Affiliate ABCs hosts Deborah Carney and Vinny O’Hare were joined by Dave Cupples of Fat Cow Business and David Iwanow of The Lost Agency to discuss marketing through Facebook and email. Information packed pair of podcasts that anyone considering using Facebook advertising should listen to.

This ebook is the transcript of 2 podcasts with authorities in the Facebook Advertising and newsletter promotions business. This is not a book that is “selling” anything, this is truly and educational ebook. If you aren’t interested in the transcript format you will not like this book. It is a conversation between 4 people.

Some notes from the book:

Engage first then try to sell based on engagement. Don’t just try to sell.

Direct traffic to own site, not direct to merchant so that you can capture visitor information and build loyalty.

Facebook ads allow you to build a community that you can continue to market to. Give value first in social media. Excellent information plus a great case study mentioned below.

There is much more valuable information available in this 20 page ebook. It is full of actionable information that you can apply right away, with a comprehensive resource page at the end.

Published by Nightfire Publications. Can be purchased on Amazon for only $0.99!

Review

This is an easy to read, 27-page introduction to using social media to maximize your blog potential. Keep in mind that this is a transcript of a discussion and so it is not as fluid as a written book, however it is very easy to follow. This ebook is intended for people who have just started or are thinking about starting a site, and already know some of the workings and lingo of blogging. I think the most valuable tips they give are always direct traffic through your own website. I could not stop reading this ebook. It is so interesting and offered some information and ideas that I had not heard before. This is a must-have resource for anyone with a website!

Originally posted 2011-12-02 07:33:14.

Review of: The Last Degree

Reviewer: Charles Franklin

Review:
To be honest I was a little confused with the title of this book. I expected some kind of fantasy thriller where people in a fringe group engaged in a battle against the government. What I got was actually something much more interesting.

The “Last Degree started off interestingly enough with a Bible quote (2 Chronicles 2:13-14). This should have been my first clue but I still didn’t get it. It wasn’t until I got a few pages in that I saw what the book was about. The Last Degree is a story that mingles Christian end-time prophecy, history and Freemason conspiracy theory into one powerful plot. As I read a little more it started to remind me more and more of Dan Brown’s books (The Da Vinci Code, The Lost Symbol, etc). It starts off like Dan Brown’s books too, with a murder with the exception that Robert Langdon (the detective in Dan Brown’s books) is not on the case. In this book, the murder of Rory, a high-powered Freemason, leads his sister, two cops a reporter and two families through a series of events that lead to the rise of the Antichrist and the One World Government, alluded to in Revelation.

Like Dan Brown, the author masterfully weaves real history, family history, and symbolism in order to create a story that is epic. Rae brings together history and lore from the Freemason’s past and current rituals to create a truly exciting thriller. There is also conspiracy theories, and a romance or two. Her version though is more esoteric and spiritual than Dan Brown’s. Not only are there ambitious leaders who murder rivals or a secret powerful group that is bent on world domination but there is black magic and prayer.

The best part of this book lies in its complexity. You never are really quite sure how the individual threads that make up the story will wind together (even though you know they will). As a result, you will find yourself saying (like me)” So that’s who that was”. It’s that’s kind of book. I also liked the way that the author took the time to describe the rituals and lore of the Freemasons. Normally in a fiction book, I don’t like that much explanation but I found the explanations in this book helpful in the story. One other really interesting aspect is the way this book deals with the AntiChrist or “Beast” issue mentioned in Revelation. I will leave readers to find that out on their own.

The three drawbacks to this book is (coincidentally)are the complexity subtlety and pacing. Because it is such a long book and there are so many characters within the book, it can be a little confusing to keep up with who’s who. Dina Rae is definitely a great storyteller, but the conversations lacked the subtlety that you can find in other authors. The conversations between some of the characters are a little bit too straightforward and need a little more emotional finesses. This might be tied to the pacing, though. The plot in the book moves quickly and jumps back and forward in time a little so you will need to pay attention or you might need to re-read. It is also helpful if readers know or at least familiar with the book of Revelation in the Bible. Still none of this impedes the pure thrill of the book.

If you are looking to get whisked away into a conspiracy and intriguing thriller like “Left Behind” or “The Lost Symbol”, this books is definitely for you!

I will definitely be following this author and reading more of her books! I’m eyeing ‘Halo of the Nephilim” in May!

In short:

Pros:
Excellent and complex plot
Intriguing history on Freemasons, Illuminati, and other groups
Interesting mix of romance, Christian prophecy fiction, murder mystery, and thriller

Cons:
Pacing a little too fast in some places
Lots of characters and plot lines to keep up with
Conversation lacks emotion (too straightforward) in some areas of the book

What one thing about this book stood out the most for you?
The way this book blends the complexity, intrigue, and mystery of a Dan Brown novel along with the apocalyptic end-time prophecies like a “Left Behind” novel

Reviewer Bio
My name is Charles F. and I am a freelance writer, customer service professional and book reviewer turned independent author publicist with over 11 years of experience in libraries, customer service, and almost everything in between. I am a also social and cultural justice advocate, supporter of “green” and sustainable living, and Nerdfitness.com Rebel who is looking to forge in a new path in his family’s legacy. When I am not writing, completing job proposals, running family errands, I enjoy laughing, watching sports, pretending to do martial arts and reading. Beside all of that, I am a poet-in-training who writes haiku and free-verse poetry in mythology, spirituality and nature.

Review of: The Rosebush Murders

Reviewer: Raymond Mathiesen

Review:
The Thorny World Of Humanity

Danielle Hall is found dead in the peaceful grounds of an inner city park in Jerusalem. She had been shot in the back of the head. Investigation soon reveals that Danielle was a psychologist. Could it be that a client has lost their cool? Danielle was married to Mira Morenica and they have a daughter Shelia. How will the family cope with this sudden and violent death? D.I. Helen Mirkin finds that, despite her cool professionalism and objectivity, she cares for the survivors. Helen must use all her skills, her logic and her intuition, to solve this case, even if just to give the Morenica-Hall family closure.

Ruth Shidlo’s first novel, The Rosebush Murders, is a fine police murder mystery. While not quite of the ‘hard boiled’ style, this book is a no-nonsense account of a classic crime investigation case. There is no histrionics here, but we follow the plot with interest as Shidlo step by step reveals the mystery of the murders. At the same time Shidlo reveals to us bit by bit exactly who her character Helen Mirkin is. Even more Shidlo digs into some of the questions of life that fascinate us all.

The novel follows a fairly standard structure. In the first half we are given a complex of defuse plot threads that leave us asking, “What does this all mean?” Life is of course often like this and any crime investigation is at first an open question. Some of us like to think that we understand all about our life but philosophers, psychologists and scientists will tell us that things are not necessarily simple or obvious. The second half of the novel moves more swiftly as the hunt nears its close. Shidlo skilfully draws her themes and imagery neatly together to a satisfying conclusion. One small criticism is that the first half is perhaps just a little too long. Just before midway we begin to grow slightly tired, wondering where will all this lead? The opening of the book has some very well written descriptions. The long section describing Helen’s viewing of the corpse and crime scene is excellently written. We get a real sense of the ugliness of the death. Murder is of course a heavy subject and requires serious writing, however, Shidlo has included some moments of humour to lighten the mood. Most of this humour comes as banter between Helen and her colleagues. In Chapter 8, after a late night and restless sleep, Captain Adam Tamir, Helen’s boss, comments, “You look fresh as a lettuce.” Police detectives need some release from the pressure of their work and so does the reader otherwise reading a novel like this would become a chore. Shidlo has included the occasional ‘aha’ moment and surprise chapter ending which helps us keep turning the pages.

This novel is of the mystery genre; however, Shidlo supplies us with questions beyond the intrigue of the crime. “Who is Helen Mirkin?” we wonder, and as the novel progresses we dig deeper into the character. We get to know Helen as we get to know a friend. On first impression we like her very human responses to the brutal murder and her compassion for the relatives, but then questions arise and we wonder what her life beyond work is, what her past is and what motivates her? By the end of the book we certainly feel we have got to know Helen better. Beyond this many characters in the novel have secrets. We meet a series of people who are unknown to us, as they are to Helen, some leaving us with a good impression, some bad. By the end of the book we have certainly got to know the criminals better. It should be noted, however, that Helen is the only sympathetic character which Shidlo develops. In this array of character sketches one more individual we can relate to, developed to some depth, would have been good for reader empathy.

Murder is an act of dominance and The Rosebush Murders primarily has the theme of power. The philosopher Michel Foucault, and many others, have pointed out that much of society revolves around power and keeping people, organizations, classes and societal institutions in control. This theme is developed in many different ways. We see, for example, right from the Prologue onwards references to Fascism and the Nazis. This group, with its aim of European domination, and perhaps even world domination, is the ultimate example in modern history of the thirst for power. For this book, set in Israel, Fascism is of course a very potent example of the real and extreme effects of a desire for power. Also much of the story revolves around City Hospital, Jerusalem’s prestigious and world famous establishment. Here we see the world of bureaucracy which, as the sociologist Max Weber (Economy And Society: 1922) and the novelest Franz Kafka (The Trial: 1925) have pointed out, are very efficient and rational but can also lead to a “polar night of icy darkness” and an “iron cage” (Weber) which crushes the individual. City Hospital is depicted as literally a very large, complex warren in which Helen fears getting lost. The air is constantly stale. In Chapter 14 we see a visit to an X-ray specialist who is surrounded by cold technology. The specialist, along with others at the hospital, is cold and distant. Doctors in general are depicted as having power over life and death: they decide our fate. Religion also appears as a social institution prying into our lives and pushing us about. Terrorism also makes an appearance in the book. In the nine days the book covers there are two encounters with suspected bombs. Terrorism, nationalist and religious, is of course a fact of life in Israel and this is just how Shidlo depicts it. Terrorism is murder on the large scale and the contemporary equivalent of Nazism: an extreme grab for power.

Religion is indeed so prominent in the book that it can be considered as a theme in its own right. The ecclesia is meant to be a protection but Shidlo depict it more as a controller. Certainly much of the music that Helen listens to, sings, and takes comfort and restoration from, is religious based. In Chapter 38, while Helen rehearses her choir pieces, we read:

“I felt the prayer pour from me and at its conclusion felt somehow cleansed of the oppressive atmosphere of the hospital.”

But of course this is very much a personal, informal, unstructured, untheological experience. This is not the religion of the synagogue, of orthodoxy. In Chapter 8, in the context of a conversation about cancer, the Biblical notion of “sanctuary cities” is disparagingly mentioned as a metaphor. The idea of criminals escaping to a safe city, beyond the grasp of the law, is of course objectionable to police and something objectionable about Judaism is implied. By far the most important plot line in this theme is the scenario about the Morenica-Hall family wanting to bury their family member in a way free from the “despotism of the Orthodox Rabbinate…” Here religion is seen as a kind of ‘fascism’ in the popular use of the term.

Death is central to the book, but this theme goes well beyond the plot line of murders. Death is depicted as something we must come to terms with, something that is pervasive and unescapable. In Chapter 14 Dr. Kate Jordan, head of the interns, comments:

“Makes you wonder what separates you from death, doesn’t it? We take so much for granted…”

As we learn more about Helen we see how important the death of her own father is to her.

Interestingly H.E. Eysenck in his essay The Psychology Of Anti-Semitism (Uses And Abuses Of Psychology: Penguin Books, 1953) identifies “superstition … i.e. a belief in the mystical determinants of the individual’s fate …” and “power and toughness” as statistically discernible features of Fascism. He further notes of this group:

“There also seems to be relatively little enjoyment of sensuality or of passive pleasures such as affection, companionship, or art and music …” (p. 271)

And later:

“… art, music, literature, and philosophy … may be considered … interests [that] contribute substantially to greater resourcefulness, and to the comparative diversion from power and status …” (p. 277)

Power and religion (superstition) are, as we have seen, central themes in The Rosebush Murders. Helen, the central character, seeks her friends to relax, is looking for a partner, looks at the art on the walls of the abodes of those she interviews, is interested in music and quotes literature. She stands against those who would grab power.

Shidlo’s novel is definitely in the main part a no nonsense police drama, however, it also contains some imagery, which gives the book greater depth. As we have seen music, choirs and opera are a part of the characterization. Music also takes on a symbolic nature as a metaphor for life. Music brings Helen great pleasure and relaxation and she uses it as an escape from the pressures of her work. At the end of Chapter 6 we see Helen tuning her car radio to a jazz program while returning to the office after a difficult interview with Mira Morenica. In Chapter 13 Helen unwinds from a tiring day with music. Music communicates feeling and most composers would say that they hope to capture some quality of life. Music can be joyous, help us to express sadness and even be dramatic and tense. Nature also repeatedly is depicted as beautiful and relaxing. It is contrasted with humanity and civilization. In Chapter 3 Helen takes in the quiet beauty of the Morenica-Hall’s garden, but later in the chapter she drives passed the wrecked hulks of vehicles left over from the War of Independence. Nature certainly is restoring to us but there is one or two hints of danger. In Chapter 10 Mira, the Morenica-Hall’s maid comments on a “cute cat” she sees out of the police station window. Helen responds, “It’s not easy to be a street cat.” On a different tack police work is frequently compared to a psychologist’s job. Helen must of course help the victim’s family cope with grief, but also detection itself requires a knowledge of human nature, reading facial expressions, searching below the surface for hidden facts, and a Freudian ‘free association’ of one thing with another. In Chapter 11 Helen jokes with Dr. Sol, Danielle’s psychoanalyst and friend, about the similarity of their professions. Helen comments, “In fact would you care to join the Psychological Service of the Police Force?” Life is full of problems and in a way we are all in need of ‘the psychiatrist’s couch.’

Ruth Shidlo is a qualified psychologist and it is no surprise that this book is an accurate picture of life in that respect. Shidlo recognises that people are of diverse motivations, that they have secrets, that while not suffering from a diagnosed illness they can have “rescue fantasies” (Ch. 7). Dreams as revelations of personal reactions, turmoil and thought feature fairly prominently. (Ch. 7 & Ch. 41) Dr. Ann Faraday’s Dream Power (1972) is a good source illustrating this approach to self-development. Suicide is depicted, not as a real desire for death but as a cry for help and an attempt at communication.( Ch. 55) (Robert E. Larson, ed. Preparing To Listen: Contact Teleministries, c1978, p. 99) Shidlo is of course also correct on the psychology of a killer. (Martha Stout. The Sociopath Next Door: Broadway Books, 2005)

A lesbian couple are at the centre of this murder mystery and GLBTI issues are thus quite prominent. Queer people and their immediate families are generally depicted with respect. In Chapter 3 Sheila shows Helen a photo of her and her two mothers on holiday. We read:

“Shelia was in the middle, looking happy and contained and proud.”

The word “proud” has of course come to have special meaning to LGBTI people, as in, for example, ‘pride marches’. Danielle’s mother is completely accepting of the lesbian matching. (Ch. 10) The problems which queer couples face is also mentioned, for example, the difficulties of donor parenting. (Ch. 56) Bigotry occasionally rears its head. In Chapter 12 Adam, on hearing that the lesbian couple are married comments, “Wonders never cease.” In Chapter 33 a minor character brings on the bigoted, fantasy notion of a powerful heterosexual man “converting” a lesbian woman. Shidlo also does not err in being overly favourable to LGBTI people. In Chapter 24 Daniel blocks a lesbian couple from receiving IVF. No special favouritism there. None-the-less Shidlo notes the sociological fact that people, including LGBTI, have an affinity for others of similar background. (C. Peter Wagner. Our Kind Of People: J. Knox Press, c1979)

The Rosebush Murders also has quite a good standing from a feminist perspective. The book is full of successful professional women and femininity is depicted in all its many and varied forms. In Chapter 50 we encounter a typical male chauvinist in the form of IVF researcher Alberto Silberman. Once again women are not patronized by being overly favoured either. There are a number of unsympathetic female characters as well.

As we have already seen society is examined to a certain extent, particularly in terms of bureaucracy. City Hospital is very much a wealthy establishment and an institution for the privileged. (Ch. 23) From a Marxist view the latter is no surprise. Money means power, and power means elites. When success is over-rewarded and over-valued others suffer.

Israel is a place of many ethnicities and national backgrounds as the diaspora have returned to it and consequently Shidlo’s novel represents a view of the world and its people beyond the narrow limits of nationalist literature. The disabled make a brief appearance in Chapter 14 in the form of Dr. Maurice Leibovici the blind head the Outpatient Psychiatric Clinic. Leibovici is successfully working in a prestigious job, but is gruff. The picture is positive but not over flattering.

Ruth Shidlo’s The Rosebush Murders is excellent for those interested in police work and murder mysteries. While displaying the standard features of this type of novel it also has more unusual themes such as power and religion. Imagery of music art and psychology gives the book further depth. To varying degrees the book is successful in presenting psychological, LGBTI, Feminist and Marxist perspectives. The novel is, however, most of all simply an entertaining read, excellent to relax with.

Reviewer Bio
I have a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in literature and a minor in psychology. I also have a Graduate Diploma of Library Science. I have lived in three cities (Townsville, Brisbane, Armidale) in two different states (Queensland, New South Wales) in Australia, though I have never traveled overseas. I would like to visit the United Kingdom but I doubt I will ever get there.

Author: Katherine Magnoli

Review Link:
(http://nadiajwriter.com/2012/08/09/introducing-katgirl)

The Adventures of KatGirl does a good job of capturing that first day at school with a bunch of kids who don’t really understand disabilities. The misconceptions the children have, as well as the curiosity and the questions they ask are true to life and it brought back a lot of memories for me. I liked the fact that Katherine is depicted as someone happy and even though she is upset by the comments that Timmy makes she stays true to herself and ends up making a new friend. I believe her ability to stay positive is her true superpower. The book stays primarily with the message that bullying can happen to anyone and that it can be overcome. It does not focus on or describe Katherine’s disability. The only time it does focus directly on the disability is when the children are asking questions, with the most insightful question being: “Can you walk at all?” To which Katherine replies, “yes, with crutches.” In my personal experience, when people see a wheelchair they dismiss the possibility that you can walk at all, and so I was glad for this clarification. Perhaps it will help young readers to understand those that look differently from themselves and open the door to find more answers to their questions. Overall, the book depicts a girl who is defined by her personality and not her disability…And really, isn’t that how it should be?

Originally posted 2012-09-20 23:38:24.

Review first published on Barb Shelton’s Blog

A SR Perspective
from
The Wordsmith Journal Magazine
Hello and Welcome to our SR Perspective page where our SR Reviewer,
Barb Shelton will post her opinion/review of the books she reads.
This month is The Visionary by Pamela S Thibodeaux

Authors, email twjadsales@gmail.com for details on how to have your book reviewed by Barb!

Just Sayin….
The Visionary is a story very detailed about all types of love, and particularly those identified in the Bible. From my younger memory, I can recall four – Agape, selfless or unconditional love; Phileo, love of friends; Eros, erotic love and Storge, family love. Of course, love can be described in a variety of ways, from fierce, intense and blazing to gentle, tender and soft. While some of the characters in this story want to be controlling in their own right, author Pamela S. Thibodeaux’s emphasis in her story is on God’s unconditional love proving HE is in control. Emotions ebb and flow as far heavenward and as far downward as can be humanly expressed. Familiar emotions are expertly articulated; while other emotions unknown by some human souls are eloquently voiced for a deeper understanding.

The moment I began reading of The Visionary, my mind, which usually doesn’t respond “speechless” too much of anything…was in complete awe to Pamela’s writing. Immediately I became deeply infatuated with her clever use of words. She caused sparks to flit around my mind and tickled my fancy for easy recall of what my eyes read. There’s that age thing creeping into my reading enjoyment – folks at my age are inclined to blank minds and memory loss, well forgetfulness! LOL

I was filled with wonder at how adept author Thibodeaux is in the “show and tell” method of writing, like it is a natural thing for her. I admire her wonderful descriptive power and can feel the aura of each personality by her use of words. Pam Thibodeaux can show an instantaneous mood or inner physical feeling as though you are “seeing, hearing and feeling” every movement and thought of the characters.

The Visionary is indeed a novel written “on the edge.” But then again….wasn’t the Bible? I was not offended or thrown off with the manner in which this story was written. Within each sentence flows God’s truth and grace emphatically within the structure of decency and refinement.

Having said that, I’m positive you would like to know a bit about the story and the characters that live it. Twenty-seven year old twins, Taylor and Trevor Forrestier are the main characters and both suffered evil in their childhood. They are as close as Siamese twins in their dependence and attachment to one another. Both have been endowed by God with beautiful physical appearances from their thick honey colored hair, green and gold flecks in topaz eyes, trim firm frames, right down to gold hoop earrings dangling from perfectly shaped earlobes (on the girl, of course). One very basic difference between the twins is that one believes in God; yet the other is like Thomas or Thomasina in the Bible…a doubter that Jesus is real.

The story takes place in Lake Charles, Louisiana where Taylor and Trevor are the owners of T & T Enterprises. Taylor is an interior designer and Trevor is an architect and landscape architect for urban planning and design – in less Ivy League terms….a builder. Taylor has received magnificent reviews as the designer with vision. I don’t intend to give away any of the interesting secrets regarding Taylor’s gift….you will need to discover them on your own. On the down side, Trevor is extremely over protective of Taylor, which causes jealousy of anything or anyone that interferes personally with their closeness.

Enters Alex Broussard, a financial analyst, who currently bought a large piece of historical real estate called The LeBleu Estate which dates back to the original settlers of the area. It was rumored to have been a favorite visiting spot of Jean LaFitte during his excursions in and out of the area. There is much curiosity over the rumor that he left his initials carved on a board inside the barn where he slept at times. Alex is a very sensitive man and is stunned upon his first meeting with the twins, but all I will tell you here is that he went seeking their company to restore The LeBleu Estate.

Pam LeBlanc, secretary to Taylor and Trevor is a sweet, vivacious young woman, highly skilled in dealing with the office scenarios; on top of everything else to make the twins jobs easier. Pam is also a love interest to a main male character in this story. No secrets now! I must admit my curiosity as to Pamela Thibodeaux giving a main player in this story her first name. Perhaps she will clue us in to that one day. Just asking, Pamela!

I felt such emotion and prayed for all the characters often…not that I could have changed Pamela’s story…but perhaps God heard them as for someone else to bless. One of my favorite tv channels to watch is HGTV – which made my visions of the estate purchasing and refurbishing so much fun. Working jigsaw puzzles is another pleasure of mine….and there are many puzzles of mystery in Pamela’s story to engage your curiosity. Some scenes raised my ire and others made me sniffle and sob. This book may very well bring someone from riding the fence to making a decision to follow Christ.

The Visionary is one of the better books I have read. I vehemently recommend that you acquire a copy of this novel to meet and enjoy the story yourself. Some parts of this book I’ve wanted to read over and over and didn’t want the story to end. Pamela, I sincerely hope you’ll be writing more about this rare and wonderful community of people. I will remember and recall this story for a long time because it meant so much to me. I could relate to the evil things written about, as well as the healing and redemption. There has been grief and tragedy also, as in others’ lives, which brought about memories of sadness. I can also say honestly….that my wisdom of life and scripture has grown and I’m much wiser now. I hope in my old age I can remember that!

I want to thank our Abba father for Pamela. She is indeed guided by His Holy Spirit that indwells her. What a holy imagination she uses to write God’s word! This is some of my perception of Pamela S. Thibodeaux. May our Creator’s grace and creative power be with you always.

The Visionary
Pamela S Thibodeaux
A visionary is someone who sees into the future, Taylor Forrestier sees into the past but only as it pertains to her work. Hailed by her peers as “a visionary with an instinct for beauty and an eye for the unique”Taylor is undoubtedly a brilliant architect and gifted designer. But she and twin brother Trevor, share more than a successful business. The two share a childhood wrought with lies and deceit and the kind of abuse that’s disturbingly prevalent in today’s society. Can the love of God and the power of His grace and mercy free the twins from their past and open their hearts to the good plan and the future He has for their lives? Find out in…The Visionary ~ Where the awesome power of God’s love heals the most wounded of souls
Note from Pam to Barb
I am humbled and honored you would pen such beautiful words about my story and writing. Thank You!
My prayer has always been that I glorify God in all I do and write and your opinion of this book encourages me that I just may be on the right track.

As for naming a major character after me — I am 100% SOTP writer (seat of the pants) – I have no outline or clue of the characters’ names, appearance or anything else until they appear on the page or pop into the story. Some are secondary (like Steve, Colleen & Pastor Hebert) and some, like Pam play major roles.

Alas, this is the joy and frustration of being a SOTP writer LOL!

Once again, Thank You, Barb for your lovely comments. May God bless you 100fold in your own writing endeavors
Available @ Amazon & Barnes and Noble!
Meet our SR Reviewer ~ Barb Shelton!

Barb is married to Jack Shelton, a retired military officer and lives in Arlington, Texas. Having been married for thirty seven years, Barb and Jack share eight children between them, (His, Mine, Ours); 19 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Barb was born and raised in Enterprise, Kansas. She is musically inclined and is a retired church music director. A former Weight Watcher lecturer, she has had many interesting and unusual jobs, including working for a private detective, defense attorney, office manager for a video production company and administrative assistant to two different pastors. She is involved in volunteer and church activities, and describes herself as creative, friendly and can talk with anyone.

“I am a Christian and love to spread God’s love and enjoy making others smile and lift up their day.”

She wishes to write a book one day. “I’ve been through several soap operas in my lifetime and lived to tell about them.”

Barb is the writer of two blogs, Passing it Forward and Barbjan10′s Blog, both of which she invites you to drop by to visit one day.
Disclaimer
Our goal at The Wordsmith Journal Magazine is to introduce readers to authors of books with a strong moral message. Primarily Christian based, we do not adhere to any particular denomination, nor do we question the integrity or worship of our readers, interview candidates, sponsors, columnists, reviewers, or authors who advertise with us. We understand reading is subjective and what one person deems sweet, clean, cozy or inspirational, another will not. Please know we do not read nor endorse every book advertised in our magazine but trust that the author understands our goal and his or her work fits the desires of our readers.

Originally posted 2012-09-20 23:40:23.

Review of: Unlimited Power: The New Science Of Personal Achievement

Reviewer: Jessica Smith

Review:
Unlimited Power is one of the original juggernauts in the self-help field. Written by Tony Robbins in 1997, it has earned numerous awards and is often cited as the book responsible for changing thousands of people’s lives. However, can the strategies Tony developed in 1997 still compete with newer books with updated information? Furthermore, does the advice still apply in this day and age? There was only one way to find out, so I picked the book up and began reading.

[Read more...]

Originally posted 2012-09-30 23:31:23.

Review of: Under the Black Clouds

Reviewer: Lucia

Review:
This book was very surprising, author created a very interesting dark story. I like it. Author keeps the the reader guessing long enough even though it comes to the moment when the reader knows what is happening. Suddenly the heroes come to the story.

Daniel is a hero whom you have to love. He is able to see the things with a cool head.

The book is written in a very easy understanding language and style. Its reading should not make any troubles even to beginner readers. This book is one of the books that are worth reading it.

I highly recommend the book to you.