Stone Books

"Sticks, Stones and Stumped" is cleaverly written and illustrated for young children starting school or having confusion about behavior problems that may include bullying. Since young children find it difficult to express feelings with words, a story like Sticks, Stones and Stumped may invite the opportunity for problem solving without guilt.
This wonderful book is on it's way to my young niece who has started school this year in Chicago. Parents and teachers could feel better equiped to talk to their children if this is available on the book shelf.

Great tool for the classroom and also for parents to introduce bullying and harassment behavior to elementary age children.

This is a great book for the classroom and parents to introduce character values to children before they start school or in elementary grades. The animals create a true story of feels from the view of the target, bystander and adult. Effective strategies and solutions for all involved in a loving caring way.

Deb Landry uses animals to address the serious issue of school bullying in this beautifully crafted story. The vulnerable new student (Billy Bob Opossum) becomes the target of Bull E Moose as Bull E Moose uses both verbal and physical bullying tactics to intimidate Billy. The issues that arise are real issues for both the victim and the bystanders. Should Billy tell anyone (his mother, his teacher, or his friend about the bullying) or should he keep quiet and say nothing? And the bystanders have a similar problem. Should they tell their teacher (and be labeled "tattletales") and possibly become victims of the bully themselves or should they do nothing and hope the moose will get tired of picking on Billy and leave him alone? The illustrations are charming and help the reader to identify with the animal characters. All in all, a great book for young children and their parents and teachers. Highly Recommended!

This is a highly relevant and sensitive story about bullying and its impact upon all who are affected by it. It is the creation of Deb Landry, a woman who works with, assists and inspires children. It is extremely well-written and the illustrations are superb. It will hold the attention of any child who reads it as well as any adult who reads it to a child. This is a must-have book for any household with children in school, or children about to enter school. Do not pass this one up!

This is one of several photo books by this author, which are detailed guides to exactly where to locate specific subjects for landscape photography in the geographical areas covered by each book - there is some overlap between the books. There is some discussion of specific photo techniques, mainly addressing the issues imposed by the unique areas and subjects, including non-photo advise on how not to hurt yourself in what is mainly desert country. Primarily, this is a collection of directions in the nature of what landscape features are out there and how find them, with some comments on best techniques, lighting, and types of equipment to consider. Some caution might be applied to use of the guide to avoid mere duplication of the author's experience or photos. Prior to discovering this and its related guides, I have personally "been there and done that" over much of the same geography. I later bought the guides to plan new trips and found them well worth the cost and time invested. These guides are a great resource for planning if your time on the ground is limited and you want to maximize your experience.

STONE CANYONS OF THE COLORADO PLATEAU contains 81 color photographs. Each of the photos occupies from 50-80% of the page. The book is large, 10 ¼ by 11 ¼ inches.

Most of the photographs are from Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness, a little known park overlooked by most publications dealing with the American Southwest. Vermilion Cliffs encompasses Paria Canyon, Coyote Buttes, and a stone formation called "The Wave." The stone formation called The Wave seems to be in an area about a quarter the size of a city block. Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness is noted for its conical, haystack-like stone formations. The book contains plenty of photos of artistic merit.

Page 5 shows a few cones at close range and a dozen cones in the distance. Where the desert floor is made of stone, the stone is striped like a candy cane. FIVE STARS for this photograph.

Page 9 shows Bryce Canyon, with snow-covered cliffs in the distance, and dark clouds overhead. FIVE STARS for this dramatic photo.

Page 20 shows snow-covered buckwheat and a dead juniper. FOUR STARS for this depictions of the texture of the snow residing on top of the buckwheat.

Page 26 shows a hoodoo in the sun. The hoodoo consists of a dark pancake of stone supported by a an orange, funnel-shaped pedestal. Half of the photograph is in deep shadow, a sloping hill of stone.

Page 35 shows an arch with a garden of cottonwoods beyond. FIVE STARS for this rare image of pastoral beauty.

Page 45 shows a close-up of two cones at Paria Canyon. One of the cones looks like a little house.

Page 45 shows an angled stone formation in a canyon wall at Paria Canyon. The crazy angles resemble those of a Kandinsky painting.

Page 67 (also seen as the cover photo) shows a pond at The Wave. This is one of the greatest landscape photographs ever taken in the history photography. FIVE STARS.

Page 69 shows a crazy, bizarre stone formation at Paria Canyon. What we see is a pancake consisting of a cluster of thin stone sheets, where the pancake is supported by two pedestals. This is one of the most bizarre landscape photographs taken in the history of photography. FIVE STARS.

Page 70 shows an excellent arrangement of cones in the distance, with swirling stone spirals, and a dead juniper in the foreground. The juniper has a spiraling grain. FIVE STARS.

Page 99 shows a slot canyon, where there are various qualities of light--a warming bath of glowing orange, a harsh white glare, an even indirect illumination with no shadow, and deep shadow. The image is reminiscent of those depicted in Bruce Barnbaum's astonishing book, VISUAL SYMPHONY.

Page 116 shows a dozen tiny waterfalls, where water spills from knife-edge stone formations that form the streambed. This unique image is somewhat reminiscent of David Muench's depiction of Havasupai Falls, in NATURE'S AMERICA (page 125 of NATURE'S AMERICA).

One wishes for more photos of The Wave. For those interested in more of The Wave, I recommend Reiner Sahm's book, CANYONLANDS PANORAMIC PHOTOGRAPHY. Reiner Sahm's book also introduces the reader to Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, and to Goblin Valley State Park, two other parks vastly underrepresented by books on the American Southwest. Also Laurent Martres has two books (two volumes) on Utah and Arizona. The second volume features a number of photos of The Wave.

The quality of the prints in Mr.Dykinga's book is quite good. With the naked eye, one cannot discern any grain in the color prints. However, with a loupe (5X magnification), the grain is readily evident. The grain does not resemble specks, but instead takes a form resembling that of woven cloth.

Fortunately, only a minority of the photographs in Mr. Dykinga's book are flower pictures. There are only eight flower pictures. Also, fortunately, none of the photos contains people, e.g., tourists, hikers, or indigenous farmers. As is the case with Ansel Adams, Bruce Barnbaum, David Muench, and a handful of other photographers, Mr. Dykinga takes extra care (and time) to wait for the lighting conditions to be perfect, before depressing the shutter.

Mr.Dykinga is an experienced photographer, as indicated by the fact that he won the Pulizer Prize. The prize, awarded to him in 1971, was for his photographs at the Lincoln and Dixon State Schools for the Retarded in Illinois, when he worked for the Chicago Sun-Times.

The perfect combination of wonderful pictures and superb story-telling. After having seen and read more than 15 books of the Southwest/Glen Canyon area, this is definitely one of the best. Jack Dykinga and Charles Bowden have done a wonderful job. Also, in the end of the book the raise the very necessary topic of how to (better) preserve the Colorado Plateau.

The number of photographic works exploring the nuances of the Colorado Plateau is seemingly endless. Many can be browsed once and left behind. This book is the scintillating exception.

Jack Dykinga's photographic work is simply exceptional, and beyond the pale. Each color photograph appears as exquisitely crafted as a piece of fine crystal, beginning with very cover of the paperback edition. One can only envy his great patience and expertise in composing each work.

Much of the photography comes from the Paria Wilderness, an area of the Plateau not usually treated to any degree in most works, and the novelty is refreshing. A particularly enjoyable facet of the book is that use of a telephoto lens has been largely eschewed, leaving a series of scenes that the enterprising tourist can find and view with his or her own eyes, just as depicted by the book.

Charles Bowden's accompanying text is evocative and hearkens a wild diffusion of images and memories of the fascinating region.
It is an apt companion to Dykinga's superb work.

If you are limited to five or less books about the Colorado plateau, let this be one of them. I enjoy it more every time I read it.

In 1998 I'd seen a photo on a calendar of the Vermillion Cliffs in Utah, but had no idea where exactly it was located. I teach photography and my students and I had done some research to find it, but discovered it was a very large area. When I found Mr. Dykinga's book I was even more determined for my students to see and photograph the area. Needless to say, the book is truly inspirational thanks to Jack's remarkabe work.!
If you know a photographer or a traveller - this is the book for them! Enjoy the treat yourself as well.

Jeff Grimm
Bedford, TX

Sherman wrote a great book here that is entertaining even to those, like me, who just don't see what the fuss over bouldering is all about. As a history on how an aspect of climbing initially became what it is, this really is good stuff- well written and entertaining.

John Sherman has really done it with this excellent book. Though some may find his sense of humor somewhat caustic (I happen to like it), this is an indispensable guide to all the major bouldering areas in the country. Make no mistake--this is not a "guide book"--you will find no route topos or maps of bouldering areas here (though there are maps TO bouldering areas). The text stays within the historical realm, and Sherman's knowledge of these places is revealed on every page. Of particular interest are his (and other's) memories of places like the Buttermilk boulders, which are presented in a light that precedes the mega-popularity that Bishop has attained in the last five years or so. And Sherman is not only a talented writer--he is also one of my favorite climbing photographers. Beautiful and tasteful prints illustrate almost every page. Well worth the money.

Stone Crusade is THE book of bouldering and the history of the sport in the USA. John Sherman's witty and irreverent writing style and his artistic photographic skill capture the true feeling of the sport across the entire country. A guide book, history lesson, and entertainment all rolled into one. You will want to hit the road on your own Stone Crusade.

This book is fantastic. If you like bouldering and John Sherman's humorous tales you will enjoy this book.

The SOFT COVER BINDING FALLS APART after one or two openings. Of three people I know with the soft cover, all three have fallen apart. BUY THE HARD COVER VERSION!

It reads as a guidebook, a history, and as literature. Sherman writes with surprising grace and introspection about the sport. Nice profiles of the locals at different areas, too. And I was relieved to see no reference to the finest, and apparently still secret, problem at Carderock, MD.

The quaint Susquehanna River valley seems an unlikely setting for a brutal murder, but the author peels away the veneer to reveal a depravity that stretches back over generations. Using her background as a psychiatric nurse, and her extensive knowledge of the area, Holly constructs a fast-paced story full of surprises.

The readers' satisfaction at the day of reckoning for the guilty is only exceeded when we cheer the success of the winsome hero and heroine, both in tying up the case, and when they discover their newly-forged partnership promises more for them beyond solving mysteries.

A very good murder mystery-who dun it? Not the butler.

The plot continues to thicken. Subtle clues are there for the careful observer. I got most of them, but the author surprised me more than once.

Characters include good solid police detectives, nurses, egotistical doctors, rich socialite wives, over indulged children, and diamonds, big diamonds. Then there is Bunky, a few pounds of highly energetic Yorkshire Terrier. Mix this with a little infidelity, a Vietnam poker game, an illegitimate orphan--and oh yes, a pedophile--stir, and you have a great read.

I hope Holly writes another mystery. I will certainly buy and read it.

This is one of the best mystery books I've read yet!
I would recommend it to all. Can't wait to read her next book!

Enjoyed this book immensely. Easy read and want to read more by this author.

If you love a mystery, I highly recommend this book. The twist at the end will surprise you!

Stone Pizza is a great romp with animals and the familiar tale of Stone Soup. Each curious critter shares a bit to create a yummy pizza enjoyed by all. Who knows what's for dessert? They're thinking about it right now!

My 5 year old says: "I love it!" She wants it read over and over. The characters developed by artist, McNevin Hayes and writer, Susan Michell, tickle her and make her laugh. We love them all, especially the doubting Horned Toad. We can't wait to see more books from both Mr. Hayes and Ms. Michell.

My three children ages 6,4, and 2 all LOVE this book. GREAT find!!

"Stone Pizza" is a children's picture book for children ages 4 to 12. A hardback book with a cover that is beautifully illustrated with a coyote on the cover wearing a purple bandanna with yellow polka-dots, a pair of green sunglasses and holding a stone pizza.

A delightful tale involving the critters of the desert where food is hard to find. Coyote finds no hospitality when he wanders into that stretch of the highway in the desert. The story of Stone Pizza focuses on team work and sharing. The book is engaging and a pure delight and offers a wonderful cast of characters.

The pages are filled with bold and vibrant imaginative illustrations, the art work is superb to ignite the child's imagination. I highly recommend this children's book, both you and your children will enjoy reading this story together time and time again all while delivering a great lesson of sharing and team work.

This a an excellent book with very unique illustrations. Hopefully they'll be more!

Gosh who wouldn't love this book; each and and every character has a real-life personality to enjoy. Jan Eliot's comic strip is a must read for anyone with a good sense of humor. Every strip is fun to read, time and time again. I really like to see how the family grows. A MUST READ

Jan Eliot has done it again with her Third Collection of Stone Soup. I laughed all the way through the book the first night I received it. Stone Soup makes life look livable. To see what Val and Joan are going through is just hilarious! This book is worth buying and saving for years to come; too look back and laugh some more!

You must read this!! The story of two single mothers,always broke, three children, a grandmother, and a dog girl hyperactive interacting with the boyfriends of the two young mothers can be very boring or an amazing fun. You will start reading from page one to the end, and them try desperately try to buy the other two books of the collection. Remember that you can take a daily peak on your newspaper, and if not demand the editor to publish it.

Jan Eliot has put together quite a strip with Stone Soup. It's the story of a widow raising two young daughters. The comic strip depicts the day to day tribulations and challenges of being a struggling single parent who must balance her career and family without going crazy. Eliot's portrayal is funny because it's accurate--everybody will remember how hard it was to be a teenager. The family is not perfect--they quarrel and fight--but at the same time really do love each other, and Eliot is able to portray this with sincerity but avoids phony sentimentality. The name "Stone Soup" is taken from the old folk tale about making something out of nothing, which is appropriate for the strip. I believe Stone Soup will become one of the most popular family strips in the funny papers. Did I mention the art work is excellent too?

I picked up Jan Eliot's first collection of "Stone Soup" by chance, and was impressed enough to order the next two. This, the third volume, collects strips that follow the adventures of the Stone family. There's Val, who raises two kids while struggling with workaday woes and finds sudden romance with a motorcycle cop. There's Holly and Alix, Val's daughters, who struggle as kids do against Val and against each other. There's sister Joan, who tries to raise two-year-old Max while running a copywriting service from home. There's Gramma, who lives with the lot of them and offers a constant critique of their lives and lifestyles. There's neighbor Wally, who, after a long and epic struggle, has at last made the romantic connection with Joan. A bunch of finely-drawn characters---in both the "literary" and "cartoon" sense.

It deals with any number of hot button nineties issues: the nature and place of women, life at work and home, the struggle to make ends meet, modern romance, child-rearing. Turn to nearly any page, and you're sure to find something profound and thought-provoking. Plots spin out over several pages, and one-strip gags are frequent. Certainly it held my interest.

My only regret: trying to catch up to the presently-running strips. I can only hope there will be further volumes.

Oh, and did I mention it's extremely funny? It's extremely funny...

The Stones of Abraxas is the kind of book you can pick up casually and then not put down until you turn the last page. The story focuses on two siblings, David and Amanda Stanhope, and follows them as they learn first that they are royal, and then that they are magical. The adventure includes David and Amanda as well as their parents, and before the tale is finished also introduces dragons, gargoyles, centaurs, magic spells, frogs, and even a Druid or two while the Stanhope family first learns about their true heritage, then fights to save the world, as well as magical kingdom Abraxas, in a classic battle of good vs. evil. Ms. Sullivan has woven a fun tale of magic and humor that is easy to read and satisfying to the end. If indeed, that is the end...

Sixth-grader David Stanhope and his eighth-grade sister, Amanda, are reluctantly going to spend summer vacation in a broken down cabin in the woods. They live in a suburb of Chicago, and they would really rather not go to the cabin, but they are resigned to make the best of it. As they search the attic to gather their camping gear, they run across an old trunk that bears investigation. The trunk produces family heirlooms, and among them is a wonderful ruby pendant. The kids' mom, Susan, puts the necklace on, but then when she tries to take it off, it sticks to her forehead; David, Amanda, and Susan are instantly transported to a strange new world inhabited by creatures they have never before seen.

They discover that they are in Abraxas, which is a different world that exists parallel to their own earth, or Terra, as the Abraxans call it. It seems that many years ago the two worlds were one, but were split apart. They meet the rulers of Abraxas, and discover that they share mutual ancestors.

An evil magician named Adrian the Deceiver needs their ruby to complete the Stones of Abraxas...five gems having magical powers and held together by a golden shield that will give him the power he needs to rule both worlds. He is prepared to employ extreme measures in an attempt to recover the jewel. David and Amanda are the only hope of Abraxas and Terra keeping the ruby from Adrian and his horde of magicians with their evil agenda.

K. Osborn Sullivan has invented a medieval-like world in this riveting fantasy that is populated with compelling, fully-developed characters. The centaurs are among my favorites, but all of the characters have personalities that shine through. STONES OF ABRAXAS is a very entertaining story, and you will want to come back to it again and again. It will leave you wanting to read more about this exciting fantasy world. Watch for HEROES OF ABRAXAS, book two in the Abraxas Pentagram, coming soon!

Reviewed by: Grandma Bev

I liked this book enough that I read it again, just because it was a FUN read. I hope she writes more books in this series or some other.

A long, long time ago, our earth was actually called Abraxas. It was a very different and very special place. Magic was a powerful force in a world populated by gnomes, elves, gargoyles, dragons, druids, centaurs, harpies, minotaurs, sphinxes and creatures the likes of which are now only the stuff of imagination, fairy tales, fanciful dreams and frightening nightmares. When war broke out between those who had magic and those who didn't, the magical races banded together and crafted a spell to sunder the world into two parts. Humans not born with magic were banished to the world we now know as earth. Those gifted with magic who remained behind on Abraxas called it Terra. In the aftermath of the war, Adrian the Deceiver, a fallen druid drawn by the allure of power and wealth into the practice of the black arts, sought to control the five magical jewels used to create the sundering spell. To recombine those five jewels into a golden shield was to hold complete dominion over both Terra and Abraxas. With four of those jewels already in his hands, he would do anything to gain control of the last jewel which had been hidden for years on Terra - a place where Adrian dared not venture because he would lose all of his magical ability!

David and Amanda Stanhope are a pair of very normal, fun-loving young adults living the life that one would expect of early teens in Chicago. When David accidentally discovers the last jewel hidden in a trunk in his attic, he mistakenly triggers the magic and transports Amanda, his mother and himself to Abraxas. When Adrian and his minions discover that the fifth jewel is, at long last, finally within his reach, David's and Amanda's lives hang in the balance. They are in mortal danger as Adrian will stop at nothing to regain control of the final jewel and exert his dark dominion over two worlds, one of which is not even aware of his evil intentions.

K Osborn Sullivan has done herself and the fantasy genre proud with her debut novel! In an atmospheric world which any dungeons and dragons style fantasy author would be justifiably pleased with, Sullivan has created a story that cleverly weaves high speed derring-do adventure with the normal teenage lives of two very likable young people. David and Amanda obviously love their parents but they'd never admit to it. Just as we were at that age, they're utterly shocked and embarrassed by the nonsensical behaviours of their parents who, as adults, really ought to know better! Amanda, experiencing that first blush of adult femininity definitely likes the boys but David, like most ten year old boys, still exhibits that strong "eeyeeew" gag reaction at the thought of young girls and boys consorting with each other. Fully aware of what their parents would expect of them, they don't hesitate to push on the boundaries as they experiment with the edges of adult decision-making. In short, they are completely normal teens with completely normal lives that, in the context of a fantasy adventure, are clever and resourceful without being superhuman and unbelievable. They are actually completely endearing!

"Stones of Abraxas" is an engaging read that will entertain, amuse, enthrall and engage readers of all ages. It's a fast-paced page turner; it's humorous; and it's absolutely charming. Best of all, it ends on a typical cliffhanger that smells ominously of a sequel in the mind of its very skilled author. And I, for one, will look forward to its publication.

Highly recommended.

Paul Weiss

One of the best features of this novel, beyond the story, is the believability factor. The kids are not alone and unsupervised in strange lands or in their home, and the adult characters are not inane. Young readers and adults will find this novel and its characters engaging and endearing. The plot is gripping and the book is a "can't put it down" read. Ms. Sullivan doesn't talk down to her audience, but writes in complete sentences and uses vocabulary that is appropriate for young adults. It is a pleasure to read Stones of Abraxas. I can't wait to see what happens to the Stanhope family next!

I purchased this book because I read the Green Knowe stories to my children when they were small. This book combines history, magic and mystery all in one book.

Although I do believe this book to be essential to the entire Green Knowe collection I can't give it a full five stars. The story has great "bones" but not the same creativity as the other five books. There is also a bit too much lamenting about how things of progress, such as cars ("They droned like cockchafers as they approached, screaming as they went past him as a swift passes, and followed by roars and stinking fumes."), ruined the land and the forest. I kept feeling like more "knowing" conversations were going to take place between Roger and his grandmother and I found myself disappointed. So much potential, but a bit of a let down for me.

I'm a little concerned that the previous five books in the "Green Knowe" series all seem to be back in print whilst "The Stones of Green Knowe", the sixth and final book (an essential part of the collection) has apparently been neglected. If you are tracking down Lucy Boston's fantastic series of books, then don't stop at "A Stranger at Green Knowe" - there is one more book to be read, though it is obviously not as well-known as the others.

"The Stones of Green Knowe" completes Boston's series, and aptly takes us right back to the beginning of Green Knowe: to its original construction in 1120 A.D. The very first of the Green Knowe children is Roger, the grandson of a Norman Earl, who is excited beyond words at the building of a two-storied stone house, complete with windows. Roger's days are spent watching the flocks and exploring the construction site, with as much attention given to historical accuracy and detail as one would expect from Rosemary Sutcliffe. Like all the previous young protagonists, he is surrounded both by semi-mysterious characters sympathetic to his situation (such as the Viking Olaf Olafson, who gifts him with a magical knife, and another kindly grandmother reminiscent of the not-yet-born Grandmother Oldknow), and characters that make his life a little bit more difficult - such as a snobbish mother, not the first one to appear in Boston's books, leading me to believe that the author knew one personally.

Yet despite being surrounded by all this excitement, Roger becomes captivated by the talk of the workers, who mention among themselves two mysterious stones out on the hills: "Surely you've heard of them? Very old, they were. Two of them standing out alone on a grassy hill at twilight, it gave you the jumps to see them." Roger, along with his horse Viking and his dog Watchet, seek them out, and by clearing away some brush, discovers the King and Queen Stones: the source of the magic of Green Knowe.

From there the real adventures begin, as Roger discovers what later generations have yet to do: time travel back and forth to discover the other children of Green Knowe, and the fate of his beloved home. In true Lucy Boston style, there is added in little notes of Roger's discomfort at the environmental destruction of the forest, but it never overshadows what we are really interested in: his meetings with Toby, Alexander and Linnet, with Susan and Jacob, and with Tolly, all living in the same house at different times. Marvelling at the differences they all face, the reader is eventually rewarded with a beautiful scene of all the children gathered together under the beech tree...joined by yet another unexpected child, who gives Roger a special keepsake.

After six books in the series, I was very sad to see its end, as with all great literature, I had grown quite attacted to Green Knowe and its inhabitants. It was a touch of genius to have the final book take place at 'the beginning' as it were, as we finally can understand where St Christopher came from, how Green Knowe got its name, and how the time travelling was made possible in the first place: through the Stones, whose origins remain an eternal mystery. If there was one fault, it was that Ping, Ida and Oskar were completely absent - in the final book, surely it would have been the right time to bring ALL the children together, but it seems Boston wanted to keep only the children of Roger's bloodline in for simplicity's sake.

"The Stones of Green Knowe" is the perfect ending to a stunning series of somewhat unknown books, leaving us with the major theme of the books: the ongoing battle to protect that which is natural and beautiful. I found it extremely fitting that the book ended with one last enigma concerning the fate of the Stones, and what appears to be the end of the time-travelling, for the last sentence of this last book took my breath away in its sadness and potency.

Years after reading the other Green Knowe books, I found this in a school library. I think it ranks with the best earlier volumes (Children and Treasure, in my opinion) and deserves to be available for the general reader, not just the collector. The images of loss from medieval times to the present are almost too much to bear ...

Odd that some of these are out of print and some aren't, but any public library with a collection dating back to the sixties should have a copy.

Stones is indeed about Roger, son of the Norman lord who built Green Knowe, and the building of Green Knowe. Like all of the series, mysterious and imaginative and full of historical detail.

Like the best books of this type, the series creates a world of which the books merely touch the surface.

Highly recommended.

I loved this book! Once I started I couldn't put it down. This is definitely an author to watch. The complex plot and character interaction kept me going and going. I can't wait for her next book.

A person's word is cannot compare to stone truth. "Stonewiser: The Heart of the Stone" is a novel about Sariah, the leading stonewiser of her time. She seeks the truth of the world through her art of reading stories from the stones, but finding the truth is not without its perils, and she is forced to bind her fate with that of a rebel leader in order to save her dying world. "Stonewiser" is a finely crafted fantasy with unique concepts, and a vivid living world that will draw readers in and not let go.

I must confess that I seldom read fantasy. However, I just finished reading Stonewiser: The Heart of the Stone and was very impressed by Ms. Machado's creativity. I liked the language she used, strong, crisp, smart. The story parallels our world and I could relate to it in many ways. The characters are engaging. I really liked the way the heroine, Sariah, is strong and sexy but still able to show her emotions and learn from her actions. Ms. Machado shows us that you can write a smart book that is intelligent, action-packed and romantic at the same time. Good for her!

A thrilling tale filled with adventures and laughs, Dora Machado's Stonewiser is a definite must-read.

I started to read this book and was trapped in a different world full of surprises and adventure. I forgot about my routine and my stress. I felt connected to Sariah, to her struggles as both heroine and woman. I was mesmerized by her quest to find justice for others and for herself. Using a fictional world, Dora Machado shows the difficulties of finding a path as a woman, combined with the glory of that journey. I didn't want the book to end.

This book is done thinking in really help those to want to write a have a lot of excuses not to do it. The book has only one supposition: You have a burning desire of writing. If you do not have it, the book most probably will failure in being useful to you. On the other hand, if you have such desire, buy the book asking for help and obey the instructions, you will receive the guide. This book will not tell you about characters nor plotting, it is extremely well focused in having time to write. Personally, my opinion is first you need to solve your life for getting time to write, after that generate a lot of pages and finally review them as required. The first step is make time to write. Without time to write you will not have a page to review or edit or show to your friends. This book will tell you how to accommodate the pieces of your life just after waking up or before going to sleep for having time to write. If you do not know where to start try this.

Time to Write is a must read for aspiring writers and, indeed, anyone who wishes to grow and improve writing skills-- and to deal with problems common to all writers such as getting started, finding a time and place to write, and writer's block. As writers ,we wish this valuable, well written and inspiring book had been available to us when we started years ago.
Carolyn and Jack Fleming

Kelly Stone offers a tidy little treasure trove of inspiration and practical tips for those who want to write but who just can't find the time. She offers practical strategies on how to find nooks and crannies in one's schedule to devote to writing. View the book as a buffet of ideas. Some may not be to your liking - like getting up at 5 AM - but others may resonate with you.

Stone draws liberally from other published writers who have used various tips and tricks to fit writing in their busy schedules and reconcile with the demands of a full-time job, child-rearing etc.

I would rank this book as slightly below "Write is a Verb" by Bill O'Hanlon, but that is not a lethal criticism. Both are good books. This one focuses on the time management challenges of would-be writers.

Well worth your investment of time!

The advice in this book was a kick in the pants to a procrastinator like me. It made me realize that the secluded cabin to write in wasn't going to happen, and that most successful authors struggle with time to write just like me! Some of the advice is practical and almost common sense, but good to hear just the same! This book gets a thumbs up from me!

I read most of this within one sitting and found it quick and easy to read. Don't let the name fool you: yes, you will learn proven strategies for fitting writing time into a busy schedule. You will learn how some famous and successful authors make writing work for them. But you will also learn so much more - how to create an action plan for your writing; how to balance writing with your family life; etc. It's a good read.