Phillips Books

I haven't even used the book yet, but having flipped through the pages... I can see this is a Godsend for any serious or even non-serious writer! The prompts are usefull and have so many directions. Any of the ones I read can fit into any genre depending on how the writer spins it. LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT!!! Perfect for writers who need a bit of poking and prodding because of writer's block.

"Well, I don't know about you, but I like to know what I'm getting into."

This prompt from the book is ideally suited for leading into the description. With quotes, situations, photos, and drawings there is plenty to get the imagination going. It's 250 pages of things designed to get you thinking and putting those thoughts on a page. For those who write professionally, those who just enjoy writing, those who keep blogs/journals and sometimes get stuck on what to write about - this is a good book to have handy. I keep it on my desk along with a few others to reach for on those days that "Where do I start?" is the only thing in my head. Quirky, situations you don't normally think of and some that may be a bit shocking but can be written about from many perspectives. WELL worth the money!

I have bought two copies of this book. I gave one as a present to a writing buddy. She loves it as much as I do. Very inspirational, a lot of fun! Wonderful book to help fight writer's block, and just give you topics for writing exercises.

As an aspiring writer, I have picked up many, many books on how to write, what to write and what to do with your writing when you're done. I've tried prompt books with "inspiring" photographs and quotes from other authors and general questions to ask yourself that, while somewhat helpful, didn't really start any sparks in my mind. But, from the moment I opened "The Writer's Book of Matches" and turned to a random page, I was hooked.

Besides the introduction (made up of information on coming up with your own prompts and on how to use the book), the book is comprised completely of writing prompts. The intro is only twenty pages long, so there are A LOT of prompts in this book.

For example: pg 146-- A woman with an eating disorder visits an all-you-can eat buffet with her coworkers.

This is the first type of prompt presented: a character that is involved in a conflict. When jotting down ideas, I often write them out in this exact format, which is helpful when searching for ideas in this book. It provides you with a character and a conflict that, while detailed, are also open enough to provide your own interpretation. Just looking through the prompts for a few minutes is enough to get my brain flowing. And a LOT of the prompts are a lot more thought evoking than the one I listed. Some can be downright chilling.

Not all the prompts are listed in this format, there are also lines of dialogue that are quirky enough to be the first lines of some good stories.

Example:Pg 186 "Why does your boyfriend have a tuxedo in the back seat of his car?"

A third type prompt presents unusual situations that are specific enough, but are left open to be interpreted in many, many ways.

Example: Pg 213 While filling up her car with gas, a woman finds the words "help me" and a license plate number written on her passenger door.

All in all, this book was EXACTLY what I had been searching for for a very long time. I highly recommend it if you struggle to come up with interesting ideas often, or if you just need a jumpstart into a story.

Judith Bowen scores again with the fun-filled, emotional Zoey Phillips, her latest book from Harlequin Superromance! Zoey Phillips is the first book in Judith's new Girlfriends series, in which three friends decide to accept a challenge and look up their first love.

Zoey's in for more than she reckons when she meets up with Ryan, her still-single first love. But the fun doesn't stop there. Ryan has a brother, Cam, a single dad. The brothers couldn't be more different, and Zoey likes them both. If you were a fan of the movie Sabrina, this book is definitely for you! You'll enjoy this wonderful book, and, if you're like me, you'll be anxiously waiting for the next two books in the series, Charlotte Moore and Lydia Lane.

A decade ago Zoey Phillips, Charlotte Moore, and Lydia Lane met as members of the Jasper Park Lodge female summer staff. They stayed in contact with one another over the years and now attend the tenth anniversary event at the lodge. Another attendee suggests everyone look up their first love, but Zoey has no plans to seek out her teenage crush Ryan Donelly. However, six months later fate intercedes when a close friend asks Zoey to come home to help her with her stepmother's wedding. The Toronto-based independent book editor agrees to return to Stoney Creek, British Columbia.

At home, Zoey sees Ryan, but though attracted to him, she dreams of his older brother, rancher Cameron, father of a little girl. While Ryan flirts with Zoey, Cam melts her with his deadly bedroom eyes, leaving her bewildered by her deepening feelings for a precious girl and her father. However, Cam was burned once in a relationship before so commitment seems unlikely on his part.

The first of three "Girlfriend" tales, ZOEY PHILLIPS is an enjoyable contemporary romance that showcases relationships in a small Canadian town. The story line is simplistic but engages the audience, as Zoey is quite a lead character, one who is so confident in the big cosmopolitan city, but has doubts fitting in her own hometown. Cam is a typical category male, but his daughter keeps him off of a pedestal for hunks so that Zoey and readers sees the complete person. Judith Bowen's opening gamut is a fun read.

Harriet Klausner

Zoey Phillips, Charlotte Moore, and Lydia Lane met just after high school while working at a wilderness resort in the Rocky Mountains. Ten years later at the reunion of the Jasper Park Lodger summer staff, someone speculates what fun it might be to look up the boy that led to their first heartbreak. Perhaps he's balding, paunchy, and boring. Then at the next year's reunion, they'd all report their results. Zoey doesn't think about it again until six months later when she accepts a friend's invitation to help plan her stepmother's wedding.

Sitting in a restaurant in Stony Creek, British Columbia, Zoey immediately recognizes her high school crush from across the room. Ryan Donnelly, the handsome track star of Fullerton Valley High, had convinced her to "pretend" to be his girlfriend so he make the object of his desires jealous. Zoey's dream that Ryan might realize she was the girl of his dreams went unrealized. But she'd never forgotten the boy who taught her to French kiss. Now Ryan enthusiastically greets Zoey, once he recognizes her, making her feel every bit the gauche teenager she once was.

Zoey intends to stay in town for five weeks, but the hotel is closing for the season, leaving her without adequate accommodations. When Ryan's brother Cameron hears she needs a place, he offers the ranch's garage apartment. He also intends to play matchmaker and see his brother settled. Cameron is nothing like his younger, flirtatious brother. Cameron, a single father, is steady, reliable, boring. So why does Zoey find herself drawn to the wrong brother?

While the plot might be a bit predictable, that in no ways detracts from the fun of ZOEY PHILLIPS. The premise is wonderful, as are the characterizations. Any return to the past is fraught with risk, and Zoey meets those risks head on, with her own zany style. As she undercuts Cameron's desire to control everyone and everything around him, Zoey demonstrates admirable self confidence and pride with the woman she's made herself into, from her choice of names and career, to her darkened auburn hair; too bad she knows nothing about men. Consequently, she becomes perfect foil for the brooding, silent hero in a balance of light and shadow. Highly recommended.

Zoey Phillips, Charlotte Moore, and Lydia Lane met just after high school while working at a wilderness resort in the Rocky Mountains. Ten years later at the reunion of the Jasper Park Lodger summer staff, someone speculates what fun it might be to look up the boy that led to their first heartbreak. Perhaps he's balding, paunchy, and boring. Then at the next year's reunion, they'd all report their results. Zoey doesn't think about it again until six months later when she accepts a friend's invitation to help plan her stepmother's wedding.

Sitting in a restaurant in Stony Creek, British Columbia, Zoey immediately recognizes her high school crush from across the room. Ryan Donnelly, the handsome track star of Fullerton Valley High, had convinced her to "pretend" to be his girlfriend so he make the object of his desires jealous. Zoey's dream that Ryan might realize she was the girl of his dreams went unrealized. But she'd never forgotten the boy who taught her to French kiss. Now Ryan enthusiastically greets Zoey, once he recognizes her, making her feel every bit the gauche teenager she once was.

Zoey intends to stay in town for five weeks, but the hotel is closing for the season, leaving her without adequate accommodations. When Ryan's brother Cameron hears she needs a place, he offers the ranch's garage apartment. He also intends to play matchmaker and see his brother settled. Cameron is nothing like his younger, flirtatious brother. Cameron, a single father, is steady, reliable, boring. So why does Zoey find herself drawn to the wrong brother?

While the plot might be a bit predictable, that in no ways detracts from the fun of ZOEY PHILLIPS. The premise is wonderful, as are the characterizations. Any return to the past is fraught with risk, and Zoey meets those risks head on, with her own zany style. As she undercuts Cameron's desire to control everyone and everything around him, Zoey demonstrates admirable self confidence and pride with the woman she's made herself into, from her choice of names and career, to her darkened auburn hair; too bad she knows nothing about men. Consequently, she becomes perfect foil for the brooding, silent hero in a balance of light and shadow. Highly recommended.

This book consists of, as the back of the book says, "tricky teasers, verbal vagaries, and mathematical mind manglers." There are also many funny brain vacation jokes. As you can tell from the title, this book has 263 challenging riddles or questions that really make you to think. For ex, one of the questions is: Why didn't Beethoven finish the Unfinished Symphony? The answer is: The Unfinished Symphony was started by Schubert, not Beethoven!! Some of the puns are corny but it's still very enjoyable. It's a good book to read when you want to take a break from work and just laugh. Personally, I liked it a lot and I still take it out sometimes to re-read some of the riddles. I highly recommend it

This book is really neat for those of you trying to boggle yourmind with brain puzzles. One of my favorites is "If King Midassits on gold, who sits on silver?" (You'll have to figure that out on your own) Anyway, it is very funny and makes you laugh at yourself when you see the answers to some!

I love this book! I got it for my third grade class. We break into teams and I'll give them a question. They love trying to come up with a creative answer the other groups don't figure out. These are great "thinking outside the box" kind of questions. By the end of year, the kids no longer look to the obvious answers. It's great!

I am a muscle car lover through and through and this book has all the info a true muscle car guru could ever hope to find. The pictures are well done and I liked the overall style of the book. I hope to find more like it using amazon.com!

This is a great book in the category of muscle-cars and one of the best offered by Amazon.com,however its not recommended for todays youth who werent around when these great cars ruled the roads.To enjoy this book,you need to be at least in your mid to late thirties.This book is not intended for todays teens or early twenties,theyre only permitted to enthuse about todays cars.

This is a great book for the muscle-car lover.Its comprehensive,offers accurate and complete technical specs and great photos of some of the hottest american cars ever produced.This book is recommended only for men 45 years old or older,its not appropriate for these young guys that werent even around when these cars were conceived and built!

This quiet, lovely book by author Suzanne Slade is all the richer for its simple style and prose. The reader immediately relaxes with the first words, "Shhh...shhh..." Each page or double-page spread has a different animal showing how it sleeps. It also becomes a guessing game as the animals are not named in the text, yet there are sorting cards in the back to copy and match to each animal, naming them in turn.

The illustrations by artist Gary R. Phillips have soft muted nighttime colors with a sculptural effect creating just the right tone for the sleeping animals. It makes you wish you could pick up each animal to cuddle. Because of the simplified text, this book would make an excellent early reader, so that reading and writing time can be based on this book as part of a larger unit on animal behavior. This exquisite book is highly recommended for ages 2 - 7.

"Animals are Sleeping" is a beautiful book about bedtime. Each of the animals pictured here sleeps in a unique way. The illustrations depict the natural environment in soft, yet colorful tones. The soothing text gives clear information that the very young child can understand. There is a treasure of detailed information about the animals sleep habits at the end of the book. "Animals are Sleeping" is perfect for preschool or kindergarten classrooms or as a thoughtful read-aloud before bed. Beautiful Book!

Sylvan Dell publishes the best in fun and educational children's books, and Animals are Sleeping is no exception.

Any child who is approaching bedtime will love the lovely Animals are Sleeping. The text is low key and informative. The illustrations that accompany the text add so much to the story. The brief text entertains but also teaches the habits of individual animals that fly in the air, or live in water and on land.

The educational part of Animals are Sleeping includes animal sorting cards and various activities that will intrigue children and keep them coming back for more.

The illustrations by Gary R. Phillips are stunning! They are, without a doubt, some of the most beautiful pictures I've ever seen in a children's book. The colors are bright, beautiful, yet soothing and are oh so inviting. They absolutely beg the reader to stroke the pages and are so well done, they could be framed.

Armchair Interviews says: Animals are Sleeping should be in every child's library. It is brilliant!

A comprehensive account of the state of play of the evidence-based management of low back pain. This book does not pretend to focus on the pathophysiology of back pain (for that, see Bogduk's 'Clinical Anatomy of the Lumbar Spine and Sacrum') but instead delivers a wealth of information on how the problems caused by back pain should be dealt with by patients, practitioners, purchasers, policy makers, politicians and the general public. A superb resource.

This book offers an excellent summary of the most current evidence about causes, prognosis, treatment and rehabilitation of back problems.
I recommend it for physicians, patients and policy makers.

The book is fascinating. Some issues discussed in this book might challenge the reader and that is the main purpose. The chapter "Back pain through history" gives an important historical perspective of the matter. "Psychologic Distress" "Beliefs about Back Pain" and "Social interactions" are of enormous importance for those who deals with "Back Care". The message is: Back pain should be a benign, self-limiting symptom and rest should be avoided. I strongly recommend this book for everyone who deals with Back Care.

September, 2007 issue of Director's Chair by Peter Marshall

Are you doing a documentary about World War 1? Do you need World War I stock footage for your movie?

This reference book gives concise information about the surviving motion pictures that were taken during WWI, over 90 years ago. BATTLEFILM details 467 film titles that cover America's part in this conflict. Each of the 957 reels of action is described using data gathered from actual U.S. Army records.

This book is the ONLY one in publication today that details readily available WWI films. BATTLEFILM is a superb source of information for stock-footage for that Great War documentary.

July 07 Newsletter by Tony Lazzarini, President Military Writer's Society of America says: "BATTLEFILM, written by retired U.S. Air Force officer, Phillip W. Stewart is a catalog of the WWI era documentary films in Record Group 11 held at the U.S. National Archives. Being involved with documentary films myself, I appreciate good reference material. it's a 'must have' book if you happen to be looking for original film footage regarding WWI. This is a very well organized and detailed catalog."

Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views (10/07)

Philip W. Stewart has researched, compiled and edited this listing or catalog of historic films of action taken during World War I. The U.S. Army Signal Corps were given the assignment of obtaining photographic coverage of American participation in the War. In the introduction, Stewart reiterates the earlier statement of purpose for the filming made by K. Jack Bauer in 1957. The photographic coverage was ordered for propaganda, scientific, identification, and military reconnaissance purposes, but primarily for the production of a pictorial history of the war.

The book is divided into two sections. Part One covers U.S. military operations from the years prior to the war beginning in 19l4 and through to the returning of the troops in 1918-1919. Included in this section are films related to post-Armistice training, films relating to Allied and enemy activities, and the parades and events celebrating liberty. There are films from Washington D.C., Paris, London, and Brussels featured in these festivities filmed in 1918 and 1919.

As a U S. Navy veteran I took special note of the films related to Naval Operations. There are films featuring submarines, U-boats, destroyers, battleships, our convoy activities, and the return of the fleet in 1918.

Part two is made up of a listing of films featuring civilian activities. Several films cover the years of Woodrow Wilson's administration, his cabinet, the decisions he faced and the treaties he signed. A number of films were made of his trip to Europe in 1918 on the ocean-liner George Washington. He visited France, England and Italy. Additional trips to Europe were made in the following year. Many of the events and receptions attended during these visits were captured on film and are included in the listings.

Films featuring industry as it related to the war effort are also included in this section. The manufacturing of ordnance material, military aeroplanes, gas masks, and shipbuilding are all included.

Other patriotic activities, holiday celebrations and liberty loan drives are featured. I found the films covering the memorial services at Arlington National Cemetery, and the Burial of an Unknown Solider of particular interest.

This book is one of a kind. It is destined to become an important resource for historians, media researchers, documentary producers, and students of films. There are 957 reels of footage shot during the years 1914-1918. These include the WWI era documentary films, in record group 111, held in the U.S. National Archives. Philip W. Stewart has produced an important work in his book "Battlefilm."

Knowledgeably compiled and deftly edited by Phillip W. Stewart (a retired U.S. Air force Lt. Colonel who for more than thirty years has been a film consultant, video producer, television director, multi-media manager, and published author), "Battlefilm: U.S. Army Signal Corps Motion Pictures Of The Great War" details 467 film titles covering America's involvement in World War I. A seminal work of exhaustive research characterized by a logical layout and an extensive index, "Battlefilm" is a superbly designed catalog of the WWI era documentary films in Record Group 111 stored at the US National Archives and specifically designed to help researchers, authors, and documentary film makers to find films and scenes they need. In addition to academic library Military History and Film Studies reference collections, "Battlefilm" is confidently recommended as an indispensable reference work for historians, media researchers, documentary produces, film students, and authors working on fiction as well as non-fiction works about American involvement in World War I.

This is without doubt the best book I've ever read. Phillips meticulously and brilliantly discusses decompression sickness and the like. A must read!!!

A very readable and understandable history of the use of compressed air in industry and medicine. Written for the layman with enough science to intrigue the intellectually curious. One of the few books of science history that is hard to put down.

Surprisingly, this is not a book about SCUBA diving or diving accidents, and not what I expected when I bought it. It turned out to be a kind of detective story, where the mystery spans hundreds of years, beginning in later medieval Europe and ends in the present.

The author thoughtfully and carefully traces the the first recognition of the dangers to human life of working in a high-pressure atmosphere. This danger turns out to be mostly at the bottom of rivers. The early book is surprisingly about bridge building, not pearl diving or underwater naval warfare. The history of the bends and the Brooklyn Bridge is especially compelling.

The bends are not what TV and the movies portray. The disease is crippling and horrible. The Brooklyn Bridge's designer John Roebling and his son Washington, who supervised the construction of the bridge, paid a terrible price for their brain child. I had no concept of the debt we owe the many anonymous laborers and engineers that went below the nation's rivers to lay foundations for the more glamorous stonework and steelwork above.

Memories from my 2007 summer reading list:

I really enjoyed the biography of one of the greatest evangelists of our time. While much of the story is triumphant, I was struck by the somber notes of family discord. The eveangelist seemed to sacrifice the spititual upbringing of his sons in favor of the spiritual conditions of the world around him. His story serves as a good encouragement to strike a healthy balance between family and ministry.

Billy Sunday is another title in the "Heroes of the Faith" series on various Christian figures over the years.

Phillips summarizes Sunday's life, accomplishments, and death in a succinct manner and covers areas such as:

1. Early life in Iowa.
2. Being shipped off with his brother to a Soldier's Home when their mother could no longer take care of them.
3. Major League baseball career.
4. Eventual conversion and call to go into the gospel ministry.
5. Long and happy marriage to Nell, his beloved wife.
6. Results of various crusades throughout the country.
7. Pain experienced over the waywardness of his sons.

Again, the book is a good and smooth-flowing narrative and is easy to read. Recommended for anyone who wants to know more about the life of Billy Sunday.

Read and enjoy.
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This book was a biography of one of America's greatest evangelists. From his childhood growing up in Iowa to his becoming one of the best baseball players at the end of the 19th century & ultimately showing his love & passion for not only Christ but for every unsaved soul in America & beyond. He not only was a great preacher, he was a great American & showed it by helping & providing for troops & other gov't. establishments. This is definately a book that will keep your interest & attention from start to finish!!! Very inspirational; enjoy!!

The Black Regulars is an excellent book. Drs. Dobak and Phillips have told this story well, with truly exhaustive research that never suffers from what I call "academic" writing. It is lively and interesting from beginning to end. Along the way, they debunk an old myth that the black regulars were given the poorest equipment, garrisons, quarters, etc. They point out that in the post Civil War army, all soldiers suffered from the above difficulties. The lot of the black man was difficult, but the army did offer more equality. My only quibble is that the book ends with 1898. Perhaps we can look forward to black regulars from the Spanish American War to the present. I heartily recommend The Black Regulars.

This complex, richly documented treatment of the activities, lives, and relationships of black soldiers in the West during the generation after the Civil War is the single best book on the subject. It is one of only three books on the frontier army singled out for recommendation on my website. ...

This book offers a detailed survey of the black enlisted men in the regular army who served from the end of the Civil War to the Spanish-American War in 1898. It is not concerned with the campaigns of the black soldiers (the authors do not use the term Buffalo Soldiers, deeming the designation an insult and one the black soldiers never used themselves), but more with their enlistment, organization, and treatment within the regular army ranks.

When the Civil War ended, most of the soldiers returned to civilian life. The army needed men and one place to get them was from the newly-freed black population. A bill was passed in Congress in July 1866, after much debate, that provided for six black regiments (two cavalry, four infantry), to be on equal footing with the other 54 white regiments. Ironically, the equality of treatment in terms of duty and responsibility was greater for post-Civil War black regiments than it was for black army regiments in the first half of the 20th century. Equally ironic, many blacks thought the army a safer place with more opportunity than what civilian life offered them, especially in the South.

The authors hope to correct two misconceptions regarding their subject: that the army itself discriminated against the black regulars, and that they "had become elite units . . . and the most professional, experienced, and effective troops in the service." The bottom line, and it's an important one, that the authors reinforce over and over with specific examples, is that both black and white regiments were treated pretty much the same, and that one group did not out-perform the other. Prejudice did exist against the blacks, but it was on an individual basis and not universal or policy generated. And if life was a combination of the dull, the dangerous, the brave, and the incompetent, it was so for everyone in the army.

The book is a scholarly account but not deadly dull. The authors write clearly and with style. The book is well-annotated, with many of the footnotes presenting further examples or deeper explanations to things mentioned in the text. The book is an excellent reference resource on the subject of the black regulars. Highly recommended.