This book is the best. I enjoyed it from cover to cover. This book is very deep, stimulating and touching. See for yourself. It is second to none. The artwork is so strong and breathtaking. You will love this one. Me and all of my sorors discussed this book. We were left with so much to talk about. Nanci, thank you for opening our eyes and making us think about African American life. We heard the bugle call loud and clear. We love your material. Give us more.

After reading many of the poems in Open Our Eyes, I felt a surge of pride that brought forth the beauty of my grandmother, the Baptist hymnals, the storytelling of my uncles and aunts, and the enlistment of our teachers in our "second rate schools"...In other words, it is telling my story with syrupy truth dripping from each word, phrase and unspoken nuance. The poems speak to the beauty of a people that have allowed them to survive, create and prosper against innumerable odds. they will create artists; they will graduate scholars, and they will add to the general welfare of humankind, all because of the sing-song poetry contained in volumes like Open Our Eyes. Much thanks Ms. Nanci Clayton Thomas, Much Thanks!!!

I really enjoyed the poetry of Open Our Eyes. Everything in this book has crossed my mind before or I have discussed it with friends. The author is bold and courageous enough to write about it. This author is a powerful performer. I was able to see her in action in Houston. She is adorable, funny and personable. I felt as if I knew her all of my life. Buy a book for yourself and a friend.

I literally could not put the book down. I enjoyed the authors views, the quips from celebrities within the romance field,and the vast amounts of research about intimacy and relationships.I will recommend All I ever learned in life I learned from Romance Novels to all of my friends.I plan to reread and keep as a steady reference.

In the book titled All I need to know in life I learned from romance novels, is a book about hope and love in relationships. How relationships can be wonderful, exasperating, and can deepen the bond to your life, and give it meaning. In a world where loneliness and alienation exist, the author explains in great detail that you do not have to end up alone. It's about men and women having the courage to face together life's difficulties and challenges. The author did extensive research, quotes the top authors, and gave of herself to the reader. The information to the reader has substance and is incredible to a romance reader like myself. The book brings out the author's passion for life and romance. It is a must read for all lovers of romance and life.

I loved every word of author's Victoria Johnson's book titled All I need to Know in Life I learned from Romance Novels. I use this book as a steady reference, the information is incredible. It is obvious the the author is in love with romance. This book shows how the average woman or man can be their best selves in trying times.

After years of all sorts of therapies ranging from medication, play, family, attachment and you name it, we FINALLY found something that has worked in the long term for our two Russian adopted children. We were told by the agency that "time will heal", and by all the therapists that it is "RAD/ODD/ADHD" which we later found out is the "classic combination" that all these therapists diagnosis. Dr. Federici's book gave us hope and a solid "treatment plan" which was missing after all these years. It was a tough one, but so were our kids as we adopted them older (told they were "healthy and fine"). We put everything into effect and even consulted with him and he added to our hope and gave even more guidelines. After six months, we feel we have our family back in order but will continue to work the program outlined. This book is a "must buy" for the struggling family needing direction. It looked tough at first, almost beyond our ability, then turned out to be very practical and systematic.

After reading countless books on attachment, behavior problems, treatment, etc, we stumbled across this book and it was just what we needed when we about to give up. We tried all the traditional therapies ranging from play, family, medication and even "holding therapy" which made matters worse and ran up our bill even higher by giving us false hope (our children were smarter than the therapist). We worked Dr. Federici's "program" to the letter (with some e-mail guidance from him, and a therapist he trained), and saw more improvement in 3 months than in 3 years of all the other costly and ineffective treatments. This book was great for the average family struggling, who could devote the time and energy. Practical, common sense, safe, professional and well-written for families. After being broke from all these useless therapies, especially the thousands we spent on attachment therapists trained at Evergreen (who did some real strange and worthless interventions), we were happy that we have found an approach that REALLY works if you are committed completely to helping get things right with your family/kids. A MUST BUY for the family in crisis.

This book by Dr. Federici is so long overdue that we bought several copies for all the therapists we had seen over the past four years who tried to help us with our two very difficult and disturbed Romanian children.. This book is not the "hand-holding" type as it got us to mobilize and deal with all the problems that all the other so-called "experts" had missed. It also made us realize how easy it is to get in denial of the problem and how easy it is to waste money and valuable time on non-productive therapies like holding time, attachment centers, people/therapists who tell us to "just wait and it will be fine".We even went to the "Internet" for advice and became frustrated as there were only hundreds of others who were equally confused with no real solutions offered. We went around the country seeking out all of the named experts who gave us bits and pieces but no real direction or plan. Well, it was not fine as we were told many times and our family was almost destroyed until we read this book and utilized it to the letter. It was VERY TOUGH for us to do what was asked, but six months later we are back in control and have a family again. We hope that this Author will continue to challenge families and write more books which give us "Hope" in the face of hopelessness. It is recommended for anyone wanting to just "give up".

I never was able to French-braid my hair and had despaired of ever being able to learn until I got this book. It gives clear, concise, step-by-step instructions not only on how to make the braid (and many other styles) but where exactly to place your hands while doing it. The more complicated styles have two sets of instructions: a short one for those who are more experienced at hairstyling, and another that breaks it down into easy steps that even a klutz (like me) can follow. It also provides numerous hints and tips on general hairstyling, and tells what types of hair work best with each style.

Since I got this book, I've been trying a new style from it every day, and have gotten many compliments from co-workers. There are special-occasion styles as well as everyday ones. The book is geared towards adults, unlike many of the other similar ones I've seen which are aimed more at little girls. Take it from a klutz -- if you've been trying unsuccessfully to learn to French-braid or trying to find a new look, this book is a must-have!

This book is filled with tons of beautiful, easy-to-do hairstyles. Even if you've never done a basic braid in your life, the step-by-step instructions and clear drawings will show you how to do a wide variety of styles, from the simple basic braid up to the mega-challenging French rope. The book features about 50 cool styles, for all lengths and types of hair, and all occasions, from casual to formal. The book is geared toward teens and young adults, but even people older or younger will probably enjoy trying out the styles in this book.

As an added bonus, the book comes with 3 beautiful scrunchies, and is spiral-bound so you can lay it flat while doing the styles in this book. The instructions are so detailed that complicated styles like the herringbone, french braids, and the french rope feature seperate pages showing you even how to position your hands while doing the style!

This book is the perfect guide for anyone who enjoys trying out new styles on their hair, even if they're not hairstyling experts. Highly recommended! (For a book with styles for younger children, I would recommend reading "Braids and Bows", also written by Anne Akers Johnson)

This is a great book for learning how to braid and style hair. With some practice (and arm strength), I can braid my own hair into all the styles, including some funky ones -- inside out braid/french braid (very nice looking) and a twisted french braid. Before this book, I couldn't do anything but a normal braid! The instructions are *very* clear and take you through the process step by step. Especially easy if you have someone to practice on. In my family, it's a new tradition that every time I see my young cousin, we whip out the book and she picks a style for me to braid into her hair.

One other great thing about this book is the pictures. They've got a whole cross-section of beautiful women of many ages, races, and walks of life. It's a beautiful book to look at.

My only complaints about this book are:

* there are a limited number of styles (about 15-20). I've pretty muched finished learning from this book. But, what can you expect -- it is a beginning book, and it does teach some very beautiful, complicated-looking braids.

* although braiding is explained very thoroughly, there's no real tutoring on how to pin hair. Often the book ends a style by telling you to "secure it with a few pins". I don't know why this has been so hard for me to learn, but it has been! I can do an inside-out french braid with aplumb, but your basic bun still has me somewhat stumped. I would have appreciated some advice on how to pin hair to stay up.

Overall this book is a good foundation for learning how to manipulate hair. I'm looking forward to learning more complex styles in the future -- SalonOvations' Braids and Updos Made Easy looks (from the customer reviews) like a good next step.

I am such a huge fan of this gifted writer. Ms. Johnson has such a rare gift. She doesn't just write words she creates worded images that are so powerful and full of life that the reader is quickly pulled into the pages of her beautiful story and held captive until after the last word has been read. She writes with such passion that it amazes me. What a prize Laurel Johnson is to be sure! (A Highly Recommended Novel!)

Told in impeccable prose and succinct verse, The Grass Dance is a small book (slightly over 100 pages) that tells a very big story of the author's fifteen-year odyssey of struggle to overcome depression, fugue, dissociation and mental illness. Raised in a rural midwestern setting by a loving mother, grandmother and grandfather, Ms. Johnson gives an honest account of the spiritual and moral values that formed the basis of her early understanding of her anscestory, her friends and relatives and of her own place in the world and of her relationship to the Creator. Later in adult life, the author shuns her faith,
the lessons of her youth and those closest to her. So begins her downward spiral into the depths of mental anguish. Finally, after fifteen years of struggle, the author "dreams" of her grandfather and his Indian friend ,John , conveying one more lesson for her to learn. By understanding the meaning of the Grass Dance, the author's faith in God and the lessons of her youth are restored. No matter what one's individual beliefs might be, The Grass Dance is not only a wonderful read but is an absolute inspiration as well.

"The Grass Dance" by Laurel Johnson is her personal account of a 15-year period of her life when she was plagued with depression, confusion, dissociation, hallucinations, and mental anguish. Her journey during this period of time is a painful one, and Ms. Johnson has the unique ability to convey the anguish and confusion she felt so as the reader feels as if she/he is there sharing it with her. I love the story about Indian John and, even more, the one about the grass dance. When the author talks about dancing the grass dance at John's grave, I could feel myself transported to that place, see the wild grass and wildflowers moving softly in the wind, watch Laurel dance around the grave. What did I learn from this book? That God is everywhere, and even though we may distance ourselves from him, he does not distance himself from us. To look around at my world and at all the wonders before me. To know that, like the grass and the wind, life may "bend" my spirit, but will not break it, as long as I believe. Thank you, Ms. Johnson, for this great gift, "The Grass Dance".

There are usually two types of Kerouac readers. There are the "On the Roaders", as I call them. The ones that enjoy his style, his way of placing his friend's lives into the context of their own troubles, their loneliness their love-- all the while with a literary pace likened to a old pickup speeding across the straightaways of the vacant Montana backroads. And then there are the others, who like the former, enjoy the style-- but they also look for the sadness in Kerouac's writing. His ability to deconstruct people with one look (in Des. Angels he watches a waitress in a bar and tells her entire life story in snapshot events that underlie the sad look in her eyes), to find the hidden sentiments in people's actions- whether he's right or wrong we really don't care.

Desolation Angels is the book for the second group of people. It is tortuous at times- like his solitude atop the mountain staring Hozomeen in the face every morning which reveals Kerouac's own struggle to deal with himself and his past. But I believe among all of his novels it is the most rewarding. The book takes us to all of his major haunts- London, New York, San Fran, Paris, the Mediterranean- with many of his closest friends - Neal, Allen, Williams S. Burroughs, Joyce. There's even a small part where Kerouac is face to face with Salvidore Dali.

If you are looking for Kerouac-the-humanist at his best- this is the novel for you. Where the novel lacks in adventure (On the Road) and joyous affirmation (dharma bums) it makes up in sheer descriptive character study and sad observation, of a man trying to grapple with what he sees as the emptiness of all things, and the sad reality of his own personal struggles with live, love, and death.

Desolation Angels was the second Kerouac book I purchased, and it became my favorite book. In the first half of the book, the "Desolation" chapters explain Jack's feelings and mind more than in any other book and during an important period of his life. Some people say the book is schitzophrenic, having been started in Mexico City in 1956 and completed around 1962. However, I believe the result is not two books but half of the book being thoughts and feelings and the other half being a thoughtful man reflecting. In any case, the book is wonderful, and reading the entire novel does take some work but well worth the effort!

generation in Desolation Angels. Kerouacs frank accounts and vivid style draw you into the heart of a man both idealistic and cinical, naive and experienced, proud and downtrodden, as well as buddist and Catholic, living the life of a "Dharma Bum" as he travels to Mexico. From the fire lookout high on Desolaion Peak, to the junk steets of Mexico, Kerouac shares with his readers every experience and emotion, carring the reader deep into the lifestyle of the Beats as few authors ever accomplished. Its no wonder Kerouac became the symbol of the Beat generation for millions of kats in the 50's, for even today his writing is hep, and inciteful. He could very easily be an icon for generations to come.

The words of Roberta Flack come to mind as I recall the pages of "A New Day". I felt the author (MJH) looked into my life, and told my story. While there was no disclaimer in the front that the characters were fictional, I was confident that she wrote AS IF she knew me. While I didn't appreciate MJH telling my business, making me cry, and keeping me up all night to read this amazing novel, I was drawn into the deep well of lyrical words used to describe the characters and their emotions. Like the musician of Roberta's song, MJH was 'singing my life with her words'. Unlike Roberta, I was not 'embarassed by the sound'. Instead, I read on with astonishment because I fell in love with this book and its dimensional characters.

This story is intense from its beginning expressions of yearning to its happy ending of self discovery and true love. "A New Day" begins with a new approach - taking readers into the life of a real 'man crying in the dark'. Max Scutter is a sensitive, intelligent, stable and handsome man longing for a new day. He finds it in Carol-Anne Phyllis McClementine. As if seeing a ghost, there were several occasions when I closed the book while gasping for air because the passionate words literally took my breath away!

Though I have not met Max yet, almost everything else from the novel is a page from my life. Beginning with Carol-Anne's middle name being my first, Phyllis. Her last name, McClementine, is uncanningly similar to mine, McLaughlin. Add to that, her single mamahood to daughter, Nadia (who has glistening eyes), vs my daughter, Dasia (whose eyes sparkle when she laughs). If the names can be written off as sheer coincidence, how do you explain why Carol-Anne (like myself) quiets her passions, fears, and LOUD Thoughts with mellow jazz music and books late at night in her comfortably, worn chair? And here I sit confessing even more in this review at 3:46 am EST. As I savor every word of this delectable read, I wondered is MJH psychic or is this coincidence? I couldn't let my skepticism stop me because my heart was already consumed, and my eyes were already soaked.

When Max meets Carol Anne and almost immediately pours out his wealth upon her poverty, I thought to myself, get real Margaret. Who would believe such nonesense? What man would do so much for a woman he just met? Not even a hopeless romantic like me will fall for that. Then I was reminded when I turned back to pages 1-3, 11, 90, and many pages throughout that unveil Max's uniqueness.

After reading more, I thought again... Aha! I caught the diva of romance with her pen down:-)! Feeling somewhat victorious at the discovery that MJH never gives an explanation of why, how or when Max comes to love Carol-Anne, I could not deny Max's strong emotions that permeate the pages. The author convinces readers that Max is distinguishable from all others. So, don't bother trying to compare Max to your Dad, your best lover, and not even Superman. Just accept him because he is very real and real compassionate. Though Max is not the primary focus of the novel, I learned to love him too... just like I love myself, Carol-Anne, and Nadia. MJH makes sure you feel him and all the characters as they jump off the pages and into your heart!

With amazement and sheer ecstasy, MJH entices readers with details of fiery love scenes throughout. Not being satisfied with a brief declaration of the couple's love, MJH drowns readers in unbelievable passion as she lusciously describes the scenes with such grandeur.

Eeew wee! If the detailed love scenes are not enough, prepare yourself for the intense account of Max's anguish over being without his family, Carol-Anne and Nadia. The breathtaking account begins on page 133 and literally climaxes on page 135 as he is 'seduced by memory'. Oh my goodness, I 'wept out loud' with this man and stopped breathing too.

MJH knows how to cleverly evoke intense emotions that will make you wonder how she got into your heart and mind to create such an ache and inevitably, tears. Makes me marvel at how MJH is able to contain the creative talents that God has poured into her. Then I realize, she manages by writing and dumping on hopeless romantics like me... poetic justice, I guess.

"A New Day" is very enlightening and will encourage readers to search within for the new day that makes every day more beautiful than before. This is a must read for those bold ones who dare to dig deep within themselves. I HIGHLY recommend this novel!

I loved the Carol-Anne and Max characters. I think they were developed well. I also like the storyline that was going on. This is a inspirational and uplifting book for single mothers. Where are the Max's in real life? It also lets you see how observative your young one's are and you don't even realize it. This book is an eye opener, you deserve to be happy, but you have to respect your young ones as well. Carol-Anne had serious issues she had to deal with first before she could even imagine finding happiness. The book was uplifting. Good job Ms. Johnson-Hodge. Keep up the good work.

I could not put this book down. I could totally relate to Carol-Anne and her struggle as a single mother. I respected the fact that she was not ready to jump at the first man that came her way as her way out. And someone to take care of her and her daughter. She showed a lot of pride. And Max he was a single mom's dream come true. He was as interested in her daughter's happiness as he was Carol-Anne. This is a feel good book. This book proves there is always hope for A NEW DAY. A MUST READ I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN.

I bought this book after hearing Nicole Johnson speak at the Aspiring Women Conference in Boston 11/99. I was very moved by her talk. I related well to the facts of her life - and the answers she provided. At the time, it was a turning point in my life.

I think FBL is a terrific introductory look at how to bring your into balance. For someone just starting to feel like 'there is something more', this is a terrific book.

Sometimes God brings things into our life that at first we don't think about too much or perhaps even give much thought to at all really. Sometimes the very thing that happens is not why we began a journey at all, but He intended for us to see the bigger picture He sees and surprises us by putting a seemingly 'small' moment into our path to lead us to the greater moment of Him.

I met Nicole Johnson a few years ago and only bought her book to be able to stand in line to speak with her, little did I know that that would be the 'small' moment that led to the HUGE moment of pure growth in my life and sweet realization that I was made for more.

My friend, if you are thinking about or looking for something different to read, something to help you find answers, you can start here with this amazing book and I can promise with complete confidence that you will not be disappointed even for a second. So go ahead and order the 'cup' that will change your life as you turn the pages! Praise Him so, for He is amazing. And thanks Nicole, I am forever changed b/c you were willing to lay it on the line and trust Him as He told you what to write.

This book literally jumped off the shelf at me! I LOVE coffee, so I'm a little embarrassed to admit it, but the whole coffee theme/book cover is what snagged me. The next thing I knew, I was at the checkout stand. That night I began reading this amazing little book and the next day, returned to purchase an armload of more copies to send my best friends. My copy now has underlined passages and margin notes all over it! I can't even begin to describe how it has spoken to me and influenced me at this point in my life. These are messages I needed to hear. Nicole sure knows how to cut to the chase and speak right to the heart. It's been an extremely refreshing experience reading this book . . . which gives "wake up and smell the coffee" a whole new meaning!

Twenty-five years after I last read the story of "Harold and the Purple Crayon", I picked up the book again to read it to my four-year-old son. He loved it! Several years later, I picked up a copy again to send to my grandson.... what amazed me about both those times (even with the lengthy intervals between them) was that I had forgotten nothing. The pictures were burned into my mind's eye; the text still a part of my memory. I found that I could recite the story of Harold and his crayon without even looking.

This is a true celebration of the imagination, and in my opinion the very best children's book ever! It has a profound impact on adults as well as children, and it is infinitely delightful. (I even learned my very first play-on-words/pun from Crockett Johnson's classic (near the end of the book, when Harold "drew up the covers").

"Harold and the Purple Crayon" is the first and by far the best book in Crockett Johnson's "Harold" series, but it is not necessarily Johnson's best work. That distinction is reserved for his old "Barnaby" series of comic book stories, with the memorable Fairy Godfather Mr. O'Malley (hmmmm... come to think of it: Barnaby and Harold look a lot alike-- could they be related?).

If you have children emerging from the theatrical threes and heading into the fabulous fours, try them on "Harold and the Purple Crayon". It is a masterpiece of perfect simplicity and imaginative joy!

Even though this book was written quite a few years ago, it doesn't matter because somethings transcend time. In this book you have a child in a nightgown with a magic purple crayon that can create any environment that is necessary. We all do this each night when we dream...Every page has a 'situation', and the readers look forward to discovering what Harold will draw next with his purple crayon in order to get out of it. My copy is a bit worn because it was one of the 'must read books' that was read to each of my five kids. Enjoy!

Our family loves Harold and the Purple Crayon as well as all the books in the Harold series. Harold is the original Charlie Brown with his cute round head. With his crayon, he can meet any challenge, climb any mountain, do battle with any witch. Kids see Harold as quite the adventurer as he draws himself to faraway places but they also see the trouble he can draw himself. into as well. But in the end, Harold usually draws himself home, safe and snuggled under the covers. The book has a wonderful rhythm to it that appeals to kids. It is a book that is both calming and empowering to kids, it allows them to dream and imagine. A classic that deserves more notice.

Anyone who has ventured seriously into creating digital art sooner or later stumbles into the uncharted sea of printing. Once an artist has finally created his or her masterpiece on the computer, they must contend with a vast array of new printing technologies, image management software (sometimes called RIP), and different ink types and substrates to produce their final print. Until now that process has remained a complete mystery to all but a few. But at last Harald Johnson has come forward with his new book Mastering Digital Printing to explain the process from the basics to the complex.
Perhaps what I like most about the book is that is not just a technical manual, but really goes a long way into addressing head on some of the issues that are raging in the art world today regarding digital artwork. Things like what the difference is between a digital reproduction and digital original, and what a Giclee print is. These topics really shed some light onto some controversial and often overlooked issues.
On the technical side he does a very deft job of delicately explaining complex terms such as printer resolution, dpi, and lpi so that even a beginner can start to get an adequate grasp of the subject. This is a book aimed at artists, not propeller heads. And while his coverage of the different printing technologies may be a bit more information than most artists want, it is never the less important when one is considering [purchasing]a print based on those technologies. He also does an outstanding job of explaining scanning and what artists really need to know about sending out work to be scanned, or scanning it themselves.
Finally he addresses two important issues for the professional artist, permanence and substrates. While some of this does go into the deep end, it provides necessary and often overlooked information that seems to be cropping up more and more at art shows and galleries.
All in all, this book is a compendium of information for serious digital artists. If all you want to do is produce snap-shots from your inkjet printer, this book is probably not for you. But if you are a professional or serious amateur artist wants to obtain the highest quality translation from the virtual representation of their art work to the physical one, this book is a must.

Everything's here. Whether you want to produce your own prints from real or virtual artworks and photos, or are wondering how to find and enable someone else to produce your prints for you, "Mastering Digital Printing" is THE book to buy to clarify all issues and help get you started.

And if you're already involved in digital printmaking, this is the book to keep close at hand for its bits, pages, and chapters of information that will help you enhance your images, tweak your workflow, make choices about tools and consumables, and add historical interest to conversations with your patrons.

How-To Heaven. From digital input of your images to signing, framing, and displaying your prints and shipping to buyers or exhibitions, the help is all here. Copious, user-friendly instructions with clear illustrations walk you through each step of the way...and further: "Mastering Digital Printing" points you to author Harald Johnson's digital-fineart discussion group at yahoo.com and his website at dpandi.com where digital resources continue to evolve as the new technology evolves. One fine book!

Everything's here. Whether you want to produce your own prints from real or virtual artworks and photos, or are wondering how to find and enable someone else to produce your prints for you, "Mastering Digital Printing" is THE book to buy to clarify all issues and help get you started.

And if you're already involved in digital printmaking, this is the book to keep close at hand for its bits, pages, and chapters of information that will help you enhance your images, tweak your workflow, make choices about tools and consumables, and add historical interest to conversations with your patrons.

How-To Heaven. From digital input of your images to signing, framing, and displaying your prints and shipping to buyers or exhibitions, the help is all here. Copious, user-friendly instructions with clear illustrations walk you through each step of the way...and further: "Mastering Digital Printing" points you to author Harald Johnson's digital-fineart discussion group at yahoo.com and his website at dpandi.com where digital resources continue to evolve as the new technology evolves. One fine book!