Writers Books

I've admired Fitzgerald all my life and regard his work as singularly underrated as time goes on. He was a brilliant and witty writer who could turn a phrase as well as any American author of the 20th century. This biography is the best I've ever read on Fitzgerald. It's particularly strong in the depiction of his gaudy, booze-soaked life with Zelda, especially when they were ex-pats living in France. Bruccoli really draws the reader in with deft descriptions of their marital rows, woes, break-ups and innumerable reconcilations. I was happy to see that their daughter, Scottie, was also illuminated so brilliantly.

The material on Sheila Graham, Scott's lover in Hollywood, was also intriguing. Graham's own book about Scott is a great read, but the author brings out elements to the story which Graham omitted. I was genuinely sad when Scott dies and the narrative concludes. The debauchery, booze and high times of the Flapper era are all here. This is a highly recommended, beautifully tribute to one of the great writers of the past 100 years.

I am a writer, and first took out the book suffering from similar problems to Fitzgerald's at the beginning of his career, hoping to get some guidence. Reading it, I was struck by the profundity of the advice on writing he gave his daughter Scottie, which is copied in excerpts. I felt like I was getting the same benefits he gave her, and I also got the sense that he would want this. He meant what he had learned to be accessable to everyone; in a way, it was what his life was based around. Then, I got a good deal out of the analyses the biographer devotes to transcibing the process Fitzgerald went through in mapping out each of his extaordinary novels- I took notes I'll keep for ever. I only wish I could find a source like this on my other favorite writers. I'll have to appeal to Amazon's reccomendations for advice.

I bought this book and read it before reading any of the works of F. Scott Fitgerald.

The book opens with an interesting literary hook as we follow the last few hours in the life of Fitzgerald on December 21, 1940. He is an unemployed screen writer living in Hollywood at the apartment of his companion Sheilah Graham. On the previous day, he had symptoms of a heart problem. That morning on the 21st, he was working on "The Last Tycoon." He was sitting in a chair, stood up, grasped the mantlepiece, collapsed, and died at age 44.

That book is one of seemingly dozens of short stories on F. Scott, Zelda his wife, and others. The book is not a seamless story but is a chronoligcal collection of short - almost disconnected - stories about his life and works.

It is an excellent reference book to consult as you read the works of Fitzgerald. I found the book on its own too dry with too many facts and it gives no idea of what the writing was like. It was not until I read "This Side of Paradise" did I understand what all the fuss was about with F. Scott Fitzgerald, and it was at that point the present biography came to life. For example, I quote a passage from Chapter 2 of Book I, as Amory sits on the steps of his dorm at Princeton after his first day on campus:

"Now, far down the shadowy line of University Place a white-clad phalanx broke the gloom, and marching figures, white-shirted, white-trousered, swung rhythmically up the street, with linked arms and heads thrown back:

"Going back-going back,
Going-back-to-Nas-sau-Hall,
Going back-going back-
To the-Best-Old-Place-of-All.
Going back-going back,
From all-this-earth-ly-ball,
We'll-clear-the-track-as-we-go-back-
Going-back-to-Nas-sau-Hall!"

Amory closed his eyes as the ghostly procession drew near. The song soared so high that all dropped out except the tenors, who bore the melody triumphantly past the danger-point and relinquished it to the fantastic chorus. Then Amory opened his eyes, half afraid that sight would spoil the rich illusion of harmony."

One learns more about Fitgerald's writing from that passage than the entire biography.

Having said the above, this is a fact filled reference book that acts as a wondeful guide and supplement to the F. Scott's life and the background for the works. There are many photographs and other documents among the 61 short chapters. I especially liked the ledger notes that were kept by Fitzgerald that clearly outline the characters and plot details for the books. Bruccoli has included a huge notes section and appendix at the back of the book, about 100 illustrations, plus many more documents. I have read many interpretations of "Tender is the Night" but it is a lot clearer when you actually read the author's own notes as produced here in the present biography.

Highly recommend: excellent collection of short stories and documents.

This is an excellent biography, full of a great wealth of detail. In truth, Fitzgerald is a pretty easy biographical subject, because his fiction was so closely based on his own life and experiences and because he wrote so many letters and kept such detailed notebooks and ledgers accounting for his own life. He also had relationships with many people (Zelda, other writers, etc.) who left behind many accounts of him. Still, Bruccoli does an extremely thorough job and the book is very well-written.

I would give it five stars except for an extremely irritating tendency Bruccoli has to be dismissive of almost all of Fitzgerald's short stories. Bruccoli is way too arrogant about pronouncing dozens of the stories F. Scott wrote as being "minor," or "disappointing," or even "embarrassing," while reserving his praise for a select few, such as "May Day" and "The Rich Boy." Personally, having read every one of FSF's currently collected short stories (well over 100 in all), I don't rate "May Day" or "The Rich Boy" very highly, but I love lots and lots of the "commercial" ones Bruccoli dismisses. I think he should leave the assessment of which stories are good up to the reader. Bruccoli's literary analysis -- of Fitzgerald's novels -- is outstanding, but the short stories should not be so dismissed (even if Scott himself at times dismissed them and hated having to write them to earn money).

I am an absolute diehard fan of F. Scott Fitzgerald, both his life and his literature. So, I knew when I purchased this book I was bound to scrutinize its every nook and cranny. Well, my scrutiny proved to be a wasted effort. Without question, Matthew Bruccoli is the number one Fitzgerald scholar in the country, and after reading this biography, it is impossible to question why.
Bruccoli covers every aspect of Fitzgerald's life and includes several bits of correspondence to really give readers a look inside Fitzgerald's thinking. --Perhaps my favorite thing about the book is that it does not sentimentalize the author (which I myself have a habit of doing). Fitzgerald is spelled out here in all his glory, yet, we also get to see his unflattering side...paranoia, arrogance, unharnessed alcoholism, and downright neurosis.
F Scott Fitzgerald was a brilliant man whose life became legend. It is my humble opinion that Bruccoli has written the most thorough and best possible biography. Simply put, the read is fascinating. It might be 600 pages, but you will fly through it. It is "never dry" (like Fitzgerald :)) and always entertaining. For Fitzgerald fanatics like myself, this book is a must, but I am convinced that anyone who takes to "human interest" stories would find themselves engulfed in its pages.
Also recommended: "The Romantic Egoists"...a scrapbook collection put together concerning the lives of the Fitzgeralds. It is packed with pictures and is a wonderful companion to the biography. It was also published by Bruccoli.

Starting Your Career as a Freelance Writer will not teach you how to write. You need to do that yourself, with practice and feedback from people around you.

What this book will do is take you step by step through the trials of becoming a paid writer: everything from coming up with ideas to write about to structuring to the finished product, from querying editors for the first time to building a lasting relationship. The "rules" set down apply to multiple forms of writing, and not just for magazines, and references to other work are instructional and welcome.

There is also an excellent overview of how to manage your personal business as a freelancer, which for those of us "creative types," is certainly helpful.

The greatest part of this book, though, is its ability to lead the reader into types of writing for pay that many of us would never even consider. For instance, there is a chapter (written by a different author, suggesting the book's author knows her limits) on writing copy. Though I would never have thought to write copy, and almost skipped the chapter, following reading it and having been convinced that maybe this was a good way to suppliment income, I made some cold-calls as the book suggested, and a few days later, I already have a copy writing gig.

I would highly recommend this book to any competent writer that is looking to make a bit of money doing something that they love. If you can bring the work ethic, this book can bring the game plan.

Starting Your Career As A Freelance Writer by professional author Moira Anderson Allen is an extremely practical and detailed career guide for the aspiring writer seeking to become a paid professional. Starting Your Career As A Freelance Writer comprehensively and accessibly covers how to make time for writing; honing research and interview techniques; find markets for written work of all kinds; writing and marketing nonfiction books and articles, and a great deal more. A no-nonsense advice guide packed with tips, tricks, and techniques, Starting Your Career As A Freelance Writer is an absolute "must-read" for anyone seriously interested in developing a successful career as a professional freelance writing.

The first third of the book is a review of how to write, how to do research, and what you should have in your office ("a chair," "a desk," "a place to store your writing supplies"), with which I am sure the average person looking to start a freelance writing career already knows. In fact, if you don't know how to write and conduct writing-related research, or have a place to put writing supplies, a career in writing probably never crossed your mind. For this, the book received four stars instead of five.

Still, I have to recommend this book to anyone trying to start a career in writing who doesn't know quite where to begin. The second two-thirds of the book are filled with a grand assortment of helpful hints and information that are vital to a successful freelance-writing career. In particular, her advice on figuring out exactly where you should look to publish your work is extremely valuable. An entire chapter is devoted to the submission process, which includes how to deal with editors who don't reply to your submissions and how to deal with rejections.

For me, the query letters she presents helped a great deal. She presents real letters-to-the-editor so there is no confusion about exactly what it should look like and what it must include. I didn't know about "hooking" with queries; I just assumed they were written like resume cover letters. Imagine how much failure I might have encountered, otherwise. And, not to be outdated, she even includes a chapter devoted to e-mail queries.

Overall, I thought this book was an excellent resource for a budding freelancer. I felt as though it would have been better for her to leave out the first few chapters and get to the point. However, once she got to the point, I was thrilled to pieces that I found this book. I'm sure you will be, too.

I remember very vividly when I sold my first article to a major Canadian newspaper. It was in the mid 1960s, when I had just graduated from law school and I decided that the only way to fame, and perhaps jump- start my non-existent law practice, was to write articles on Quebec Civil Law. Fortunately for me, I was in the right place at the right time, and the newspaper was looking for someone to contribute articles pertaining to this subject matter. They purchased the first several of my articles, and boy was I excited!

However, unfortunately, my free-lance writing days came to an abrupt end when no one else was interested in the topic. That is when I decided to devote all of my time and energies into practicing the legal profession. Perhaps, if I had at my disposal Moira Anderson Allen's book entitled Starting Your Career As A Freelance Writer, things would have been different. Remember, it was the 1960s, and at the time there were few writing guides pointing you in the right direction to a free -lance writing career.
I did not have Allen to show me how to start my articles, find the right markets, queries and submissions, rights and contracts, and how to expand my horizons.

It is these topics and many more where Starting Your Career As A Freelance Writer excels. The book is a splendid, in-depth analysis where even the more experienced writer can reap some benefits.

Divided into six parts, there is no shortage of vital and interesting information as to what goes on in the minds of an editor to how to interview, and from exploring and evaluating markets to writing for special interest publications and markets. The reader is also exposed to such topics as queries and submissions, legal technicalities pertaining to rights and contracts, as well as setting fees and keeping records. After all, without these essential tools, we will never get to first base with our budding writing career, no matter how talented we may be.

What is noteworthy about Allen's writing is her ability to cut away the fat from the meat. Furthermore, she never presumes that the reader should know certain fundamental concepts, and consequently Allen leaves nothing unturned.

Allen's writing credentials are impeccable, as proven by the hundreds of articles she has contributed to several publications over her twenty- year writing career. In addition, she has also being called upon to speak at writers' conferences and workshops, and to act as an instructor at many of these events. Commencing a career, as a free-lance writer, is a difficult task, and one in which a great deal of perseverance and patience is required. It is Allen's vast experience and her ability to effectively convey her knowledge from these experiences that is very much in evidence throughout book, and will surely prove to be invaluable to aspiring free- lance writers.

Norm Goldman Editor of Bookpleasures and Travel Writer

This book contains all of the essential information I needed to jump start my career as a freelance writer. Having some experience in the field in the distant past, I needed a refresher course and this book provided it. (It would be even more useful for someone without previous experience in the field.) Besides providing proper form for query letters and instruction on how to go about finding and approaching markets, it gives specific guidelines on the right way to pursue a freelance writing career, reasonable expectations and how to organize your work as a business.

In this illuminating and thought-provoking book, Ms. Hallett does a spectacular job, imparting the stories of its various contributors with intelligence and grace. The accounts of soul contact before birth are refreshing and absorbing and included are stories about the role of grandparents in soul contact, the role of miscarriage, and the role of spiritual agreements between souls. It truly is a book that has the potential to change the way we look at ourselves, at our loved ones and our world.

There is not a whole lot that I can say about this book that hasn't already been said, but I have enjoyed it so much that I felt compelled to review it myself. This book just speaks to my soul, resonates with my inner knowing, and has given me so much hope in a time of great sorrow after the stillbirth of my second child. What makes this book so very good is the combination of hope and realism; this is not a fluffy book at all. There is enough skepticism and openness to allow you to come to your own conclusions about the material. I love this book, and recommend it to ANYONE but especially to someone who has had a pregnancy loss.

Readers of this comprehensive collection of soul-comunication stories are encouraged to expand their own soul awareness not only by the intimately revealing experiences of the many contributors, but also by the exquisite poetry and profound insights of the author/editor herself. Elisabeth's writing suggests a life-long familiarity with the greater Reality that is being opened up to all of us -- it is another profoundly welcome contribution to the awakening of Consciousness in every area of human existence.

When I was pregnant three years ago, I read Hallett's books "Soul Trek" and "In the Newborn Year", both of which are FAB books. Now this collection is out and it's amazing. What is most interesting to me, is the fact that Hallett includes not only the "happy la-la" stories of pregnancy, but also the realities of loss that some face. And there is healing here in that acknowledgment and recognition of parenthood in all its forms. Thanks, Elisabeth!

'Stories of the Unborn Soul' by Elisabeth Hallett

'Stories of the Unborn Soul' by Elisabeth Hallett is a delightful book. Recounting the true and intimate stories of parents and others, the reader is invited to share in the mystery and delight of pre-birth communication.

Written in an elegant and yet highly objective style, Hallett entices us on a journey, taking as her starting point an invocation from Socrates: `Of course, no reasonable man ought to insist that the facts are exactly as I have described them. But that either this or something very like it is a true account of our souls and their future habitations - since we have clear evidence that the soul is immortal - this, I think, is both a reasonable contention and a belief worth risking; for the risk is a noble one.'

The journey thereafter is of the homesick soul drifting through universal consciousness, reminiscent of Plato's 'Phaedrus', in search for its pre-chosen parents in order to manifest as a human being in this life. Short, manageable chapters thus describe the soul's rite of passage, from the first shivering signs tasted in a distant dream of a mother, through intuitive soul connections experienced between mother and foetus in pregnancy, and the final and mutual recognition instinctively felt between parent and child. As Kathy, a grown woman with pre-birth memory recounts at the end of the book: `I remember coming here in spirit form, coming together into the body form and reluctantly floating down to this planet. This powerful experience from before my birth has affected everything I am today.'

'Stories of the Unborn Soul' is not however a sickly-sweet collection of wishful thinking. Not only are there wonderful touches of humour, Hallett manages to balance the stories of personal experience with appropriate use of scientific research, giving the book factual and intellectual gravitas. Moreover, Hallett includes chapters on Miscarriage and Abortion, commenting that there are many unresolved mysteries in the search for understanding the human condition: `I am . . . For what seems like forever, I am only aware that I am.'

Suffused with profound reflections upon the greatest questions of all - Who am I? and where do I come from? - 'Stories of the Unborn Soul' is a book worth risking, for the risk is indeed a noble one.

This isn't a book about writing so much as a book about people who love to write. People who have thoughts racing through their heads of what-ifs and wouldn't-that-be-neats. I enjoyed this book because it spoke to me. One of the reasons why she writes is just to find out how a story turns out, and I have felt that too. She mentions stories that tell her about herself, and I have sensed this as well. She reminds me that you can't please everybody so you might as well please yourself. And she writes because she wants to, isn't that the only reason that will make it worthwhile? After reading this book, I felt a kinship with her. I'd love to meat this woman.

She had many clever ways to present different aspects of writing and even though I already knew the basics that she presented, her approaches made me look at simple things in a new light. This book was sweet, playful, cheerful, and still serious at the same time.

I have read numerous writing books, and while many offer solid, sensible advice (Writing Down the Bones, Bird by Bird), almost all focus on the pain and angst of writing. Yolen celebrates the silver lining rather than dwelling on the cloud. Yes, writing is hard work, but why do it if there is no joy? This is, by no means, just a fluffy, feel-good book. The advice is sage and easy to follow, and through it all is the invaluable reminder that you should be writing because there is nothing else you'd rather be doing.

TAKE JOY is so good that when I bought a summer home and realized my book was hundreds of miles away, I knew I had to have a second copy. Jane Yolen, author of over 200 books gives me permission to follow my bliss, as Joseph Campbell would say. Her creativity abounds, and her words spar me on my own sideroads, jaunts and tangents. This may be about writing, but it's not just about writing. It's for anyone who aspires to live a life of passion and creativity.

Jane Yolen's book, TAKE JOY, was a delightful read. Peppered with charming vignettes, this book on writing has many uses as a "teacher's guide." There are a number of sections that can be adapted to the classroom (most appropriate for secondary school). For creative writing teachers in want of additional ideas, this slim, easy-to-read work would be a good investment.

Checked this out from the library, and it wasn't far in reading that I realized that I had to get my own copy. This is a book that you will want to underline, highlight and keep out on your desk to refer to often!

My personal collection of books on writing is small. I read all I can about writing (the how-to's, the work, the life, etc.) but most all of my reading material is from the library, and I am choosy about what books I buy. This book is a must have to my personal library, and tops on my favorites list!

This is a book from a woman who LIVES writing. She has written over 250+ books! WOW! Her advice is Inspirational,Obviously Experienced, Honest, and Funny.

Great book for writers!

I really enjoyed this book. It was a stronger reach for the author over some of her other work.
The characters were easy to follow even though I read this book out of order in the series.
The story was about what fame and money can do to a person. Greed and all those other terrible things destroyed so many lives. I wont tell the story but there was one topic touched on here that, while it unraveled, I was on the edge of my seat!
Though I found the various storylines in this book sad in some ways, it was an enthralling read that held my interest all the way through. I can see Ms. McGriff got her editing problem resolved too. It was a better-written book then the first one by her that I read. And I can say, she still tells a great story. You're on your way Ms. McGriff. Keep up the good write!

The rain of fears, the reign of tears...the temporary rain of a winter season, the temporary reign of fame the temporary rain of...I'll say no more about that.
Devon's reign at the top of charts was far from permanent-as he might have thought at one time, being a headliner for nearly five years or so (which can be a life-time in today's music industry). With his private troubles at home, made public, his popularity and career are damaged when Devon backs out of a video contract in order to seek solace and regrouping time after Kim's indiscretions brings his once bubble-safe existence crashing down around him-much like a cloudburst. (Kim, whose secrets have driven her to near insanity, fights against insurmountable obstacles to keep her footing only to finally give in to the pressures of her inner haunts) Can either one of them ride out this storm to safety? Will they make there together? These were the questions I asked myself as I read on, noting the invasions to their once (thought to be) perfect marriage by-Stockard, Micah, Mia, and Rene.
Eljen, Jimmy, Destiny, Tearza, Maji, Hugh and the rest, all made a strong showing here in this (my understanding to be the last) installment of The Majestic Series. Jimmy was true to his no nonsense-make-a-million-a-day persona. He does work my nerves. I can't imagine what Destiny sees in him-besides his good looks and billions of dollars.
Some of the topics here in this book are touched on by the Author in such an, `eye-popping' way, that I was instantly filled with so many different emotions that I didn't know whether to feel sorry for the characters or angry.
I feel mixed emotions about the closure of the series but, I'm sure, Jimmy and the others will show up again somewhere along the line. If nothing else, they will stick with me a long time
--E. Thompson, J.E.T. Inc.

I was not expecting what I got in Temporary Rain. Though the beginning started out with bringing all the old favs back, I was soon hit with so much unfamiliar stuff--new thinking, new acting...ohmigooness.
And the topics touched on here in this story were deep. I mean, I'm not a spoiler but, there was some serious mess going on in this book. I really didn't know which way it was gonna end.
Drugs, sex, and as always, music and money.
From the little blurb thing, you would right off the bat think that Jimmy was in some mess again, but no...and then you sort of get the impression that it's Devon, but no...
You just have to read it, and of course Ms. M, has a wonderful back drop story that just sort of covers up any holes without taking away from the main story. ...

Devon Swanson is at the top of his game. He has a beautiful family, a budding musical career and is surrounded by glitz and glamour. Devon's wife Kim however, never dealt with her childhood issues and it is her descent into abyss and the surrounding family members' reactions that make this fifth installment of the Majestic's Secret series a hit.

After reading the first four installments, you wonder what the deal is with Kim; all is not as it appears. What is Kim hiding and what is the powerful hold that forces Kim to behave as she does? We witness everything that Kim ran from come to the surface and climax. Devon however, continues to be the faithful and patient husband and loving father. Watch as Devon relates his pain and agony of his failing marriage and family, only to be ambushed into another world that he cannot begin to comprehend. New characters are introduced along with the recurring characters of the first four books, however their actions all play a part in the story being told and the book does not lose its focus. 

Michelle McGriff has given the romance literary world an excellent final installment that is glittered with action, drama and finally compassion and understanding. 

Reviewed by Dawn R. Reeves
The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

KUDOS, MICHELLE...
This novel is a definite page turner that hooks you from the very first page. Although it is a sort of spinoff from the Majestic Series, new readers of this author will find Temporary Rain is a novel that can stand alone.

Temporary Rain is a novel that is filled with shocking secrets and an unpredictable ending. I'm sure any reader of this novel will be so pleased that they will want to seek out and find the previous novels to this series to add to their collection.

One could almost draw paralleles, with fate of Danilo Kis and his novel, in former Yugoslavia, with every "free thinker" troughout the known history. Nobody, especially totalitarian regime, likes "the voice that yells in the desert". So it became that this book was putted on a certain kind of "index librorum prohibitorum". What makes it tragic, is the fact that that was happening in the upper half of twentieth century.

What was so incriminating in that book, that communist party simply had to make that move? When one starts to question revollution, when one starts to question necessity of one voice-one peolpe doctrine, when one sees in "fight of the oppressed" just a certain kind of tragedy, human misery that has been manifesting repeatedly through human existene, one must become "enemy of the state". And that has not changed up until today, nor it will. But that is the story for some other place and time.

There is much of J.L. Borges influence in this work, especially in the short stoy called "Dogs and books", but you mustn't think that this is Borgesian "collection" of stories. These work are much less artistic (whatever that means) and much more they resemble reality, life itself, than Borges work does.

By telling the story of seven individuals, the lived their life in a countries rich with political struggles, Danilo Kis draws excellent portrait oh human ability to endure, and even so, to somehow fail miserably and be forever gone from this world.

Why the four stars? I was hearing so much of this book, and when I finally read it, it somehow dissapointed me, probably was expecting to much, or maybe is just that, taht I have failed to grasp entire meaning of the novel. So, better to read it again :) If you looked for great writer from, Mid-Southern Europe, Kis is the one you could deffinitely start with.

I have enjoyed this (and all other Danilo Kis's books) immensly.

This book of Kis' is a masterful work. The author said they are short stories but the publisher pushed it as a novel and in a way it is something between the two. The stories are seperate and there is not one main plot but a common theme runs through the work and occasionally characters from one story will reoccur or turn up in another story. They are connected though it seems in the sort of way as when someone might say it is a small world that we live in.
In his native land this book caused an uproar as the stories pass themselves off as fact but in Kis' style fact and fiction, history and imagination blend for a common aesthetic goal. This he picked up from Borges and his use of "document" in fiction.
All this helps the book stand out as a superior work of literature without even getting to the political theme of revolution and the role of individuals in mass movements.
This edition is perfect with the intro by Brodsky and William T. Vollmann's afterword.
A must read for anyone.

he shall live no longer in monument than the bell rings and the widow weeps. Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing.

Danilo Kis was born in Serbia in 1935 to a Hungarian Jewish father and Montenegrin Serbian mother. His father perished in the Holocaust. Kis died of cancer in 1990 at age 55. As noted in an excellent introduction by the writer, poet and Nobel Prize winner Joseph Brodsky, publication of A Tomb for Boris Davidovich in Yugoslavia in 1976 created a firestorm in Belgrade similar to the controversies that flared up when Solzhenitsyn's One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich was published in the USSR during Khrushchev's thaw. The book was savaged by the Yugoslav writer's union. As Brodsky notes in one memorable line, "there are several topics an author may deal with which can jeopardize his well-being, and history is one of them". The controversy, standing alone, may justify reading Tomb for Boris Davidovich. I am pleased to report that these stories are so well-constructed and laden with meaning that it would be worth reading even if its publication had been greeted with equanimity by the apparatchiks that manned the Yugoslav writers' union.

The seven stories that comprise Danilo Kis' A Tomb for Boris Davidovich have a few elements in common. Each involves a protagonist from a different country, Ireland, Hungary, Rumania, Poland, or Russia. In effect, each protagonist comes from a nation or a group that participated in the Comintern (the Soviet led Third International that coordinated the worldwide activities of various Communist organizations established by Lenin in 1919). Each gets swept up in the machinations that swirled around the Soviet Union's Great Terror of the 1930s. Each ends up either dead or in the Gulag.

With one exception each of the stories takes places in the 1930s. The one exception, "Dogs and Books" is set in 14th-century France at the time of the inquisition. Although that story seems out of place, when one compares the structure and fact-pattern of this story to the title story of the book one can only be struck by the obvious similarities between the methods and mind-set of the inquisitors and the methods and mind-sets of the interrogator in the story Tomb for Boris Davidovich.

The title story is also jarring because it contains many of the same themes set out in Arthur Koestler's Darkness at Noon. In the context of a short story, the brevity and terseness of Kis' language makes the telling of the story considerably more powerful in some respects than Koestler's novel length telling of a similar tale. Even if a reader feels that Kis' story does not quite match Koestler's, the fact that the comparison can be made with a straight face is high praise.

Last, Tomb for Boris Davidovich should be of great interest to anyone interested in the work of the great Argentine writer, Jorge Luis Borges. The structure and theme of Tomb for Boris Davidovich was intended by Kis to be part of a literary polemic between Kis and Borges, specifically concerning the title of Borge's Universal History of Infamy. Kis discusses this literary exchange in one of his essays. In it he asserted that the universal infamies related by Borges were those of gangsters, pirates and highwaymen. Kis argues that as far as infamy was concerned, "infamy is when in the name of the idea of a better world for which whole generations have perished, in the name of a humanistic idea, you build camps and destroy both people and their most intimate drams of a better world."

In many respects, Tomb for Boris Davidovich may be considered as an exquisitely crafted attempt to construct a literary monument to those who died (perhaps naively and foolishly) and for whom bells never rang and for whom the widows have long since stopped weeping.

L.Fleisig

Beautifully written, surprisingly nonchalant portrayal of the actual driving force behind the Russian Communist Revolution, namely an international gang of charismatic professional criminals. Makes you think twice before you empathise with all the victims of Stalin's camps indiscriminantly - some of them obviously deserved their terrible fate.

The Train of Thought Writing Method teaches you how to focus on a theme, lay a 'track' by constructing a powerful opening line, and the keys to taking your readers on an engrossing 'word journey.' By performing the simple exercises in the book, you will be able to draw your story to a satisfying conclusion. Because of her years of writing, editing, and teaching experience, Kathi knows how to help a beginning or stagnant writer hop on the track to publication. I am pleased to recommend this book.

This book is an excellent primer for creating a good, solid piece of writing that will hold the reader's interest from the first page to the last. It includes writing exercises you can use right now for the project simmering inside your writer's soul.

Even if this is the first book on writing you've ever read, you won't be disappointed. A great "first book" for writers!

Solid, practical advice to help build good techniques.

In writing, "The real question is: How do you effectively take [your] ideas and convert them to saleable manuscripts?" (xiii)

Kathi Macias, journalist, essayist, editor, poet, and author, delivers a simple and practical how-to book all about transforming ideas into manuscripts that effectively communicate an author's message to his or her readers.

Building upon a straightforward metaphor, Macias takes the reader on an exciting journey in her "The Train-of-Thought Writing Method: Practical, User-Friendly Help for Beginning Writers" that provides a reasonable and memorable strategy for quite literally putting pen to paper. She begins with an emphasis on "laying the track"--having a clear purpose and vision for writing--and then moves from the cow-catcher to the locomotive, boxcars, and observation car before waving a final good-bye from the caboose. Every chapter is focused on a particular component of a train and a corresponding aspect of writing. From beginning to end the information in each chapter assists the reader through the process of writing a manuscript. Macias is particularly effective in illustrating and amplifying her techniques through the use of clear examples from both her own works and those of more universally recognized authors. Space is provided for the reader to jot down notes and ideas in response to the writing exercises suggested by Macias.

Macias' book is broad enough that, with only a little creativity on the part of the reader, it can be applied to just about any writing genre--from the novel to newsletter article. Fiction and non-fiction writers alike will find helpful suggestions that will move them past the blank screen or page and into the details of their particular pieces. Taken as a whole, "Train-of-Thought" is a simple primer in writing and will be most helpful to a true beginner--regardless of his or her specific area of writing interest. The more seasoned writer may benefit from Macias' examples and concise advice, which serve to break the inevitable writers' blocks into manageable bits and pieces.

The strength of the book is its simplicity and its nearly universal applicability. I would recommend it to any beginning writer and to those who find themselves teaching a course on writing--from the homeschool family to the aspiring free-lance writer or blogger. Four stars for a practical book simply written.

Kathi Macias, author of seventeen books and ghostwriter/collaborator of books for prominent individuals, hits upon an ingenious way to start beginning writers on the right track-by her Train-of-Thought Writing Method workbook. By using the analogy of a train, she makes it easy for new writers to grasp how to write a story or book.

Beginning with "The Cow Catcher," a device old steam engines used to scoop up a cow-or any other critter-from the tracks, Macias shows how to grab a reader in the first paragraph. She moves from that point to "The Locomotive," which expands upon the cow catcher, scooping the reader into a story. Chugging on, Macias adds "The Boxcars," or chapters, "The Couplers," or transitions, then moves to "The Observation Car," where sight, sound, smell, and touch improve the chapters with rich color and detail. Macias completes her train by emphasizing the importance of a strong ending in "The Caboose."

At the end of each chapter, the workbook provides space for writers to add thoughts describing how to develop a lead paragraph, transitions, description, and a strong ending.

Macias takes the confusing process of writing and makes it easy to understand. Beginning writers will find this book not only entertaining but informative, and I highly recommend this unique book to both beginning and intermediate writers. The book would be perfect for critique groups, workshops and seminars.

Where was The Train-of-Thought Writing Method when I was teaching my son's to write? Although not written specifically for home educators, author Kathi Macias' method of turning thoughts into cohesive writing will help reluctant young writers move down the track.

Using a train analogy, from laying the tracks to coupling the cars, Ms. Macias' guides the reader through each step of the writing process. The exercises in each chapter lead to a completed work. Examples from fiction and non-fiction make the train-of-thought method useable for most writing.

Some home educators may be shaky with the concept of no right answer. Since Ms. Macias' idea is "... to know how best to take your thoughts and dreams and put them into a clean, compelling, readable manuscript..." a "right" answer is not possible. She guides the process, even giving her own examples for the exercises so the student can compare answers. Comments like, "... the words don't have to be exactly the same but the thought should be similar" lets the reader know that there is no one correct answer.

My sons would have grasped the concepts easily going from laying the track to building the train to caboose. Ms. Macias' mentor tone of "now you try it" is more engaging than the dry "Write three sentences using action verbs" of the typical composition book.

The Train-of-Thought Writing Method is the ticket for all beginning writers.

Thank you all for your wonderful reviews of William's book, The Transformation of Tammi. We plan on re-editing and re-releasing it under a new publishing house later this year along with the next book in the Tammi series. A limited number of signed copies will be available for purchase sometime in the fall. Also, look for Mr. Robinson's new novel, Demon of Mercy, to be released in early April. For information on upcoming works and obtaining an autographed copy of any of them, please email me at HisForeverRaven@aol.com. Again, we thank you all for your kind words!
Sincerely, Raven- agent, editor, and other things for A. William Robinson

Yes, this is Mr. Robinson's son. I was there from when it first went down on paper to the point where it is now. It took alot of sacrifice and hard work to bring to his readers the type of book that was not some stupid, plotless sex novel that they usually find. I am also proud to say this is only the begining for Tammi and Steve. Yes there are more tales of true passion and what it means to love someone so much that you are willing to do whatever it takes to keep them in your life, even if that means sacrificing and bending your own will to make them happy. Yes I have read it myself and as for being in a relationship of my own it has help ME to understand the meaning of true passionate love. (...)

I cannot begin to express adequately how much I enjoyed this book or how deeply it struck a cord in me. I understand well the transformation in Tammi because I have experienced the same transformation myself. Mr. Robinson has done a superb job in getting into the mind of Tammi and describing her feelings and experiences.
I recommend this book highly for anyone curious about the bdsm lifestyle and looking to get into the pool.

The Transformation of Tammi is a book that should be read by everyone who wishes to put a bit of zing back in their bedroom, or any other room for that matter. The story of Tammi and Steve is touching, laced with humor throughout. The dialogue between the characters is realistic and masterfully written. It's as though you are reading a movie. Just close your eyes and you can feel every scene. The relationship which Mr. Robinson develops between Tammi and Lisa makes you wonder if, in a future volume, he may have plans for something deeper. I certainly hope so! It's a book that will remain on my bedside table for a long time to come.

Mr. Robinson is the King of erotica! The Transformation of Tammi is the story of a young woman wanting to bring to life her husband's, and soul mate, every fantasy. At first I thought the book would contain one repetitive sex scene after another....boy was I wrong! This book is a must read for every married couple that has fallen into the hum-drum, routine of love-making. The Transformation of Tammi will definitely add some spice to your love life. I don't just recommend this book to women, but also men. Mr. Robinson has a complete understanding of what a woman wants and needs, and how to fulfill this need. I will continue to follow this new author's progress and of course wait impatiently for his next book! (Don't read too much at once, you might go blind :))

The friendship that has developed between B.J. and Barry in the course of the book takes you down so many varied and interesting paths. The essence of the story for me was experiencing the stunning revelations of the author in her honest portrayal of events in her life. I particularly liked the descriptions of events in her childhood. It was truly a page turner and I hope to see more of the same.

Priscilla Hayes, Cross Junction, VA

I enjoyed The Transparent Feather and found it to be a worthwhile read into the bargain. Author B.J. Appelgren writes with honesty, intelligence and perceptivity. The result is a book that not only is entertaining, but from which one can learn.

My aunt gave me the book. It is a wonderful story, and I am finding so many similarities with myself in it! This past year in particular, I feel a whole other journey about to open up for me, and perhaps one that will present me with greater introspection and knowledge. What perfect timing to receive the book, for the central theme of this new journey I have been presented with is about finally coming into who
and what I really am, discovering my true purpose(s)...
and at last living a life in complete harmony with my soul. Robyn Alezanders, writer, Philadelphia, PA

I want to thank you for one of the most enjoyable reading experiences I've had in a long time. I picked up The Transparent Feather on Friday night and could not put it down until Sunday night when I turned the last page and felt sad and disappointed.......I wanted more. Your words touched me, reminding me of the journey we all share and the people we meet along the way who influence our lives. Thank you again.
Connie Batelli, homeopathic practitioner, Riverside, Illinois

A fascinating memoir! This is an inspiring tribute and an engaging tale of a serendipitous friendship leading to growth and self-revelation.

I have the 2002 edition of the Travel Writer's Handbook (the 5th ed.). While it was updated to include the problems of post 9/11 problems it did not cover the Internet as much as one would expect. And the section on photography is still set in the pre-digital era.
That said, this is still the best all-around book on travel writing. Zobel covers different article types, how to do basic research,whether to accept freebies, what to take along on trips, keeping records for tax purposes and so forth. She spends a lot of time on interviewing techniques and different ways of capturing the sights and sounds of a travel destination.
I assume the newest edition (written with a co-author)is meant to bring this classic into the 21st century with references to pdas, laptops, digital cameras and other accoutrements that were hardly mentioned in the 2002 book. But when it comes to the basic elements of writing the travel article--whether for magazines, newspapers or the many travel websites out there--this book is still founded on solid information.

I read a lot of "how to" guides (trying to find career that I can enjoy) and Mrs. Zobel's is the best so far. She does a great job expanding on the basics and injecting her own personal stories when examples are needed. I re-read the book before every trip so that I don't forget any of her advice. I've already started research on one of my favorite destinations.

I really liked this book. The first six chapters are a little hard to get through, but the rest of the book is well worth the effort.

The chapters on interviewing, what to take with you, and market research are great. I learnt a lot from Zobel, her writing is friendly, helpful and crammed with useful and unusual facts.

A couple of years ago, I found a copy of the fourth edition of this book at a library bag sale. I read it cover to cover, devouring each word, and absorbing hints and tips into the molasses of my mind. To this day, some of these have shaped the way I approach my trips, and when I learned that a new edition had come out, I thought that it would make me a good Christmas present.

It's certainly an excellent book. But I found a few faults with it, all but one quite firmly the fault of the publisher. Let me get that over and done with before I continue with the good bits.

Criticisms:

1. There is no index. There should be. There is so much in this book that forcing the reader to re-read each chapter to find one nugget of information, or to take notes, seems very poor. Admittedly my copy is now covered in x marks and orange marker pen, but do you have any idea how far against the grain defacing a book goes?

2. I don't have any idea why, for this edition, there is a co-author. As far as I can see, this is not explained anywhere in the text. I'm not sure what a second author really contributes to the book. A second author certainly doesn't take away from it, but the major difference I can spot is that sentences beginning with "I" now begin with "Louise" or "Jacqueline". I don't get it. A brief introduction or explanation would have been nice.

3. Speaking of introductions, or the introduction, perhaps somebody should have proof-read it? It is quite obvious that someone did a quick and dirty search and replace and made a complete hash of it. Here is the first sentence of the book:

"Although the travel writing profession is seeing some difficult times this spring and summerthese (sic) past few years, this does not, by any means, indicate an end to the power and pleasure of the written wordtravel (sic) related stories."

This, the very first sentence of the introduction, was very off-putting. Howls of derision followed as I found other printed bloopers.

4. While there is a lovely updated chapter on digital photography, not once is my burning question answered: "What do you do when your magazine listing in "Writers Market 20073 says 'send slides/transparancies/prints?'" It would have been so nice to see a couple of paragraphs defining these terms and explaining how to go about handling the requests. The book seemed to assume that everyone would be using a digital camera, which is very nice because I do, but also seemed to assume that everybody who is a budding travel writer has some kind of in-built knowledge of what magazines want, which is not very nice because I don't. This book purports to be the definitive guide to travel writing, and in my opinion that's not something that should be missed out.

So saying...

This book is thorough. It covers all aspects of freelance writing for travel publications. It starts with a heavy emphasis on research: how to do it, where to get resources, what to look for. It covers interviewing: how to find sources and how to interview them. There is an entire chapter on querying, which I found very useful, as well as etiquette and ways to make yourself look professional even when you're a rank newbie.

I found the chapter entitled "being there is never enough" particlarly useful. It covers how to take notes, how to start noticing, and how to make sure you don't forget what you've seen. You are coached in what to bring along and how to handle it, as well as being reminded that some countries have different dress codes and you'd better be looking like the locals if you go there and want to fit it. Travel is about getting in amongst the people, and if you're wearing clothes that scream "tourist" you're never actually likely to get that far.

One key point emphasized over and over again is that you never write "generally"; always, always you must key your writing to a specific audience...and that without marketing, without learning that and working out your own system (I didn't really "get" the author's system as described) you'll never get far beyond "Gee, I want to be a writer." One of the last chapters in the book, and one of the most helpful, lists 25 different types of travel articles to help you a) find your voice and b) get the most mileage out of your existing writing.

There is some information in here about running the business and organizing yourself, dealing with editors and even the ethics of press trips. A little like having your own personal coach, despite my quibbles this book still thoroughly deserves its title as a classic. And it's highly likely that come the seventh edition, this one will be so thumbed over and have so many pages hanging out from constant reference that I'll need to buy that one, too.

I am now reading this book again before departing to Italy. I am not exactly a "travel writer", but I need some of the same skills to write and edit my travel website. This book is a tremendous help in preparing for a trip knowing I will come back with the information I need. This books coveres everything from packing to writing. It is very readable and very useful.