Five Steps to Gaining Good Writing Skills
by Peter Morgan

The Chickenpox Vaccine: A new epidemic of disease and corruption
by Mark Orrin. Edited by Gary S. Goldman, Ph.Dr

The Chickenpox Vaccine: A new epidemic of disease and corruption is about behind-the-scene health issues and their effect on individuals in Antelope Valley, California—a geographically distinct region consisting primarily of two large cities, Palmdale and Lancaster, with a population of over 300,000. In 1995, the FDA licensed a vaccine to protect against a common childhood disease. Healthcare officials believed it was safe, when in fact, it had not been thoroughly tested. Dr. Goldman, who was studying the effect of the vaccine on the population, was encouraged to generate findings that would lead to publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals. All positive findings were published in a timely manner; however, when Dr. Goldman began to present deleterious outcomes, these seemed to be treated much differently and would portend increased risk of reactivation of a more serious disease harbored by 95% of the adult U.S. population

Our Own Words: Writing by Immigrant and Refugee Students
Edited by Paul Siemering

“Our Own Words” is a collection of writings by immigrant and refugee high school students studying English as a second language. The students come from all over the world and are in first or second year ESL classes. The writing reflects this beginning level of English proficiency. Their teachers continuously tell the students that they want to hear what they have to say. Writing is not used here as a grammar teaching device, but as an outlet to express themselves. The stories within appear just as the students wrote them, without editing or corrections.

The Dog Who Went To Minneapolis: Stories for Animal People
by Andy Twedt

Have you ever glanced at a three-photo spread of a ratty-looking dog in the Sunday pictorial section and realized that the subject is your dog? Have you ever had a hostile feral cat set up house-keeping in your bathroom for two years? Have avocados and bananas mysteriously disappeared from your countertop? Such things can happen to animal people, according to author Andy Twedt, whose collection of anecdotes relates the quirks, antics, and strange adventures of certain animals she has known. Her human characters, too, are often colorful, like those in British writer James Herriot's popular animal stories. They range from the outspoken, pickle-canning Aunt Lil to the laid-back Wizard of Rivoli Street, whose talent is painting orange flames on black motorcycles. Veterinarians share the limelight, also. The gentle Dr. Navarro dispenses his droll humor, while the fun-loving Dr. McConnell initiates a rowdy tug-of-war in his lobby. Whatever their species, the characters make the book a compelling read, not only for animal people, but for anyone who enjoys a lively anecdote.

Lost in the Bush
by Tyan Wyss

Mandy Phillips flees to a picturesque African game park after discovering her fiancé's infidelity. At odds with her critical brother and mother, miserable in her loneliness, and disgruntled with her life in general, she views a holiday escape as just the tonic she needs. Unfortunately Mandy is prickly, bigoted, and bitter; thus ensuring any vacation is tainted by her own prejudices. After several adventure-filled days, she is brutally accosted by carjackers and in a desperate attempt to survive flings herself from the vehicle only to become hopelessly lost. After a frigid and terror-filled night, Mandy runs across an antagonistic African named Themba Misodzi, a Zimbabwean seeking refuge in South Africa. While he appears to be her ticket back to civilization, Themba is branded in her mind as a chauvinistic, uneducated tribesman she reluctantly has to trust in order to escape her predicament. To him, Mandy is the ultimate bitch; contaminated by her bitterness, overly influenced by the US's aggressive policies, and totally lacking in sympathy for others, especially blacks. As they battle the rough bush back to civilization, both have to learn tolerance and respect in order to survive the cruel elements and the cultural chasm that divides them.

D.N.A.
by John R. Fredricks

Few historic novels have had such an impact in terms of psychological depth and describing the external dilemmas of the human condition as Fredrick’s novel set in America’s evolving last century. As a clinician I can appreciate what the educator Fredricks portrays in this informative and entertaining novel. This is a must read for our times.

Sanford E Pomerantz, M.D.
Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association.

Frogs, Fireworks, Phosphor and…
by Mrinal Khaund

This is a true narration of a family's struggle with a schizophrenic son Sunil to cope in the fast changing society from post British era to modern India (1950s to 2000) in the most secluded state of Assam; the narration is by the mentally disabled but educated son as he saw the world around him evolve and move ahead. It is also the story of a child bride Kamini & her elderly but industrious husband Kamal who were trying utmost to raise a family of three "not so gifted" children in a period where the middle class societal expectations of doing well in academic life and conforming to the norm put tremendous pressure on all the family members especially on Sunil. At the end though, it was Kamini, who despite having no more formal education than grade level, found the key to Sunil's therapy which was to coax him to write this book even if it meant sharing with him her most intimate story, of being with her husband the very first time as a child bride or, from time to time, facing the violent rage and outbursts from Sunil as he tries hard to recount the events of the past.

George Anson Jewett: Pioneering Iowa Entrepreneur
Edited by Tom Jewett

George Anson Jewett is a patriarchal figure. Born in the Iowa prairie town of Red Rock on September 9, 1847 and raised by a single mother, he walked from Pella to Des Moines in 1865 where he would establish himself as a self-made businessman. He founded several Des Moines businesses, was a pillar in the early Des Moines Christian Church, was an active supporter of Drake University and keenly pursued his family genealogy. His name has been left scattered across the Des Moines landscape on the Jewett Building, Jewett Lumber Company and Jewett Hall at Drake University. Today his Jewett Typewriter, once called “Best in the World,” fetches over $900 on E-bay auctions.

Logging Off
by Caitlin McKenna

In 2095, every facet of society runs perfectly by computers and advanced technology. Citizens like Britannia Stone conduct their lives effortlessly with a genetically embedded barcode linked to Central, the world government. But this easy lifestyle, one without economical hardships, crime and disease, comes with a price - the freedom of choice.

Sandstone Way: Seeking Beauty on Cedar Mesa
by Jim Beard

Cedar Mesa was prehistorically occupied by the Anasazi from at least Basketmaker through early Puebloan times. The author began hiking on Cedar Mesa sometime in the 80's. Starting in 1997 he began to more intensively explore Cedar Mesa, focusing on the paleogeography of the Anasazi. This book is a collection of reflections from the author's personal journey through this Anasazi homeland.

Sunless Soul
by David Thomsen

Poetry that will unearth the darkness of your soul.

Rooted in Dishonor
by Peter Tyzack

Inspector Everett Parsons of Scotland Yard's fledgling Criminal Investigation Department is delighted when a chance meeting with Alexander de Courcey - an old school friend - leads to an invitation to Beaumont Castle, the de Courcey's ancestral home. But what he envisages as a glittering social occasion leads instead into a sordid world of lust, murder and blackmail.

Soldier Girl
by J. McMahon Lakin

“Soldier Girl” is the story of Lindy Harrison who at the age of five along with her mother leaves the McLeod family farm in Osawatomie, Kansas to join her father who is a white officer with the Buffalo Soldiers of the Tenth Cavalry Regiment. The story follows the character development of Lindy as she learns about fort life as the daughter of a white officer serving with Buffalo Soldiers in Kansas and Oklahoma at the beginning of the Indian Wars (1867-1875). Many of the officers including Colonel Benjamin Grierson founded the Ninth and Tenth regiments to prove African Americans were good soldiers in peacetime after the War Between the States. Lindy's support as she adjusts to becoming a soldier is her Grandpa McLeod who corresponds regularly with her and Sergeant Pick, a Buffalo Soldier assigned to the Tenth.