Digital Books

I was very taken with the prose style. Every time I felt confused or curious (who is that? what just happened?) I was given an explanation in a beautifully subtle way that didn't drag down the narrative. It was a pleasure to read.
I purposely didn't read the synopsis or any reviews before I read the excerpt, and I must say I had no idea when or where the story was taking place. A place and date would be nice.
Like some other reviewers I too wondered about the modern language elements. In the end I decided it was for the better. The story is written in modern English after all, and making it sound formal or antiquated would not have expressed how ordinary people have always spoken to one another. The greater pitfall will be if modern culture and values are transported to ancient times. (e.g. Were girls allowed to participate in competitive sports?).
Very well done, Mr. Gage!

An engaging story with pertinent details and an interesting setting. Believable, likable characters. Opening somewhat confusing. Most of the writing was strong and in active voice. Some spots could be smoother, such as the transition about serious choices. Ending of chap. one too quick - should be milked a little. I had some confusion about the time period due to the odd names of the characters and names of towns combined with dialog that is contemporary, "Get off me already." The writing was appropriate for a young adult novel. Good job, Atthys.

The Quickening Wind is captivating from the first paragraph. The pacing of the story is good so far --not too much too soon, but enough to grab and hold the reader. The author helped me to clearly visualize the story, down to small details like Tak's fingers walking along the tree limb. I think the book would benefit from even a bit more description of the setting. Please publish this so I can find out what happens to Tak!

I am struck by how few words this author uses to convey whole characters or settings. The names alone establish the setting, ie, Tak, Thetis, Leannas, Sentry Rock. This makes for a fast-paced adventure story that takes place a very long time ago in the Mediterranean. I like how the author plunks us down from the very beginning in the middle of an exciting story with a 50 headed monster and a heroine who strikes him down. It's definitely a beginning that makes me want to read more. There is just the right mix of dialogue, action, and exposition. The relationship between Tak and Lyssa is so refreshing with their easy friendship that allows them to be angry with one another one minute and laughing the next. The author perfectly captures the child-like play where kids move effortlessly from one game to the next. This is an exciting story that weaves an ancient setting and time with strong characters.

Like several other reviewers, I'm not a reader of young adult fiction but from the opening paragraph this story captured my imagination and attention.

I can see how the pace of the story will appeal to younger readers, but Gage uses more than "scene changes" to keep you connected to the characters. Gage's use of dialog, role playing, history and imagery made this a delight to read and it ended too soon for me.

The tag associated with Quikening Wind seems very appropriate to me..."living myth". The author blends old and new together with vivid symbolism that brings ancient Greece into the hands of the reader.

A good pal of mine downloaded this story.

I was pretty impressed as I read it on his computer.

Miss Dravis has a slithery way of writing as I have found out. Miss Dravis' style of writing is unique.

I think she will write many more unique Amazon Shorts. At least I hope she will.

I highly recommend this read and anxiously look forward to MORE of her writings.
Highly recommended.

What a clever short story this is. It is based on an odd premise--that Janis Joplin's "Bobby McGee" is alive and well--in Salinas, California. Things are not always as they seem, and this short story weaves a nice tale.

A husband and wife are on an apparently dreary bus cruise when they stop at a place where they understand Bobby McGee to live. The husband is willing to go along with his wife's quest to meet the legend.

This 9 page story speeds by to its surprising conclusion. I doubt that most readers will anticipate where this work ends!

Anyhow, if you are interested in Janis Joplin's world and willing to be caught up in this tale, I'd recomment it.

Just when I was about to make my appearance on CNN for an interview about my help in solving the disappearance of Bobby McGee, the station cancelled it! I was distraught. How dare they. I have always been the one to walk off news stations if it wasn't to my liking, and now they were being downright rude to me! How silly of me to think that I was the only one who could get away with this. Believe me, next time I will surely light more spiritual candles for help.

Anyway - I was told that there was no need for the interview because of something that came to their attention. The t.v. director handed me this short story and, after reading it, I totally understood.

This is a cute but telling tale of how two retirees take a bus trip and, as they stop in Salinas, recall that old Janis Joplin tune "Me and Bobby McGee". Winnie, who has a firecracker attitude, tells her husband Virgil of all the great times she had listening to the music and wouldn't it be fun to search for the one and only Bobby McGee that broke Janis Joplin's heart so long ago? Virgil is cranky but he goes along with it.

What I find remarkable here is the talent to bring these two characters to life. You get a feel that, even though they have both entered the twilight of their years, that they are still both madly, deeply in love with each other. This comes across in the way these two respond to each other. Certainly, the dialogue reveals so much. But, it's in the thoughts and actions of the two main characters. Winnie still finds Virgil attractive, after many years, in blue jeans. And he admires his wife's "not dull" spirit for all the travel trips they took together, and especially how she maneuvered her way through snowbanks like "Tonya Harding's grandmother".

It is in witty and pinpoint passages such as these that bring the richness of the characters to life. So much of their affection for one another can be conveyed in such an economical way. Virgil is willing to overlook the inconvenience of Winnie's hair-brained scheme because there is true love. But, in the end, the result is not what we expect at all.

This is a cute, comfortable tale, but there are underpinnings that support a greater, wider reality. In many ways, this tale is about fantasy, and what we want to believe as opposed to what's true. There are many things here: the idea that love keeps us eternally young ( and somewhat naive), that after a long journey through life and experience, all things can be cast away for the idea of a journey for youth. It is the encroachment of harsh reality upon the wonder of belief. And in this the author, this Betty Dravis, succeeds on a level that is so difficult, and so hard to achieve.

This is a short, cute little tale. But, it opens up many avenues to the nature of all mankind and how the heartless can take full advantage of the innocence of aging youth. So splendidly done. And, I won't reveal the twist (not that there is one), and you can't make me!

An interesting, satisfying, thought-provoking tale. One that examines where you are at on the spectrum of the inner soul morality of humanity. Confused yet? Don't be. Investigate for yourself and ask yourself the hard questions this story offers.

Now, I must get out of this studio and search for a bus stop. I am sure that there are people there that desperately need my enlightenment! Great tale people!

Break it! Take another little piece of my heart now baby! - Metamorpho ;)

I simply adore Betty's short stories because she is a chameleon who can morph her writing styles into any genre and category, romance, horror, humor, you name it she can masterfully weave words into a believable story. Even though all the pages are rich with action my favorite part is always the ending, you can expect a clever twist that leaves the reader in awe.

In this tale, a married couple who's bored of their usual vacations that include safaris, whale watching and trekking through Europe decides to take a detour and do something different for a change. Following the rumors that the famous lonely ex-lover of the late Janis Joplin is still possibly in the area of their breakfast stop- Denny's in Salinas, they decide to track him down. Virgil's wife Winnie is still smitten with the dreamy heartthrob and relentlessly he follows his wife like the good husband that he is...Their search turns up successful but with very surprising results, it seems that Bobby is as famous as his famed mistress and people will do anything to meet him.

Short and fun, a must read for lovers of surprise endings!

- Kasia S.

Half way through this short story I felt the corners of my mouth turning up in a smile. At the end of it, I put my head down on my desk and snorted. Why? For the simple fun of it all! The short story is a beloved form for me, grabbing the reader quickly, painting a vivid picture, then leaving the reader satisfied that their time was well spent with a work that can be enjoyed in a single sitting. How nice it is to find another such a fun example of this. Even though this is a very short story, the characterizations reminded me a bit of Anne Tyler's work. You don't have to scratch very deeply to find the quirkiness in these folks. But they also remind you of lots of people you have known. I can attest that the ending is indeed snort-worthy. You'll have a ball. Thanks Betty for the fun side-trip, the freeway was getting boring!

This is a well written book that includes useful information and tips from someone who has obviously been onsite for some troublesome shoots...and who made creative workthroughs for those problems. The supplemental DVD (including tips and sample release forms) is a very generous bonus, and makes this well worth the investment.

So far i have only watched the DVD (excellent tips and resources) and emailed anthony (he wrote right back)...can't wait to get started.

and looking forward to learning more from him
very accessible and clear ....what a great find.

he really makes you feel like anything is possible..very positive
I'm digging into a whole new world

thank you Anthony

I'm a working Hollywood director and just finished traveling to 20 countries over two years for my latest feature documentary, so I've seen it all. While browsing through the bookstore, I came across "Shup Up and Shoot" and started leafing through it. Suffice to say, it is as accurate and spot-on as it is comprehensive. Lavishly illustrated and meticulously researched, "Shut-Up" is the idea reference guide to carry with you on your documentary shoot. Whether you're just getting started or a seasoned pro, I'd highly recommend this book!

this book is great. if you are an aspiring filmaker and you need practicle information to help you get started this book is perfect. i am a film school senoir (i wont say where cause i dont want them to look bad) and i learned so much more useful stuff from this book than i ever have at school. based on what i learned in this book i am already starting pre-production on a project that i am shooting this summer. this book is an invaluable tool for every documentary filmaker starting out. this is the book you are looking for, so buy it already, you will be incredibly glad you did.

A Must Read!, February 17, 2008
By Keesha Monroe - See all my reviews

I loved this book and would highly recommend it to any aspiring filmmakers. Now when I watch documentaries I see them so differently..with "new eyes" because of the knowledge I acquired from this book. I am a film student and I am anxious to begin work but I feel like the pace we are moving at school is too slow, I want to gain hands on experience. I want to have access to the basic information I need to get started, I do not want to wait for my degree or until I have "lots" of money to start my projects. I want to begin now while I have the passion. This book lays out how to do just that. No matter how much money, how much schooling, or what equipment you have, this book spells it out in plain English what to do and what not to do. It is an easy read and if you are a visual learner then you will love the photos, diagrams, and illustrations in this book. The DVD was an excellent added bonus. Most of all this book made my dreams of producing/directing documentaries seem obtainable in the near future. I will continue to use this as a reference book and place it right alongside my school books. If you are ready to stop dreaming about making films and ready to begin to make them then trust me get this book it will make your dream feel possible.

"Utopia Closes" reveals to us an all-too-realistic future where brand names are the only nouns that matter and journalism is a notch below pornography on the ladder of decency. Follow Baby Trousers, in his quest to become a composer in an ugly landscape--whether it is read in Ireland or in the United States, "Utopia Closes" describes a familiar sensation--that of the political apparatus closing around us.

As funny as Flann, as detailed as Dedalus and as wild as, umm, Wilde.
Here's hoping we get a chance to read the whole thing and find out if it's as barmy as Beckett.

Biting, satirical view of the land of the Green Tiger, could it be as bad as this or worse? Read on . . . [[ASIN:B00121WDG0 Utopia Closes - Official ABNA Entrant

A witty and engaging read that ended too soon--loved the ironic crafting of the characters, especially the Marshal.

Fin Keegan rewrites recent Irish history in the terms of a Stalinist fable, creating a hilarious and ambitious vision of his native land as green bear rather than green tiger.

Build a personal library of information using free web resources with the help of Tomaiuolo's The Web Library: Building A World Class Personal Library With Free Web Resources, edited by Barbara Quint. The Web Library is simply packed with web links and updates, as well as assessments of the pros and cons of given reference sites. Anyone can use no/low cost Web resources to build a comprehensive personal library of data, documents and images: The Web Library outlines keys to locating such gold mines and includes interviews with librarians and leading content providers alike.

I usually steer clear of web site directory books because they become obsolete very quickly. This book presents more than lists of sites. It contains some unusual and even provocative information concerning whether it is preferable to read in hardcopy or online; it also has interviews with people who create content at the freebie sites and this gave me a fresh perspective on the availability of free resources. The best thing is that isn't chock full of screenshots, it's full of information.

I spend a lot of hours searching the web for work. I bought a copy of this book and it kept disappearing off my desk--borrowed by co-workers. Now I keep it locked in my desk drawer--they'll have to buy their own copies! Well done, Nicholas and Barbara! Hope to see more of your books in print.

This book was a wonderful book which I was pleased to share with my co-workers, most of whom are all resourceful men and women who search the internet for work. As a businessman, I must say that this book was incredibly useful in my many projects and has brought my company's profit up by 3%.

I was lucky enough to be given this book as a gift, because my parents know that I often use the web to locate information for school projects. It has tons of useful websites and is well-organized. I definitely recommend it.

I really wish I had discovered this earlier! I received it yesterday and have already fell in love with the wide array of add-ins that are included on the cd. The book is a great tool to quickly identify the effect that I want. This is a must-have for anyone who has Photoshop Elements!

The book isn't worth much, but the plugins are great. The one click stuff is a great time saver for me, and it really does make things look more snappy without too much hassle. Well worth it for the CD full of plugins!

I love this book. I've already used alot of the layer styles already. Lots of examples. Tons of ideas.

I have had Photoshop Elements 2 for over a year, but until I got this book and CD ROM I had no idea just how creative I could be with the program. There were a lot of effects that I tried to apply to my art but did not quite get the results I desired. This book has helped me unleash my "creative genius". As graphic design student, I have found it to be the best investment I have made besides my computer components. You will find the book helpful, as well, to view the layer styles before applying them to your art. I had found at first that I spent a great deal of time applying and deleting styles and effects before finding the right one, and then I read the book (duh!). I found full-color samples of all the different presets contained on the disk scattered throughout the chapters. It is a small book, but it is very content-rich.

I had used Photoshop 7 in the graphic design lab at school , but I could not afford to buy it. This book and PSE 2 together cost less than $100, and I have no problem duplicating lessons and completing projects at home that are supposed to be done using PS 7.

When Adobe introduced Photoshop Elements it had a low-end program for newcomers to digital photography. It based the cut-down Elements program on its expensive and complex main Photoshop program. However, when you buy Elements you are actually installing quite a lot of the main program (even though no menu commands exist to use new features), and people have been finding ways to exploit the advanced features of Photoshop that Adobe thought would be too complex for Elements users.

Several web sites and two books supply software to advance the capabilities of Elements. One book lets you use some of the professional-level features of the main program, and the other provides some wild effects. That book is the One-Click Wow book I'm reviewing here (the other one is Richard Lynch's The Hidden Powers of Photoshop Elements).

Years ago I wrote a book on Photoshop version 3, and even without enhancements Photoshop Elements 3 is close to being equal to it. The effects in One-Click Wow can be done in several steps in the Main Photoshop program, and in fact that's how they're produced. Unfortunately the effects are of the "take it or leave it" variety - there's no way of altering them - but luckily Jack Davis has produced effects that will appeal to most people.

Because this is a "cheat" and not an officialy approved set of program extensions, you have to manually copy the extensions from the CD to your hard drive. If Elements is running you need to reboot, and then you'll find them listed in the menus for Layer Effects and other places.

One set of extensions work on photographs, and as well as those allowing you to change the appearance of the whole photograph there are other effects that let you add frames or edges. There's a whole series of effects that allows you to change a photograph so that it looks like a painting.

The major set of effects works on graphics and type. They'll change your designs and words to look like chrome or many kinds of natural materials, as well as plenty that look like neon signs. In fact there are several hundred effects, as well as extra brushes and patterns.

It's easiest to see this product not so much as a book, but more like a software add-on with an instruction manual that gives examples of almost every effect - in full color. There's even a multi-page tutorial in using the effects which should explain all you need to know about how to use them.

Davis has been producing the Photoshop Wow books of effects since the beginning of the main program, so the effects here will make a major difference to your pictures. What I've also noticed is the way Davis crops his pictures which is a tutorial in itself - he crops very tightly and you can see the improvement.

So if you can see a copy of this book before you buy it, take a look because what you see is what you're going to get. For most people it's a no-brainer buy, especially since even if you had the main Photoshop program you'd have to do numerous activities on your pictures to equal what you get here.

For the price, it's an amazing bargain for the extra powers you get. I have both this and The Hidden Power of Photoshop Elements, and the two of them make Elements a much more powerful and worthwhile program.

This is a good book, that covers a lot of info. It also holds up as a book, and not just a how-to. All the info in this book is good info, but it is better suited for large markets. Don't expect to be able to read this book and be able run a business right of the gates, but at the same time this will help get you on the right track. Get this book, it is a good look into how someone got into the business and was able to make it work for a long time.

A great book that gives you the important information you need to run your own production company! I don't know of another title that actually tells you how to get the work that will support your financial needs. After all, you have to have work coming in the door or else...

I am an instructor at advanced multimedia classes at a Business School close to Copenhagen, Denmark. I've been around for a while and have been working with 3D, animation, database programing and webdesign and I have also read parts of this book with great excitement and can't wait to finish it. This is a book that has been a demand for on the Danish market for several years...and now it is here. Wonderful. I particularly like the very direct and bold way it describes how the future entrepreneurs should behave on the market in order to survive. Conclusion: the absolute BEST step-by-step book ever written on the topic and a must for anyone going into the media business.

As a reader just finishing the final pages of 'Desktop Video Studio Bible', I must say I totally enjoyed it. This is an excellent guideline to starting and maintaining a business. I'll keep this as a reference for years.

My wife and I have recently started a media production business on the side as presently we both work for a large computer company. I have been in the engineering related field for over 20 years. We got started in this media business at home doing simple home movies and transferring video tape. Slowly the word spread at work and among friends and before too long we saw a nucleus for a potential business. This spring we presented a surprise 40th birthday video produced by our company at a party hosting about 80 people. It was a great success and was a rush and now we are hooked. Maybe this was a peripheral effect of the "Really Big Thing"? Read this book to find out about the "Really Big Thing".

Even though I have over 16 years experience in the video industry, this book has given me the tools, advice and motivation that I'll need to finally realize my dream of owning my own media creation business.

Not only is the book extremely informative, it has a very readable and enjoyable writing style that made me feel as if the author were speaking directly to me. If you have even the slightest interest in getting involved in digital video production and/or web production, you need this book!

If you love music and you love a good novel, this book is for you. From the first sentence you are drawn into the story and want to know more. Duet for Solo Piano--what an intriguing idea! The story is written with a depth of knowledge of classical music and of the music world. Romance, tragedy, redemption--this book has it all. And before you've even finished the first chapter, you'll want to run out and buy the Franck Sonata so you can listen to it while you read the rest of this outstanding novel!

What if you watched your mother pour out her love to your father, to friends--even to the people in the audience at her concerts--and there seemed to be none left for you? Through music and memory, Toll begins her riveting story of a talented musician who must wrestle with the dissonance of the mother he knew and the woman everyone else adored.

I loved this excerpt from Duet for Solo Piano, and wanted to read more. The characters and their world were immediately believable and compelling, the details convincing. Brava!

Even for those not musically inclined, this excerpt offers a comprehensible insight into the refined world of classical music. The character relationships are human, inspiring both sympathy and understanding in the reader. The thought-processes and reactions of the characters are poignantly established and engage the reader instantly. Excellent.

An engaging beginning to what is surely a magnificent novel! In the too-brief excerpt, we have both a strong sense of the tensions that will likely unfold in the rest of book and an expertly expressed limning of the personalities and motivations of its major characters. From the opening paragraphs, Ms. Toll sets up Time as a key element in the book, as the main characters, Laurence Kates and his only son, Adam, look backward at moments in their lives when they themselves were looking forward. This counterpoint between past and present, and the related changes in perspective from father to son, are as compelling as a metronome. They give an energy to the work, and feel organic to the story of the relationships among and between the accomplished musician members of the Kates family. It leaves the reader with a desire for more, with a (delicious) uncertainty about whether the outcome will be in a major or minor key. Brava!

I am so thankful for the insightfulness of Mr. Aronson. I have done more conceptual video work in the past when I was a graduate student in photography. I am looking a doing another educational project and wanted to brush up on my skills. The book provides me with the knowledge I can use to feel much more confident in the upcoming project as well as exploring my own fine art projects. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in digital video.

este es un libro que explica de manera didáctica ,todos los procesos que tiene una producción audiovisual.
Muy bien ilustrado, con ejemplos que ayudan al nuevo realizador audiovisual a enfrentar sus primeras producciones de una forma segura, buscando que éste no cometa errores que luego pueden demeritar su trabajo.
La única crítica que tengo para hacer de esta obra, es que los ejemplos de montaje los realizan en programa específicos , como Final Cut, algo que de alguna manera deja sin posibilidades a aquellos que manejamos plataformas de edición diferentes.

"DV Filmaking from Start to Finish" is a !!MASTERPIECE!!. It is a book I
recommend to anyone interested in Digital Video. Reading the book was like having Mr. Ian David Aronson in your room sharing with you all of his knowledge.

This book it's not a 18 chapter tutorial on learning Final Cut Pro or After Effects. It's more like traveling back in time and learning from the history of Digital Video to the present day. Aronson show's everything, from film to video, the way you should treat your camera, what you should be
prepared with; lighting, greenscreen, Hardware, white balance, DVD
authoring,
aspect ratios, you name it, including some basic tutorials on doing
edits.
He even gives you an internet address to look and confirm what he is showing
you.

If you are an advanced editor, this book is for you. This book is for to
read,
learn and keep it forever just in case you forget a detail, so you can
review it again and again. I was amazed with the things I have learned from
Mr.
Aronson. Thank you and I'll hope to read another book from him.

Jorge Raphael Valenzuela Hernández
Graphic Artist / Videographer

DV Filmmaking From Start To Finish by Ian David Aronson's will reach both amateur and professional digital video users with a basic primer on differences between digital and print mediums. Familiarity with Final Cut Pro or Adobe After Effects, the two programs used here, will aid in understanding DV applications in either PC or Mac formats, while the author's background as a teacher of digital media lends a logical progression to his tips and practical applied examples.

DV Filmmaking for Ian David Aronson gives you in 18 chapter a coverage for the production, post-production and distribution process of the digital film making.
The book starts with basic digital Cinematography principles. It covers he process stages such as composing shoots, lighting, shooting, working with cameras, audio, still images and titles.
This book doesn't give you a specific software tutorial, but if you are working learning with video production and video editing program, you should get a background about the whole film making process. However, this book gives you a strong background in this industry. I find this book useful for animators, multimedia designers and creative directors.

The two appendixes in the end of the book gives you a tips about getting your work in various media and selling your products.

I have witnessed the proliferation of data networks over last fifteen years during which time
network security has grown to multi-million dollar business. I have taught and consulted on
design and implementation of network security.In today's corporate and SOHO network, secuirty
is extremely critical to protect and safeguard data. Firewall technology provides a defense
mechanism against unautorized access to data networks. This textbook provides a comprehensive
treatment of firewall from introduction to management and advanced configuration. The appendix
has a list of current firewall vendors that should be of extreme helpful to any reader. I would
highly recommend this text to anyone before they decide to purchase firewall to secure their network.

This book covers firewall implementation, configuration and maintenance with excellent references and examples. John Vacca starts with installation and setup and then moves into implementing and maintance. Along the way many real life experiences are used as examples. Before you start or before you do any updateing on your firewall be sure to read this book.

Having worked in the computer network/security field for the last 16 years, I found this book to contain most everything you need to have a working knowledge of firewalls. I would highly recommend this book to anyone that needs to come up to speed quickly and/or needs a refresher course. I find myself now to be in the later category but I wished this book had been written when I was first starting out as it would have saved me a ton of time.

I highly recommend "Firewalls" by John Vacca. I found the book to be extremely helpfully in understanding the configuration and maintenance of firewalls as well as a great reference for the different types of security infrastructures that can be implemented using the technologies available today. "Firewalls" is an excellent knowledge base that I would recommend as a must read for anyone in the computer security and system administration fields.

I fell into the category of "I know what a router is but I hope I never have to set one up." Our routers were handled by another talented memeber of our team. When she left, I gave it shot using some manuals we had from cisco and some other informatin passed down from project to project. Completely lost, I decided to start from the beginning. This text was just the ticket to get me started!