Works Books

The primary purpose and goal of a writer's workshop is to help writers improve their writing. Simply stated, but often quite difficulty to accomplish because like most things in life, writer workshops can be classified into one of three categories -- the good, the bad, and the mediocre. Now in an updated and expanded second edition, award-winning writer and teacher Josip Novakovich's "Fiction Writer's Workshop" is clearly one of the good ones in the form of a comprehensive instructional that covers every aspect of the art of fiction while providing aspiring and practicing writers with all the tools and techniques useful to developing the consistent, day-to-day discipline so fundamentally necessary for becoming a success professional at the literary craft. Offering more than one hundred writing exercises, with each exercise including a specific statement of purpose to guide the aspiring author through every step of the creative process, "Fiction Writer's Workshop" also provides self-critique questions with each exercise for assessing written works with an eye toward identifying weaknesses and strengths before moving on to the next lesson. Enhanced with the full text of eight acclaimed short stories complete with analysis and exercises suitable for modeling and the reinforcement of 'lessons learned', "Fiction Writer's Workshop" is appropriate for all fiction writers regardless of personal writing styles. Especially recommended for those aspiring to write publishable works of fiction, the "Fiction Writer's Workshop" should be considered indispensable reading for anyone who has every considered or attempted writing the kind of novels and short stories that would attract the attention of academia, the general populace, and generations of future readers yet unborn.

I own the first edition. I'm a sculptor but in coming up with ideas I have recently thought of writing stories involving my characters. I borrowed this book from a friend about three years ago and rediscovered in on my bookshelf about two weeks ago. I love it. Buy the second edition. It includes short stories.

This book is a must read for anyone who has trouble getting started. The mantra that has been beaten into my head over and over by most college professors is the importance of writing everyday. However, that's often easier said than done. Outside of CW courses, class assignments and workshops, it's been very difficult for me to get started and I've never been big on journaling. This excercises in this book have provided me with countless "assignments" to help get the creative juices flowing. If you find that you need a little push to get going, this book is for you.

I have taken several classes lately and with them gotten several books. Most of them have at least some valuable information to make one a better writer with modern examples, but this book is unique in that you never feel like the author is giving you lines in which you are supposed to color inside of to make a good picture. You never feel pressured either. Since I am a beginning writer, this was the perfect atmosphere for me because there was room to learn new things, and reject some things without feeling I am suffering long-term as a writer. If one feels a strong sense of personal voice, this is the best book to acquire and develop new skills (as well as refine existing ones)

Once you have read an introductory book like Brayfield's Bestseller or Kings 'On writing' this is the book to buy and use.

Novakovich covers there basic elements: Setting /Character/Plot/PoV/Dialogue & Scene/Begins and endings / description/ vice and revision. He uses numerous examples form published literature and each chapter concludes with a number of good exercises.

One topic Novakovich does not cover is writers block. Maybe that is because he provides the solutions. Writers block is either due to lack of ideas or anxiety about one's writing. Novakovich provides the solutions - a chapter on the sources of fiction and a reference book to dip into every time one feels a anxious.

The beauty of Fiction Writers Workshop is the exercise - do them - and that all aspects are covered in one short book. That is also its disadvantage. Successful writing is complex, it requires fluent and adaptive use of a number of skills. To become fluent you will need to read and practice each in greater depth than can be provided in one book that covers them all. Don't make the mistake I made of going in depth on one skill first. It can lead to imbalance. Start with Fiction Writers Workshop and you will gain a balance.

Readers of this review can review it - tick the box 'useful' or 'not useful'. There is something I have noticed in those reviews. If reviews are critical then people are less likely to tick the box - 'useful' and more likely to tick the box 'Not useful'. What they are in fact saying is 'It was a nice review'. For a writer that is the worst kind of review. It leads you up the garden path. An author needs is honest candid review.

I'm not being nice about Fiction Writer's Workshop. It is that good.

just Jack

THIS WILL SHOW YOU THE REAL DEAL OF THE DOG EAT DOG UNIVERSE OF BUGS, IN YOUR FRONT AND BACKYARD...............

This is a great book it has wonderful pictures so that you may identify the bugs that you are looking for. I purchased one for myself and one for my daughter and we both love them.

I received this as a gift after I mentioned that I loved the Orkin insect zoo at the Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. It was not a book I would have bought for myself, but it has become indispensable bedtime reading! The pictures are vibrant and accompanied by hard-to-forget descriptions and explanations. I especially love the pictures taken by Whitney Cranshaw himself. This book is very accessible to those who are interested in the secret tiny life that exists off of their back porch, people who don't know where to start and therefore keep pushing it off. Even the way the bugs are organized in the book is perfect- Leaf Chewers, Sap Suckers, Gall Makers, Twig Damagers, Branch Borers, Bulb Feeders... doesn't this sound like the most beautiful poem in the world??

This bok is very inclusive in it's content and very easy to look up insect for information or identification. It is used by Master Gardeners in our part of the country wth great appreciation for a book of such quality buyt yet affordble.

one shouldn't take this book lightly, it is a large and heavy tome with lots of great information and photos. i think that the author, whitney cranshaw, did a great job in how he presents the information. one bit that i would have liked to have is distribution map. information is given about distribution, but i like to have maps too.

i would have enjoyed even more information on each insect he covers, but that would make the book at least twice it's size. that probably wouldn't work at it is already 656 pages long.

it would also be neat if this author could do books on different regions of our country in this format.

For any Cleveland native or visitor, this book depicts the Metroparks as it is, in its natural beauty. I ride through the "Emerald Necklace", as it's known, on my motorcycle at least twice annually with my father. The book reminds me of those experiences.

Of particular interest, beyond the great photography, are the histories and information about each of the park reservations. I highly recommend this book.

My husband's grandfather gave him a subscripition to the Emerald Necklace newsletter when he was a young boy. I bought this book for his dad because he is a Cleveland history buff. When Jim saw it, he mentioned how the Emerald necklace would always remind him of his grandfather who used to take him to the various parks around their neighborhood. If you live in Cleveland, you must have this book. It depicts all of the parks in seasonal splendor and even if you haven't visited them all, you will appreciate what a "gem" we have here in Cleveland in the Emerald Necklace. Thanks to Gary for bringing back fond childhood memories for my husband and the family and creating a keepsake for generations to come!

This book rekindles some great childhood memories. During the 1940's and 50's, my friends and I roamed the "valley" as we called it then. Mr. Marmolya captured countless treasures, cropping out today's clutter, and displaying them as they were 50 years ago. That reflects true talent. This is the first book that I have ever purchased after having read a copy from Cuyahoga County Library. Super book!

I have seen many photos that Gary Marmolya has done. He has the ability to capture the essence of Cleveland in his work, and his attention to detail shows us off well. His photos of the four seasons are spectacular. If he's not doing this work full-time, then Cleveland is missing a great photographer who could "sell" our town to many outsiders looking to relocate. He has a great creative soul.

GEMS OF THE NECKLACE IS A MOST UNUSUAL BOOK-FIRST OF ALL I LOVE
HOW GARY MARMOLYA CAPTURED A BEAUTIFUL PICTURE OF EACH SEASON
FOR EACH OF THE RESERVATIONS IN THE PARK SYSTEM. THEN THE BEST
PART IS AT THE BACK OF THE BOOK WHERE HE EXPLAINS WHY HE TOOK
THAT PARTICULAR PICTURE AND WHAT HE WAS FEELING AT THE TIME.
SO THEN, WHEN YOU GO BACK TO LOOK AT THE PICTURE AGAIN,YOU VIEW
IT WITH MORE MEANING THAN JUST A PRETTY PICTURE.
GEMS OF THE NECKLACE IS A MUST HAVE-NOT ONLY FOR PEOPLE FAMILIAR

WITH THE PARK SYSTEM BUT A BOOK SO UNUSUAL,EVERYONE WILL ENJOY IT.A GREAT GIFT FOR ANY OCCASION.THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES!!!!!!

This is the best book for gemstone I ever have. It's very detail and compact information without too much bla... bla... bla...

A great travel guide for those buying/looking at gemstones, lots of visual id's...well worth price.

I use this book constantly as a reference in my hobby. It not only has complete descriptions of the gemstones, but the color pictures are marvelous and include not just one, but MANY pictuers of the gemstones in the rough, polished and cut states. You will be glad you purchased this book.

This book is excellent for everyone. Perfect combination of words and pictures. The things I found to be useful are the descriptions for each gemstone and they have a list of what each gemstone may possibly be confused with. They also give you alternative names for gemstones and the history of the name with its meaning. If you are interested in gemstones this is the book for you.

well, i knew about the book already. I decided to purchase it from Amazon marketplace because of its best service and best price offered. And no doubt, this book is one of the best available on the information of Gemstones

When you're going through hard times, you're too close to the pain to learn the lesson from it. Usually it takes years of distance before you're objective enough to gain any benefit. How to see beyond the surface suffering is what R.T. Kendall teaches in God Meant It For Good.

Kendall's insights are simple yet profound: "Would it change your conversation if Jesus physically walked up when you were talking?" "We feel no need of the Savior as long as we are enjoying plenty." "The question is, do you trust Him?"

I learned about this book in a strange place, the autobiography of Jim Bakker, titled I Was Wrong. I'm suspicious of rave reviews on Amazon, so I had to read it for myself. It's everything the other reviewers and Bakker said and more.

What you'll like most about it is that it's easy reading yet will cause you to think deeply about your life and God's hand in it. We tend to believe in circumstances and coincidence when the truth is that a loving God was arranging things behind the scenes all the while.

If you're feeling frustrated or abandoned, treat yourself to God Meant It For Good. When you understand how God has been refining you and shaping you into the character of his Son, it will bring tears of joy to your eyes.

I got this book yesterday and I will have read by tonight. I can not put this book down! Joseph knew betrayal and trials. The author explores Joseph's struggles and helps us explore ours. All I need to know is that God hasn't forgotten me in the midst of this mess and if I cling to Him He will bring me through...as gold, even. This book is biblical and that alone soothes my soul. It's an easy read. I'm not sure what Bible translation he uses, but my guess is King James. That's okay, because it just makes me dig in my NIV a little deeper. I'm telling you...if you are desperately looking for God in your current betrayal, struggle, problem...this book will lead you to Him if you're willing to be lead.

This is a good read. Each chapter came from a Sunday's sermon -- so easy to read a few pages and set aside, and easily pickup again later. I strongly recommend this book!

An absolute read for everyone
essential for anyone who has been "screwed over"

If someone or some organization has "done you dirt" then you'll live longer and happier if you read this book.

This is truly one of the best books ever written. Actually, anything by RT Kendall is a book with substance

This is a remarkable book, (which I suggest, should be read after Wake Up Now by Stephan Bodian, if you are involved in meditative practice.) The Grace of Dying follows the same tone and thread but with an emphasis on spiritual transformation during the dying process. It sounds grim, but is exactly the opposite. This is a book I will always keep, to aid me and those close to me at a time of radical transformation. To help me remember why and how to to LET GO with joy and grace.

I came across a copy of this book a few months after my mother's passing. Although I was familiar with various perspectives on the spiritual and transpersonal aspects of dying this book was my guide to understanding some of the subtleties of her physical and mental withdrawal. It provided me with some "aha!" insights.

This insightful book about the "psycho-spiritual" aspects of dying, draws upon the perspectives of several spiritual traditions, largely eastern. I found it to be a wonderful blend of Sogyal Rinpoche and Elizabeth Kubler-Ross.

The topic does not make for easy, light, quick reading, but it is not difficult to understand if one keeps an open mind, regardless of one's faith. The material can be as fluid, thought-provoking, or as complex as a reader perceives it to be.

It ought to be required reading for any medical student and professional, as a mind-opener, much as a world-religions glass educates people about different faiths; no conversion necessary. Many thanks to Ms. Singh for her valuable work!

E.A. Davis, author, Waiting for Wings: Accompanying a Parent to the Edge of Life

With profound wisdom and insight, Kathleen Dowling Singh offers a uniquely clear view of the arc of life, encouraging readers to open into the gifts of awareness made available through facing death. This book will open your eyes to truths about where we came from and where we're going, and help clarify the beauty of this journey of human existence. Her writing style is clear and incisive, as well as compassionate and poetic. I recommend this book to everyone who desires greater self-awareness and who enjoys expanding their consciousness.

I have read many books on the dying as I work with hospices and have to say, this is one of the best books I have read yet. It not only gives the experience of the person dying, but also with those surrounding and accompanying the person on this "journey".
Very complete and well written book.

Kathleen Dowling Singh presents excellent descriptions of many healings that are possible in the process of dying. While her transpersonal orientation is apparently inspired by Sufi (mystic Muslim) traditions, her writing is relevant universally. As she notes, "I am an ordinary person working with ordinary people dying ordinary deaths." ( p. 3).

Singh specifies that this book is for people who have a space of time towards the end of their life - or are close to someone in this situation - and can contemplate what lies ahead. It is not for people who are already in the process of transition. At this stage, one's business is simply to get on with what is happening, not to distance oneself from it through analyzing it.

I found Singh's discussion on qualities of the Nearing Death Experience to be helpful handles on aspects of the deathing process. These include the qualities of relaxation, withdrawal, radiance, interiority, silence, the sacred, transcendence, knowing, intensity, merging, and experienced perfection.

Taking a more structured perspective, Singh considers stages of releasing of controls over psychophysical functions (Karnofsky scale - Appendix II) and relates them to stages in the process of dying which she finds conceptually helpful, including chaos, surrender and transcendence.

Singh's discussion brings an atmosphere of peace, acceptance and healing to what is often in our society a time fraught with anxieties, fears and distress. An example of this attitude is evident in the following observation:

"The AIDS community has called its disease `Accelerated Individual Discovery of Self' and has referred to the pandemic as `enlightenment at gunpoint.' This phrase applies equally to any one of us who is dying." (p. 15)

I strongly recommend this book to anyone who is involved in the dying process or just interested in understanding it in greater depth, from a healing perspective.

It goes into so much detail from glues to auerodynamics to calculations of height and stability. I would reccomend it to a beginner and an experienced model rocketeer.

As an adult Model Rocketeer for the past 16 years, I can say that every Rocketeer should have this in their library. It is indeed "the Bible" of Model Rocketry. It is a goldmine of information and technical know-how, and will lead a beginning Rocketeer on the right path. Even someone who's just curious about Model Rocketry will learn a lot from it.

This is without a doubt the best book on model rocketry I've ever seen, and I read it from cover to cover. It deals with every aspect of rocketry in a very accessible manner (for example, presenting formulas for various calculations, but not requiring their use). It is organized so that the reader can focus on single aspects of a rocketry program (for example, separate chapters on aerodynamics, rocket propulsion, recovery systems, altitude measurement). I am a science teacher and coach to two Team America Rocketry Challenge teams, and I keep copies of this book available for my teams as reference. I wish it had more information on electronic payloads, but that is a more advanced topic, so it is very forgivable. If you own only one book on rocketry, this is the one to buy.

Great reference for all levels. Perfect for schools or curriculums that have a model rocketry club.

Very detailed, easy to understand, its rocketry 101 and much more.

WOW, finally a book that works and makes sense.
Well writen and easy to follow and the exercises work almost instantly. I am not even finished reading it and it has already done wonders for me. No more expensive sleeping pills for me. If you can only sleep 3 or 4 days a week like I do you need this book ASAP.

I found that the excercise techniques are helpful in relaxing my muscle and helps me to fall asleep.
I got my book in a week, I paid regular shipping. The packaging is excellent and the book was in good shape when I got it.

This book is incredible! I was beginning to think that sleeping poorly was a result of getting older(I am in my 30s). Now I know that you can learn to be a good sleeper just like you learn other things! Read it and enjoy.

I first came across this book at 3 am on another insomnia night and was impatient for a solution. I didn't want any more pills that made me feel drugged the next day. I didn't want any more useless sleep hygiene advice, which worked intermittently. I also didn't want to pay $2,000 for a sleep study that would tell me I needed more pills and better sleep hygiene! Having suffered from insomnia for eight years, I was ready for a real solution.

Two things caught my eye about this book. One, a large percentage of the reviewers were medical professionals who used the method in their practices. Two, the book suggested an approach that would actually relax the body and calm the mind, not drug it or try to control everything around it and hope it behaves. This was what I was looking for!

After trying the methods, I can confirm that they work spectacularly; however, I do have a word of caution on the methods. Follow the steps in the book as exactly as possible, and don't go on memory alone when first doing them. Doing them incorrectly--even slightly so--can give you poor results.

I purchased this book after reading the great reviews. It is wordy, poorly written, and gives the impression the author is just making up sleep advice. The medical credentials of the author and the souces are suspect as well (the author lists GCFP after his name...what is that?). If you think yoga may help you relax then this may be for you. If you are looking for a better written book from a scientific rather than spiritual perspective I would recommend "The Insomnia Answer".

I have used Jane Brody's book so much that the pages were yellow and torn. I was glad Amazon could supply me with a crisp, clean copy.
I put the old one in our high-rise book exchange area. It was gone the next day.

I have a 20-year-old softbound copy of this cookbook that is in tatters, so I am very happy finally to find a fresh copy. I have made many of the recipes in this book and my family has a couple of all-time favorites, especially the pork with green beans and the vegetarian lasagne. While the basic recipes are wonderful, I frequently find them to be bland. My cookbook is filled with margin notes about what herbs and spices I have tried over the years to enhance the recipes. Nonetheless, this is a treasured part of my cookbook library.

The first part of the book is lots of info about nutrition and so on, very interesting and informative (like talking about how potatoes have gotten a bum rap, there really healthy, she mentions one guy who lived healthily for 300 days on nothing but potatoes (and a little margarin). The second part is a few hundred recipes, which are great - easy, delicious, pretty fast, a lot of them with ingredients we keep around the house. Some of our favorites - the chili recipes, the spaghetti pancakes, multigrain pancakes (good with soy flour and blueberries), etc. This (along with books from Moosewood, Tara Duggan, and the Quick Vegetarian Pleasures book) is one of primary cookbooks; we use it all the time. Highly recommended.

Putting "high carbohydrate" in the title is a no-no these days with the lo-carb craze that's going on, but I'm here to tell everyone that this is a great cookbook full of healthy recipes. Brody focuses on recipes that are often low-calorie and almost always include lots of veggies and other complex carbs, and she has many delicious desserts that aren't overloaded on fat and sugar. True weight management comes with exercise and watching overall calorie intake, while ensuring a majority of those calories are healthy ones. This cookbook is perfect for anyone who's interested in increasing his/her repertoire of delicious, healthy recipes.

I bought this cookbook back around 1992 and the tattered paperback is the most used cookbook in my kitchen.

I live with a vegetarian, so most of what I've cooked has been the meatless recipes, and without exception, they have all been wonderful! Some of these recipes are also my potluck dinner staples (esp the Tri-Color Chickpea Salad). The Quick Lasanga with Bean Sauce has been the hit of every party I've taken it to, and the Lentil soup is to die for.

At one point, I went through a heavy-duty baking phase, and tried many of the muffin and quick bread recipes in this book. Again, there wasn't a dud in the bunch - everything I baked was excellent and won praise from all who partook.

Most of the recipes in this book are very good "as is" (they don't need much futzing with). There is some prep work involved (lots of chopping of veggies and the like), so many of the recipes do take some time. Almost half of the book consists of information about food, nutrition, cooking hints and techniques, which I've found to be very useful. Personally, if you have to have one main cookbook, I'd say that this should be it!

"Letting Go of the Words" is a book that I recommend to all of my new web content authors. It's easy to understand language and visual examples really make this book a great read. I really appreciated the attention to accessibility and usability as well as they are becoming fundamental to good web design.

I've worked with a web developer for 2 years, and have stayed on the editorial side. However, now I have more input into the site design, and I'm finding great assistance from Ginny Redish. She's done her homework to help the reader delve into the minds of their site visitors, and thinks outside the normal constraints.

It offers technical assistance without being a coding manual, and for the creative person who is not a coder or developer, this is a terrific tool!

It's not for the programmer who knows the how-to side, but it's for the content and creative person trying to attract the right attention and reach the right people.

This book should be considered required reading for anyone designing and developing sites.

Most of the websites online do not follow the practices outlined in this book and would be better off if they did.

The book is filled with clear examples and shows bad content and then the ways to improve it.

Great book!

From the moment I started reading this well-constructed, excellently researched book, I couldn't put it down and wanted to know more. The pages are reader-friendly, and lots of good examples make all the author's advice come to life on the page. "Letting Go of the Words" clarifies so many gray areas of writing for the web. I highly recommend this book to anyone who ever has to write anything that will appear on the web, and also to designers who are responsble for setting up websites. Once you read this book, you won't be able to look at any website in the same way again.

This book is an absolute must read for anyone who develops websites. Ginny Redish provides great examples of web pages and how the visitor is affected by the arrangement of the content. I love the way she presents a website user and allows you to "think" like a visitor.