April is National Poetry Month!

.

A Book

by Emily Dickinson

 

 

There is no frigate like a book

To take us lands away,

Nor any coursers like a page

Of prancing poetry.

This traverse may the poorest take

Without oppress of toil;

How frugal is the chariot

That bears the human soul!

“Better Days Ahead” Achieves Gold

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                                                                                    .

Better Days Ahead, written by Charlie Valentine, is the story of four separate American families, each dreaming of a better life: Sarah Robbins, a pregnant Cleveland nightclub singer who battles alcoholism, Neil Dvorak, a woodworker from Detroit with bad luck concerning women, Dolores Drake, a hardworking mother from Alabama with a dangerous husband, and David and Karen Stratton, a wealthy Californian couple whose marriage takes a severe blow when David gets involved with another woman.  California in the 1950’s appears to be the answer to starting over, and the families pack up and move west.  Their lives fatefully intertwine, resulting in a string of dramatic events they could have never anticipated.  Better Days Ahead earned Charlie a gold medal at the 2007 IPPY Awards in the West-Pacific—Best Regional Fiction category.   

 

Visit the author’s site at http://www.charlievalentinebooks.com/charlievalentinehome.html  

Powerful Poetry

.                                                        .                                                      .

it is amazing, says          

the woman beside me in the white

waiting room, just what the hell

you find yourself getting used to.

 

                                    –Pat Clifford

 

Pat Clifford, author of Embracing Brings You Back, has rediscovered her love for poetry since her diagnosis of a stubborn form of ovarian cancer.  She has written Embracing Brings You Back, an inspirational and relatable collection of poetry.  These poems will not fill you with pity and grief, instead, they promulgate Pat’s courage and zest for life.  Many people whose lives have been affected by cancer find hope in these reassuring verses.  Embracing Brings You Back impressed the IPPY judges as well, earning Pat a 2007 IPPY bronze medal in the Poetry category. 

 

Learn more!    http://www.coteaubooks.com/bookpages/Embracing.html   

 

    

 

Gold! Silver! Bronze!

Here are the Independent Publisher Book Awards medals.

“The Heart of A Cult” Takes Silver in Visionary

Cult /noun/ a religion or sect considered to be false, unorthodox, or extremist, with members often living outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader.

 

The Heart of a Cult by Lena Phoenix is the fictional story of Michelle Thomson, a young woman who finds refuge in a cult after losing her job as a web designer.  The book earned Lena a silver medal at the 2007 IPPYs in the Visionary Fiction category. 

 

The Heart of a Cult delves into the psychological aspect of cults, revealing how a person seeking spiritual direction can be slowly drawn in by a friendly group with a seemingly trustworthy leader, in Michelle’s case, a woman named Ma.  As Michelle becomes immersed in the cult, she realizes that it is not as innocent as she initially thought.  She must learn how to pull herself out and move on with her life.  The Heart of a Cult is a ”visionary” novel covering a very modern topic.  Learn more at  http://theheartofacult.com/index.html  

 

 

 

IPPY Gold Medalist Sheds New Light on St. Louis

           

            St. Louis, Missouri, home of the Cardinals, the Arch, and the famous Zoo, is the setting of our 2007 IPPY gold medalist book in the Mid-West Best Regional Nonfiction category.  St. Louis: Seen and Unseen, authored, designed, and photo-edited by St. Louis native Michael Kilfoy, is a collaboration of striking photos taken by 33 local photographers.  The book captures the trademarks of St. Louis, such as the Arch and Busch Stadium, as well as simple moments of beauty that often fly under the radar.  It is a unique work of art, and a beautiful portrait of the colorful Midwestern city.  

 

            St. Louis: Seen and Unseen has received impressive reviews and plenty of attention, especially on the local level.  The Riverfront Times says the book “illustrates the charm of the city we often take for granted”.  It can be considered a reintroduction to St. Louis.    

 

 http://www.stlouisseenandunseen.com    

 

 

Women Scarce in Science Fields

     The topic is controversial and has long been debated: why are the science, math, and engineering fields lacking in women?  Why Aren’t More Women in Science? by the American Psychological Association explores this issue in fifteen essays written by experienced gender studies researchers.  A combination of influences is believed to be responsible for the lower number of women in the science and math fields, including cultural expectations, family responsibilities, and biological differences.  There is much hope for women, however, as female participation in the science and math fields has increased in recent decades.  The researchers have varying opinions and complex theories on the topic, resulting in a very interesting read.  Why Aren’t More Women in Science?, edited by Dr. Stephen J. Ceci and Dr. Wendy J. Williams, won a bronze medal at the 2007 IPPY awards in the Women’s Issues category.   

 

Learn more at http://books.apa.org/books.cfm?id=4316085