Title: Tasting The White Water
Author: Jack Daley
ISBN: 1413703755
Publisher: Publish America (October 20, 2003)
Genre: Biographies and Memoirs/Inspirational
Paperback: 59 pp
$12.95
Highly Recommended
An unpredictable journey through life towards a higher
understanding of self!
Mr. Daley shares with us his innermost thoughts and
dreams to describe his journey to awaken from the
slumber that we call life. A student of Henry Miller,
Castaneda, Gurdjieff, and Krishnmurti for over forty
years, Mr. Daley has written, Tasting the White Water
as both a biography as well as an inspirational story.
Like many of us, Mr. Daley takes part in many of the
same struggles that we face today. He has a family and
the normal obligations that we are all charged with.
However, Mr. Daley feels that something is missing and
that he has not reached his full potential. He
documents his dreams in this book and tries to attach
some type of value to them during the course of his
day. At times he is overcome by a feeling that he has
lost control and that he is not prepared, as his dreams
switch from one scene to another. There are so many
parts of his inner-self that crave attention as well as
outside factors that need to be addressed.
He and his friend Alex take up white water rafting in
this stage of his life as a means of recapturing their
youth and they discover a natural and legal high. At
first, they feel their way down the rapids with little skill
and some success. However, as the book progresses
Mr. Daley conquers his fears and insecurities as he
battles fearlessly through the rapids, and he begins to
awaken from his life and reach towards his true
potential. It is as if the worries of his life have vanished
to be replaced by a true appreciation of life itself. Time
has stopped, material things began to sloth away as
every beam of sunlight and every part of Gods creation
teaches Mr. Daley about his inner-self and how he has
evolved based on his experiences and dreams.
He acknowledges the fact that we are who we make
ourselves to be. Nothing in life is totally out of control,
as it is perceived. If you tackle a series of problems in
the same manner that you tackle the powerful current
as you navigate through vicious rapids, you can
achieve success. Sometimes you have to roll with the
punches and prepare yourself physically and mentally
for the unpredictable that fate and destiny assign to
us. Perhaps that was not his entire message, but Mr.
Daleys inspiration has awakened a part of my psyche to
believe that this is what it means to me. I had some
trouble placing the genre primarily because this book
can mean so many positive things in so many ways.
The imagery is vivid and you may find yourself gasping
or holding your breath as you ride the rapids with Mr.
Daley. He is a true artist well verse in the use of words
and descriptions to take you to the places that he has
been and to travel down the river that he has
conquered. Tasting the White Water is a remarkable
piece of literature free from any fluff or un-necessaries.
Every word in this book and every scenario offered ties
into his central theme that man is still truly asleep in his
potential. To awaken we must first realize that we are
asleep and then we are prepared to take the next step.
Reviewed by Tyrone Banks
Read the interview with Jack
Daley
**
Title: Pilgrims' Moon
Author: Stacey Thompson
Genre: Sciene Fiction
Paperback: 420 pp
Publisher: PublishAmerica, Inc. (May 2003)
ISBN: 1592861601
$29.95
Rating: Highly Recommended
Intense cerebral futuristic tale!
Aboard the transporter ship Argo Scott Thorne awakens
from his biostatic chamber with the assumption they
have arrived at their final destination point, Terranova.
Instead he discovers that not only has the Argo
suffered the loss of its commanding officer, but that
500 years have elapsed!
In addition: one of the Argo's passengers, a T-Corp
Commissioner -Harris, withholds information about his
real intentions of travel. Two-dozen militia soldiers
remain dormant in biostatics, while the Argo's computer
system runs amok due to a destructive virus.
With an intriguing cast and crew, the Argo sets out to
find a hospitable planet on which they can take refuge.
At the same time Thorne falls head over heels for the
ship's medical officer, Jessica Colby, who happens to
have an on again, off again relationship with the newly
appointed captain, Cal Adams.
After finding a planet, which they name Loki. A recon
group boards the Jason and heads for the surface to
investigate. What they find is certainly not what they
expected. Still, having resolved a potentially nasty
situation, and finding the planet suitable enough to live
on, they re-animate the remaining of the passengers
and begin colonizing Loki.
But it's not long before they find out that Loki was
already colonized, as they run into an old man, Eli. He
reveals devastating and eye opening news. But even
scarier are the creatures of Loki that suddenly surface.
The author, Stacey Thompson has done a superb job,
not just at taking the reader through space and time,
but through the birth of a new civilization as well.
Pilgrim's Moon is a great science fiction tale that that
hooks the audience from the moment you dive into the
first paragraph. This brilliantly woven tale makes you
forget such a world exists.
The exciting action will grip readers, but readers will
think about the messages that make this novel
transcend most science fiction books attaining the
golden status of powerhouse. Hard core sci-fi fans are
sure to love Pilgrim's Moon and even if you are not a
fan, it will certainly guarantee to entertain!
Reviewed by Edward Vicario
Read the interview with Stac
ey S. Thompson
**
Title: Backwater
Author: Morris L. Striplin
Publisher: Crystal Dreams Publishing
Genre: Romance/Suspense
ISBN: 1591460050
Paperback; 413pp
$19.50
Rating: Highly Recommended
Hot Suspense Romeo and Juliet in the Bayou
Backwater is an intriguing romance novel about a young
law student, Josh Wagner, who during a visit home
bumps into an old school mate, Ellen Pike. Josh and
Ellen reminisce about old times and discover that they
were made for each other. They spend a passionate
weekend together and fall hopelessly in love.
As their time together dwindles, they are saddened.
Neither wants to end this glorious time. They decide
that this is a great deal more than just a romp in the
hay. However, Josh is from a traditional, wealthy family
and Ellen, is a poor working girl struggling to save
money for nursing school. Realizing that they must soon
part, they brand themselves with a symbol of their
love. Josh and Ellen say their bittersweet good-byes
with promises of when next they meet. Those promises
are short lived when Ellen disappears. Josh is forced to
face the reality that Ellen left of her accord and he
ends up in a sour marriage.
The author, Morris L. Striplin manages to simultaneously
keep the reader in suspense regarding Ellens
disappearance, while Joshs unfortunate story unfolds.
I truly enjoyed this intricately written fiction, because
it reflects on true-life circumstances in which many
marry for the wrong reasons. In addition, I was amazed
at how well this male author penned romance. I highly
recommend this steamy novel full of raw emotions the
ending will surprise you!
Reviewed by Juanita Reynolds
Read the interview with Morri
s L. Striplin
**
Title: The Marketing Toolkit for Growing Businesses
Author: Jay B. Lipe
ISBN: 0972034501
Publisher: Chammerson Press
Genre: Business Management
Published: Aug. 2002
Paperback 254pp
$19.95
Highly Recommended
Having owned and managed a few small businesses
over the last 20 years, I found this book an excellent
tool for understanding the marketing function.
The book develops the marketing process in a simple,
easy to understand methodology. Starting with a basic
discussion of the marketing function, identifying the
needs for the company and finally developing a
meaningful plan. Unlike books that present page after
page of marketing theory, The Marketing Toolkit
presents easy to understand text with useful forms and
exercises all through the book. There are chapters
dedicated to the subjects of identifying your market,
marketing strategies, marketing tactics, budgets,
implementation and tracking.
While my interests are the small owner managed
business, the book presents a wide view of marketing
that can be applied to any size business. For the new
small business, there are discussions of "So, Exactly
What Is Marketing" and "Six Reasons Every Company
Needs a Marketing Plan" to issues like "The Key To
Branding Your Company" for larger or more established
organizations. This book addresses the time-tested
processes very well, but also addresses the current
issues. The use of the Internet and Websites as
marketing tools are included as part of a complete plan.
For those who have been through a recession, there is
an important chapter on how to market in that business
environment.
The Marketing Toolkit for Growing Businesses is well
written with good worksheets to aid in the development
of a meaningful plan. It provides the tools to manage
the plan and evaluate and revise it over time. I would
highly recommend this book for marketing managers and
small business owners.
Reviewed by Jim Craven
To learn more about Jay B. Lipe and business, visit Emerge
Marketing
**
Title: The Journey to Armageddon
Author: James McCann
ISBN: 1592866816
Publisher: Publish America; (November 2003)
Genre: Science Fiction
Paperback: 201 pp
$16.95
Rating: Highly Recommended
A work of art inside and out that you must add to your
library!
I had the pleasure and the honor to read "Upon the
Shoulders of Vengeance: The Journey to Armageddon"
recently. First of all the "feel" of this book and the
quality of the cover art impressed me. The cover itself
did much to set the mood for the adventure that
awaited me on the inside of this book. From the very
first word to the last, I could see that Mr. McCann has
polished his craft to a point that every word, character
and plot worked in unison to tell an impressive story as
well. The writing is devoid of errors and the dialogue
between the character's has been laid out quite well.
Although there are many character's in this story that
can carry a book on their own, the main character;
Marcus the Avenger, is an interesting hero. Marcus
witnessed his villages apparent demise at the hands of
a race of bloodthirsty warrior's called the Krim 'Tiak. He
spent over a year in seclusion until he is captured in
the "City of God's" and promptly sentenced to death for
the crime of stealing bread. Fortunately Princess
Kimbra spares his life in exchange for him becoming a
protégé, trained to fight other's for the amusement of
the masses. Marcus the Avenger, renamed himself
Forest when he joined the Hauldinian society as a
gladiator, bound to the "City of God's"- until either killed
or freed.
Everyone is equally impressed by Forest's unique
fighting style, reminiscent of Ninjitsu with the nunchuka
as his primary weapon. This "vagabond" intrigue's the
princess and Forest quickly achieves the trust of
his "mentor" Sir Theomund, the princess's bodyguard.
Forest had again found a "home" until he receives word
from his village that there may still be hope for triumph
over the Krim 'Tiak attackers. Sir Theomund risk's his
life and rank and allows Forest to return to his people
with a promise to return. The princess hides her
identity and sets off into the harsh world in search of
adventure, with Forest in the lead, who is unaware that
he has taken a princess from her kingdom.
At the same time in different parts of the land, other
adventures have begun. A wizard and a group
of "misfit's" of various races, a wild-man and his
trusted steed, a former Krim 'Tiak warrior in search of
redemption there are so many characters that are vital
to this story and they all held my interest especially
when their separate path's merged into a single mission.
I must applaud Mr. McCann for the effort that he has
put into "Upon the Shoulders of Vengeance: The
Journey to Armageddon." I recommend that you pick up
a copy and take your own personal journey into these
pages. As I've said before, this book is indeed a work of
art inside and out!
Reviewed by Tyrone Banks
Read the interview with Jame
s McCann
**
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