The Velvet Room is a realistic story with much of the majic and suspense of The Secret Garden. Additionally it gives readers insight into the hardship of migrant farm workers and develops empathy for Robin's hardworking family. For almost 30 years I have kept my paperback copy. Last summer my 8 year old daughter read it and loved it. She finished rereading it today and claimed it was still one of the best books she has ever read

This was one of my favorites as a child. I can only share the thoughts of others by saying what a great book this is. This book has all the best offerings; mystery, suspense, secrets, and a heroine who loves to read. ...please put this book back in print and share it with a new generation of readers.

I've been looking for The Velvet Room, which I read in fifth or sixth grade (I'm now 38) for my daughter. I want to pass on to her the "can't put it down" feeling you get from a good book. Secrets, mystery, magic... all of these elements are present in The Velvet Room. I want my daughter to be able to escape to a quiet corner and enjoy this experience (and me again, too!) But where can I get it?

What a compelling, magnificent journalistic work this is! Plus, it has a heart, to put it mildly. All the other reviewers have given this book the praise it deserves and I am sorry to say that the year of the fire, 1958, I was in high school in California and don't remember anyone ever mentioning this fire (and I was a journalism major!) It is shocking that more people don't know about this book and more shocking still that the Catholic church has never even laid a placque or mentioned this catasgrophe from the pulpit at OLA! Bless the authors for their obviously painstaking work in writing this exhaustive book. I feel proud to have read it and come to know, even so slightly, the children and parents involved, as well as the firefighters who are our ultimate heroes.

I am a teacher of English and history at a high school and a junior college. I have a son who is studying to be a professional fire fighter. In fact, I bought this book for him but read it first. This story is gripping and powerful. It is also beautifully written and it is clear the authors have a close affinity with the countless victims of this nightmare--the children, the nuns, the families, the fire fighters and all who suffered as a result of this catastrophe. To read this book is to go back in time to 1958. I was a student in a catholic elementary school at the time and this book captures the spirit of parochial schools of that era. Their tribute to the nuns who gave the last full measure for their children is overwhelming. In fact, it hs been a long time since a history has made me gasp aloud and I have to admit that I felt the tears well up as I read the accounts of tragedy, loss and heroics. The book captures a moment in time and stands as a tribute to those who died so young.

While only a kindergarden student at Our Lady of the Angels School in 1958,(OLA) the book brought back memories that I had no idea even existed. The tears my parents shed were not understood at the time. I clearly remember the smoke and fire, the bodies being carried out of the shell of a school, and many of the kids I grew up with lost older siblings in the fire. As a kid, I never really understood it.

It was never discussed in my house or at any of my friends houses either. Everyone seemed to suffer their losses privately.

I pray frequently for the souls of those lost to the fire, their families, and for the survivors as well.

The book forced me to relive 1958 and to better understand the fire and its aftermath as an adult looking back. I commend the writers for their outstanding efforts. I cried every 20 pages or so. It had to be painful for them to relive the fire as well.

I wish a memorial could be placed at the new school. It would be a nice tribute to the lives lost so schools could be made fire safe.

Few memoirs can have the kind of honesty, self-examination and disturbing insight into a horrific type of crime as found in "Tears Of Rage." Though John Walsh, best known as the host of "America's Most Wanted," has written recent books that deal with capturing wanted felons, this is his most stellar work because it is him stripping himself bare to show us the horror of losing a child and the heartbreaking struggle to move on. This is the story of the disappearance of 6-year old Adam Walsh, abducted in a department store and later found decapitated. Walsh describes in wrenching detail the anguish him and his wife Reve endured while searching for their son and wondering what had happened as well as dealing with a police force which in 1981, was ill-equipped when it came to finding missing children. It is fair to say that there might be no better book that tells the story of a family's loss of this nature, Walsh writes with a truth and bluntness that keeps the reader emotionally gripped onto the pages. But yet aside from a powerful story, "Tears Of Rage" also informs us with the evolution of missing children programs in America, it took the Walsh tragedy to wake-up America to the monster that is child murder and abduction. Beasts prowled the fields and no one noticed while many suffered in silence, not knowing where their sons or daughters were. Walsh takes us on an in-depth look at his own efforts which have taken him to congress to help the mothers of the disappeared. But the interesting thing here is the haunting story of Adam Walsh, when John Walsh describes in detail how he believes the murder took place one is surprised at the courage this father has to describe how the horrific murder of his son might have taken place. In essence Walsh takes us on a journey through emotions and scenarios many of us hope we will never have to live through, but the lesson here is that in his baptism of fire, Walsh came out a wiser, stronger man and from his story we learn we must all be careful, especially with something as precious as our children.

This book details the struggle of John Walsh and the personal tragedy that propelled him to international recognition as the star of America's Most Wanted. In 1981, his only son Adam Walsh was abducted from a Sears store at age 12. The resultant investigation and twists spurned the elder Walsh's crusade for justice. Although his son's case remains unsolved, Walsh remains dedicated to the cause of missing children everywhere. Although my background as a constitutional researcher makes me leery of most victims rights advocates (whose well intentions try to eliminate the constitutional safe guards they would likely want in a similar situation) I am predisposed to respect Walsh whose mission began and remains with noble pursuits of justice for all. Not one to mince words, Walsh's account of the ordeal takes us first to the picture of a serene family unraveled by a predator and then of parents fighting for their son's name and those of kids every where who had previously disappeared without people really wondering why. Although child abductions had been occurring for decades, the Walsh case was an example of a new willingness to expose it as a public crime instead of a private family matter. Believe it or not, there were legislators who actually considered the idea of missing children's legislation a joke. That such callousness could happen struck me as particularly cruel and disheartening, but the Walsh story reaffirms the idea that a small group of people with enough determination can really change the world. It is to Walsh's credit that the naysayers were silenced and whole generations of children and their relatives now have social and legal recourse against repeat incident when they do occur. I am not particularly a sentimental person, but this book still moves me to tears (as does the movie) every time I visit this case again. In terms of gruesome emotion, Freddy Krueger, Chucky and the like have nothing on this case for fear levels. Even people like myself who grew up hearing about the details of this case via a well-made tv movie will be horrified by this book.

Every parent should read this book. The author makes us very aware of the scumbag by-products of abuse and neglect that walk this earth in search of innocent children to exploit for their own selfish pleasure. Instead of letting this horrible tragedy break them, John and Reve Walsh dragged themselves up from the absolute pits of their terrible nightmare to change the priorities of a foolish country that cares more about stolen cars than stolen kids. It is also gratifying to know that John Walsh joined forces with the incredible genius of ex-FBI special agent Robert Ressler (author: Whoever Fights Monsters). John Walsh is responsible for bringing to our attention that these pedophiles and lunatics are everywhere and must be stopped. THIS COULD HAPPEN TO ANYONE'S CHILD!! This book is emotionally hard to read. Your heart will go out to these two people for their grief and we can all be thankful that they cared enought to turn their tragedy around to help others.

A Coal Miner's Bride was a great read, and now my favorite in the Dear America series!

It tells the story, in diary form, of a 13 year old Russian Pole, Anetka, who leaves her country to marry a coal miner in America. She is not happy to go, however, especially when her grandmother decides to stay behind - and gives her ticket to a Russian soldier, who will accompany Anetka and her brother.

Anetka's husband doesn't seem to love her, but when things are looking better, he dies in an accident and she is left to support his three daughters. And when massacres and her friend Leon enter her life, things are even harder. Will life always be harsh for Anetka?

This was a great book, and I'd recommend it for ages 11 - 15. Be sure to read "Dreams in the Golden Country", another Dear America book!

Of all the books I have read, A Coal Miner's Bride is definetley my favorite. It not only teaches you about the hard times in history, but it really touches your heart. Anetka Kaminska lived a wonderful life in Poland, but when her father, who Anetka says has "American fever", sends her a letter saying he has found her a husband, her dreams are shattered. After riding a ship with her brother Jozef and an "impossible" Czar soldier, Anetka finds out that her future husband hasthree young girls in desperate need of a good mother. But her husband, who terribly misses his wife, doesn't love Anetka as she hoped he would. When she expresses her feelings, things finally shape up for Anetka and her husband. But not long after he finally kisses Anetka good night, he dies in a tragic mining accident. Now Anetka must be a mother to her children and have boarders, including the "impossible" solsier,Leon, to pay off her husband's high debts. I have so many other words to tell, but that would give away theend

Anetka Kaminska is satisfied with her life in Poland until one day her father sends steamship tickets and a letter saying she must come to America and marry Stanley Gawrich.She must leave in a hurry with a young soldier,Leon Nasevich, who mysteriously happens to be wherever Anetka is. When she gets to america she finds that all the immigrants are poorly treated. To make matters worse, Stanley doesn't want a wife, he only wants a mother for his 3 daughters. After about 6 months of Anetkas unhappy marriage, Stanley dies and leaves Anetka with his three daughters. She has to take in borders to make ends meet and to pay off Stanleys large debt. Leon comes back into her life and mixes all her feelings up. Everyone should read this book. It gives perspective to the way life was for immigrants in the late 1800's. This was the best Dear America I have read yet.

One word......AWESOME!!! Dale Jr. takes on a wild ride through his rookie season running with the Big Dogs in the Winston Cup. Not only does he give us an insider view of what happens on race day, he takes us behind the wall and gives us a look at a driver off the track. This is the closest I've felt to the real life of the guys I watch on Sunday. Driver #8 is a great read full of emotional highs and lows. I found myself laughing in some segments and nearly crying in others. Even if you aren't a fan of Dale Jr., I encourage you to read this book. You'll have a whole new respect for what these fellows do and a whole new respect for them as people.

This is a wonderful read for all NASCAR fans even if you are not a Dale Jr. fan. I was glad to find that Dale Jr. divulged emotions regarding the death of Dale Sr. appropriately and respectfully while conserving the privacy that he and all NASCAR drivers fight daily to preserve. As a twentysomething NASCAR fan I naturally related to his new millenium attitude and approach to the industry, his career, and often complicated issues such as media infringement, sponsor committments and unstable fans. Additionally, this book provides the reader with fantastic play by play descriptions of the races along the NASCAR circuit of his Rookie season with driver oriented explanations of various technical issues of the cars and tracks.
Overall, I rated this book 5 stars for its easy readability and attention keeping entertainment factor. By the end of this book you'll be ready to invite this guy over for a cold Bud!

Hi,

I am a new fan of NASCAR. My dad has always been a fan esp of Dale Earndhardt. I came across this book and decided to order it. I have read the whole book in over a week; which is fast for me. I have greatly enjoyed this book. Not only do you get to know Dale jr. a little better you get to see the world of racing through his eyes. I have learned about the sport from this book. If you are looking for a bio on Dale Jr this is not the book for you. If you are looking for what life was like with Dale Sr. this is not the book. You will get a breif background on his life and yes he talks about his dad alot in the book, but it's mostly for the boss - driver aspect.

weather or not you are a fan of Jr or not this is a great book for any race fan. It gives you the fly on the wall look at the ups and downs of a Wiston Cup season.

Mike Gray has written an excellent book exposing the disaster that is US drug policy. This book's value is in bringing the war to the general public, who may not have a taste for detailed policy reportage. Using real life examples, Gray communicates his message clearer than if he had filled the book with dry statistics and legal reasoning.

But therein lies what kept me from giving the book five stars. Gray's book does a great job of showing the drug war to be a total failure, but Gray leaves us with our hope eviscerated. Do we legalize drugs, or should we force people into "treatment?" Gray appears to prefer option two, which may turn out to be just as bad as the current system of forced imprisonment.

This book is an excellent demonstration of the failure of the drug war. Anyone who needs a short, well-written introduction to this issue should read Gray's book. For greater depth from a public policy, philosophical, or legal perspective, read, "Drug Warriors & Their Prey," or "Friedman & Szasz On Liberty And Drugs."

I have recently finished reading an excellent book about what is probably the most important issue in America today, the War on Drugs. Titled "Drug Crazy" (How We Got Into This Mess and How We Can Get Out Of It) by Mike Gray, it is a candid expose of the political hot potato that presents a greater threat to the Bill of Rights than most people suspect. Well organized, almost conversationally written and thoroughly annotated, it is a fast read - hard to set down. I breezed through it in two days, and then spent a couple of hours on-line spot checking some of his citations. It's all there. This is not the raving of some conspiracy theorist; rather, it is an appeal to reason, a revealing look at the many sides of a complex issue that has been thus far addressed with only the most simplistic remedies. Read it. It could change your perspective on a lot of things. It is probably the most important book you will read this year.

Book Review : Drug Crazy by Mike Gray (Random House, N.Y.- June, 1998)

America's War on Drugs, declared originally by Richard Nixon and waged with varying degrees of enthusiasm by every President since, has become a nearly invulnerable monster, thriving on its own failures and seemingly capable of destroying anyone reckless enough to speak out against it. Its simplistic central premise- drugs pose unthinkable dangers to our children, and therefore must be prohibited- has helped elect legions of politicians who then cite the latest drug scare as reason for tougher crack-downs, harsher laws, and more prisons. So completely has this idea of "illicit drugs" become society's default setting, and so beholden are politicians and others to it, the policy itself receives no critical scrutiny from government and little from academics dependent of federal funding. "Legalization" is a deadly brickbat hurled indiscriminately at all critics without thought that in a society based on capitalism, it is the illegal markets which are abnormal.

Although several scholarly, historically accurate books have pointed out shortcomings of this policy since the late Sixties, not one author has effectively attacked drug prohibition as a policy based on a completely false premise, incapable of preventing substance abuse problems; indeed, certain to make them worse. None, that is, until Mike Gray. A professional from the film world, Gray may have written the book no one else has yet been able to: a concise, readable, historically accurate, and well documented indictment of our drug policy. Very few reading his book all the way through will see the drug war the same way they did before. A major question then becomes: how many people will read it? Will it sink without a trace, overlooked like so many earlier criticisms of official policy- or will it be discovered by a public growing increasingly disillusioned by a perennial policy failure which is jamming prisons, impoverishing schools and colleges and effectively canceling! many Constitutional guarantees of personal freedom? Read by enough people, "Drug Crazy" could do for drug reform what "Silent Spring" did for the environment in 1962.

Like the film maker he is, Gray opens with a tight close up: Chicago police on a drug stake-out. The view quickly expands to the futility of enforcement against Chicago's massive illegal market. first from the perspectives of an elite narcotics detective and then through the eyes of a dedicated public defender. A comparison with Chicago seventy years ago during Prohibition reveals that police and the courts were equally unable to suppress the illegal liquor industry for exactly the same reasons: the overwhelming size and wealth of the criminal market created by prohibition. This beginning leaves the reader intrigued and eager to learn more; he's not disappointed.

The rest of the book traces the history of our drug crusade from its idealistic populist origins, starting in 1901 when McKinley's assassination thrust a youthful TR into the White House. The 1914 Harrison Act, purportedly a regulatory and tax law, was transformed by enforcement practice into federal drug prohibition with the assistance of the Supreme Court. Drug prohibition not only survived the demise of Prohibition, but emerged with its bogus mandate strengthened.

Thirty years of determined and unscrupulous management by Harry Anslinger, the J. Edgar Hoover of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics shaped drug prohibition into what would eventually become a punitive global policy. Anslinger was dismissed by JFK in 1960, but not before politicians had discovered the power of the drug menace to garner both votes and media attention.

Illegal drug markets have since thrived on the free advertising of their products which inevitably accompanies intense press coverage of the futile suppression effort and dire official warnings over the latest drug scare. This expansion was accelerated when Nixon declared the drug war in 1972. Gray covers that expansion beyond our borders in Colom! bia ("River of Money"), in Mexico (Montezuma's Revenge"), and also at home ("Reefer Madness"). He also describes how some European countries have blunted the most destructive effects of our policy forced on them by the UN Single Convention Treaty ("Lessons from the Old Country").

In his final chapter, Gray opines that the push to legitimize marijuana for medical use may have exposed a chink in the heretofore impregnable armor of drug prohibition. Beyond that, he believes that the policy, having thrived on relentless intensification, can't allow relaxation without risking the sort of scrutiny which might reveal its intrinsic lack of substance, therefore, any change must come from outside government. He doesn't offer a detailed recipe for a regulatory policy to replace drug prohibition; rather he suggests that it will be very similar to that which replaced alcohol Prohibition after Repeal in 1933- a collection of state based programs, sensitive to local needs and beliefs.

There is a desperate need for this book to be read and discussed by hundreds of thousands of thinking citizens. The pied piper of drug prohibition has beguiled our politicians and led us dangerously close to the edge of an abyss. Mike Gray's warning has hopefully come just in time and could itself be a major factor in initiating needed change of direction toward sanity.

Thomas J. O'Connell, MD

James Robertson has written an extensively researched life of Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, acknowledged as one of the finest military tacticians of the Civil War on either side. He covers Jackson's ancestry, childhood, West Point career, early military service during the Mexican War and afterwards, his tenure at the Virginia Military Institute, his family life, and his Civil War service in the Shenandoah Valley, the Seven Day's Campaign, and in Northern Virginia/Antietam. He includes a short epilogue which discusses the conclusion of the War after Jackson's death at Chancellorsville, his legacy, and the subsequent lives of his family and fellow Confederates after the surrender at Appomattox.

Throughout the book, Robertson devotes much attention to Jackson's strong Christian faith both in his beliefs and in his actions. Some other reviewers have found fault with this emphasis but given the predominance of his faith in his daily life, Jackson's religious beliefs could no more be ignored than could an author ignore anti-semitism in a life of Hitler. Jackson's faith was not an ASPECT of his life, in many ways it WAS his life and everything else he did was incidental to his faith.

Contrary to some others, I don't think Robertson has glorified Jackson at all. Although a pious man and a military genius, all of Jackson's many shortcomings as a man and as a commander are brought out in the book. Jackson was a hypochondriac, a contentious subordinate, an incredibly boring and ineffective teacher and a man who saw everything in stark black and white. As a commander, he was hard on his men, compulsively secretive about his plans and movements even with those subordinates who needed to know and a harsh and unsympathetic taskmaster who constantly quarreled with and berated his staff. On at least one occasion, he had EVERY ONE of his major subordinates under arrest for one or another offense in his command. Although harsh with his underlings, he was popular among his men and in the Confederacy because of his victories, his acceptance of hardship along with his men and his single minded determination to drive the Yankee invaders out of the South.

"Old Jack holds himself as the god of war, giving short, sharp commands distinctly, rapidly and decisively, without consultation or explanation, and disregarding suggestions and remonstrances. Being himself absolutely fearless...he goes ahead on his own hook, asking no advice and resenting interference. He places no value on human life, caring for nothing so much as fighting, unless it be praying. Illness, wounds and all disabilities he defines as inefficiency and indications of a lack of patriotism. Suffering from insomnia, he often uses his men as a sedative, and when he can't sleep calls them up, marches them for a few miles; then marches them back. He never praises his men for gallantry, because it is their duty to be gallant and they do not deserve credit for doing their duty." Genl Alexander Lawton (c20,n120)

"He is the idol of the people and is the object of greater enthusiasm than any other military chieftain of our day... notwithstanding the fact that he marches his troops faster and longer, fights them harder, and takes less care of them than any other officer in the service...This indifference to the comfort of his men is only apparent, however--not real. No man possesses a kinder heart or larger humanity; but when he has something to do, he is so earnest, so ardent and energetic that he loses sight of everything but the work before him." quote in Southern paper. (c22,n64)

James I. Robertson, Jr.'s biography of Stonewall Jackson will long stand as the definitive summary of the life of this extraordinary military commander. Exhaustively researched and gracefully written, Robertson's biography portrays Jackson as he was - a deeply religious Sunday school teacher in Lexington, Va., a loving and devoted husband and father, and a stern and feared commander in battle. Based almost entirely on primary sources, Stonewall Jackson challenges many of the myths and misconceptions that have surrounded the general. This book also represents the culmination of Robertson's long and distinguished career as one of this country's finest Civil War historians. Without question it is his finest effort and the best biography of Jackson ever written

Author Robertson is not only a great historian, he is also an incredibly good wordsmith. Seldom in an historical biography have I seen such excellent writing combined with such in-depth and (relatively) unbiased research. This book is jammed with detailed information about Jackson: socially awkward, agonzingly shy and diffident, odedient to orders to the point of insanity, absurdly religious.Yet, this is my "take" on the book. The author never literally comes out and states this. He presents information. It is up to the reader to form his/her own opinions......After 40 plus years of studying Civil War history, I am long past hero worship. I never saw Jackson or Lee or any other general as a god - and I do not now. I don't believe that was the author's purpose. I believe his pupose was to present all the facts he could about Jackson in an organized and entertaining fashion. That the author is also a great writer makes this work all the more enjoyable. .......This is probably the BEST biography I have ever read, both in terms of scholarship and the quality of the writing. My only regret was that I did not get to read the many items that were left out of this already lengthy book by the authors and editors. I was not quite ready for Jackson to go.

Life Magazine, for as long as it has been in existence, has been known for its vivid portrayal in words and photographs of life's events, both joyous and tragic. This book is no exception. How could anyone read about the devastating events of September 11, 2001 and not be moved. Throughout "One Nation" the reader will recapture the events as they unfolded, meet both survivors and courageous rescuers, and still be left with that plaguing question, "in this century, in a time of peace and prosperity, how could this horrific event possibly have happened?"

One need not be an American to appreciate this book, for the tragic events pictured here could happen anywhere. Where, is only a matter of geography. It is not appropriate to say it is an enjoyable book to read, for it is not. The events revealed here defy description and are so horrific they will stay with you forever. However, the book is a compelling one to read. For those who do not live near New York, it puts the reader in touch with the reality of the events. Life Magazine has produced a moving and impressive account, both in words and photographs, of what will become an unforgettable time in history. "One Nation" shows through the eyes of endless rescue workers, from all walks of life, that the world with all its tragedy, unpredictability and despair is also still a world filled with tremendous compassion and love for one's fellow man.

I picked this book up to read now, 9 months after the attacks of September 11th and found myself becoming choked up all over again. The photos are of course of the highest quality of composition and emotion, as you would expect from Life Magazine. The illustrated timeline brings the day back into focus, and now that time has given some distance, allows us to look anew at how the day unfolded. But of course, in any kind of tragedy, it is the human elements that have the most impact - and this book presents that excellently. Stories of heroism, tragedy, chance, determination and sadness brought tears to my eyes. The overwhelming shock of the events have worn off for the most part, but these stories remind us of what the day meant to people. The section of photographs of individuals against a stark white background drives home the smallest human element of an overwhelming tableau. The people focused upon are there for a reason, and even though just being there and taking part in the aftermath should be reason enough, most of the subjects have additional connections that ties them all together in a web of tragedy and redemption. This is a book to treasure and to use to show those that come after us what this day meant to America.

The editors of LIFE magazine have put together a splendid testimonial to all of the victims of September 11th. This is a volume that should be on the coffee table of every American household and in every school library.

In great detail, LIFE recreates that day with pictures, eyewitness reports, and graphics, that will further enhance your knowledge of exactly what happened. The pictures are stunning and at times they bring the action rushing back into your mind.

This is not the kind of book that you can just pick up and read. This is a book that you thumb through on a periodic basis to remind yourself that we are a target. It is the kind of book that you have to buy so your kids and grandkids will be able to understand what happened.

We are the only nation that could have come through this attack with renewed patriotism. This book does everything it can to remind the reader that we are truly the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Mike Yon has written a wonderful book about love, murder, and triumph. It may look like another commando telling a tale, but Danger Close is a real story, no secret punches. I found this book so hard to put down. I just wanted to keep reading and reading until the end.

Danger Close is a excellent book for those interested in the Green Berets, but it is also such a worthy story that anyone will enjoy it. Mike wrote about his life, the good and the bad. The pages of this book flow so well, it's as if Mike was telling his story right there with you. I imagine joining the Army just out of high school is challenging enough, but then volunteering for one the most elite military units in the world is a story in it self. The story doesn't end there, that's just a small piece of this superbly written book. This book is so well done that amazingly, it received the prestigious William A. Gurley Award for creative non-fiction writing.

I highly recommend this book.

Dear Amazon Books,

I recently finished reading Mike Yon's autobiography "Danger Close". Mr. Yon's moving and intensely personal story had a profound affect on me, in that I was finally able to understand and articulate some large issues in my own life.

Similar to Mr. Yon, I too lost a parent at an early age, and I also "grew up" as a young man in the Army. My father was taken from me in a tragic incident when I was 5 years old. There was no other father-figure in my life until I came under the care and guidance of some truly great NCOs.

It was painful and difficult to read of his mother's death, and I had to put the book down for a while. It was two weeks before I could pick it up again, and continue.

I believe Mr. Yon's story is both inspiring and an open challenge to every young person today that is the product of disadvantage and hardship, a broken home or dysfunctional family. The message in Danger Close is, "Yes, you can make it! You will succeed if you'll only reach down deep enough. Never quit!".

Thank you, Mike, for a great story.

And thanks for showing us where the energy points are.

Chief Warrant Officer John Liner US Army, Retired

For many, "Florida" conjures visions of a vacation near a sunny beach or a trip to Disney World.

Mike Yon paints an intimate picture of his life growing up in a small town in central Florida. His boyhood took place where most coast dwelling Floridians have never been. At times his adventures read like wild fictional stories... but as someone who grew up a childhood friend of the author, I can attest to the truism of his memories.

From his experiences in the military, in business, at home and abroad, Mike Yon, tells his story in a way that makes it hard to put this book down. This book is riveting from page one!

Writers alert! A book we all need is here. Anyone tempted to pooh, pooh that may be dissing a chance at success.

The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing is a book for writers who are new to publishing and those who aren't. It is a book for writers who are already published by big houses or little. It is a book for writers who are scared and trying to decide how to publish and where. It is a book for writers who want to have their books read.

Written by Tom and Marilyn Ross, the gurus of SPAN (Small Publishers of North America), this book's 521 pages is chock-full of up-to-the-times information on the publishing scene, on selling books, and on publicizing books. It has all the how-to nitty-gritty necessary if you decide to do it yourself.

If you don't decide to self publish, you'll still be glad you have this one under your belt; these days everyone knows that even if you land a big publisher, you'd still better be prepared to do almost all the publicity for it yourself.

This tome includes recommended reading, point-of-purchase suppliers, printers, catalogs, review sources, bookstore chains, and on and on. It also includes the dope on e-publishing. As a reviewer, I should be finding some flaw in this book, so you can believe the praise. Sorry, I just can't. I can only visualize what this might do for any writer's career.

Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of "This is the Place"

The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing is a powerful resource for all aspects of self-publishing from the beginning idea to having the book in hand, to marketing and selling it yourself. It's jam packed with hints and lessons learned over time-I think-by trial and error and Tom and Marilyn have come out the winners. I especially liked the way they back up each chapter with hard facts, examples of how to do it and stories of those who've made their book a success like all self-publishers want to. Like Marilyn says "Keep at it. If one idea isn't a hit try something else." Web sites, Wisdom and Whimsey at the end of each chapter shows you new sites to check out, gives you thought-provoking quips and summarizes the theme of the chapter. The endless contacts, rich appendixes and web sites are well worth your purchase of the guide. This resource is a must for any author or self publishers desk and library.

Review by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of This is the Place

Writers alert! A book we all need is here. Anyone tempted to pooh, pooh that may be dissing a chance at success.
The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing is a book for writers who are new to publishing and those who aren't. It is a book for writers who are already published by big houses or little. It is a book for writers who are scared and trying to decide how to publish and where. It is a book for writers who want to have their books read.
Written by Tom and Marilyn Ross, the gurus of SPAN (Small Publishers of North America), this book is chock-full of 521 pages of up-to-the-times information on the publishing scene, on selling books, and on publicizing books. It has all the how-to nitty gritty necessary if you decide to do it yourself.
If you don't decide to self publish, you'll still be glad you have this one under your belt; these days everyone knows that even if you land a big publisher, you'd still better be prepared to do almost all the publicity for it yourself.
This tome includes recommended reading, point-of-purchase suppliers, printers, catalogs, review sources, bookstore chains, and on and on. It also includes the dope on e-publishing. As a reviewer, I should be finding some flaw in this book, so you can believe the praise. As an author who has been doing lots of publicity on her own for quite a while, I should be able to spot some gaps. Sorry, I just can't. I can only visualize what this reference and guide might do for any writer's career.