Cameron Books

I wanted to enjoy this but confess only sore disappointment. Lots of tiresome filler fleshes out a silly and weak plot. In order to find the individual harassing her new client, the main character, a Private Detective, unrealistically decides to meet with everyone her client interacts. This is an intellectually lazy (or more likely incompetent) way for the author to introduce loads of unnecessary characters (filler) to stretch out a thin plot. Juvenile swearing and exclamations front for witty repartee. The clamping of a hand over one's mouth to suppress laughter or the pining for alcoholic drinks stand in for comic genius. Characters do not have unique voices, all sounding the same. Stereotypically clueless characters (a self-absorbed mother, a ditsy friend) are creatively treated to suppressed laughter and exaggerated eyerolls behind their backs. Sexual tension is attempted by keeping the love interests apart for annoyingly nonsensical and non-believable reasons and their conversations unrealistically brief, stilted, and incomplete - each sentence spoken to each other not more than 10 words long. This is suppose to tantalize the reader, it annoyed me instead. Formulaic ending where good guys are of course harmlessly injured and the solution to the whodunnit literally DICTATED to you by the protagonist. The mystery? A highly improbable and convoluted misunderstanding by a distant ex. After reading this I'm inspired to write my own novel, it doesn't seem that hard.

"Bleeding Hearts", is the sequel to the excellent "Blood Guilt", where we were introduced to the former police officer and now private investigator Kit O' Malley. Unlike a lot of characters we find lately in lesbian fiction, who are larger than life, Kit O'Malley strikes us as an everyday person, maybe just more cultured that the average, and that only through her profession gets involved in out of the ordinary situations. Just like in Lindy Cameron's previous book we are once again offered a complex plot, and a panoply of secondary characters that keep us both riveted on the mystery and at the same time laughing out loud at some of the witty remarks and funny situations. This is mostly a mystery book, in that there is nothing in Kit's personal life driving the plot, including the fact that she is a lesbian and has recently fallen in love with Alex. However, it is an excellent mystery and a lot of the writers that write lesbian mysteries should aim at writing books with the quality of Cameron's books. Highly recommended.

Lindy Cameron is a freelance book editor and avid golfer who lives outside of Melbourne, Australia on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula on the southern tip. Lindy writes the newsletter entitled STILETTO for the Sisters in Crime Australia. BLEEDING HEARTS is the follow-up to her first novel, BLOOD GUILT.

TV personality Rebecca Jones hires Kit O'Malley to investigate threats made to her in the way of nasty little packages that are being delivered. Kit is just at the beginning of her relationship with the beautiful and sexy lawyer, Alex Casenove, who has been keeping her distance. It turns out that local politicians have also been receiving threats, and no one knows who may be next. As Kit picks her way through the maze of deception, she discovers an underworld of political sleaze that culminates in abduction; sexual behavior by some high ranking officials that is sordid and evil; and finally, murder:

"Kit rested her chin in her hands and stared at the note. Finally, when even Alex or Hector were about to cut into her deliberation, she said, 'What I'd like to know is, where have all the clever psychopaths gone? In fiction, you know, they're ALWAYS geniuses, with the kind of astonishing intellect that meant they were destined to be great and good, or mad and bad. Nothing in between, no half-measures. They're either a brain surgeon or they EAT brains.'"

BLEEDING HEARTS is a smashing follow-up to BLOOD GUILT. Lindy Cameron weaves plots that are to die for in the world of murder mystery writers. Her books are like onions that the reader has to peel back, layer-by-layer, to find the heart of the mystery. Cameron continues with her hilarious and touching cast of characters, including her sprite of a mother, who can be clueless or trendy; her lady love, Alex Casenove, who is at times elusive but comes through for Kit; her ex-partner on the force Jon Marek; and many others.

The Kit O'Malley mysteries introduce people who are great mates; help each other through thick and thin; and are there for Kit as she takes on an incredible amount of deceit. It's a wonderful read that can't be put down once started. Hooray for Kit!

Shelley Glodowski
Senior Reviewer

After reading Lindy Cameron's Blood Guilt (Kit O'Malley Mystery Series), I had been waiting for the next installment of Kit O'Malley Mystery. Turned out hat this book, Bleeding Hearts, was worth waiting.

The story starts weeks after the end of the previous book, when Kit's business seems going well. However, things are more complicate than what they appear above the surface. Here Lindy Cameron presents an intriguing story with twisted plots and interesting characters (including minor ones).

Unlike some series of similar kinds, the author doesn't try to remind you what have happened in the previous story or who is who, nor does she feel obliged to cover all the previous lovely characters in this story or to spice the story more with old/new romance plots. What you have is a standalone solid, yet sometimes funny, mystery story.

Though you don't need to read the first book before this one, as far as the mystery is concern, you will learn more about the characters if you do. Both are very good.

Lindy Cameron is emerging as one of the most enjoyable mystery writers in the genre. Her characters are well developed and funny, while her plots are intricate. Though you may have suspicions about "who done it," they won't be confirmed until the end of the book and then you'll probably be wrong. In the meantime you'll have quite a romp with Kit O'Malley and her collection of friends.

In Bleeding Hearts, Kit is surrounded by more mysteries than she almost knows how to deal with. Political scandal, embezzlement, black mail, murder, sleazy politicians, unfulfilled sexual fantasies and romantic matchmaking are just some of the issues that Kit has to wade through to try to solve the various cases. What begins to creep her out though is that somehow these cases might be connected. What keeps her going is the blossoming relationship with Alex that keeps Kit as unsteady on her feet as the people who keep whacking her on the head.

Cameron writes mysteries that are serious in their creation, but spiked with tremendous amounts of humor and wit. Kit has to be one of the clumsiest and, at times, tuned out detectives around. Part of her distraction has to be attributed to the friends she surrounds herself with. Del and Brigit are a solid couple and Kit's best friends. They try to watch out for her when she'll let them and the reader has to develop an appreciation for the stability Del represents when it comes to Kit and her partner. Brigit provides much of the comic relief as she dances, sings and karate chops her way through the situations. Lillian, Kit's zany mother, floats in and out not really understanding anything that is going on in her daughter's life, but loving her nonetheless. Hector, the computer guru, seems to think he's living in a bad 1950's style crime story and Erin is the crusading newspaper reporter who knows the dirt on everyone. Rounding out her life is the beautiful Alex, who turns Kit to mush with just a look, and Thistle, the attack commando cat that speaks a language Kit actually seems to understand.

Bleeding Hearts is a series of engrossing mysteries told with a light tone and plenty of unexpected one-liners. The crimes will challenge your intellect while Kit and her friends keep you chuckling. This is a terrific and entertaining book to read.

He will take your money and never deliver the site. His coding and design is 10 years old. Don't waste your money on his book and NEVER wire him money to the UK.

As informative as this book is, I've found that it doesn't cover much in detail. It brushes against the fundamentals, but lacks a more in-depth guide for advanced developers.

I also found the index and appendixes very difficult to utilize when looking for specific functions. It would have been nice to find ALL references to what I needed and not just the appendix 'definition'.

It's a good starting point for beginners, but advanced users might find it a bit frustrating.

The author has done an excellent job of presenting the enormous amount of information contained in this book. It is laid out logically with step by step instructions and plenty of easy to follow examples. It can be read right through or dipped into when needed. I recommend it to advanced Lasso developers and beginners alike.

The Lasso Professional 5 Developer's Guide certainly demonstrates the foundations of exemplary Lasso development: simple, efficient, well documented code, proper security mechanisms, and a well organized project. But, more importantly, it provides a critical perspective: Lasso is not only a tool to throw up some forms or get a database on the web; it is a fully featured development platform which will allow you to build web applications with incomparable efficiency. Users of Lasso since version 1 to those embarking on their first Lasso project will benefit from the perspective and experience clearly articulated in this well organized and thoughtful guide.

This guide is excellent. I've read the thing cover to cover and consequently left my nervous insecure lasso newbie stage for a pretty much know what the heck I'm doing and can get it done pretty dang fast stage. The book is easy to read with excellent and clear examples. The sample code is invaluable and very practical. It's oriented for both the new and experienced Lasso developer with many insights on Lasso 5 that you won't find elsewhere. It's a reference book and a learning guide. The section of regular expressions just might change your life. I don't think you can't go wrong if you get this book.

"Think of yourself as an actor, placed in a theater at the time of your birth. You have been invited to join the millions of other actors around you, to take your place on the stage known as the Phantasmagoric Theater. Every scene has been assembled for your performance. The script has been written and your cures are in order. If nothing goes wrong, you will sail through your performance until the final curtain..." - From the Little White Book

There's something unsettling about the Phantasmagoric Theater Tarot, which could very well shake up your reading practice as well as any preconceived (memorized?) notions about what a particular card means.

Zombie-like dolls, gas-masked creatures, question marks, punk/goth kids, random puzzle pieces and numbered dice inhabit a landscape both playful and off-kilter. If you enjoy The Nightmare Before Christmas or The Corpse Bride (or any of Tim Burton's unusual notions of fun), you'll likely feel quite at home with this deck.

For me, traveling circuses have creepy but intriguing undercurrents and the TV show Carnivale did nothing to dispel my misgivings. Like looking into the eyes of a monster, the view is both disturbing and irresistible--just like the cards of the Phantasmagoric Theater Tarot.

Yet, in this mystifying world, secret-laden imagery and colorfully rich symbols await decoding by discerning, patient individuals. Deck creator Graham Cameron is obsessed with the number 56 (as well as other repeating motifs) but don't let that dissuade: there is plenty *other* symbols both familiar and bizarre to keep your mind guessing and your intuition on overdrive.

Both sweetness and melancholy emanate from this deck, as if the Phantasmagoric Theater were a world populated by cast-off toy that are heartbroken yet hopeful.

The suit names are traditional--Wands, Cups, Swords and Coins--as are the Courts (Page, Knight, Queen and King). The cards measure approximately 5 ½ x 3 ½ inches and have a reversible diamond-checkered backing with a circular motif featuring the number 56, question mark, puzzle piece and die (I told you the creator was obsessed!).

However, despite the use of common suit names, Cameron offers an unusual description of the elements/suits. He writes in the 42-page Little White Book:

"...the suit of Swords relates to air; here we take a walk through the `Air Sword Labyrinth', the maze of your mind, with its conflicts, intellect, struggles, difficulties, and flexibility. The suit of Wands corresponds to fire; here we step inside the `Fire Wand Circus', a tent full of energy, art, performance, buffoonery, and fantasy. The suit of Cups corresponds to water; here we find ourselves in the `Water Cup Desert', an area of land encompassing love, intuition, affection, harmony, and the subconscious. The suit of Coin links to earth; here we are welcomed into the `Earth Coin Village', a place of craftsmanship, trade, inheritance, business, and cooperation."

The LWB offers card interpretations for both upright and reversed positions, as well as insight into many of the characters living among this odd landscape. For example, the King of Swords is known as Sergeant Winner while Fingerpin the ringmaster makes an appearance in the Six of Wands. In the Eight of Cups, Bertie works at the Soda Pop Factory but has come to realization that it doesn't stimulate him anymore--so he moves on. Mr. Dimp's skillful mastery, devotion to his work and overall indispensability shows up in the Three of Coins, where he fixes clocks for the Earth Coin Village.

I've had a lot of great insights with this deck and, in my opinion, the Phantasmagoric Theater Tarot is worth having--if not as a reading deck, then at least as a reference to a realm outside mundane reality for an unusual perspective into the cards.

(To see 15 card images from this deck, visit the Reviews--Decks section at JanetBoyer.com)

Janet Boyer, author of The Back in Time Tarot Book: Picture the Past, Experience the Cards, Understand the Present

The cards are beautiful, but you'll get a very different impression looking at them than you would reading the artist's descriptions in the provided booklet. The cards are appeallingly ambivalent and complicated; Cameron's descriptions of them are uniformly simple and skewed heavily to the bland positive. ("This card reminds you that challenges are an opportunity for growth", that sort of thing. Not that I think growth is bad!) Even so, the booklet is well worth reading for the names that it gives to all the characters. If you ordinarily find that the suit cards blur together in your mind a little bit, perhaps being introduced to Tate, Fizzy, X, and The Plasticine Junky will help (to name just a few).

I found myself slightly disappointed that the suit cards often had the requisite number of cups/wands/coins/swords just lying around on the floor rather than playing a significant part in the scene. For example, the three of wands depicts a stilt-walker... but while your eye is initially drawn to the imposing stilts that he balances on, those aren't wands. The wands are tiny things sitting in a pile. Still, that choice just puts more emphasis on the characters and other wonders that Cameron has invented himself.

I suspect you can tell whether you'll love this deck or hate it from the sample images Amazon provides. I bought it otherwise unseen based on the samples, and I'm happy about it.

I'm usually not too fond of theme decks, finding that too many of them end up in back of the book case but I was very intrigued by this one. It's a very idiodyncratic expression of the tarot and you will either love it or hate it immediately. Highly surreal, cartoonlike art. It does work as a reading deck.

This over-sized deck has a child-like tone. It is highly personalized. The backs of the cards have the number "56" on them, which the author explains as "my chosen number". The cards themselves are equally idiosyncratic. The figures on the cards are like dolls, or puppets; their surrounds are simple and whimsical. Another unique feature is a jigsaw puzzle piece on various cards to show whether the influence of the card is masculine, feminine, or both. The designer must have had a great time doing these cards, but the statements they make are far too personal for me to make an archetypal tarot-type connection with. People involved with the theatre, or puppetry, might appreciate them more than I do.

The Phantasmagoric Theatre tarot encourages us to think of our lives as a stage play. We are all actors, and the scenes have been carefully designed before we enter, stage left. However, as in real theatre, sometimes things don't go right: we flub our lines, we don't like our costumes, or the lights malfunction. These things very subtly change the play itself and can even change the very outcome. However, as Mr. Cameron suggests, "as a tarot reader, however, you can connect yourself through a psychic process back to the original script, and become informed of deviations you may have made to the performance that is your life, helping you to avoid any unnecessary disasters."

Mr. Cameron has produced an astonishing tarot deck as laden with heavy symbolism as any tarot I've yet worked with. Dice, question marks and puzzle pieces can be found in most (if not all) of his cards, and each has a special significance for him. Dice represent entropy or chance in our lives: we may WANT the roll of the dice to turn out a certain way, but often they don't. Like puzzle pieces, we are all interconnected and interlocked to each other in complicated matters. As far as questions, well, I certainly don't have many of mine answered, tarot cards or not!!

The characters in the deck hover in an odd realm somewhere between childlike and sinister. Many look like dolls with button eyes and happy smiles. Some are glowering in a powerful "I know something you DON'T..." sort of way that is almost eerie. When pressed to describe this deck, I often say it resembles something of a cross between the Beatles "Yellow Submarine" and "The Nightmare Before Christmas". Still, this analogy doesn't do the deck justice-there is far, far much more to see.

Many of the cards are modeled after what may be the most well known tarot deck, the Rider-Waite. Since most people start with the Rider-Waite (it's the deck most books use to illustrate the tarot) this will certainly help the reader gain fluency with these cards. However, be aware that the resemblance quickly stops-this is not like any other deck you are likely to run into. Two very short examples of how these cards are different are the card of the Grand Master, a sort of levitating, psychedelic visionary that stands in the place of the card of the Hierophant in most other decks, and the Ace of Cups, which is something of a coffee mug.

The cards themselves are oversized, weighing in at about 5.5" x 3.5". While this makes them easier to see and meditate on their meanings, bear in mind that they're slightly more difficult to shuffle and they won't fit in a standard-sized tarot box. The instruction booklet that accompanies the deck is written in a more poetical fashion than most other decks as well. Each card's astrological alignment is noted, as well as a 1 or 2 word description-- "The Fool (Inner Child)" for example. Quite a few cards' characters actually have names, which, for me, add a more personal dimension to them. As an example, here an excerpt from the Queen of Cups: "Say hello to Fizzy, the Queen of Cups. She represents sensitivity in a woman. Fizzy is happy and content. She represents our ability to enjoy all emotions."

As another reviewer noted, the deck IS very personal, as are all tarot decks, and it may not resonate with everyone. Someone once said that choosing a tarot deck is the same as choosing a lover. While I don't find it to be THAT extreme, I do believe that the cards must speak to a person to be of any use to them. For example, I can appreciate the artwork in the new Vampire Tarot, but the deck has no resonance with me as a person so I don't use those cards. Beginners probably would be best advised to stick to the Rider-Waite, but as you grow more proficient at reading the card's symbols, those with a particular affinity to the surreal or bizarre may wish to add these cards to their collection.

I was instantly attracted by this book. The super-size images are so beautiful and so sharp that they look like a series of windows to the most beautiful scenes in China. All my families are really impressed.
I have been to some places shown in this book. The pictures was taken with such optimum lighting conditions and artistic angles that made the familiar places look grandeur and inviting, yet realistic, to me. As for the pictures about places I have never been, the beautiful scenes make me yearning to travel there.
All in all, this is the best coffee table picture book about China that I have seen.
I have one copy. But when I want to buy another copy as a gift for a friend leaving Boston to be an university professor, I cannot find any in the local bookstores. I only wish there will another printing of this book, or another edition.
I generally like all books in this "spectacular" series. Last month I bought a copy of "America's Spectacular National Parks" to give to a colleague returning to Japan.
I hope the author and publishers keep up with the excellent work!

The photos in this book are beyond spectacular! If you are interested in China, this is the ultimate coffee table photograph collection. Highly recommended.

This is a wonderful coffee table book for anyone interested in China. It is a large format with beautiful photography including several 3-page fold-outs. China's natural beauty, architecture & culture are all here.

You see get to see ancient stone sculptures, the majestic Imperial Place & the seemingly endless Great Wall. Breathtaking waterfalls, serene lakes dotted with pagodas & mysterious mountains enveloped in clouds follow.

I was very impressed the many golden Buddhas & a boat made of marble. I also loved the peaceful gardens filled with water, rocks & trees. The native people in traditional dress are fascinating as well.

My favorite of the entire city of Beijing lit with fireworks is nothing short of spectacular. The text and detailed captions provide a thorough background for the photos. This is a book you can get lost in for hours.

The pictures are beautiful but the book is put together very sloppily and is falling apart before it even comes out of the box

This book has the best photos of scenes around China that I have ever seen. I love the photos, but have been very disappointed in the quality of the binding. It is not strong enough to support such large, heavy pages. The first book arrived with the binding already torn away and the second one has to be handled VERY gently to prevent the same thing from happening. As a coffee table book it is meant to be looked at and I don't like having to ask people to be careful with it. I don't know if I got a couple of bad copies or if they're all so delicate. Maybe future editions will be more hardy.

A frind of mine used all of Barry's materials in his church and it just put his church over the top in the area of giving. They are building a building and doing it without the usual high pressure campaign. The people have gotten on board and withour asking for pledges or one time gifts they are building a building. None of this is new material if you have been around church for a while but Cameron kind of takes the the Bible and Dave Ramsey get out of debt and it makes sense. He is not as funny or charismatic as Ramsey but he is a very good communicator at a time when people need some good financial counsel. Kind of small book with a lot to offer.

Several people have now read through the book, and have commented how eye-opening it has helped them to be become.
We hope to offer a class and use this book as a basis for financial management. We are very pleased with the book.

This book has two goals (explicitly stated):
1. To get you out of debt and to live reasonably.
2. To tithe at least 10% of your income to the church, blindly.

Goal 1 is noble. Goal 2 severly misrepresents the Bible and the Gospel. According to Pastor Cameron, if you don't blindly tithe at least 10% to your local church, you are:
1. Robbing God
2. Under a curse

Why? Because of a faulty understanding/interpretation of Malachi Ch. 3.

He also preaches the evil "give-to-get" scheme/gospel that is getting ever more popular with some Evangelical preachers (again, based on misinterpretation).

(...)
Christians should be practicing stewardship, where 100% of their time, treasure, and talent belongs to the Lord (not just 10% of their income). Also, the rich should give much more than 10%, and the poor and needy should actually RECEIVE (not give) tithes. That's the way it was practised in the Old Testament. It's a shame to extract money from the poor, in the name of God, with the "give-to-get" rationalization.

In the fast paced, I need it now, lifesyles that we all seem to live today, this book will help you refocus the importance of over extending our finances. Barry Cameron points out the clear biblecial reasons about debt and how it can affect our lives.
If you are in debt and want to get out, get this book. If you are not in debt, get this book and give it to someone, it will bless their life.

The hero is a tortured soul in a scared body. The heroine is rescued street urchin brought up to be a lady. Neither one of them is fit for polite society, but there they are, for some reason.

Saber doesn't want to marry Ella because he is afraid his madness is progressing and he will end up institutionalized in the near future. Why does he believe his post-traumatic stress will get worse and not better? That's not really clear, but he isn't getting any sleep so maybe he isn't thinking clearly.

Of course, the only thing that will change Saber's mind is if poor Ella faces physical danger, and here is where the story gets good. There is a pack of villains after her. She faces rape, humiliation, and marriage to a pervert with an equally perverted dad. And best of all is Precious Able, one of the best villainous sidekicks you'll see in a romance novel.

This had potential to be a good book, and it has some very good parts, but unfortunately it suffers from lack of focus. Parts are slow-moving, and some characters are not explained very well, such as the hero's two best friends who both turn traitor on him, and the younger brother who lures his sister into danger for no clear reason. I almost gave up on this book after the first few chapters, but I am glad I didn't. I would have missed Precious Able's uniquely memorable abduction rehearsal. That scene alone was worth reading the book for.

I had first come across this book at the library, got it on a whim and have not regretted it since. Such a romantic book and so believable! you felt the chemistry between the characters, Saber and Ella and know that their's was a true love. Quite unusual circumstances but it adds to the dramatic esssence of the novel.this has become an old favourite of mine and whenever i need a pick me up its straight to the library. Maybe i should buy it? anyway if you like stella cameron, read this!

This was a good book, and I enjoyed reading it. The characters were believable. If you want to read a book that goes straight to your heart, read Stolen Moments by Barbara Jeanne Fisher. . .It is a beautiful story of unrequited love. . .for certain the love story of the nineties. I intended to give the book a quick read, but I got so caught up in the story that I couldn't put the book down. From the very beginning, I was fully caught up in the heart-wrenching account of Julie Hunter's battle with lupus and her growing love for Don Lipton. This love, in the face of Julie's impending death, makes for a story that covers the range of human emotions. The touches of humor are great, too, they add some nice contrast and lighten things a bit when emotions are running high. I've never read a book more deserving of being published. It has rare depth. Julie's story will remind your readers that life and love are precious and not to be taken for granted. It has had an impact on me, and for that I'm grateful. Stolen Moments is written with so much sensitivity that it made me want to cry. It is a spellbinder. What terrific writing. Barbara does have an exceptional gift! This book was edited by Lupus specialist Dr. Matt Morrow too, and has the latest information on that disease. ..A perfect gift for someone who started college late in life, fell in love too late in life, is living with any illness, or trying to understand a loved one who is. . .A gift to be cherished forever.

...

Saber, Earl of Avenall, was severely wounded, inside and out, during the war in India. Today, we would call it Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He has nightmares, he feels terrible amounts of guilt, etc. But he thinks he's going insane.

Ella, his beloved, needs him. She loves him and he pushes her away, not willing to tie her to a madman. But someone threatens to expose Ella's past and hurt her.

Saber decides to marry her, make her his heir, so when he does finally go completely insane, Ella will be taken care of.

This was a good story, with deeply emotional characters whose love for each other was tangible and real.

The only thing I don't usually like about Stella Cameron's writing is the way she often *hints* at what people want to say. I wish she would just have them *say* what is on their minds.

But I did think this was a very good book.

The book was in great condition, but I find the shipping that and I paid and what was used to be out of line. Other than that the transaction went very smoothly

The Blue Trust chronicles the rise and fall of two highly ambitious people, Bruce and Lynne Verchere. For those of us who worked at Manac Systems in the mid-eighties there is some grim sense of satisfaction with respect to the destiny of Lynne Verchere. The author avoids the darker side of Vercheres personality, but for those of us who knew her, any sense of pity that the story elicits is mitigated by the reality of having dealt with her on a day to day basis. Lynne Verchere was not a victim. The final tragedy of Bruce Verchere is a metaphor for the gaping hole in her own psyche. Notwithstanding the mess he had made of his life, Bruce Vercheres last desperate act was undoubtedly triggered by her final "victory" over him.

Interesting because it's a true story, and for Canadians some recognizable names, but oh does it ramble. This story could have and should have been told in 100 pages not 373.

This book demonstrates how reality is stranger then fiction.Wonderfully researched, this story illustrates the folly of deciet and selfishness.

How the wildest successes can end in tragedy because of weakness in character.

This true story chronicles the life of a tax lawyer, his wife, a successful software entrepreneur, and includes among other household names, the Arthur Hailey family.

This story unfolds like a classic Greek tragedy set in contemporary western times,I look forward to reading it again for all the important lessons it holds.

In response to what two individuals are saying about myself and my books I would like to share with you what many others have said to balance out their unsubstantiated claims.

* Endorsed by:
* National PTA
* Scouting Magazine - Boy and Girl Scouts or America
* NEA - National Education Association
* Sports Illustrated for Kids
* Mothering Magazine - to name only a few

*"The books of Dr. Webster-Doyle are the first attempt I have seen to explain to young people and adults the concept of martial arts as a peaceful, nonviolent 'way of life' and to give students the tools to accomplish this goal." - Linda Lee Cadwell

*Winner of the Martial Arts Industry Association Distinguished Service Award

* Awarded the Robert Burns Medal for literature by Austria's Albert Schweitzer Society, for "outstanding merits in the field of peace-promotion"

* Selected by the International Association of Educators for World Peace for their Central American peace education project in Panama and El Salvador

* Acclaimed at the Soviet Peace Fund Conference in Moscow and published in Russia by Moscow's Library of Foreign Literature and Magistr Publications

* On permanent display at the International Museum of Peace and Solidarity in Samarkind, Uzbekistan, the Commonwealth of Independent States.

* "Why is Everybody Always Picking on Us? explores the roots of prejudice. I don't think I've seen another book like it. How wonderful if this book could be used in social studies classrooms! I have learned where prejudice begins, how it is created, how it is perpetuated, and how it can be resolved. This book looks at stereotypes, bigotry, discrimination, scapegoating, racism, and more. It is a wonderfully comprehensive manual for young people and adults alike on understanding our conditioning and the root of prejudice."
American Pride Through Education

*"Webster-Doyle's insight is that by recognizing, understanding, and accepting our violent tendencies, we can avoid acting them out. These new books . . . are good for teachers and parents of elementary school children who need appropriate language and activities to help children deal with their feelings and the violence-provoking parts of the environment. To this reviewer, they are realistic and practical." --Young Children - Magazine of the National Association for the Education of Young Children

* "The book excels at impelling children to understand how conflict works within themselves. Tug of War offers engaging exercises that enhance a child's ability to understand the world. These exercises inspire self-observation, and the drawings of award-winning illustrator Rod Cameron enliven the book." Forum ¬- Newsletter of Educators for Social Responsibility

* Fighting the Invisible Enemy and Tug of War recommended by the Elementary School Library Collection as "fine contributions to materials for children"; both books also chosen by the British Commonwealth Collection - A Selection of Books and Journals on Nonviolence and Social Change

*"Every publication from the pen of this author should make a significant contribution to peace within and without. Highly recommended!" -- New Age Publishers and Retailers Alliance Trade Journal

*Why Is Everybody Always Picking On Me? -- cited by the Omega New Age Directory as one of the Ten Best Books, for its "atmosphere of universal benevolence and practical application"

* Dr. Lawrence Shapiro of the Center for Applied Psychology described Dr. Webster-Doyle as an "eloquent leader of the movement to combine principles of education, psychology, and the martial arts to teach young people to resolve conflict peacefully."

* Selected by the National PTA as a recommended resource for parents.

*"We use his books and thoroughly endorse the usefulness of his methods which have high potential in schools." - Stewart W. Twemlow, M.D. Psychiatry and Psychoanalysis, Menninger Clinic

* Endorsed by Scouting Magazine and Sports Illustrated for Kids

* Endorsed by Mothering Magazine

* Nine time Winner of the Benjamin Franklin Awards for Excellence in Independent Publishing - in six consecutive years

*Selected by the American Booksellers Association for its resource listing of "Children's Books About Peace"

*"These topics are excellent and highly relevant."
--Dr. Charles Mercieca, Executive Vice President
International Association of Educators for World Peace
NGO, United Nations (ECOSOC), UNICEF & UNESCO

*"Helps young people deal with conflict and violence by describing practical skills for peace." --Holistic Education Review

*"I realize Why Is Everybody Always Picking On Me? urgency for every child and adult . . . My daughter couldn't stop reading it!"
--Marina Dubrovskaya, Assistant Director
Dept. of Sociology, Lenin Library, Moscow, Russia

* "Your book (Why Is Everybody Always Picking On Me?) has really helped me ignore the bullies and in a way stop bullying others." - 4th grader

* Presented the National Conference on Peacemaking & Conflict Resolution

*"The materials were very helpful to the facilitators who conducted the workshop on bullying strategies." - New Jersey State Bar Foundation

* Endorsed by the New York City Board of Education

...To name only a few

I love the stories, which I found very important in praticing the Martial Arts. Young Martial Artists should learn mental self defense as a highest priority.

I love the stories, which I found very important in praticing the Martial Arts. Young Martial Artists should learn mental self defense as a highest priority.

We used these books for a while in our Nevada Schools becaue the business consulting company we had recommended them. They sold pretty well. Then, we actually read them. They are total junk. They teach the kids to flat out lie, over and over again. They teach that you should never stand-up to a bully because you may get beat up. WHAT?! If these are sold to anyone, they shouldn't be sold in martial arts schools. Mayeb dance studios, but not Martial Arts schools.
Absolute crapola!

I do not own this book. However, I DO own the Brushworks DVD and I must say that it's great. It's organized VERY well and really pushes the art ahead. Nothing out there lays it out as well as this. For those that feel the book is lacking, it's probably because learning brushes is MUCH easier seeing it on your TV rather than trying to decipher diagrams. Hope this helps!

Just for the record, the brush sweep should be notated thus: Draw a horizontal line replacing the note head in the E (what would be E if this were bass clef, that is) snare space with a slur to show that brush is not lifted. Two brushes on the snare require alternate stem direction.

Clayton Cameron is an artist with the brushes. After working with his book, you can understand his feeling for this style. The book introduced me to new techniques, and reinforced old ones. He really pulls apart the Legato sweep and works it several ways. I have enjoyed this book. The illustrations are good and the cover painting is tremendous (note the painter's name). A CD backs it all up. If I were Amazon I would sell his signature brushes on the same page as the book because I think they are great also.

I'm rather annoyed to find an advertisement for the author's own brush interpolated into the text. The book's subtitle is ridiculous. The list of "brush rudiments" is very silly. Otherwise this is a fair overview of brush technique, except that the explanation of the "flex roll" is garbled.

I'm not going to adopt Cameron's stirring soup (which he calls "sweeping") notation. It works well enough in the context of a brush instruction book, but I rather doubt it "will become the standard used by...composers", as the back cover blurb claims, at least I hope it won't:

One hand gets a regular note in the snare drum space and the other a regular above the staff in the cymbal space. "Legato sweeping" is shown with ties between the notes, except where ties are really needed, in which case horizontal lines are used instead. It seems to me that if you're going to use horizontal lines here, you'd might as well use them everywhere, for consistency. Horizontal lines are not necessary anywhere, however. Legato can and should be shown in the traditional way. Cameron's main example has four quarter notes, which are supposed to be four separate notes, not the equivalent of one whole note, with ties between them. Instead, he ought to have written a single curved line above all four. Staccato should also be shown in the traditional way, with dots, and so on. If both hands are playing on the same snare drum, both hands should be written in the same space, one with stems going up, the other with stems going down. If the bass drum or the hi-hat foot is playing as well, then the stems-going-down snare hand will be joined to the bass hi-hat pattern.

The real problem for stirring soup notation is that, except for the roll, which has its own notation, drum notation shows accurately where a note attacks but does not show where it releases; a note ends whenever it happens to end (unless you choke the cymbal or something), regardless of the notation. Since stirring involves sustained notes directly controlled by the drummer, using the same notation for it is inconsistent and potentially confusing. Stirring notation needs to use a different kind of note head--or something.

Natural Enemies is about environmental terrorism and manipulation. Almost every character in the book is a victim of some kind. All are struggling to find a way out but none of them can succeed without leaning on others for help. There's a interesting parallel between the dependency of human lives and the lives of the elephants Cameron portrays. It is possible to read the book superficially, just for the action, but there are also profound undertones.

I read it in one go. Couldn't put it down. The character of Silvia was really well done. She has done really terrible things but you still feel sympathy for her. The elephant descriptions are very powerful. The whole book is fast moving. You never know what is coming next.

Natural Enemies provides a dramatic portrait of elephant life, behaviour and communication in the context of a fast-paced action thriller. The writing is vivid, conjuring strong images of Africa. "The wind blew across the Amboseli Pan drawing up small twisters of white dust that the Masai call "women's tempers" because they flare up out of nothing so easily..." The characters are powerfully drawn, especially the assassin Silvia and the Kikuyu detective Wangai. "Natural Enemies" won a Turner Tomorrow Award (judges included Nadine Gordimer, Wallace Stegner, William Styron, Ray Bradbury, Carlos Fuentes, Peter Mathiesson among others.) It also won the Edward Abbey Award for Eco-Fiction. I recommend it to anyone who loves elephants AND a good book.

Previous to reading the novel Natural Enemies by Sara Cameron, I did a little research on the author. It came to my attention that previous to writing this novel she had conducted research on the Amboseli Elephants with the Amboseli Elephant project. I for one believe, that because of this, the novel could have been and should have been, written in a new light. Not the negative light, that outsiders observe. Cameron only focused on the negative of the ivory trade. When infact there are some positive things and progresses that are being made. Another bothersome quality about Cameron is the simplicity in her use of words. A novel of this caliber should challenge the mind, and send the reader running for his dictionary. Her writing style is that of a fourth grader. There is no order to it what so ever. I suppose this is why some regard her as a great novelist. I would not reccomend this book to someone who is looking to expand his or her horizons.