of frustration. At work, when comparing the texts I would write with the one of good native writers, I could see that theirs were better, but could not find why.
I bought this book based on the high reviews it got on amazon, and I was not disappointed. After reading a few pages, I scanned the research proposal I was writing at the time, and could already make significant improvements on it. The advices that the author give are sometimes quite simple, especially at the beginning of the book (for example : the main character should be the subjects of the verbs, which themselves should correspond to the main action). But surprisingly, I realized that I was rarely applying these simple rules of clarity. The author is never dogmatic, and insists that the only thing that matters is that the reader easily understands what we're writing. All throughout the book, numerous examples illustrate the concepts just introduced so that it is quite easy to test whether one has really got the point.

It is amazing how the author re-discovered such a far-away subject, revitalizing it and bringing it back to our days and our society, in a way that will be fascinating and enjoyable for the average reader. Had it not been for the book, who would ever hope to find such fascinating epic in the tradition of old Mali ? The author did a great job in finding this, and putting it down on paper for posterity.

Sundiata is an epic of Old Mali. It talks about Sundiata who "was great among kings, he was peerless among men; he was beloved of God because he was the last of the great conquerors" (2). The events of this story seem to be exaggerated because they pictured Sundiata as a supernatural person, with supernatural powers. The writer mixed the true and exaggerated events in a very smart way that made the story seem not fictional but more or less true.
This exaggerated story show that the prophetic words of the hunters were real and that Sundiata is a complete and unique person. He had a unique mother, a strange birth, a weird childhood, a great struggle, a supernatural power, a great mind, an unlimited kindness, and justice. He combined all the characteristics that people wish to have. Not to forget that if the characteristics of Sundiata were not exaggerated, the story would not have lasted over all these years and he would have been forgotten.
This story is a great mean through which you can learn about the traditions and values of Old Mali. Through this story you can learn about the system of Kingship. You can also learn about the family system and the bonds that tie them.
I rarely read; however, I finished reading this story in one setting because it is very interesting and it was able to transfer me to a different world. The details of the settings and events made it so easy for me to picture myself on the battlefields, and among the travelers, etc...
For all the reasons stated above, I really recommend reading Sundiata and enjoying the great suspense and interesting events. I am sure that through this book you will acquire a new valuable experience.
Enjoy it.

This is a great read, and I would encourage anyone who is interested about African oral history, to read Sundiata. It reflects the rich oral tradion that so greatly defines African culture. This is an epic about a cripple who becomes an Emperor (to put very simply). A great Hero Story.

I am adding the following in hopes it may be of help to someone:


Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali

FROM THE PUBLISHER
Retold by generations of griots-the guardians of African culture-this oral tradition has been handed down from thirteenth century and captures all the mystery and majesty of medieval African kingship. It is an epic tale-part history, part legend-which should rank alongside the 'Iliad' and the 'Odyssey' as one of the world's great adventure stories.

This translation of the oral epic of Sundiata, the founder of the Mali nation, is African history at it's most entertaining. In 1995, while a college student, I managed to finish this one nght at a laundromat. A real page-turner and example of good history combined with good storytelling. Go for it. BTW-when you finish it, note the similarities between this and Disney's "The Lion King." Hmmmmmmmmmmm........

First of all the potential reader should know that this book was published in 1917, so the 'Modern' in the title refers to the latter part of the nineteenth century, and the earliest part of the twentieth century.

Secondly, the author omits mention of most of the ghost story authors from that period who are still popular today, e.g. J. S. Le Fanu (first ghostly tale published in 1838) and M. R. James (first collection of stories published in 1904). She also leaves out most of Victorian ladies whose ghost stories are still in print today, e.g. Mary Elizabeth Braddon, E. Nesbit, and Mrs. Riddell.

I would classify this book as an overview of the literature of supernatural fantasy and horror (including a Byronic poem about a vampire). The ghost story as defined and brought to its peak by Victorian and Edwardian authors, receives only brief mention in the chapter, "Modern Ghosts."

Scarborough begins with the Gothic Romance, of which she says: "The mysterious twilights of medievalism invited eyes tired of the noonday glare of Augustan formalism. The natural had become familiar to monotony, hence men craved the supernatural. And so the Gothic novel came into being."

'Gothic' is used to designate the eighteenth-century, pseudo-medieval novel of horror. The author begins with Horace Walpole's, "The Castle of Otranto"--if you are at all fond of Regency romances, you are bound to run across a heroine who is reading Walpole's tale of mad monks and haunted castles, or Mrs. Radcliffe's horrific "Mysteries of Udolpho." These novels depicting "decaying castles with treacherous stairways leading to mysterious rooms, halls of black marble, and vaults whose great rusty keys groan in the locks"--plus a heroine who wanders through spider-webbed corridors at midnight--did not have much staying power. According to Scarborough, Jane Austin finally gave this genre the kiss of death when she satirized their gloomy, overwrought style in "Northanger Abbey," which remained unpublished until after her death in 1818. "The Supernatural in Modern English Fiction" describes many gothic romance peculiarities in detail, while having a certain amount of gentle fun with them.

A chapter on European supernatural literature is followed by the aforementioned chapter on "Modern Ghosts." The author makes much of the effect Poe, Balzac, Hoffmann and other Romantic supernaturalists had on the nineteenth century English and American ghost story. Balzac in particular exerted a strong influence over Edward George Bulwer-Lytton, English author of "The Haunters and the Haunted," and progenitor of that infamous opening sentence, "It was a dark and stormy night..." (yes, that Bulwer-Lytton). Other stories that the author selects for discussion depend more on the Romantic tradition of insanity, gruesome decline, and horrid death to spark them along, rather than a purely supernatural mechanism. (As a matter of fact, Scarborough even published a novel in which the heroine was driven mad by the wind.)

She also expends a great deal of print on Spiritualism (which was already on the decline when this book was written), and the mystical, folkloric pantheism of such writers as W.B. Yeats ("The Celtic Twilight") and Algernon Blackwood ("Ancient Sorceries").

Scarborough draws heavily upon Romanticism, Spiritualism, and folklore for her chapters on "The Devil and His Allies," "Supernatural Life (which contains an excellent exposition on the legend of the Wandering Jew)," and "The Supernatural in Folk-tales."

"Supernatural Science" is the only really dated chapter in this book, with its discussions of hypnotism, the Fourth Dimension, uncanny chemistry, and students who exchange eyeballs. Even here, the author provides interesting commentary on A. Conan Doyle, H. G. Wells, Arthur Machen (whom she despises), and Ambrose Bierce, among other authors who were popular at the beginning of the twentieth century (and still are).

"The Supernatural in Modern English Fiction" should appeal to anyone who is interested in the evolution of fantasy and horror literature. Try "Elegant Nightmares: The English Ghost Story from Le Fanu to Blackwood" by Jack Sullivan or "Night Visitors: The Rise and Fall of the English Ghost Story" by Julia Briggs if your interest is more focused on literature that is entirely devoted to ghosts.

A very cool find... a friend gave me a copy as a birthday gift... so many different stories by authors I had never read... plus the author, Scarborough, has this cute concise way of writing. My fav chapter was on "The Devil and His Allies."

Ever wonder where Horror Fiction came from? How has it progressed from the beginning Gothic story to the stuff it is made of today? This book will answer your questions.

A must have for the speculative fiction lover, this book covers every genre from the early gothic to the ghost stories of the 20th century. First published in 1917, Dorothy Scarbouough covers it all, the madness and the horror of the 18oo's.

I'm glad I discovered this book, it will remain a favorite for years to come.

My bookshelves are filled with anthologies, the favorites being ones that contain some of the more obscure stories. What a pleasure to find this book! Scarborough lists some writers I have never heard of and set me scurrying online. She writes in a pleasant, easy style.

This is the latest in Lethe Press's series of reissues of works on the occult. 'The Supernatural In Modern English Fiction' was written in 1917 by Dorothy Scarborough. Given that the series has been uneven so far I did not have high expectations for this volume, and have only now discovered that it is a veritable treasure trove of books and literary history. It covers the period from Horace Walpole's 'Castle of Otranto' and other Gothic romances straight through to the author's own present times in the early 20th Century.

This makes for a literal cast of thousands. I was quite surprised to discover that horror and fantasy were a major part of the world's literary output from the very beginnings of popular literature. From Walpole, Maturin, and Shelley right through to Doyle, Machen, and Blackwood it was indeed a crowded stage. And Scarborough manages to present most of these efforts in a readable and well-organized fashion. Initially we are given a historical approach, but then the themes are taken up separately. Ghost stories, the demonic, the wandering Jew, rebirth, the afterlife, folk tales, and even 'scientific' monsters each get their turn in the sun.

As I've indicated Scarborough writes without any of the boring academic tone which often haunts this kind of material. This makes this volume an entertaining way to hunt down new reading material as well as a help in steering one's way through book stall accretions with a steady hand. Keep a pencil and a piece of paper handy while reading this book, you are bound to find things of interest.

My only regret is the lack of a bibliography. Scarborough is quite up front about this. In addition to the 3,000 or so titles that she drew upon for the book, there was an even larger additional number that she felt should be provided to the reader/researcher. There simply was no room at the inn. Unfortunately, to our loss, the bibliography promised as a second volume never materialized. There is, however, a good index, which will have to serve in it's stead.

I attended one of Kelly Gallagher's lectures last summer and was instantly hooked on his honesty, humor, and principles. I purchased Teaching Adolescent Writers and have used it almost daily. Gallagher's ideas and techniques make so much sense and what's even better is that everything he suggests are exactly what we teachers of writing need. I tried the "find the fib" idea and hooked my students immediately. I moved to "the myth of the boring topic" and had lots of fun exchanging questions with the class. Everything I've brought to the classroom has engaged my reluctant teenages who have no interest in school let alone writing. I try to read sections of his book in the morning before school starts because he just makes so much sense and his ideas are so much fun, I often go to work excited.

As a new teacher, I found this book packed with practical guides on everything from motivating students to assessing student work. This book provides not only the reasons why we teach writing, but most importantly HOW to teach writing.

As an 8th grade language arts teacher, I have found _Deeper Reading_ and _Reading Reasons_, Gallagher's other teaching titles, to be positively indispensible, so I expected nothing less from his latest work. Once again, Gallagher delivers! This is a straightforward, practical, and yes, funny, book for effective writing instruction in secondary classrooms. Gallagher's fresh, ready-to-use strategies are based upon what he calls the "six pillars of writing success," which are:

-students need a lot more writing practice;
-students need teachers who model good writing;
-students need the opportunity to read and study other writers;
-students need choice when it comes to writing topics;
-students need to write for authentic purposes and to authentic audiences, and;
-students need meaningful feedback from both the teacher and their peers.

Gallagher offers ideas for daily in-class writing opportunities, activities to help generate high-interest topics, strategies for "attacking" on-demand writing, mini-lessons to guide students through deeper revision, alternatives to peer editing (which he says doesn't work), and suggestions for more effective grading. His lessons are geared to teach students the real-world writing skills they will need not just for success in the English classroom but for the long haul.

This is a must-have for veteran and novice teachers alike. I, too, have had the opportunity to attend one of Gallagher's workshops, and in my view, the man is simply genius. Through it all, Gallagher reminds us that we are not superhuman. In view of the mounting pressure so many of us feel to raise the all-mighty test scores, I found the following quote most reassuring: "With the wide range of ability and overwhelming class sizes, it is unrealistic to think I am going to make every one of my 165 students a strong writer. It *is* realistic, however, to begin each year with the goal that every student of mine, regardless of ability, is going to get better." Armed with Gallagher's book, I feel a renewed sense of confidence that my teaching is going to get better, too. Two thumbs way up!

I had the pleasure of going to a conference and hearing Kelly Gallagher speak. He's a down-to-earth, realistic guy and so is his approach to teaching writing. He outlines ways to get students interested in writing and it's very adaptable to my classroom. His chapter on combatting how to keep up with grading was the most useful for me.

Kelly Gallagher manages to include important information about best practices in a way that is immediately useful for the classroom teacher. An excellent book for high school English teachers or professional developers working with high school teachers!!!

If you love sequential art, give this one a try. It's a unique and touching story, exploring the question of what love brings out in us (both the good and the bad.)

Summaries of this book make it seem simplistic, but there is a lot here. The art, and the story, are messy, violent, sad, and beautiful. I can't recommend this book highly enough. It's a shining example of what sequential art can be.

this is by far one of the best manga i've ever read. i'd gotten away from manga, but decided to pick this up when it was published in a single volume. entirely worth. highest possible reccomendation.

Excellent manga and anime. I didn't think I would like the animation but it's amazing. I especially liked White's dream sequences.
The Black & White in the title does refer to the characters. The original title of the manga is Black & White. Also, Viz does a lot of mangas in the left to right format. This one wasn't singled out for special treatment.

"Duh" and yet five stars? That Duh was for me. I was disappointed because when I opened the Amazon box and discovered TEKKEON KINKREET was in black
and white.

I'd thought that B&W label referred to the main
characters, Black and White. See? Duh. On me.

Other than that, I'd thought the cartoon style would reflect the anime, which is great and in full color, which prompted me to buy this book.
Duh #2, then.

Still, it's a very good, very big book and very Zen-like.
So Five Stars. See the anime, it's great. Now Ima gonna go
and actually read the book.

During a trip to Japan recently I came across the film version of this book, which had just won many awards. When I learned it was based on a graphic novel, I scoured the bookstands here in the US for it to no avail. Luckily Amazon had it (along with the English-subtitled movie). Tekkon Kinkreet is a richly engaging graphic narrative, its visual language referencing French comics but with the horizontal, angled paneling of more traditional Japanese Manga. Though it's about two scrappy kids, this is most definitely NOT a comic book for children: it's full of violence and references to the seedy underworld of the city (gangsters, strip clubs, etc.). Though those things would usually turn me off, I found this to be a completely absorbing narrative. Beyond the violence it elegantly explores the issues of gentrification, friendship, identity, and change. The film's great too, but you should definitely read the book first. Totally different visual styles going on. Great stuff. Check it out.

A timeless and sumptuous exploration of the fluidity of the ages and our spiritual connections, THOSE BEAUTIFUL EYES is a true feast for the senses.

From ancient Mesopotamia to modern-day San Francisco, in delicate yet masterful prose, this novel depicts the lives and fates of a village girl in service to a goddess, a dancer, and a film maker and his wife, while reflecting on the corrupting influence that the quest for recognition, power and wealth has on the soul. Ms Lutzky's wealth of historical research shines through without interfering with the sublime clarity of her tale - one that carries deep roots in Eastern philosophies. A sensual celebration of longing and loss, of the fragility of love and our forgotten past, this is literature of the highest order - an intelligent, deeply powerful book that cannot fail to leave the reader yearning for more. Highly recommended for fans of Isabel Allende or Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

I thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Lutzky's "Those Beautiful Eyes". Slipping back and forth through time kept me on my toes but the modern characters were so involving that I found myself wondering about them and where the story was headed...much as one would absently think about friends and their lives.

Of course I identified with certain characters and their struggles with life and relationships. Very convincing stuff. I suspect that Ms. Lutzky has indeed a connection to another time and place...a must read!

This is a "vanity press" book. If a writer such as Mrs. Lutzky cannot (it would seem) find an agent and that agent find a publisher, it merely indicates how distressed the book business is these days. Fortunately, yes, there are still many good writers and many agents/publishers to work with them. Of course, I may have this all wrong and it's a reprint of previously published material, but I do not believe that to be the case.

Whatever the case, this is no reflection on Those Beautiful Eyes nor the author. This is a stunning work of literature and I'm glad to see there are others who agree with my determination.

Other reviewers have given an overview of the contents of this beautiful novel, so I will only make a few remarks about my own experience in reading it. I bought this book on impulse, something I rarely do. I don't read novels for entertainment, but rather to be touched deeply at the feeling core of my being. Very few novels do that, but this one did. My love for ancient history was fed by the author's fine evocation of life in 2700 BCE, a time I well recall from a lifetime of dreams and reveries of Mohenjo-Daro.

The characters of Anarisha (in 2700 BC) and Maria (in modern times) are the most vividly drawn, and well brought to life by the strong supporting cast. I read this book slowly, savoring every word. The book is well-written enough to allow this kind of deep immersion without becoming thin or shallow. The ending was perhaps a bit contrived, but still satisfying.

I just finished the book this morning and I still cannot separate myself from it enough to give a fully objective evaluation. For one thing, there were a stunning number of coincidences between the dates and places in the book and those of my own life. This added much to my reading experience, but could not possibly be shared by very many other readers. For (only a very few of many) examples: Born in 1945; life changing month of June, 1963; entered UC Berkeley Fall, 1963 (I feel I knew the author then, but I can't be certain); first child born 1974; an unexpected tragic death in 1998; and far too many more to mention without boring you. And the Dhammapada, that constant companion and guide of my life. Certainly a part of my appreciation for this book was that the author was somehow, inexplicably, writing the story of my own life -- not merely the sense of it, which can be found in other books, but the details, which I don't know how she could have known.

A remarkable literary achievement, this book is "almost aesthetically perfect" like Michael Dagan's films. Ann, by pouring your life into this story, you have accomplished your life's work. Now it's time to go beyond being a Buddhist, and to become a Buddha.

A beautiful story of transcendence; transcendence of passion and will of a beautiful priestess in an ancient time to transcendence of time and space. A fascinating life journey that plays out in exotic sites across the world with seamless writing by the author. The colorful character of Anarishka stimulates the imagination. Anne Cowart Lutzky's writing is novel, intriguing, and absorbing. Highly recommended.

Terri Erickson has managed to weave, then wrap the reader in a percale of purest poetry. And like the finer fabrics, she has woven a breathable art... each square inch of highest content, which touches the reader like a slight whisper... brushing the ear and turning the head. The longer "Thread Count" is held, the closer it is held... smooth, touchable, fragile. Sheets of every color, emotional hue, pastels and earthy tones... continental and worldy. Everything about Ms. Erickson's work is balanced... but leaves you spinning. The cover captivates. The body fits the hand and lap. But don't think it's "light" reading. The content... at times weighted, lands in your heart like a brick through your living room window... a brick she has covered in silk. A read that transports you back in time and space, exiting the now. She has thrown a percale sheet out her window, knotted, making a rope to link you with her world. An absolute must!

Terri Kirby Erickson's first book is rich in metaphors and diverse in subject matter. Her love of language and poetry is evident in each of her spirited and original poems. The poem "Luncheon in Paris" was my favorite and well worth the price of the book. The book is beautiful both inside and out. The cover art is spectacular.

"Thread Count" by Terri Kirby Erickson, is a finely tuned energy force that transcends us to another world. Feel the true flight of poetry, as you are taken over by the imagery invoked in the mastery of her linguistics. Terri's, "Thread Count", has touched many heart's by more than just magical words.
I will always cherish my copy.
I recommend buying more than one to share with family members and friends. If you don't you may be looking for your copy!
TKE, Thank you Repique

Reading Thread Count was a magnificent experience. I found myself drifting back to my childhood and musing over times I myself experienced the same feelings but lacked the wherewithal to give those experiences poetic expressions such as Terri Erickson has done. Thread Count evokes feelings ranging from exhilaration to profound understanding of loss whether it be loss of a person we are close to or simply loss of ones own health status. Other poems in the book have the ability to propel you into a totally different world in another country. I often found myself with misty eyes and at other times laughed out loud at the vivid imagery reading this poetry brought to mind. I would highly recommend reading this book and gifting it to those you care about.

I have been able to laugh/cry and identify with Terri in this collection of her poetry. It transcends both culture and time in common experiences that are often unpsoken, but have remained strong inside us all. I look forward to her next work, in the meantime it is a book i will return to, time and again. I have my favourite poems, and urge you to find yours. Excellent!!

"Touched" is an enthralling novel created by the fertile imagination of debut author Linda Armstrong-Miller. Offering a chilling look at child abuse, domestic violence, and racial prejudice, it relates the story of an emotionally scarred man who is compelled to confront his traumatic past. The protagonist's willingness to forgive releases painful memories, healing all areas of his life.

Dr. Matthew Green has just started his four-year medical internship, but his heart is not in the medical profession. Because he lacks the desire to be a good doctor, he displays a dearth of sensitivity and compassion for his patients as well as a general distrust toward his co-workers. On his first night on call, when a ninety-eight old African-American woman suffering from congestive heart failure is unexpectedly transferred to his care, Matthew feels that the intensive care unit's resources are wasted on her, since she does not have long to live. However, when he meets Ruthie Mae Morris or Grandma, as she likes to be called, he is in for several surprises.

The mysterious Grandma not only reads Matthew's mind but also seems to know everything about him and his disturbing past. Explaining that he needs to eliminate his excess baggage and face his painful memories ("As a doctor, you know that sometimes a wound must be opened in order for it to heal"), she offers to 'touch' his heart and help him move on with life. Using the "tools of her trade," Grandma guides him through a journey back in time to deal with his childhood issues. Later, she takes him on a trip to the town of "The Walking Wounded." Here, Matthew witnesses two hateful, racist, white youths gruesomely murder a young African-American woman named Bonnie. Matthew shares the anguish of the town's people at the loss of a fellow being and learns about love and caring. Finally, just as he makes peace with his past and after much introspection, he discovers the answer to Grandma's intriguing question "Do two wrongs make a right?", his guide seeks her own peace.

Without descending to preaching, this talented new writer has penned a spell-binding page turner that explores troubling issues like abuse and racial bias. The twist towards the end is sure to surprise many. Though it contains some gruesome incidents, its core message is the healing power of forgiveness. This inspirational story will touch the hearts of adult readers and young-adults alike.

Touched is a compelling novel by Linda Armstrong Miller about the power of forgiveness to transform life itself. When Matthew Allen, a man burdened by the pain in his past, closes himself off from all friends and family, he denies himself love and happiness. Yet his self-inflicted deprivation is about to change, as he comes to understand that learning to forgive and to make peace with one's past is the first step to being able to truly embrace and enjoy life. Touched is highly recommended, emotionally satisfying reading.

I really enjoyed this book. Because of my christianity, this book reminded me of true spirituality. Also,it says never give up and hold on to your faith. The part that really touched me was: When I saw how determined she was,I went to her little boy and knelt beside him. I was determined she would have a prize at the end of her labored journey. While Goatee held his watch, Blondie looked on. I looked to see how close she was. To my shock and surprise her eyes locked with mine. When she finally arrived, she smiled at me. I couldn't believe it. "Thank you Jesus." She said."Jesus? No, not me." I whispered. "Angel?" She asked. "I've never been called that either." "You were sent to help me?" She asked. She was out of breath when she finished. "Yes." I answered. "Angel." She said then smiled. So did I. Her smile was wondrous. I remembered how my mother had looked when she smiled at Chris. It has been just as wonderful and she had been dying too. After thanking me, Bonnie laid beside her son. She attempted to pull her son to her. By now, she was far too weak. If the baby had been another step farther, I'm not sure she would have...yes she would have. She would have reached him no matter how far away he was. That I was sure of. Bonnie slid her hands under him trying again to lift him. I placed my hands under hers. Together we lifted him. She then pulled her arms back and nestled the baby against her chest. With the gaping wound that was now her abdomen, this nestling actually made it look as though she was trying to put him back inside her. "Thank you so much." She whispered barely audible even to me. She found the strength to kiss her son once more. Then she died. Less than a minute later, her son took his last breath.

The saying you can't judge a book by its cover is so true. When I received the copy of Touched by Linda Armstrong-Miller, I have to admit it took me two days to actually start reading. But once I started I didn't want to put it down.

The author did a wonderful job painting a picture of her characters. It was as if I lived through them. I think the thing that "Touched" (pun intended) me the most was the conversation throughout the book between Grandma, and Mathew. Their dialogue was crisp and believable. It was as if I were in a room observing them from afar. We cannot predict what challenges we face in life; however, through our faith and the support of loving, caring people we can overcome.

I like the story more so because it showed a continued hope for Matthew to change, and that the change was going to have to be as a result of him finally letting someone into his life. I wholeheartedly recommend this book as one to add to your bookshelf. I plan to read it again, just in case I missed something the first time-Kudos to Ms. Armstrong-Miller.

T.C. Matthews Co-founder, Prolific Writers Network

Matthew Allen had a seemingly perfect childhood, that is until the death of his father. Struggling economically, his family was forced to move out of their comfortable suburban home, sell most of their valuable belongings and move into a tiny apartment. Many of the things children tend to take for granted slowly slipped out of Matthew Allen's reach. Things only became worse after his mother remarried and eventually Matthew became the victim of a major tragedy. As a result of these things, Matthew decided that the best way to cope in a cruel world was to cut himself off emotionally, not caring about anyone he encountered.

As the story begins, Matthew is beginning his medical internship at a hospital he is less than thrilled about working at. His ability to get along with both colleagues and patients is severely limited due to his emotional distancing so he keeps to himself as much as possible. That is until a 98-year-old, seemingly homeless, African American patient, who prefers to be called "Grandma" is placed under his care and he is forced to once again feel.

Together, Matthew and "Grandma" go on a supernatural journey that allows them to travel time and space in order to find healing. "Grandma" poses a difficult question to Matthew, "Do two wrongs make a right?" and he must struggle to arrive at the answer. In doing so, he must journey as a spectator through his own childhood and some of the lives of people in "Grandma's" past.

In this book, Armstrong creates a tale in which gender, age, class, and racial barriers are transcended through the special bond that Matthew Allen and "Grandma" develop. The unlikely duo work together to heal the emotional wounds of the past and build new hope for the future. Though at times the language in the dialogue was a little bothersome, the story will draw you in making you feel anger, sorrow, frustration and joy right along with the characters.

Reviewed by Stacey Seay