Publications and Media Books

When I received this book, I sat down and read it cover to cover, running my highlighter over all the key points. Now, I use this book, frequently as a resource. Shepard does a great job of explaining the concepts without being too wordy. It's only about 165 pages, but absolutely filled with valuable information.

If you want to learn how to sell more books on Amazon, this is the best book I've read on the subject. Shepard teaches:
How to title your book for Amazon search engines
How to create a book cover that favors Amazon sales
How to use several free tools available on Amazon to boost the
visibility of your book.
How to set discounts that work to the author greatest advantage.
How to go about self-publishing a book with Lightning Source
The reasons not to publish an eBook version of your book.
A pricing strategy for selling your book on Amazon.

Thanks to books like this one, self-published authors have a chance to succeed against our traditionally published competitors.

This book clearly dispells many of the myths and exposes the secrets of the publishing and the self-publishing industry. He does not day how to write your book, rather how to get it into print and distribution. He has terrific ideas about promotion and boosting sales and ultimately profit. He has 95% of submitted manuscripts, pays low royalties (approx 10%), and take up to three years to get your book into print, all the while usurping all the control of the content and layout.

I am a self publishing author myself and always researching ways to market books, especially here on Amazon. I thought I really knew all the tips, tricks and tactics of Amazon marketing...boy was I wrong!

Aaron Shepard lines it all out in an easy to understand guide to marketing your book to the best of your ability on Amazon. But, please do not let the name of the book fool you; it goes way beyond Amazon marketing, including how to actually build and create a book from scratch, covering concepts such as researching before writing, naming the book, interior design and which printing company to use.

If you are a self-publisher or aspiring author, add this book to your shelf. Mr. Shepard has years of experience in the writing field and is generously passing it on to us. I actually have it by my computer as I write for quick reference. I was so impressed by his simplistic and informative writing style that I am now ordering his other books.

"Aiming at Amazon" by Aaron Shepard is my favorite book right now because I successfully used it to create my already written book, "The Magi of Futurity", and have it listed on Amazon. After checking with others and reading the reviews for Aaron's book, I was very impressed and couldn't wait to order it. Within two months after reading this book, along with Aaron's "Perfect Pages" book, I had accomplished my goal. Thank you, Aaron, for producing such wonderful guides for aspiring authors!

Aiming at Amazon is the most valuable book I've ever read. It will save you money during the production of your book, and make sure that you make more money after it is produced. Highly recommended for anyone thinking about self-publishing.

This book "Journal from thr unknown phophet" is a must read if you want to know what God is telling us about the future. It speaks to my spirit more than any book I have ever read. If you believe in the phophet, and I do, then this is the book to have..Judy

I was not sure what to expect when I started reading this book. I have not fully completed it, but have read many of the chapters - multiple times. The words of it are so bathed in love and forgiveness. It is a wonderful insight into the tremendous love of God for His creation, to heal their hearts and restore them from sin and brokenness, and from what I have read it is all in keeping with the Bible. It has ministered to me tremendously in my growing relationship with Christ.

I would like to give another point of view regarding the view of Charles Buntin "mainto4". I do agree that we must be very wary of anything, which claims to be God speaking. It MUST stand up to the scrutiny of scriptures. And in the same token we should be careful not to "throw the baby out with the bath water."

Whether it is the still small voice that warns us against choosing sin, or the nudging to pray for a friend we have not heard from in a while - and subsequently discovering that they were in the midst of temptation, turmoil, or a big decision, God still speaks to us today. His communications will ALWAYS be subject to the written Words of God, which make up the Bible. So this is not Mormonism, or some other writing, which seeks to take equal importance along side the Bible.

I have a good friend who is a pastor in a large denomination and he holds a view that any attempts at modern day "prophesy" are an "adding onto God's Word" yet he and many pastors in that denomination will use the term "God impressed upon my heart" and will speak of how they minister to someone via the "words impressed" on their hearts and how it was just what that person needed from God.

Prophesy is merely communicating what has been communicated to you. Scripture records the following conversation between God and Moses in the following verse...Exodus 4:16 [Aaron] will speak to the people for you (Moses), and it will be as if [Aaron] were your (Moses) mouth and as if you (Moses) were God to [Aaron]. So is what is being "impressed on the hearts" of the pastors of the large denomination not prophesy? Yes, it is prophesy. It is communication.

God still speaks! I Corinthians 14: 3 But those who prophesy speak to people for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort. The genuine communications of God will lead us deeper in our relationship with Him and His Word - the Holy Bible!

Thank you,

Blessings!

I loved this book and I enjoyed reading it so much, I'm going to reread it
very soon. It was as if the Lord was talking directly to me. It is so loving, kind and gentle. I know that nothing in this world really matters
because it will all pass away. The only thing that reallly matters is the
love of God the Father. I felt that love when I read this book. I thank
Wendy Alec for sharing these prophecies with me and whom ever reads this
book. And also the prophecies she shares on God TV.

I highly recommend that every believer in our Lord should read "Journal of the Unknown Prophet" by Wendy Alec. This is truly a love letter written to the church by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! The Lord used Wendy Alec in a mighty way to bring this book about!

This was a wonderful book. It was very well written. You could feel the deep love the father has for his people. This book was more than just a telling of future events. The chapter about the great falling away was riviting. You realise the need you have to be very close to the Lord in these last days. Of all the books I've read, this is one of my favorites. It made an impact on my life.

The most important thing for me in reading Bonnie's book was recognizing the number of things that my personal assistant could be doing for me which I had not asked her to do. The most critical one was managing my calendar. I've always done it myself, but it is quite liberating for me not to have to think about it. I have had my assistant read the book also, and we have used the information and suggestions it contains to help us work with each other to make her job more satisfactory and my life easier, (even though I'm not a celebrity - yet!)

I would highly recommend buying this book on line. Once I purchased the book Bonnie emailed me straight away to say "hello, thankyou, and the book was on the way". I was thrilled to have instant contact. It also goes to show how good Bonnie is at her job - step one for being a fabulous assistant....Be organized and communicate. I was excited about this book before I even received it!
The book is such an easy read. The way it is laid out & the size was perfect for me. I could take it with me to set in my binder and have it at my side. My favorite part of being an assistant is being able to find things at a moments notice and you need to be CREATIVE. Bonnie's tips for this were fantastic. I learnt so much. Other points I got the most out of included -How to deal with "personalities" - networking - bad traits of an assistant- and tips of being the best assistant. The other great thing is Bonnie's always happy to reply to any emails & questions I may have. How many authors will do that? That is an amazing extra benefit with this book.
I would highly recommend this book. After reading it I felt so confident in being the best assistant I can be. I'm NOW excited to be the best assistant i can be!!!!

Bonnie is a client in our salon. She generously gave us all a copy of her book. Two weeks later she came and spoke about her experiences. Wow!
The biggest concept she relayed was "What if, we treated all our clients like a celebrity?" I told my clients about this and the responce I recieved was truely amazing. My clients were most impressed that the salon had the foresight to offer this help to it's staff to improve on an already good customer relationship. The clients loved that they were to be treated like celebrities. I feel anyone in the service industry could benefit from reading this book. (espically now, when $$ is tight and we need every client). Thank You Bonnie.

This is a great buy for any one interested in learning what it takes to become a celebrity assistant. I read this book as research material for a film project and it was eye-opening to learn just how valuable the roles high-profile assistants play maintaining the lives of their employers. You don't have to work for a celebrity to use the tools this book provides. I highly recommend this book if you are interested in becoming an assistant, want to be a better assistant, or even if you want great tips on managing your own life more effectively, this book is loaded with great tips from the pros.

Bonnie Low Kramen's book has become a valuable resource for me as an executive assistant in a high-profile investment firm. Bonnie's style of writing is one that makes you feel like you are sitting across the table from her, enjoying lunch and a chat while she reveals her secrets to success as an assistant. I have read the book in its entirety more than once and still pick it up often to read different sections, each time getting something new out of the book. Bonnie writes with poise and grace, which is obviously indicative of how she handles herself as one of the best celebrity assistants out there. This book is a must have resource for anyone who wants to excel as an assistant!

This book has a few good ideas but it is very biased towards water colours.

Nita Leland has a wonderful way of inspiring her readers and making them feel more comfortable with color and paint. Doing the exercises in the book are an essential part of the experience and should not be skipped.

Before reading this book I'd had an attitude about 'color theory' and such - or at least the teaching of it. Anything I read was either imperious and demanding or so complicated that I'd be lost in the first chapter.

But this book doesn't order you to do things a certain way. It explains what results you will get doing this and what results you'll get doing that. There is no highbrow judgment here about the only "correct" way to do anything. It is clearly written, with lots of pics and examples, and is completely accessible. What a breath of fresh air!

The book begins with a little bit of the history of color in paintings and the physics of color mixing. She doesn't bog down the book with it though. She gives just enough information to put the use of color in painting into context and as a starting point if one wants to do further research.

Then comes the more detailed information. This starts out simply and builds with each chapter. She explains why things happen in color combining and mixing and how to get the desired results. Color in painting is a detailed and complex subject, but, while she encourages you to learn it all, she is never demeaning or rigid that one has to know all this front and back before painting. She explains why knowing all this will help and improve your painting.

In other words she makes me *want* to learn all this rather than making me feel like I *have* to learn it.

One thing to note is the she uses watercolor in her examples and exercises so some adjustment may be necessary for oils.

There are also lots of things to practice in the book. She has exercises for everything she teaches. So when you're done you will have a tremendous visual reference library. I have lots of art books but this one will stay OFF the shelf and easily accessible. The use of color isn't something that can be learned overnight, so do yourself a favor: get this book.

This book is everything I hoped it would be. I am a novice painter, working in acrylics, and wanted some basic info on color theory. This is it. The information is comprehensive yet easy to understand with exercises for the reader to do in any medium. I was so impressed that I bought her Exploring Color Workbook to go with it. This is highly recommended for the artist wanting to expand her color theory expertise.

One of the first books I've looked at that explains color in non technical terms. It has examples of how to use these colors in your paintings. There are several step by step instructions on using different color combinations as well as many exercises for you to do on your own. There's a companion coloring book which is helpful but not necessary. An outstanding book for beginners wanting to know more about color theory. The author has a web site and is very helpful in answering any questions.

I happen to live in Moses Lake, the same town with Monte Holm. He has been everything the reviews say he is. He has given back to this town in later years more than most people will ever know. I highly recommend this book. I couldn't put it down until I was finished. An amazing story about an amazing man I have been privileged to know.

My husband and I had the pleasure of also meeting Monte Holm and touring his wonderful House of Poverty museum. He will soon be 90 so we valued every bit of conversation with him. His story and museum in Moses Lake, WA, were fascinating. We ended up at Moses Lake by accident, but that stop was one of the best highlights of our entire trip. I would encourage anyone to buy this wonderful book. This man is positive proof that anyone can be a success in America with hard work and a positive attitude.

This is a very enjoyable read.
I found ONCE A HOBO by Monte Holm as told to Dennis Clay to be a fascinating true story of a Horatio Alger like character. Mr. Clay puts you into the shoes of a young boy struggling through the adversities of the great depression. It is also a success story demonstrating that hard work and faith can overcome seemingly overwhelming hardships. It makes you feel good and wanting to meet Mr. Holm. It was a welcome change of pace to my usual reading. I highly recommend this book.

My husband and I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Holm recently. He is one of the most warm and inviting people we have ever met! He made us feel as if we've been friends for ever. I just ordered his book, Once A Hobo and look very forward to receiving it. While at Mr. Holm's business, we were treated to a private tour of his "House of Poverty" museum. Very impressive! Definitely worth the time. He also shared his own copy of his book with us and some of the stories of his life. We hated to have to leave. If you have the opportunity to stop and meet Mr. Holm, I highly encourage you to do so. He is in Moses Lake, WA. Not hard to find, just ask anyone.

I went seeking history and found humble generosity instead. During my family's five-week 2001 Pacific Northwest vacation trip, we made a side trip to Moses Lake, Washington to see ex-Alaska Railroad steam locomotive #557. Monte Holm, a collector extraordinaire, owns Moses Lake Iron and Metal and Moses Lake Steel. He also owned the House of Poverty Museum which showcased his collections of antique cars, whiskey bottles, sewing machines, and even old Alaska steam engine #557.

Monte greeted us warmly and immediately offered us handfuls of Werther candies. He gave the kids and my wife each a Susan B. Anthony coin telling us not to spend it but to hold on to it for luck. Even though I had just come to see #557, Monte insisted his assistant take us on a tour of his multi-million dollar museum of collections. At the end of the tour, our whole family was able to get into the cab of #557 and play engineer.

Returning to Monte's bedraggled office, I purchased his autobiography, "Once a Hobo..." and had him sign it. He even let me take a photo of him with his car with its license plate, "IOWNARR." He was proud of the fact that he had acquired this locomotive and later the Alaska Railroad asked unsuccessfully to purchase it back.

For the next week, my wife read his autobiography aloud to us in the car. I was amazed to discover this humble, unassuming man had risen from poverty to great fortune, all via hard work, positive atitude and generosity. I felt very honored to have crossed paths with this "life force."

On May 5, 2006 this world lost one of its most extraordinary individuals when Monte Holm passed away at the age of 89. He wasn't a movie star or sports hero. He was just an honest, kind-hearted person who used his life to help so many of those around him. Thanks Monte for the life changing transformation you made in my life.

This book is great for beginers and good for someone a little further along. It gives you most airbrush tricks that you'l need to paint whatever you want to paint.

... this is the one.

Covers the mechanical stuff more briefly than many, and has a nice section on fixing problems, including straightening a bent needle. Gets briskly on to the =use= of the thing, and runs a series of exercises to help you get the hang of techniques, including learning how to draw freehand. This guy is not hung up on anal-compulsive frisket cutting, but recommends a "universal mask" you can make out of a styrene or metal sheet that will do for a lot of work.

Service was great and the book was awesome. Answered every question I had and taught me things I never thought of.

I hate to gush but this is, imho, the single best book on airbrushing that I've seen. It covers technique from beginner to advanced. The instructions are straight forward. I suppose they could seem boring if you're an advanced artist. Since I learn from even a rehash of what I already new, I wasn't bored.

Unlike other reviewers, I wasn't disappointed because it doesn't cover painting motorcycles or helmets. The title is fairly straightforward and a good clue to what the book covers. If you're only interested in painting motorcycles, try How to Custom Paint Graphics here on Amazon.

If on the other hand, you see an airbrush as another tool in expressing yourself through art, get this book. Vero is a master at solidifying visualization. He introduced the use of shields and the book contains a template for his design for one of the most versatile shields around.

When you aren't using it for reference, I recommend putting it on the coffee table. People who drop by my apartment are instantly drawn to the cover which features an illustration of Vero's "Study of a Girl". Instant conversation starter!

Rado Vero is recognized as one of the greatest illustrators who ever lived. Reading his thoughts on airbrush and different ways to create are as invaluable as reading Da Vinci's ideas on creating perspective. It didn't bother me that it was first printed in 1983. Nothing in this book has been outmoded. In fact, many of his ideas, such as use of shields, are now the standard in art schools. I expect it to be equally as valid in 2083.

I have bought multiple copies of this book and given them to friends who are just getting into airbrushing. I expect that I will buy quite a few more before it's over.

Excellent book however as the title states relates mainly to studio applications and technical details. Not really applicable to air brush enthusiasts wanting to style cars or helmets etc.

Among the lighter and more overlooked sorrows of living in a post-terroristic era of conflict is all of the fun that could once be had, but no more, like - arguably - everything that takes place in this engrossing and extremely, extremely funny book, but one in particular: cleaning out one's refrigerator by mailing everything rotten (there's a way to do this with no postage, though you'll have to read this book to find out, and if you were to try it now, you'd have 10 SWAT teams on your doorstep in 36 hours or less) to everyone who might have ever annoyed you in some way.

Sigh...

Read this book, and I promise you'll never forget it.

-David Alston

This is the ultimate prankster handbook, an inspirational guide to mischief and mayhem. It is one of those books you can read bit by bit as there is a lot of material to absorb (not that you couldn't read it all at once, but it's like a rich cheesecake, you will want to savour each bite instead of gorging). The interviews are of varied allurement, some yielding more elation than others, but then you can't please everyone all of the time. Some of the stories told seem almost too wild to be real, until you see the accompanying photographs or news clippings and realize that some people have far better stories to tell than you or I ever will. And they aren't kidding, either.
Definitely makes my top 5 must-have "non-fiction or reference" books.

I lost my first copy of this in Nags Head in 1993. That's OK, it should be shared with as many people as possible because the pages are filled with shocking, playful, silly pranks from a host of prank 'generes.' A guy blows himself up at a high school reunion, another paints american flags on snails and on and on and. The books seems to capture a pre-PC time also: the 1980s.

What fun! This book is packed with great interviews with people who like to make trouble. All are amusing and all are inspiring. My personal favorites are the Henry Rollins and the Earth First! interviews. The Rollins interview makes me laugh just thinking about it, and the Earth First! interview is exciting to read. It makes me itch to go out and prank away. An excellent and informative read.

I love this book. I thought I was the only weirdo out there, but this book inspires me to be weirder. Great interviews with Dead Kennedy singer Jello Biafra, Abbie Hoffman and Henry Rollins. One of the few books I pick up weekly, even though I've read it from cover to cover many times. Still cracks me up.

This is a collection of black and white photographs mostly taken during the Prohibition and Depression eras for the tabloid "The Daily News". Most of what could be said about this book is already here in the reviews listed, nevertheless, it is worth repeating that "New York Noir" is an important addition to any collection of books on photography, and essential for anyone with an interest in the history of photojournalism. It would also be useful for anyone with an interest in social history; particularly of big city life during the American 1930s, 40s & 50s.

Most of the photos here are of crime scenes, and a few suicides thrown in. Crime scenes are mysteries; we all sense there is a story there. But the real mystery in this book is who were the guys who took these photographs? Whoever they were, they had no idea they were setting down an arena for further developments in creativity - in film, in fiction and in graphic design. This was working class photography and these guys were simply on the job, trying to outdo each other in the quest for a better shot in time for the next issue, sparing little thought over notions of higher-order art. Except perhaps for Arthur Fellig (aka Weegee), who was apparently more astute when it came to ensuring acknowledgement for his work, most of the guys who worked for the newspapers were largely unheralded. They are now just names, long dead and forgotten. Many of the shots reproduced in this book are only credited with a surname, or are simply credited as "Daily News" photos - nobody can work out now who took the shot.

[...]The conditions under which these guys were working forged a new creative genre, now commonly known as `NOIR'. It was an oppressive era, politically and socially, equipment was still heavy and unwieldy, they had to contend with light (additional lighting was used where it was deemed necessary to illuminate, not for artistic effect) and weather variables and while access to crime scenes were not yet barred to newspaper folks, access was sometimes restricted for other reasons. Check "The Trigger's Squeezed" and "Empire State Suicide"; both demonstrate how restricted access forced the photographers to use unusual camera angles, resulting in distant shots with long lines and deep, extended shadows which, together with the subject matter concerned, creates a sense of oppressiveness, of callous unconcern, of cold doom, and of finality (this can be keenly sensed in "Killer's End"); these are what are now regarded as the essential ingredients of good, classic noir film and associated imagery.

What makes a photograph (and for that matter, any piece of good art) a `classic' is that it alludes to a story, or it at least contains something that will intrigue viewers through the ages. While much of the information for the shots in this book, including the names of the persons involved could be traced (the corresponding synopses are listed at the back), there remain unanswered questions. How was it that the two ladies could tolerate each other's presence at the grave of their man in "A Bigamist Mourned"? What was it that a pretty doll such as Anna Downey saw in John Collins, a hardened killer? ("Until Death Do Us Part"). Why did the gangsters have such flippant attitudes? Check the aspect of Louis Capone on his way to Sing Sing in "En Route To The Chair".

There are other questions for which answers could have been provided in the book somewhere, after some further research. It would have been helpful to know the process and exactly why some of the photos were "touched-up" to ensure they were fit for publication. And who were some of these photographers? And what was the system for acknowledgement and payment? Something could have been said about the cops; perhaps some reasoning for their attitudes and conduct with the public. [...]

Regardless of all of this, the book is very exciting. The images reflect the developments in technology, particularly with the flash; first the bar flash, then the bulb, and then finally the `flash gun'. The sharper and clearer shots, including those taken under brilliant light are perhaps the most striking, and what are most easily recognized as `noir' imagery. All together, these are shots of a period in history which will never return. The assemblage of ephemera of that age; the hats, the shoes and clothing styles, the hair styles, the cars, the buildings and everything else can never be reproduced. And there is something very sexy about it all.

For a further exploration in this photography genre, I strongly recommend "City of Shadows: Sydney Police Photographs 1912-1948"; with shots of folks who were colder, cheaper and meaner, and where things seem even more surreal. To see how such newspaper shots influenced photography in a creative sense, see if you can find "Retail Fictions: The Commercial Photography of Ralph Bartholomew Jr." - still around in some `seconds' bookshops.

I got this for my sister-in-law and was afraid it might be too graphic for her (she's a bit squeamish about blood). It's not nearly as explicit as I feared. Unfortunately, it's not as interesting as I'd hoped, either. Lots of pictures of rather anonymous people in very sharp clothing. I think she'll like it, but if you're already fairly used to postmortem or morgue photos, you won't be very impressed.

If you are a fan of photography, this book is definately for you. NEW YORK NOIR is chock full of amazing photographs that were the staple of the "New York Daily News." In this book, you get to see some of the poignant images that help define the term noir, and its connection to the silver screen industry, not to mention its effects on tabloid journalism. Many of these same black and white photogrpahs were often used as references to assist in making modern day motion pictures, helping to give a look into the past. From the days of "Three-Gun" Turner to the electrocution of Ruth Snyder, this book captures New York's horrid crime life in a candid, in-your-face style. There is nothing but unhidden truth in each and every photograph. NEW YORK NOIR is a well designed book loaded with powerful images and somewhat detailed descriptions. It is fascinating, riveting, and gives you a decent look at the roots of photojournalism. You can't help but be intrigued by the gritty, graphic photos that once graced the pages of a daily newspaper. It is one amazingly good book.

Warning: don't expect this book to be easy on the eyes, it is far from that. This is not for children, weak stomaches, or people with heart conditions. The shock is enough to make your heart race when viewing some of these photos. Yet you find yourself staring, sometimes maybe wondering what the photographer was thinking as he took these shots. The book is well done, but you have to be interested in true crime to, if you will, appreciate this collection of photos. It also helps if you appreciate life, then these photos will really have an effect on you, but it also shows you that society really did not change that much since these photos were taken. NOT a good coffee table book, though.

The "Daily News" debuted in New York City in 1919. It was to be a newspaper for the common man, which meant not especially literate and frequently immigrant. Its currency was images, the more sensational the better. Nothing sold like sex, murder, and mayhem, graphically illustrated. By 1925, the "Daily News" was the best-selling newspaper in the nation. By 1930, twenty-three per cent of its pages were devoted to crime.

"New York Noir" is a selection of about 125 images from the "Daily News" archives, taken from the 1920s through the 1950s. Some are sad, some comical, some grotesque. They're an interesting comment on American urban culture of the time. Many of these photos would spark outrage if any newspaper were to print them today. Their lurid content earned the "Daily News" pointed criticism from many a moralist at the time. But that never hurt business. The style of the photographs had an immistakable influence on cinema and popular culture which continues to this day. The technical limitations that produced starkly flashed foregrounds and pitch-black backgrounds are instantly recognizable in Hollywood films, just as the corruption displayed in the photographs was reflected in popular entertainment. The demeanor of gangsters and thugs -often posed for the photographers- became iconic. Tabloid photojournalists may have wanted only to get the shot that no one else could, but they produced some incredible -and incredibly influential- photographs that have only become more fascinating with time.

Luc Sante introduces "New York Noir" with an essay about the history of tabloid journalism. Editor William Hannigan follows with a history of the "Daily News" and its influence on Film Noir. Both of these essays are very readable and worthwhile. The photographs are mostly one-to-a-page and quite sharp. They are all captioned. There is a section of "Synopses" in the back of the book, which provides further information about the stories behind each photograph, when available. I really appreciate this section, which is conveniently organized by page number. Some of the photos really leave the reader hanging, wondering who those people are and how things turned out. You can find out by turning to the back of the book.

I recommend "New York Noir" to photography and film noir buffs. Some of these evocative photographs are not for the squeamish, but they have made , and continue to make, quite an impression.

This book had me searching my soul. I almost cried after reading the "Dear John" chapter, as it was very relevant to my current situation. I highly recommend it as it is transparent and was birthed from Linda's life experiences.

If you want to learn how to love well in a marital relationship from God's perspective (no matter what your past may be), this is DEFINITELY the book for you.

Share it with your partners and friends!

Single men, you would be remiss in thinking that this book won't apply to you. Although it's written by a woman, the very real and universal truth of this book that applies to single men and women alike is DELIVERANCE! Linda writes prolifically about her struggles within herself and how God brought her through a healing process in order to receive the man of God for her. I highly recommend this book. Her honesty about the "not so lovely things" that we singles endure and have to face makes this book real! You have to read it ~ let the spiritual preparation begin!

The Plural Thing: Spiritually Preparing For Your Soul Mate is a must read for 2008.Why? Because you, you and you...deserve the very best life has in store for you. That includes having the right mate to compliment you. What The Plural Thing...does is provide you with a road map equipped with a GPS (God Planned Source) of direction in finding the appropriate mate. Linda Dominique Grosvenor penned a great shelf-help book that focus on the positive rather than the negative. Furthermore, it's Grosvenor, open and honest revelations about her own relationships that breath life into The Plural Thing and make it a must read for the seeking single to the much married couple that strive to make their relationship better.

The Plural Thing is a quick, practical read that will have the reader thinking from the first page to the very end. Although I could relate to the entire book, I especially enjoyed The EX Factor chapter. I was reading The Plural Thing..., just as I was doing my own soul searching and looking for a way to respond to some questions from my ex. The Plural Thing provided the boost I needed to respond positively, instead of continuing to harbor ill will and resentment for what was. Thank you Linda for your courage and the wherewithal to stand even when it appeared Satan was busy reeking havoc in your life. The Plural Thing...is a must read. Don't delay. Order your copy today.

Linda Dominique Grosvenor's The Plural Thing: Spiritually Preparing for Your Soul Mate should be recommended reading regardless if you're single or married.

Grosvenor's book is a spiritual blueprint on living a more fulfilling life with or without a mate. She encourages readers to take a mirror view of themselves. I read the book to help jumpstart my personal growth. It's helped me see myself in a more positive light. Working on self does not mean one has to become selfish, it actually makes one more open to loving others. The areas I need growth in are no longer strongholds. They are now mini-goals and no longer seem like a struggle.

The book also encourages readers to figure out what they want before dating even begins. Is what we want in line with what God wants for us? The more I read, the more I had to reflect. We can prepare for our soul mate by loving ourselves and not overlooking someone because of pre-conceived notions.

I feel that readers will have a better understanding of themselves and what they want in a mate, by reading and following the principles in The Plural Thing. It's more than just a book, but an empowering tool to jumpstart you in the right direction.

The book doesn't guarantee that you'll find your soul mate, but it does guarantee a better you and in the end, that's worth more than gold.

Review by Shelia M Goss, National Best-selling author of Double Platinum, My Invisible Husband and Paige's Web

The Plural Thing by Linda Dominique Grosvenor
Review by Tavares S. Carney
Genre: Non-fiction; Self-Help; Inspirational
Rating: 10 (EchelonBooks); 5 (Amazon)

The Plural Thing: Spiritually Preparing for Your Soul Mate stimulates readers to examine self, and come to grips with the fact that one truly has to be happy within oneself before truly being able to find happiness or make anyone else happy, let alone a spouse. Once one realizes what it means to truly love, it is then and only then that God will send us the mate he intended for us to have. The author shares with readers, true-to-life relationship scenarios from her own life as well as those she's encountered. These are stories of real women, single women, married women, divorced women and separated women - the good, the bad and the ugly. Topics that range from lack of or non-communication between partners, loss of sexual appetite for married women, pressing towards personal goals and more are touched upon. Single women must stand for something and not fall for anything when it comes to finding a spiritual soul mate, finding that true love and real happiness most women desire. For married women, reading this book will prompt you to examine the state of your current relationship. The gripping question readers will be left to answer no matter the stage of their love lives (or not) they are in is - Are you ready? Were you ready? or Will you ever be ready for marriage the way God intended it to be? Grosvenor demonstrates to women firsthand how one can learn to love the way God intended and spiritually prepare for a soul mate.

Over the years, I have read many books and written reviews of some that attracted my attention for various reasons. Recently, I discovered a book series that uses historical events and key persons to illustrate concepts and initiatives that could apply to business. The series, Lessons from History, is the creation of a consultant, Mark Kozak-Holland, and the intention of the series is to examine complex business problems by applying lessons from history. He uses historical case studies to demonstrate how challenges were overcome, offering a unique view for business and technology management to apply the lessons of history to their situations.

The book, Churchill's Adaptive Enterprise: Lessons for Business Today, brings the reader to the late 1930's and early 1940's with descriptions of the world situation and the state of politics and lack of preparedness for World War II that existed in Great Britain. When Churchill became Prime Minister in May 1940, his country was facing the onslaught of Nazi Germany alone, France and the Low Countries had fallen under Germany's control, and Britain was poised to be Hitler's next victim. As we know, Britain survived, it regained strength and allied itself with the United States and the Soviet Union to defeat Hitler and snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. The questions "How did he do that?", "What were the actions and practices that enabled Churchill to emerge as one of the greatest leaders of the 20th century?" are the subject of Kozak-Holland's book.

This book is fascinating reading, despite the fact that the outcome of WWII is known to the reader. Kozak-Holland explores Churchill and his Cabinet and other advisors' actions to show how, under tremendous pressure, the Prime Minister transformed his organization to the modern-day version of an Adaptive Enterprise. An Adaptive Enterprise modifies the way an organization behaves, how it addresses and responds to change, giving it a competitive advantage.

With no room for error, the use of organizational adaptation, business practices and current technology, combined with the inspiration of the leaders, gave Britain and the allies the opportunity to turn the tide of the war to their favor.

In reading about the practices, technologies, and organization that Churchill established, we can see the emergence of governance and decision-making concepts well before they are widely believed to have been invented. Although the teams created centers of excellence for code-breaking, military command and executive oversight (Bletchley Park, Bentley Priory, Storey's Gate, respectively), the overriding need was for data and process governance, so that these centers could operate both separately and coordinated, depending on the need. These centers handled large amounts of disparate data from multiple sources, and the executive committee needed consolidated data in real time to make immensely important decisions. Developing a data governance approach and framework was essential and it had to be implemented in an unbelievably short time, with the future of Great Britain (and the rest of the world) hanging in the balance.

Churchill's need was for competitive intelligence, and the data supporting that effort was required to be as accurate and timely as possible, given the limitations of technology that existed in 1940. Data quality was deemed to be of utmost importance, and many analysts were employed to perform the data validation and meta data management tasks that are part of the modern data steward's activities. Validated raw data was given to leading analysts ("chief data stewards") for some synthesis and applied to answer the executive committee's questions and address challenges that erupted by the minute. At Storey's Gate, a sophisticated control center was created. It tracked real-time events from all theatres of the war, showing data identified as essential indicators for the allies' performance. The WWII version of an executive dashboard, the command center / map room became so important to Churchill that it was recreated for travel (train and airplane). When Franklin Roosevelt saw the traveling version on Churchill's first visit to the US, he had a similar center created. Eventually, the two command centers were aligned and governance was given the highest priority, enabling the fateful collaboration between Britain and her former colony (SHAPE - Supreme Allied Headquarters - Europe).

Can history teach lessons for modern business and technology management? Quoting Kozar-Holland, "Churchill's use of executive dashboards, real-time event models, institutionalized decision-making, and competitive intelligence analysis helped turn the course of history. It was the first time that intelligence (and governance) had been used on such a scale, across an enterprise and in such a strategic capacity." Modern business may not be engaged in the epic struggle that was World War II, but the use of concepts such as governance, and practices from historical events can give some perspective on their application in 21st century organizations.

There must be some kind of way out of here say the joker to the thief.
-- Jimi Hendrix

Today's business gurus evangelize the benefits of story like a TV evangelist on a book tour. Still, there are few authors who use story to teach business strategy. Enter Mark Kozak-Holland who uses the stories of history to teach the lessons of the adaptive enterprise. Long after you've read and forgotten strategy concepts taught in standard text books, you'll find yourself remembering and applying adaptive enterprise concepts through the stories in Churchill's Adaptive Enterprise; stories that breathe life into the sense and respond organization.

In Churchill's Adaptive Enterprise, author Mark Kozak-Holland shows how to create an adaptive enterprise by using lessons from World War II. In spite of Britain's stunning defeat at the Battle of Dunkirk, and her subsequent limited resources to wage war, Churchill was able to stave off German occupation and give America time to join the war, by making an entire country agile.

The author writes of how the German Luftwaffe believed they were on the verge of wiping out Britain's Royal Air force, and yet, Churchill, through a sense-and-respond network was able to make 50 British fighters seem like hundreds, and demoralize the German air command. Indeed, Churchill had his watchtower.

From a story perspective, this book is brilliant. First, the author didn't try to make up his own story, or worse, create a fable to teach the adaptive enterprise. No, that could of been a disaster. Why? Because Churchill's stand against Hitler is an archetype that is almost impossible to improved upon. I mean, even Spielberg, if he wanted to... would find it difficult to produce a better protagonist and antagonist than Churchill and Hitler. And that's why Saving Private Ryan is the story that it is. It's a story within the context of a larger story.

Second, the book provides a business case for agile.

Finally, if you're brilliant, you'll tell the Churchill stories to each other, so you change your corporate culture. And when your customers start to brag about your products and how you run circles around the competition, you will have differentiated your product in a way that others can't match. What's more, you'll now have your own stories to tell each other and new employees, keeping your adaptive organization alive and well.

To be successful in life or war, you need to be flexible... adaptive. Churchill was a socially adept animal -- He knew how to change and evoke change from others. Within Churchill lived a transformation machine. His mad writing skills were not bestowed upon him like the Queen's crown. In grammar school, when the teacher criticized his writing, he studied and practiced grammar patterns for hours. Later in life, when asked about his facile writing skills, he credited the grammar exercises for his renowned ability to turn a phrase.

Yep, Churchill was one hep, adaptive cat. When others were silent, he gave inspiring speeches; when others embraced rigid processes, he created agile frameworks; when others worried about the fate of England and fled to Canada, he calmed the masses; when others sought shelter during the bombings, he ventured boldly into the firestorm.

I truly believe that in order to move forward, we have to look back at our history. I believe the same is true of business. One of the best ways to solve problems and create innovative strategies is to look at those in our past who succeeded in these areas.

Churchill is a model for adaptation and problem solving. His business was Britain which was faced with two overwhelmingly difficult challenges: keep the British economy stable while also keeping the country safe from German invasion. In order to be successful in these endeavours, the leader had to focus his resources wisely to stay one step ahead of the enemy.

Despite it's usefulness as a model for business problem solving, Churchill's Adaptive Enterprise is a somewhat difficult book to read. The text is filled with IT and business terms so the average business person will need to flip to the glossary in the back of the book frequently to fully comprehend each concept. Moreover, many of the historical examples require somewhat in-depth knowledge of Churchill's exploits. I suggest reading the appendix at the back of the book before moving onto the regular text.

In May of 1940, England faced enormous odds. Since the previous September, the German armies had handily conquered Poland, Denmark, Norway, Holland, Belgium and the combined armies of Britain and France. France had surrendered and although the bulk of the British army was rescued from Dunkirk, nearly all of their military equipment was now in German hands. Furthermore, the Italians had entered the war on the German side and the German alliance with Russia seemed firm, as both sides had so much to gain by maintaining it.
Now essentially devoid of significant allies and low on supplies, the only hope the British had to carry out the fight was to make more efficient use of what they had. Therefore, the British carried out one of the greatest improvements in managerial operations ever achieved. Winston Churchill selected the right people for all positions, relying almost solely on talent rather than political or social position. His only concessions to political necessity were in allowing some leaders of the political opposition to have high government posts. For example, Clement Attlee was appointed Deputy Prime Minister during the war years. The direness of the times allowed Churchill and his appointees' great range in their actions and power. Fortunately for the British side, they were men of sense and effectiveness.
In this book, the actions of Churchill and his wartime staff are used as a set of demonstration cases for how effective adaptation can be in the business world. Despite the serious differences in the circumstances, after all, no business staff is really battling for its very life, the analogies work. Kozak-Holland does an excellent job in toning the circumstances down to a set of fundamental business circumstances. It has often been said that we must learn from history, this is a book where several lessons can be learned from history and in this case not all of the lessons are direct.
As Churchill showed, a strong will is necessary but not sufficient for success. You must be willing to delegate responsibility and be willing to let the people do their job without micromanaging. When the circumstances warrant it, you must be willing to fire people and also to hold the line against firing people even though others believe that they should be removed.
There is a great deal of business management knowledge that can be learned from this book. It has been said many times that the modern global business competition is just the next generation of warfare. While that is certainly debatable, the points of the debate are not about the fact, just about how far the analogy can be extended. As can be seen here, there are many similarities between modern total war between nations and competition between businesses.

Reviewed by William E. Cooper for Reader Views (6/06)

Mark Kozak-Holland has written one of the best and most fascinating management, leadership, and business books I've read. As a retired Chief of Police with two graduate degrees, and one who teaches graduate school courses, as well as being the author of my own book "Leading Beyond Tradition," I found this to be a "can't put it down" book. It is a literal page turner, comparing Winston Churchill's incredibly complex set of problems at the outset of and during World War II with today's management issues, then providing legitimate and very well thought out solutions.

It is about the tremendous change the world and our organizations are facing and the need for being agile and adapting to frequently changing conditions. It is about getting the right people in, the wrong people out, and the right people in the right places. It is about having a vision and a strategy for achieving it; it is about change management. The examples used are incredibly profound and clearly applicable to today's business needs and environment. This book is a must-read and should not only be in every manager's library, but should be a university text book and part of every library. I strongly recommend Mr. Kozak-Holland's book. Well done sir.