Authors Books

GET IT. These old time preachers knew God, knew what He wanted of them, and did it. The results? Powerful preaching that comes from being in front of the throne of God. As one old preacher once said when asked about how to prepare to give a message on Sunday, he replied: "Get into the presence of God, wait before Him, see what He shows you, and then tell them what you saw."

Rico

This book is a great advisory for the preacher. It is a refresher for all Seminarians who payed attention in your Homiletic studies. It also provides insight to different approaches probably not covered by your professors. It is a great book!

I have read fifteen books on preaching in the first six months of 2005. Having read them, if I could choose just one that helped me most as a preacher, it is this text. We hear from some of the best Black preachers in America - how they preach and a sample sermon of each. You sit at the feet of masters.

I am a minister - white - who gained tremendously from these ginats in our pulpits.

LaRue has brought together a broad well-balanced spectrum of preaching experience. His introduction briefly explores the history of black preaching and then presents eleven characteristic similarities of method of the twelve preachers he invited into his project. Two of these characteristics that jumped off the pages of the contributor's essays were the importance of wrestling with the text and discipline and perspective. Wrestling with the text was invariably the first activity mentioned, most reading in the original language and several translations. LaRue mentions the "invitation to the listening congregation to enter into the world of the text being a defining feature of traditional black preaching." Discipline and perspective are key experiences shared by each contributor. The discipline of organizing their lives to give adequate and thoughtful time to preparation was emphasized. "All recognized they had to study in order to remain fresh, vibrant, interesting, creative and faithful." Each also pointed out the need for rest and avocation.

In each chapter, a pastor or preacher first reflects with essay or interview on their preaching life. Inevitably, for those who have pastoral duties it presents a helpful glimpse into the daily life of pastoring. Many of them had a day of the week devoted to sermon writing and several of them had agreements with their congregation that this time was sacred. Some of them found late night inspiration and some early morning. Most of them worked daily on some aspect of sermon preparation. Each prepared a manuscript but never used them in their delivery. There is a natural movement from text to presentation and no anxiety was expressed about forgetting something in the manuscript. Contributor Gardner C. Taylor reflects, "I would remember my starting point, where I was going, and where I would conclude. I followed those thoughts in my mind. Now I would lose a lot of material which I thought was wonderful but perhaps it wasn't. Maybe it needed to be lost. But I also picked up material I had no notion about when I was preparing the sermon. This new material would come in the actual preaching of the sermon."

The book is comprehensive and well-presented. All the contributors were helpful with example and reflection on the task at hand. It was with eager and excited anticipation that I picked up this book. Black preaching can be all of those things mentioned earlier: fresh, vibrant, interesting and creative. My one caution is that something was lost in the printed word, lost in translation. It might have been more helpful to actually have a transcript of an actual preached sermon rather than a manuscript. I do recommend the book, particularly for those who may be seeking to re-examine their sermon preparation method; it was excellent in this regard.

Purchased the text for a course in our district school of ministry. Only a small percentage of us young (new) preachers have the opportunity or a ability to sit at the feet of preachers of this caliber. Fewer still can glean from their earnest sharing of their preparation from kernel to message. This book is not the cold technical manual of some other preaching texts but,don't miss the power found in the details of preparation and delivery. There is a sharing of this human experience and the wrestling with God to minister a word that is from him in due season. Rev. William D.Watley wrote, "In my experience,most sermons, while having the Holy Spirit as their ultimate source, come to us as seed or as spark or as sperm in the midst of our own work and warfare,struggles and strife,agony and anxieties,experiences and ecstasies,fallings and risings,stumbling and recoveries,and require some participation and input from us to produce a finished product." I only wish that for a few more dollars there was also a CD to hear the printed messages since preaching in general,and black preaching in particular, is an aural experience

Cuba is in turmoil. Cuban immigrants living in the United States have never given up their Bay of Pigs dreams to regain control over that island nation and the people of Cuba continue to suffer under a brutal dictatorship. When the operatives of Room 59, a secret U.N. anti-terrorism agency, get word that a new invasion of Cuba, coupled with assassination of one or both Castros is in the works, at least some of them want to wish it good luck. But the examples of Iraq and other American adventures are clear--simply removing evil dictators is more likely to result in civil war and even more civilian suffering than in some utopian outcome.

Kate Cochran is given the task of heading off disaster and is surprised when one of her senior executives asks to be lead operative. Jonas Schrader was involved in a mission in Cuba during the 1970s and has never forgotten the near-disaster, nor what he left behind. What he doesn't tell Kate is that he just might have to compromise the mission itself for his personal goals. And neither Kate, nor the Room 59 team, allow anything to compromise the mission--ever.

Author Cliff Ryder combines solid action with just a touch of military technology and enough emotional depth to make us buy into the character in an engaging thriller. In Room 59, as in the real world, characters are forced to make choices between grim alternatives--propping up evil dictators vs. allowing anarchy and a destructive civil war--rather than idealistic but unrealistic alternatives. Both of the major operatives find themselves sympathizing with the rebel movement they're sworn to eliminate, and Jonas in particular, has personal reasons to hold his hand. The Cuban Major assigned to assassinate Raul Castro is likewise sympathetic--even though his mission is one Room 59 hopes to stop.

For the most part, Ryder's writing is smooth and engaging. Occasionally, however, Ryder's style struck me as awkward. I found the internal dialogue occasionally obtrusive. Still, THE POWERS THAT BE is an intelligent look at the real questions facing those who would battle against terrorism, where every terrorist is, at least to some, also a freedom fighter battling oppression and dictatorship.

From the opening scene to the end, this is a mad-dash action caper that kept me turning the pages. If you're looking for great escapist reading, pick up this one. I'm anxiously looking forward to the next installment.

Room 59 is a multinational covert ops organization that specializes in doing the things that nations cannot do. The members are culled from various military, police and spy organizations and are trained to be the ultimate in deniable operatives. They are equiped with the very latest in high tech gear and can get support from just about any government organization. To top off all this, there is little interference or micromanagement from the countries involved.
Room 59 takes on the hard jobs that nobody in an official government military or intelligence capacity can do. They use small hard hitting teams that can do anything, including kill, to accomplish the mission. That is their mantra, the mission comes first.
So what happens when a top operative of Room 59 gets involved with an operation where he has a personal agenda? An agenda that nobody else in Room 59 knows about?
Room 59: The Powers That Be places Jonas, a former member of the German GSG9 special operations group into that situation. Jonas is tasked to keep an rogue organization from assassinating Raul Castro, Fidel Castro's brother. A powerful Cuban-American businessman wants Castro dead and the revolution in Cuba finally ended and he is willing to do anything to accomplish this goal. He sets up a mercenary group to invade Cuba and remove the current power structure. But first he must have Raul Castro exterminated.
The powers that be, though, do not want this. It is a common belief that if Castro falls, then the tiny island nation will be thrown into more civil war and chaos that will happen if the Cuban communists fall slowly apart under their own power. Room 59 is tasked with the mission to stop the assassination.
Jonas is placed in charge of the mission. But he has his own reason for getting involved because he has been to Cuba before and has ties to the chosen assassin.
The action is great. I enjoyed the plot and characters immensely. The author has no problem killing off characters, even important ones. He holds true to the mantra, mission first--everybody is expendable. I like this as it is a truism in military circles, people get wounded and killed. Nobody is so good as to be bulletproof. It also pays homage to an old military cliche, "no plan survives contact with the enemy." The plot twists and turns were good. Once I started reading I could not put it down.
I will admit I had a bit of a problem with the Gee-Whiz high tech gear. Some of the gear was too over the top and was not very believable. Kind of like some of the Bond gadgets. But that is my only complaint and a not very big one at that.

THE POWERS THAT BE by Cliff Ryder is an awesome beginning to a new suspense series, ROOM 59, in which a multi-national and clandestine agency meets the challenges of today's world of intelligence and action. Room 59 is a high-tech, action-based agency of the best operatives in espionage and counterterrorism. With multi-national agents, Room 59 accepts the dangerous missions that individual governments cannot touch for reasons of politics or danger. Kate Cochran, the head of Room 59, consults with anonymous representatives from different countries but in the end, it is her job to call the missions that will put her agents at risk of their lives in an attempt to keep the world safe from the new threats in today's global world.

In THE POWERS THAT BE, the disappearance of a double agent in Cuba turns ominous as political events in Cuba heat up. Rumors of rebel forces, action in Cuba and Miami, and the secret past of an operative all combine in this fast-paced thriller to heighten the intrigue. As the mission unfolds and lives are at stake, Cliff Ryder allows the reader a glimpse into the conflicting loyalties of governments and within individuals. International politics are not quite so black and white, and undercurrents of practicality, personal history and emotion enter into each mission. Cliff Ryder is excellent in creating a truly thrilling espionage suspense read with multi-dimensional characters in the agents and also the underlying politics. In THE POWERS THAT BE, danger is truly danger and lives are on the line with no guarantee. Cliff Ryder keeps the readers guessing with exciting twists until the very end when tough choices must be made in the heat of action. Forced with an excruciating heart-stopping choice, will the agents choose mission over their own personal loyalties?

Although the publisher labels this book as men's adventure, this book and this series will appeal to anyone, men and women, who like heart-stopping action, intriguing characters from director head to individual agents and political intrigue. In THE POWERS THAT BE both the women and men are multi-dimensional characters, highly trained and capable, dedicated to the mission and sometimes torn by the tough choices to be made when mission strategies come face to face with the enemy.

THE POWERS THAT BE has all the very best of the genre from the early classics to modern films and creates something entirely unique. THE POWERS THAT BE has all the intriguing high tech tools of the loved classics of Mission Impossible and James Bond but in Room 59, the danger is real and ever-present and the enemy not simplistic. Lovers of MI-5, Jean Le Carre and the Sandbaggers will relish the reflections on the nature of espionage and the concept of who watches the watchers. While Room 59 recalls all the great traditions of espionage thrillers, this novel also adds a new dimension --- in-the-trenches action and a look into some of the political hot spots from both a ground-level and long-term view. THE POWERS THAT BE is a must read for espionage enthusiasts craving variety in the genre!

Sometimes there are problems, international problems, that require intervention but no government is willing to openly sanction any actions. This is where Room 59 steps in. Room 59 is a top secret black ops unit and Kate Cochrane is the director. At her disposal are a vast array of agents well trained to meet the dangers that face them.

The mission is Cuba. Colonel Jonas Schrader and Marcus Ruiz are the primary operatives on a mission that will take them into the heart of Cuba. The story isn't one dimensional however, as there is action in Florida as well as glimpses into the past. Will the mission be jeopardized by this secret past? Who will live and who will die in this first exciting Room 59 book?

THE POWERS THAT BE is one of those thrill rides that leaves you guessing till the final end. I did figure out some of the secrets, but that didn't stop Cliff Ryder from having other surprises in store for me! Without spoiling the plot, the ending is a shocker and truly sets the stage for making the Room 59 series a hit due to the author's willingness to take chances.

THE POWERS THAT BE is populated with a large number of unique and interesting characters. We get glimpses into the minds of the handlers, such as the director, Kate, and the liaison, Judy Burges, who have to make tough decisions. Will they sacrifice the one for the good of the many? And then we have the field operatives, such as Marcus and Jonas. These are not one dimensional characters as they have thoughts, feelings, and even lives outside the job that sometimes conflict with the mission at hand. What choices will they make when everything is on the line?

Cliff Ryder writes a very credible and entertaining thriller. The fast pace keeps the reader rapidly turning the pages but even more importantly, the facts are clearly articulated so that someone unfamiliar with the terminology will feel drawn into the storyline. Perhaps one of the most fascinating things about THE POWERS THAT BE is the thought provoking questions Cliff Ryder raises about international politics. Excellent start to what appears to be a promising new series!

COURTESY OF CK2 KWIPS AND KRITIQUES

It was a great surprise to not only find a compelling, page-turner, but also one that so accurately and expertly depicts some of the well-known landmarks and establishments in Southern California. Southern California natives and visitors alike will love this book and mentally picture the locale. Definitely one I strongly recommend.

I ran into a friend at a Holiday Party who raved about this new book, A Private Enterprise. She loaned me her copy and I couldn't break myself away from the unfolding thriller; I bought myself a copy to loan to my friends. I highly recommend it to anyone with a liking for the top-selling thrillers.

I picked this one up from a recent trip to Southern California and read it the entire plane trip back east--I couldn't put it down. Highly recommended if you are looking for a great surprise from a local author. Easy to read, with realistic explanations for military and aeronautical thrilling tales.

I am a tough critic, and A Private Enterprise surely passed my test. If you are looking for an intelligent thriller with action, suspense, character development, and a story that is actually evolving before your eyes so that you don't want to put it down for a second, then I highly recommend this book. Amazing this is Mr. Holt's first book.

Two excellent thrillers! Waiting anxiously for "Return for Good".....

I've always liked reading books like this is because it introduces me to authors I've never heard of. For example, one of the most phenomenal stories is by a 15-year old recently published, young lady named Tierra French with "A Difficult Lesson". I read each story and the ones I really dug include: "Something Special", "Flimsy and Raggedy", "Not Tonight", "A Crisis of Faith", "Senseless", "Queen", "First Thing Monday Morning", "If He Didn't Go", "A Difficult Lesson", "Back Then", "Dancing at Esperanza's", "The Consequence", "Young Ballers", "Panhandling", "John Q's Blissful Journey", "Trick Dice", "The Cycle", "Pass It On", "Felicia and the Prodigy", "Ultimate Forgiveness", "Dead to the World", "Detour", "Colours", "The Day Chano Died", "Charitable Roy", "The Fire This Time", "The Willow Tree", and "She Planted Faith in her Dream". You may be thinking that I liked every story in here, but believe me, there are quite a few I didn't care for. One example would be the very twisted "The Bag Lady" that I did NOT appreciate the humor about killing a dog because I am crazy about dogs the way most are crazy about babies. I thought "Sink or Swim" was an excuse for women to not lose weight. Yeah, the husband's explanation was rude but the theme behind this story is why the black community has such bad health now--we try to excuse everything. And "My Momma Said..." was a great story for golddigers. A prize is a man with money? It's like the main character didn't learn a damn thing. I hated that story. "Death of a Salesperson" needed the editor to catch that the main character said she worked at the company thirty-two years (twice!) but then switch to thirty years. And I don't know what's on Omar Tyree's bird but the use of the n-word really bugs me regardless of whether he switched it up in the end and "Playin' the Role" EMBRACED the word. Guess some people still got a lot to learn!
Anyway, I ended up joining a book club so I could buy books from each of these published authors. Thank you for all the hook-ups and the people to avoid. And Travis Hunter's story was the best of all, but I'm not surprised because I'm crazy about this author's work.

This book was absolutely superb and the best collection of short stories that I have read in my entire life. Each story had a moral from an African proverb or saying and the stories were woven magnificently around them. These stories helped me relive some lessons I have learned in my life and also opened my eyes to a lot of things that have yet to happen to me. The people who breathed life into these characters should get a standing ovation.Well Done! You will not be disappointed. By the way, I am a 20 year old college student so age doesn't matter. This is a book for everyone.

I really enjoyed Proverbs for the People. The diversity of the authors and the stories they wrote with strong lessons that jumped from the pages was nothing short of amazing. My favorite stories were "Women Drive Buses too" and "Consequences."

I recommend this anthology and applaud the efforts of the authors and diversities.

I really enjoyed this book. All of the stories are wonderful and the connection to the proverb that they all wrote about was simply masterful! I particularly enjoyed the story Franklin White gave us. His proverb dealt with "no matter how long a log stays in the water, a log it will remain." His story about a black actress in Hollywood who did everything under the sun to become more mainstream was brillant. I will not spoil it for others but the story really made me think about all the black actresses who have to jump through hoops to finally get a part in a mainstream movie. After they read this story-maybe they won't be so hard pressed to get in the mainstream!

We have all heard proverbs at some point in our lives; little truths that teach morals, tell stories, or teach us how to live. In PROVERBS FOR THE PEOPLE, authors take insightful African, African American, and Biblical proverbs and utilize them to create extraordinary short stories that depict truths and leave marks on the heart.

This unique anthology contains stories from well known authors such as Travis Hunter, Omar Tyree, Margaret Johnson-Hodge, Pearl Cleage, and others, as well as stories from up and coming authors. Like the proverbs they represent, the stories are diverse and full of emotions. Although all of the stories were wonderful and touching, some of personal favorites were Gwynne Forster's "First Thing Monday Morning," which taught the morals that actions speak louder than words and to be careful what you wish for, because you just may get it, and Robert Fleming's "A Crisis of Faith," about a man who is wrongly incarcerated.

PROVERBS FOR THE PEOPLE is a wonderful novel that will teach, inspire, and entertain. It has a story that everyone can relate to, and will make a wonderful addition to any book collection.

Reviewed by Latoya Carter-Qawiyy
The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

You are 15 years old, and a bit rebellious. You see your father die, shot in the car by an unknown assailant. Your mother loses it, and tries to commit suicide.

What do you do. What DO you do?

Pyres, by Derek Nikitas, tries to get into the mind of Lucia ("Luc") Moberg, the girl put in this situation. At the same time, Nikitas goes into the mind of the homicide cop investigating the shooting, the shooter, and the shooter's very pregnant girlfriend.

They all come together at the end.

Now, I need to be careful here to not give the mystery plot away. Luc's father's death was not a random act of violence. It was very calculated. In fact, it was so calculated that Luc ends up being kidnapped to... clear up loose ends. This was my difficulty with this story. The bad guys had gotten away with murder. And somehow they believed kidnapping Luc was going to make their get-away easier?

Sometimes you have to cut your losses and run. Criminals do this all the time. You hear the sirens, you see headlights, and you leave without the big score. But in Pyres, the bad guys (and they are truly bad), keep at it.

This book has intriguing plots within plots, twists, and very imperfect people. Four stars out of five.

Punky, nearly sixteen year old Lucia (Luc) Moberg may have become distant from her family - what teen isn't - but she still loved her Swedish, English professor father Oscar. She can't get it out of her mind that if she had not insisted on having him take her to the mall in Rochester, NY, and then having to exit quickly after stealing some CDs, that her father would not have been confronted in the car in the parking lot and shot dead.

But investigator Greta Hurd with the Rochester PD starts uncovering evidence of the involvement of a motorcycle gang, whose members take degeneracy to a new level. The role of Lucia's mother Blair is difficult to ascertain because she has become mentally impaired after two suicide attempts. But there is a puzzling video of her having a confrontation with a customer at Shop-Mor, where she works as a low-level manager.

Beyond the over-the-top cruelty of the gang members to others and to each other, the book is best at exploring the psychological state of not only Lucia and Greta, but also Tanya, a pregnant, motorcycle momma. These women/girls are forced to constantly cope with very challenging situations and revelations as well as their own demons.

The author apparently has a Swedish mythology interest, as Swedish mythical and magical beings are often on Luc's mind, instilled by her father's bedtime stories. While the author has created some sympathetic characters, the story has its improbabilities, not the least of which is the involvement of a professor's family with a gang of degenerates. Not unexpectedly, there is a certain amount of violence, yet the story gets a little bogged down at times. Overall, this is a very good first novel.

Excellent book! Greg Isles should pick up a copy and refresh his memory on how to write a killer story! A well crafted novel that keeps you on the edge of your seat while not bowing down to trite, overdone mechanisms. Very fresh tale! Highly recommended, and I will be looking forward to future books from Derek Nikitas! This mystery/thriller digs deep to be a very human story about dealing with grief and recovering from life's disappointments.

I read a lot of stuff that falls under the general heading of mystery/crime fiction, but don't review a lot of it on Amazon. I love to read and don't really watch TV, so crime fiction's kind of my literary junk food -- an enjoyable way of passing the time before bed, when chores are done.

Now and then, I happily discover something with real literary merit, and "Pyres" is one of those books. A number of things make "Pyres" stand out. For one, Nikitas can really write. The jacket copy says he's working on a Ph.D. in creative writing, and it shows. There's nothing "academic" about his writing, but it's quite obvious that he's been honing his craft for a long time. The plot, though complex, makes sense. The settings are carefully observed and beautifully described. What's more, this book has a quality that doesn't really have a name but which I know as an enthusiastic amateur cook. The ingredients are many and flavorful, and retain their individuality, but they are all in the right proportion. There's a bit of magical realism, but not too much. A bit of disaffected teen culture, but not too much. We get a glimpse of the messy family life of the lead detective, but it doesn't pull the story out of shape. And so on.

The end result is a book that rings true and has plausability and power.

It's a reviewing cliche to say that novels have believable characters, but hey, I'm writing this for free, so I'll just say that the book has believable characters. Particularly memorable are Lucia, the teen girl who confronts evil at its most banal, Greta Hurd, the cop who tries to rescue her, and the various troglodytes in a local biker gang which takes its name from a Stephen King novel.
One thing that added to my enjoyment of the book is that the bikers, while clearly beyond any redemption, are not just cartoon villains. I guess you could say that they are real villains -- ignorant, discarded people who hate the world that has given them so little and have paid that world back by honing skills for mayhem which give them a power that ordinary civilized folks long ago forgot about. In short, they are very scary.

An additional pleasure for me was that the book is set in and around Rochester, NY. I grew up there, but haven't spent any time there in recent decades, and it was fun to recognize local landmarks somewhat transmuted. Even in the glory years of Kodak and Xerox, Rochester had its seamy side. It was interesting to read about the city from the outside looking in, with the reasonably comfortable suburbs of my youth a footnote -- a haven for the clueless. I spent some time kicking around the scruffy semi-rural parts of upstate New York as a kid on a bike (the kind you pedal) and it's nicely portrayed, if a bit generic (fair enough, the landscape is not the star in this book).

Every year I come across only a handful of books this good. A real pleasure.

About eight years ago, an unknown author writing under the name of "Boston Teran" scorched the pages with "God is a Bullet", a brilliantly disturbing novel of child abduction, survival, and retribution set in southern California's feral western wastelands. Not since this blistering debut have I read a novel as provocative as Derek Nikitas' "Pyres", the story of a young teen launched from adolescence to adulthood in a few short winter weeks, the unwitting and unsuspecting victim caught in a web of dysfunctional families and despicable deeds. The lives of four women collide in Nikitas' masterpiece, Lucia "Luc" Moberg, the teen who sees her professor father murdered in an apparent botched murder, Luc's mother Blair, Tanya, the trailer trash mom-to-be running with the wrong crowd, and Greta, the hardened detective of the Rochester, New York PD with psychological baggage of her own drug around Luc's brutal coming-of-age journey. But if you're thinking this is sounding like "Steel Magnolias", think again, for there's no "chick lit" in these pages; a raw and violent nightmare of irony and emotion that twists and turns to an almost believable and infinitely entertaining climax.

Setting the young Nikitas far above the pop fiction crowd is his beautifully descriptive writing and carefully molded characters, including the loathsome "Skeleton Crew" motorcycle crew, the "baddest" set of lowlifes I've come across since Teran's Cyrus and his Left-Handed Path rampaged the desserts of "God is a Bullet". These guys would fit in nicely with either Jerry Springer or Charles Manson, thugs you'll hope you never meet but know are out there lurking in those cinder block bars with parking lots full of chopped Harleys and broken beer bottles. But Nikitas' talents reach far beyond simple mayhem, succeeding in getting inside the head of a teenage girl who discovers the depth of her relationship with her father, and sees it strengthen after his murder.

Remember the name - Derek Nikitas. This is American crime fiction about as good as it gets, a powerful lesson of literature and life that should not be missed.

As a seasoned professional in the field, I approached this book with hesitation. Much to my delight, the story is told in an intimate way that allows the reader a ringside seat at a drama that is so invisible to most of our culture. Without gratuitous flare, the author shows the power of the experiences of the children and the adults who strive to make a difference for them. It also helps that the author adds in comments that inform the reader about some of the professional ideas that are important to some of the events in the story. I strongly recommend this book for anyone who likes a real human story!

This is such an easy read! If I didn't know better, I never would have known that this was Ryan's first published book. It is a very colorful and entertaining book. I have no connection to the mental health profession and had no problem understanding the technical information in this novel. Although Charlee has his issues, you can't help but love this child & wish the best for him. The only down side to the book is that I'm finished with it already! LOL! I read it in well under a week. Ryan, you need to write more! :) I recommend this book to anyone that cares about kids, life, or anything in general!

This is a great read! I was completely drawn into the story of Charlee and his journey through his healing process. The details in this book are amazing. Anyone with history of RTF or inpatient psych will completely appreciate the balance between anguish and comic relief that is beautifully accomplished in this work. It was such an entertaining book, I hated to put it down and couldn't wait to pick it up! I have recommended it to everyone!

This is a raw and accurate look at what it's like to be an adolescent boy in the mental health system. The charaters are great and the this book is a real page turner. It's a must read for anyone in the mental health field and will give those not in the field a real and accurate view of what happend behind the walls in a RTF. I can't wait for more books from this writer.

This book is an excellent read for anyone. Although is was written from the perspective of a young man who came of age in a Residential Treatment Facility (RTF), Ryan really paints a clear picture of everything and everyone who is involved in the workings of an RTF. Anyone can read, understand and empathize with the chararcters of this book, espeically Charlee. Having worked in an RTF it is refreshing to gain some insight into how the clients and staff interactions are perceived through someone elses eyes. But you do not have to have RTF experience to enjoy this book. Ryan's empathy and humor are evident in that he not only leads us on Charlee's journey, he guides each of us through every individual who touched Charlee's life--whether in a positive or negative way. I recommend that you read this book. It will not take you long, but not because of it's length, but because once you get started you will be so eager to see who is working the 'next shift'.

Four astonishing pieces highlight this fine collection:

"Razor Fight." That's exactly what the story is about. The dialogue is thrillingly terse.

"You're Too Hip, Baby." When even the alienated find you too alienating.

"Twirlin' at Ole Miss." One of the most famous examples of Gonzo journalism. Hardcore New Yorker (actually, Southern was a Texan) heads south to research the subculture of baton twirling and finds, hilariously, that stereotypes of "The South" are all true!

"Blood of a Wig." One of the most notorious American short stories ever written. Back in the day, a college acquaintance told me what this story was about. I didn't believe him. Turns out he was right. Title refers to a very clandestine type of drug abuse -- injecting yourself with the blood of a schizophrenic. And that's just the beginning.

Terry Southern is probably one of the most creative, off-beat writers of our times. I read this book back in my college days in the early 70's and can't tell you how much this book of short stories changed my outlook on life. Having experienced the 60's as my formative teen years, I didn't think that there could be very much left to the imagination. Boy, was I wrong. Terry's stories sure opened my eyes to a broader world than was dreamed in my philosophy at the time and even now. You've heard of all the "favorites" such as Blood of a Wig, so I won't take up your time with that. But, if you liked any of his other works, be sure to not miss out on this one.

For as much fun as Terry Southern's novels and screenplays represent, this may be his best work. The opening pair of "Red Dirt Marijuana" and "Razor Fight" are about as good as short stories get. Another reviewer referenced "A Clean Well Lighted Place"; I am put in mind of the clean precision of "Hills Like White Elephants." Southern's exploration of the sensibilities of the American South, race relations, friendship, and a weird sort of honor, carve the sort of channels in your consciousness that only the best writing can do.
"You're Too Hip, Baby" is more on race and a deflation of the concept of "hip" by one of its masters.
Although best known for his outrageousness, many of these stories display the sensitivity that was at the core of Southern's greatness.

Screw prose. Screw plot. This book is so damned funny! It reminds me of the war stories of Michael Herr or the drugged ut fantasies of Hunter Thompson. What about the woman who colors her hair blond, only to return home and have her husband mistake her for a mistress. What about the irreverent humor about Hoover trying some neck-crophilia on JFK's body. This is one of the most original collection of stories I've ever read. It's so hard to find stuff like this nowadays.

Having read Candy and Blue Movie, I have wanted to read another Terry Southern book for ages. However, it has been almost impossible to obtain his other works. I came across this short-story collection at a store that sells used books and I couldn't resist giving it a whirl. Red-Dirt Marijuana and Other Tastes is full of Southern's signature dark humor and unconventional storylines. Southern has proven that he is a master storyteller with the disarming stories featured in this book. My favorites are "Twirling at Ole Miss," "The Moon-shot Scandal," "You're Too Hip, Baby," "Razor Fight," "I Am Mike Hammer," and "The Blood of a Wig." Those stories blew me away. "The Blood of a Wig" was the best one in the collection. This is the funniest and strangest book I have read in a long time! If you loved Southern's novels, you will love this collection of short stories. I cannot recommend Red-Dirt Marijuana and Other Tastes enough.

I thoroughly enjoyed Redstripe and shared it with other Dachshund friends. I giggled through the antics of the little hounds in this book. The characters are amazingly realistic to the breed and the book is very enjoyable fast reading.
I have a background in dog grooming and dog breeding and have read numerous dog books throughout my the years so I would like to compliment Mr. Magestro on his amusing compilation of stories so accurate to this strong willed little hound breed.

I totally enjoyed "Redstripe and Other Dachshund Tales". In fact, I sat down one evening and read it from cover to cover and wished there was more. It was very entertaining and made me realize that my Heidi isn't as unique as I had thought. It was fun and lighthearted. I recommend it to anyone who owns a dachshund or is thinking about getting one. My one objection (the reason for 4 stars and not 5) is that I had hoped it would be as entertaining for my grandchildren, but I don't think it is necessarily a book for young children.

I was a bit sad that the book was soo short, but I really enjoyed it. I am currently reading "Another Redstripe, Please!", and so far it is what I expected! I'll keep you posted!

This book is a real love story about the pure affection and enthusiasm that dogs, particularly our "hotdogs" (I have two), generate. And, it does so with humor and optimism in the spirit of Herriot.

I particularly liked the Christmas story which celebrated the unique gifts given to us by this breed, while humanizing-- but still respecting-- the manger scene.

Good work, Jack!

Redstripe And Other Dachshund Tales by retired educator Jack Magestro is a humorous and merry collection of five short stories about the exploits of dachshunds - a beloved breed of pet also colloquially known as "weiner dogs." Jack Magestro is a proud dachshund owner, and Redstripe And Other Dachshund Tales is a delightful and witty treat sure to resonate with people everywhere who have their own canine companions as part of "the family".

Millions of people want to get a book published. Yet they are unsure where to take their first steps and how to sort through the available possibilities. Do you take the traditional route or self-publish or use print-on-demand (POD)? Experienced author Helen Gallagher gives step-by-step advice and in the opening pages includes a large quote which says, "Attract a publisher if you can, but if not, don't wait your life away...Publish your book yourself."

Yet to many self-publishing is a scary proposition. How do you sell your book into the market and avoid a garage full of books (which don't help anyone--especially you the author)? Gallagher guides the reader to handle these questions with solid counsel. Then she covers the business of writing your book and marketing it to keep it alive and active in the marketplace.

Whether you have never been published or you are a seasoned author, you can learn some new tricks in Gallagher's book. I've read dozens of how-to-write books yet I often highlighted different pages in RELEASE YOUR WRITING. I plan to check out the websites and follow up on her suggestions. I recommend you do the same thing with the contents of this book. Don't just buy it and stick it on your shelf but study the pages.

A professional freelance writer and the author of "Computer Ease", Helen Gallagher draws upon her many years of experience and expertise in "Release Your Writing: Book Publishing, Your Way!" to provide an informative instruction manual that demystifies the publishing process, addresses the technological issues associated with publishing, and provides a profusion of effective, practical, immediately applicable marketing strategies to insure a book's commercial viability. Effectively organized into three major sections, 'Getting Published' covers contemporary changes in the publishing industry, the self-publishing option, Publish On Demand (POD) companies; and eBooks. 'You, The Word Processor' includes The Time to Write; The Writer's Toolbox; and 'Computer Power Tools'. The third section is devoted to the 'Business of Being a Writer' by focusing on book marketing and promotion, and keeping a book in print and available to the reading public. It should be noted that Helen Gallagher's writing style is conversational and engaging -- making it an ideal format for presenting her observations, ideas, and advice. Enhanced with an appendix listing writing resources, a glossary, and an index, "Release Your Writing" will prove invaluable and instructive reading for aspiring writers who have become published -- either on their own or through an independent publisher.

I admit it--although I have six books in print, I didn't know much about print on demand (POD) publishing, or what its benefits are. Gallagher's book includes everything you need to know to decide whether POD is right for you, and provides a wealth of information about how to choose the right POD publisher (love the side-by-side comparison chart of the top 10 POD firms) as well as tips on writing and marketing the book.

This book actually changed the way I think about POD--I now realize it's a great option not just for new authors, but for published authors who have out-of-print books they want to get back into the marketplace as well. Whether you're new to book publishing in general, or simply know little about POD, this is the book for you. It's a quick read, but I already have a number of pages dog-eared for future reference.

Kelly James-Enger, author, Six-Figure Freelancing: The Writer's Guide to Making More Money (Random House, 2005)

If you're a writer who's looking for practical advice on how to write, publish, market, promote your book, and keep it alive once it's out there, Helen Gallagher's Release Your Writing: Book Publishing, Your Way! is the book for you. My yellow highlighter was flying off its 200 pages while I noted valuable tips on how to move forward with the publishing process. In fact, by the time I was finished reading this gem, nearly the entire book was highlighted. Furthermore, the book is written in such a down-to-earth tone that you'd better set an extra place because you'll feel as if Gallagher is sitting across from you at your kitchen table. So whether you're in the preliminary outline stage, in the midst of writing your manuscript, or giving it a final edit, read Gallagher's book before you launch yours. You'll be grateful you did.

Francine Pappadis Friedman
author of
MatchDotBomb: A Midlife Journey through Internet Dating

The information in this "action-packed" volume is tremendously helpful. My own book, Waltzing Australia, had been published before I found Helen's book, but I have still found it immensely valuable for the wealth of marketing ideas. I also appreciate the tips on using the computer more efficiently. This is a wonderful resource for any writer, traditionally published or self-published, because we can always use more tools -- and more market exposure.

I was going to wait to write my reveiw after my children read it but I could not wait. I absolutely love The Replacements! The book taught great lessons of loving your neighbor, being grateful, and being a good example without beating the reader over the head. I would love to see more of Malachi and Daniel, Momma D, Red and even Max. I am wondering what other lessons will they learn and how will it effect the other characters. Excellent!!!

Here is my 9 year olds review.

"IT WAS ABOUT A BOY WHO WANTED A CHANGE AND ONCE HE GOT IT IT WAS QUITE A NIGHTMARE. AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO TELL THE AUTHOR THAT i WOULD GIVE HER 5 STARS AND THE BEST BOOK OF THE CENTURY AWARD IF THERE WAS THAT KIND OF AWARD."

This was a very good book the only bad part about this book was that it wasn't long enough. I like how the author made this book very detailed you were able to see everything that was going on in this home without even being there. And the life lesson in this book was just beautiful. God always show you that just when you thought you got it bad things could always be alot worse. So count your blessings and be greatful for what you have.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The author's style made it possible for me to be in each moment as it was happening. When Momma was cooking, I could smell the wonderful aroma of the food. I could feel each character's emotions throughout the story. And, I like the way the author was able to include valuable life's lessons that are a good reminder to everyone.

Although listed as a children's book for ages 9 thru young adult, it is my belief anyone of any age could benefit from it.

Demetria Keys has shown up to be a clever writer with a mission to serve the Lord with her gifts. "The Replacements" makes the reader consider what he has been given and think about the consequences of his/her own possiblenever ending desires for more. A very thoughtful book!

Twelve year-old Daniel's life is anything but extraordinary: his little brother, Malachi, is a constant nuisance, his mother is a sedate stay-at-home-mom, his father is a modest bread-winner, and he's subject to the daily idiosyncrasies of Max, his chain-smoking bus driver whose lips release a perpetual stream of smoke interlaced with sarcasm. Add to that the fact that he's fallen hard for his teacher, Mrs. Fillmore - who barely even notices him - and you've got all the makings of a pre-teen drama lived daily with no happy ending in sight.

Increasingly dissatisfied with his life as is, one night Daniel says a prayer before going to bed, wishing that his life would change...well, as the old saying goes, be careful what you wish for...Daniel awakens the next morning, apparently having gotten his wish - and then some. Suddenly, he finds himself struggling to cope with an alternative reality, a seemingly inverted mirror image of his old life, and he soon realizes that the things we ask for are often the very things we are least prepared to receive.

The Replacements is a clever commentary on the trappings of contemporary society, most especially our constant striving to gain more than what we already have. Through the eyes of a child, Demetria Keys does a convincing job of relating the fact that the best blessings we could ever receive lie squarely within the scope of our everyday lives. An effective dramatization of the old "grass is always greener" adage, Keys's tale extols the value of the benefits readily available to us. By ignoring them, we run the risk of creating a reality for ourselves that leaves even less to be desired.

Keys most effectively conveys this lesson in Daniel's epiphany regarding his parents' love. Unhappy with his father's role as a stern, exacting disciplinarian, he quietly longs for his mother to be more assertive in challenging his father's authority; however, when he awakens to his desired reality, he finds that his new life in his parents' eyes makes his old one sparkle in comparison. The contrast helps him realize that regardless of how they choose to show it, he can never take for granted the fact that his parents love him without question.

The Replacements is an encouraging morality tale of learning to embrace the real treasures of life. If you're unhappy with the way things are going in yours, read this book before you consider making any changes...