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Mr. Poynter's Publishing Manual is a must read for anyone interested in self publishing. He guides you through the entire process and no detail is left out. After reading this book you will be a publishing pro! This book will help you to maneuver through the publishing business with ease. Do not hesitate to buy this book. It's full of information that you will be able to refer back to time and time again. It's very solid and easy to read. The concepts are real and practical. It's the best self publishing book on the market.

I expected some key steps for the auther, especially a new author, to follow, once he/she has chosen to self publish. Instead this book is a manual on "publishing": the pre-print and print cycles of the standard print production cycle. As a practioner of advertising and promotion for over 40 years, I probably published thousands of publications: annual reports; data sheets; brochures. The process I knew; the insights as it related to the world of publishing fiction I did not.

If you are ignorant of the steps in the publishing process (novel, neighborhood flyer, brochure) and really want to know, this book can give you an idea of how it is done. It's an easy read for the layman, clear, and straightforward.

If you are like me, then self-publishing is an exciting opportunity. This book will give you a good overview in how the game of self-publishing is played. Without this knowledge, you are like the "Mark" who sits down at the Texas Hold 'Em table with no real clue. You can get taken to the cleaners very quickly.

Poynter covers everything from how to organize and write your manuscript, to editing, typesetting, printing, publishing, distributing and promoting.

My one criticism of the book is that it is still steeped in the traditional self-publishing model. There are many new opportunities occurring to get in print and leverage the power of the Internet to simplify distribution, reduce costs, and target your marketplace.

Highly Recommended!

Cheers!

This book is called a "manual" for self-publishing.

It isn't.

Lots of pages, but it never tells you how to take your manuscript and publish it yourself, from start to finish.

I started with this book, because of its title, its hype, and the reviews. But the books that actually HELPED me figure out HOW to self publish, were ones that I had to find elsewhere. The few actually useful books on this subject are not as slick and glossy or well promoted as Poynter's, but they have real step-by-step INFORMATION that will help you on your way.

I'd "pass" on this one.

I was one of the featured authors in Blog Talk Radio's Black Author Network. Although a great experience, I kept hearing literary consultants, publishers, and even some authors and the host talk about print-on-demand books not being "real self-publishing." Because both of my books are PODs and so far, I've been having a really good turnout, I started to wonder if some of the speakers on this radio show had such strong opinions on PODs, how do the publishers, libraries, and bookstores feel. Originally, I got a copy of this book to write an article to evaluate and clarify the myths about PODs, vanity press companies, and new publishing companies/authors. I took various notes to correct the myths that PODs like LuLu actually DO let you purchase your own ISBN, books CAN be bought through Ingram, and so forth, but the more I read this book, the less interested I was in defending LuLu, especially when LuLu Press's Public Relations team never bothered to respond to my Q&A trying to let them get their opinions out.

I kept on reading this book and learned so much more than I expected. Ella D. Curry of Sankofa Literary Society has repeatedly recommended this book on her show and makes it mandatory for start-up authors to get it because of the extensive information that Poynter brings to the table. I couldn't be more thrilled that I picked it up. When Poynter commented on PODs being the worst choice to use if a book is selling less than 40 copies, I put on my armor ready to do digital battle, but he explains his argument so well that you can't help but agree. In future, I will be going about self-publishing the traditional way. Regardless of having pretty good success with LuLu and not spending a gazillion dollars on books the way so many LuLu authors that I'm friends/associates/or have met, I still believe that I could do a better job by knowing what PODs do. This is partially the reason why PODs make so much money. The author avoids doing what PODs know how to do, but with books like these, there's really no good reason not to learn.

Tim Harrower provides a very practical guide to newspaper design. The art of newspaper design tends to be very subjective, so this book lays down some facts and guidelines to put to rest some of the indecisive elements of design.

For a beginner, this is a book that will give you the confidence and understanding to conquer page layout.

The CD gives the novice an even more practical guide than the book can deliver.

One criticism is that the book is printed on light gloss stock and is spiral bound. I am not sure how it was survive rough treatment.

Brian Hurst

This textbook is awesome. I've never seen a better textbook. It lays everything out, and makes it simple to understand. It tells you what to do and what not to do in simple language and clear pictures. It's one of few textbooks worth keeping for future use in your career (provided you're going into the newspaper industry)!

When I accepted my first "real" job in journalism as a page designer for a local weekly I was struck by a horrifying thought, I really knew nothing about newspaper design. I had done it before for my college paper, sure, but this was the big time. I needed a refresher course and I needed it fast... Tim Harrower and this spiral-bound book came to my rescue.

Although it was first published in 1989, this book will be relevant as long as newspapers exist, even in this age of computer design. Harrower explains and shows why certain designs are good and bad and he approaches it in a situational, problem-solving format. For example, he explains what should be done when you have to design a page with no art, when you have butting headlines, or two horizontal photos etc. Harrower says that most page designers stumble into the job and from this point of view he explains what exactly, a good design is. This book will always be on my desk.

(I wish my publications professor used this instead of the worthless $105 monstrosity he made us buy (and that we never used by the way).)

So, after some mild freaking out followed by a lot of reading, I can start my new job with confidence thanks to this book.

I ordered the hardbound and got the spiral bound, a product worth $12 less. It was then that I discovered there is no way to express a complaint to Amazon: no phone number, no email address, no human help. All that is available is a maze of pre-written web help, none of which includes "credit my account $12, since I don't want to go through the hassle of sending this book back." What's up, Amazon? Don't you want satisfied customers? I spend literally hundreds here each year. This egregious deficit needs to be fixed immediately. Otherwise, I highly recommend this book.

I am an editor these days.
I came on this book quite a few years ago when I was a sub. It was recommended to me by an old hand in the newspaper game.
Without doubt, it is the single best aquisition I have made in terms of newspaper design.
In the places I have worked, I have been regarded extremely highly for my layout skills.
This book, with a little creativity, is the basis of almost everything I do in terms of layout.
If you are serious about the newspaper game, get it, study it and then apply what you learn. It will help our career enormously.

Writing for women's magazines like Elle, Cosmopolitan, Woman's Day, Ladies' Home Journal, Redbook, Reader's Digest and the rest of the big names in publishing takes more than technique and writing skills. It takes knowing what works and what doesn't. Donna Elizabeth Boetig demystifies the process.

>From links to resources and tips on how to slant a story to make it a must read, Feminine Wiles: Creative Techniques For Writing Women's Feature Stories That Sell offers sound, proven advice and a lot of experience in the trenches. Having made most of the mistakes from time to time, her timely and time tested methods illustrate how to take a so-so idea and make it stand out.

Boetig also gives the inside scoop on what editors like to see from writers and how to hook an editor with a winning query. She also explains the difference between gushing, a technique guaranteed to land a quick rejection, and plucking the right emotional string.

Savvy and honest, every writer needs a copy of Feminine Wiles if they're serious about writing that sells and keeps selling.

Boetig's lead coverline, "Creative Techniques for Writing Women's Feature Stories..." doesn't give the whole picture. I found it to be "Creative Techniques for Writing That Will Sell" - period.

I am a relatively new (notice I didn't say young) writer who reads every book I can find on How to Write, How to Market, and How to Paper My Walls With Rejections. Although I write mostly nonfiction, I give Boetig's "Feminie Wiles" a Blue Ribbon.

Her tips, examples, anecdotes, and words of encouragement apply (and appeal) to all writers. I will be using her book as a reference in my upcoming writing classes, and I will encourage my students to purchase their own copies. It is a gem.

Feminine Wiles may be marketed toward women, but the advice offered will work for anyone whether you are writing for women or Field & Stream. Boetig reviews the basic process for lining up an interview, dealing with editors, and writing what sells. This is by far one of the better resources for freelance writers on the market today.

As a freelance writer, I'm always looking to expand my interests and marketability. Boetig's book brought a fresh perspective with lots of real world helpful ideas. The packaging is clever and the voice is easy to read. I particularly like it that you do not have to read the book in order, but rather, open it to the page you need and benefit immediately. Organized well. Well written. Lots of helpful information. Highly recommend.

Of the many how-to books on writing that I've read, I am really pleased with this one. From the very beginning, I gleaned tips that I have never read before. It's written in a relaxed style, much like actually talking to the author. I highly recommend this book if you want to write for magazines.

I read a few chapters each night.

One night I had tears on my pillow from laughter.

The next night I had tears on my pillow from the inspirational story.

It's likely that many of my friends will get this book for Christmas or their birthday. Just a great book!

I have read Rick Reilly on and off in SI for years. I am not a regular subscriber, so my readings of his work have not been consistent. I was getting ready to take a trip and wanted something that would be fun to read. I saw the 5 star reviews (on Amazon) of Rick's book but I was somewhat skeptical about getting it. As a University of Tennessee alumni and fan I had been upset when he had written an article slamming Pat Summit (legendary UT women's basketball coach) about "running up the score" on one of the Lady Vols opponents. Despite all this I decided to take a chance. I needed a good read on my vacation, and I knew he was a good writer, and I needed have a laugh or two while flying, or more often than not,sitting in the airport during another delay.
This book is far more than I expected. This book is very funny, but many of his articles are very touching, and he exposes the best and the worst in the people involved in sports. Sports are the venue, but it is his insight into the people that make the stories so compelling.
As a big fan of the late Jim Murray's writing, I never believed there would ever be another sports writer that good, but I think Rick is getting to that level. A great read, a must read, for any sports fan, period! Every bit a 5 star rating and more.

When my husband's Sports Illustrated comes, I open it up to the last page and read what Rick Reilly has to say. I really like his column and the fact that he went onto the Oprah Show to try to defend his gender...I know, I know, it is a losing battle if you saw the episode, you know what I mean. The column is usually is the only thing I read in the magazine. So when my husband mentioned Rick had this new book out I had to get it for him...if for nothing else to see him actually reading a book instead of Sporting News or Sports Illustrated.

I have both of Rick Reilly's books, and loved this one as much as the first. Very touching. mia rose

My husband gets sports illustrated every week, and every week I flip to the back and read the life of Reilly. What a great writer he is. I enjoyed this book very much.

Michael D. O'Brien is a masterful storyteller. He has compiled a stunning series, Children of the Last Days, of which Plague Journal is the second. I am now just beyond half way through Eclipse of the Sun, the third. I have two more to go, and by then perhaps he will have written some more. While I'm reviewing his work, I'd like to applaud his latest work : Island of the World. That was a "watershed" book for me.There are not words to convey the power and authority which which he strings words together. It is compelling fiction. Any one choosing to read Michael D. O'Brien's work will be in for a major treat as well as learning experience.

Michael D. O'Brien's novels are among the best I have ever read. Plague Journal is the (chronologically speaking) 2nd book in the Children of the Last Days series. Which should be read: 1. Strangers and Sojourners, 2. Plague Journal, 3. Eclipse of the Sun, and the other 3 in any order (although I'd personally read Father Elijah 4th, Sophia House 5th, and A Cry of Stone last--which is the least connected to the other books). They are deep and thought provoking books, and will make you look at the current trends in society in a whole new light. Although there is an element of action/adventure in this story, it is by no means mindless entertainment. The action/adventure element is always secondary to the philosophical/spiritual element that we see and partake of in the lives and thoughts of the characters; in much the same way as the murder/mystery element in Crime and Punishment is secondary to the philosophical/spiritual element.
I've grown up a Protestant, but these books (along with other influences) have made me take a good hard look at Catholicism. I'd say I'm 9 tenths converted--and almost ready to take that last step. But whatever your religion, denomination, or lack thereof, do yourself a favor and read these books.

Michael O'Brien has a tendency to overwrite his books (one of his very few flaws as a writer). But in Plague Journal, he reined himself in (or finally got an editor who did) and the result is a book that is no less packed with plot tension, cultural criticism, and character development than his other tomes.

The middle book of a trilogy of books about the Delaney family (starting with Strangers and Sojourners and ending with Eclipse of the Sun), Plague Journal also fits within O'Brien's larger series, which he calls Children of the Last Days. The first of those is the explosive novel Father Elijah.

While Plague Journal is my personal favorite. I recommend reading it after Father Elijah and Strangers and Sojourners, since it needs the other two to provide its context in O'Brien's view of the Last Days.

And O'Brien's view is a bleak one. The government has become the tool of the antichrist, whether it knows it or not, and an honest journalist (even one who doesn't have a living faith in God) can't get an honest shake, but is hunted down.

Swift, sharp, and poigniant, O'Brien provides his readers with everything that Left Behind readers should have gotten but didn't and without all of the silly speculations. This is good literature that shapes the heart and the mind Christianly.

O'Brien's "Children of the Last Days" series shows what the apocalypse might be like through Catholic eyes. "Plague Journal" shows what an average man would go through when he sees the very land he loves slowly but surely choke off all joy and life in the name of an efficient government. The main character's actions and thoughts make you slow down and wonder what you'd do. Also, not all the characters automatically do the right thing. Each of their actions has a consequence, whether good or bad, and they have to put up with those consequences, which is more realistic. There's no flashy deux ex machina, but God works through the characters in a way that's somehow more majestic than simply suspending laws of nature to make sure the good guy wins. I highly recommend this book no matter what religion you follow. You will laugh, cry, and think.

As I'm sure most reviewers have said, be sure you read Strangers and Sojourners first; PJ is the second in the series. Also, it is good to read Father Elijah too; it occurs about the same time as PJ.

I read PJ in a week. It is one of the most moving books I've read, but I was reluctant to heed its message in the beginning. In this world of half-truths and deceptions where everyone is a partially educated philosopher and politician, PJ really does show the need to not believe everything we heard or read.

Should we be constantly paranoid? Not really. But a healthy skepticism is necessary.

Rick Reilly has a unique gift for communicating his humorous tales. Thumbs up.

Every Thursday I check the mailbox when I get home, see my Sports Illustrated, and go straight for the back page so I can read Mr. Reilly's column. There is a reason he has been named Sportswriter of the Year so many times, he is simply the best. Reilly writes about the humorous, the sad, and the ironic of sports. I laughed at why he hates the Yankees so much, and almost bawled when reading about the Columbine teacher who gave his life for his students. I do some writing myself and even in my dreams I am not half as good as Mr. Reilly is, and never will be. If you are a fan of good, solid writing, pick this book up and read it over and over again.

There are serious columns in the book. The humorous ones are what made me read the book again. The chapter on the Olympics is the funniest thing I have ever read. Anyone who thinks Reilly is boring has no sense of humor.

Nobody writes about sport like Reilly. This is a great collection of his Sports Illustrated pieces. If you are a fan of sports journalism, this is a must read for you.

I had the privilege of being interviewed several times by Rick when I was a high school track athlete and he was a young flip-flop wearing sports writer for the Boulder Daily Camera newspaper in Boulder, Colorado earning his stripes covering high school sports. Even way back then it was obvious that he enjoyed sports writing and it came as little surprise to see him eventually end up as SI's most notable writer. This collection of some of his best (but not all of his best) SI columns is a gem. Not all are "laugh out loud" humorous, but many are (a testament to his versatility as a writer). His postscript comments are also entertaining. After a thorough reading, this book is a keeper. I can't wait for Volume 2.

In this page-turner of a first novel, Al Martinez deftly plunges us into the wild and revolutionary days of San Francisco circa 1965. At the center of this novel is the once-great San Francisco newspaper, the Herald, which is dying a slow death. Our "hero" is the young reporter William Colfax who joins the paper after a fighting in Vietnam. We see a world that no longer exists both within the outside of the Herald: student protests, bombings by "revolutionaries," and hard-drinking, computer-free reporters. This novel rings true and benefits from Matinez's many years as a bay area reporter. Bravo!

This book brought back the '60s, the newspaper industry as it once was, and the decency of people like Al Martinez who made working at a newspaper both exciting and rewarding.

Although the craft is shaky in some areas, the story is strong, and the men and women depicted are people all of us who have worked in newspaper have known.

Few survived those times, and this sensitive novels shows why. Treat yourself to a trip back to the less-complicated world of the '60s, in a time it was much easier to tell the good guys from the bad. You'll taste the whiskey, smell the cigarettes and experience a time that will never be again.

Bonnie Hearn Hill
Author, Huelga House

I must state first, I read few novels all the way through. Eighty percent of the time I read non-fiction. I always check with Amazon critiques regarding all the books I read and usually attempt "5-star" books only when reading novels...and most of those I seldom finish. Well..I finished THE LAST CITY ROOM and enjoyed every page.

The characters are developed where you care about them (even the bad guys...to get their due)and the events and personalities are interesting and true-to-life. On one side the reader can see where a reporter could be a celebrity type person where they are in the spotlight and then again the job could be filled with drudgery and danger....as well as low paying to the extreme.

This story depicts the times of the sixties and many of the events that went on at that time. For me the "flavor" of a newspaper job was well developed as was the personalities of many of the characters. I don't believe anyone would be disappointed with this book.

I found the book interesting and fun to read. Mr. Martinez has a true gift for writing. His play on words and deep insight into the subjects he writes about this book made for a pleasurable easy read. I strongly recommend this book for all lovers of great fiction writing.

From the moment you pick up this book and read the introduction, you are compelled to keep reading. The characters draw you in and you want to know what is going to evolve. Newpapering experience isn't necessary to reading this book. Nor is being a child of the 60's. But it makes you feel as though you were there and have first hand knowledge. The characters become important even if you have never met anyone even remotely like them. Good reading that makes you want more.

This book is the newpaper stories by Rick Bragg.If you like his style of writting, this book is one of his best.Moving stories about ordinary individualsat the moments that are most revealing.Rick Bragg makes you feel like you are there with him in each story.

This was a fairly good book, and Mr. Bragg certainly has a way with the written word. The text had a tendency to drag on for what seemed like an eternity -- but I held on through the entire volume and was eventually glad I did. The ending is spell-binding and imaginative. I also liked Bragg's Jessica Lynch book.

One of the best books you could read. Rick Bragg is tops.

I picked up this book after reading his wonderful book "It's All Over But the Shoutin", an endearing tribute to his mother. This collection of essays from his days as a journalist to the place he won a Pulitzer Prize, The New York Times. When Bragg writes a story, a few words or phrases he uses give that extra zing to bring the story to life, some dimension to the characters, and most of all, you can't help picturing those words to vivid and heartfelt images.

Bragg has the ability to make you feel part of the story. He is conversational, casual, and descriptive. He writes about people, places, and covers another side of events. And, it is this compilation of words phrases, metaphors, etc., in a sentence that sets him apart from average writers. When writing about a man whose continuous crime is to get a square meal without paying, Bragg writes: "He is a thief who never runs, a criminal who picks his teeth as the police close in." You can just picture that so well, the criminal callously waiting for his arrest after another satisfying unpaid meal.

Also included are some national stories including a few on the OKC bombing, The Susan Smith Trial, and some disturbing events in Haiti. Equally interesting are stories from New York. If you have an interest in writing special feature stories, essays, here is your teacher. If you just enjoy excellent writing, and entertaining stories, this is the book for you. ......MzRizz

I had the wonderful pleasure of meeting Rick Bragg this past weekend at the first annual Louisiana Book Festival in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and I have to say that he's a living doll! I bought this book to get his autograph and read it in one sitting when I got home. This man has a God-given gift for writing about people, places and events closest to the heart and soul. I highly recommend all of his books....[...], this one is worth the price just for the cute picture on the cover!

This book of domestic essays by Michigan journalist Cindy LaFerle is a major delight. The rich topic of LaFerle's family life, from delivering newspapers on dark Sunday mornings with her son to remodeling her historic home and baking bread for peace, is comfort food without the calories. The essays pair especially well with a warm cup of tea on a cold afternoon. LaFerle's calm and compassionate humor will remind readers to be grateful for the many blessings of home.

From the preface: "At a writers' retreat I attended several years ago, author Madeleine L'Engle posed a question, "Why do all of us want to share our stories?" Her answer affirmed what each of us knew but couldn't express as elegantly: "We share our stories because we have faith--faith the universe has meaning and that our little lives are not irrelevant." I found this profound and wanted to read deeper.

Cindy has put together some wonderfully arranged thematic essays. The essays are funny, poignant and show a slice of life. The essays are fun reading them in book sequence or skipping around (Sorry Cindy. You probably wanted them read in the sequence published.). I enjoyed reading them.

Cindy's writing style in this book is like a conversation between friends. There is a sense of humor mixed with plain down to earth speech and common everyday situations that anyone can relate to. Most essays are short, easy and fun to read.

The Christian Science Monitor, Reader's Digest, Country Gardens, Writer's Digest, The Oakland Press and The Royal Oak Daily Tribune have all published Cindy's essays and columns. Cindy lives in her home town, Royal Oak, Michigan, with her family.

I found this book easy and fun to read. I don't know when these essays were first published, but they just a relevant. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone wanting something entertaining to read. Since there a re a series of essays, there is no real need to rush, reading from cover to cover. You can pick up this book at anytime and read one or more of the essays when you have a few minutes to spare while relaxing. I would rate this book as a great read and worthy of consideration by readers.

Bob Medak, Allbooks Reviews

Cracking open Cindy LaFerle's debut collection of columns and essays is the equivalent of chatting with your best friend at a coffeehouse. She talks about everything under the sun -- from the love of her deceased tabby cat to the ubiquitous mean mommy syndrome we all face at the PTA. Her steady, flowing writing lulls you into the comforts of her world. It's not all rosy, however. Her discussion of the Iraqi War or Martha Stewart's decline are timely issues to be taken seriously. Nonetheless, you feel you are in trusted hands with Ms. LaFerle. She won't let you down. In every one of her 294 pages, she never does.



The book is a compilation of over a decade of newspaper columns in The Daily Tribune (Royal Oak, Michigan) and essays which have appeared in notable magazines such as Readers' Digest and Better Homes and Gardens. Since her background mirriors that of many work from home mothers, she is a highly relatable writer both in intention and in content. Her tone is never preachy. It is truthful and without pretense.



This nurturing scribe has stopped her column. Her local readers in Michigan must mourn the loss of their regular commentator. As she recently sent her only child off to college, she may have been concerned that her home life would not yield a full column's worth. She quotes Aldous Huxley at one point (page 64):



"Everyone who knows how to read has it in their power to magnify themselves, to multiply the ways in which they exist, to make their life full, significant, and interesting."



Cindy LaFerle does that with her writing. She magnifies her own world to make it our own. We can only hope she will be inspired to continue the quest with her pen. Her obvious talent to weave honest, yet striking tales is definitely something to write home about.

Rebeccasreads highly recommends WRITING HOME as a lovely bouquet of womanly thoughts about things little & big, sad & funny, & topical to today's modern life.

Cindy La Ferle's essays are grouped together by subject rather than eras: first she welcomes us into her House and Garden, & then introduces us to the muggy swamp of Child Care; to her Social Life (such as it is being a work-at-home-parent & spouse); to the philosophies of Kitchen Duty, & to her Creature Comforts.

Then she gets as serious as she can about Work Ethics before opening the Family Album. She also shows us how she's Keeping Up Appearance & Keeping the Seasons, & as with all things, she gets Older and Wiser & into Soul Caring.

Oh, & she's into organic produce, herbs, overnight retreats at a Jesuit monastery, walking with her women friends, & a life of prayer & peace. & she likes to laugh!

WRITING HOME is for everywoman who thinks about her world, & would make a perfect reading group selection, & gift, no matter the season!

"The sacred is in the ordinary. It is found in one's daily life - in friends, family, and neighbors; in one's own backyard."

The above quote comes from a thank-you note Cindy La Ferle keeps in an "altar" above her kitchen sink. Its simple observation pretty much sums up the philosophy expounded in her book, Writing Home. A columnist for a Detroit area paper and freelance article writer, La Ferle writes about what she knows best - home - and how our home life shapes and colors who we are.

My personal favorite essay is "Quit Picking on Barbie." The big-breasted fashion doll has been getting a bum rap for years... Most little girls just enjoy dressing her up and designing homes and careers for her. She doesn't scar our sense of femininity at all. Another column, "Recovering Perfectionist," stirs up many familiar emotions as well. Women do seem especially susceptible to perfectionistic behavior, La Ferle observes. Our "people-pleasing" impulses prevent us from attempting many worthwhile endeavors because we're afraid we won't be able to do them perfectly. We need to let go of this need to "be right or look good" all the time. In the humorous "Seeing Red" we learn about the pros and cons of being a redhead - or at least the Miss Clairol version of it.

From "Baghdad and Banana Bread"- finding security from the horrors of the world in simple baking - to "The Lost Art of Loafing"- an art I really need to take advantage of this summer- Writing Home wisely reminds us that truly there is no place like home. -- Cindy Appel for the FEARLESS REVIEWS

Wow! Susan Meissner is not only a topnotch writer, she is a woman with a heart for God and a depth of spiritual understanding that few can rival. She writes in a way that enables readers to become the main characters, and she accomplishes this because she digs deep enough to find the commonality in all of us, that longing for something more, something better, something...something that was lost in the Garden and can never be regained in this world. In All Deep Places speaks to us of that longing and reminds us that we are nothing more than homesick pilgrims. This is a book that births discontent with our lives, regardless of circumstances, and points us in the only direction that can ever dispel that discontentment. Thank you, Susan, for a story that woos our hearts in the telling....

Reviewed by Kim Peterson for Reader Views (9/06)

Mystery Writer of the Year Luke Foxbourne disregards his latest book deadline and returns home when his father suffers a stroke. Back in his hometown he divides his time between visiting his father in the hospital, helping his mother, and assuming his father's duties running the family-owned newspaper.

At his childhood home, the empty green house next door reminds him of unpleasant memories. As thoughts of his neighbors resurface, he finally devotes time to thinking through the past that he never wanted to revisit.

Cranky old Mrs. Janvik had lived next door and few things ever went well for her or her family. When her grandchildren came to live with her, Luke and his brother befriended them. But Norah and her troubled younger brother weren't like Luke's family. Norah's parents either spent time in jail or had too much wild fun to retain custody of the children all the time. The kids lived with their grandmother on and off and lacked the stability and security that Luke took for granted.

Luke wondered if God had cursed his neighbors. How could so many things go wrong for them otherwise? Luke's family tried to show them kindness and the love of God. Luke, in his youthful idealism, had promised to protect Norah, but was unable to do so. He knew he let her down and avoided dealing with the matter for years.

Now, he launches a new writing project--a memoir in which he explores the mystery and the unanswered questions that he has avoided for so long. Why did God allow misfortune to plague the Janviks until they could no longer cope with the misery? Did Norah find happiness? Did she reconcile with God? Did good prevail in her life?

With his wife's encouragement, Luke seeks out Norah to learn the outcome of her story. Luke doesn't find all the answers to his questions, but he does discover forgiveness and peace.

Meissner writes about deep spiritual questions in a fresh and surprising style. "In All Deep Places" explores the God-shaped longing that exists within humans--that same hunger alluded to throughout literature and poems such as Francis Thompson's "The Hound of Heaven." Without resorting to preaching or trite answers, Meissner grapples with the age-old questions about bad things happening to good people.

Although the struggles in this coming-of-age novel saddened me at times, I enjoyed the well-crafted story. When immersed in life's deep places, we seek assurance that we will survive, maybe even triumph. "In All Deep Places" offers hope for emotional healing and hope for a promising future.

Some go for quick escapist fiction, along the lines of fast food gulped en route to the next stop. I prefer to ponder the words, like a county fair judge might determine the subtleties of the perfect apple pie.

Susan Meissner serves up wonderful word pictures like, "He scampered off, returning a moment later with a faded rag frozen by time and neglect into a stiff terry-cloth fossil," in her new novel, In All Deep Places.

Luke Foxbourne, carries a burden that comes to a boil through a series of events. The reader is taken to the segment of time that branded his life, and continues to haunt him. Ms. Meissner gives us insight into her protagonist's confusion and sorrow with, "'I don't understand You," Luke whispered aloud, but he was afraid to whisper anything else. He was afraid a cosmic hand would reach down out of heaven, pluck him from the tree house, and fling him to the frozen ground."

My eye has been trained to seek flaws in writing. I suppose a lot like the judge who notices a smidge too much salt, or the wrong kind of apple. It has become, for me, a sign of good fiction, when I get lost in the story and respond to the lives of the characters.

I read Ms. Meissner's novel in three sessions - devouring what I could fit into the very busy holidays. Her characters, her writing lingered. I'd find myself clinging to a neatly turned phrase or trying to squeeze the had-to-do's into smaller time bits so I could sneak a look at what might happen next.

In my opinion, Ms. Meissner writes Christian Fiction the way it should be written, with threads and hints and God webs interwoven into not very rosy pictures of broken lives. In All Deep Places contains tinges of hope, an aroma of life, a slight glow of light, and a lingering trace of poignancy. And that is the stuff of life, the moments when we are forced to think, to face our smallness and the immensity of God.

This is the second of Ms. Meissner's books I've had the pleasure of reading. I intend to continue consuming her books, going back and picking up the two I've missed, and eagerly awaiting the next one.

If you only read books with talking animals or those that end with the words "happily ever after" you might not share my opinion.

If you prefer your fiction to be a little more like real life with spots of word weaving magic, I think you'll like In All Deep Places.

In All Deep Places is a poignant, heart-wrenching story of a gallant boy and a hapless girl, both driven by the unrealistic expectations of their youthful friendship. The title is apt, and Meissner has drawn deep from a well of emotion. Though much of the book deals with tragic events, it's not dark, but it is haunting--a story that will remain in your heart. A book you can't read and remain the same.

I loved this book! I couldn't put it down.

Having said that, I would also like to say, that this is not my normal style of books. But this one was so well crafted, so well plotted, the characters so interesting that I found it impossible to not read "just a little more". I laughed and I cried all my mascara off.

Susan is a great story teller. The story ceases to be words and you are suddenly there with the characters, smelling what they smell, hearing what they hear. . .I now look forward to reading her other books.

If you like Women's fiction or just a good story? I recommend In All Deep Places.