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BY I HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY PRESS
Books With Movies Building Your Platform Via Guest Writing
Healing From the Wrongs of History’s Past
New Book Videos
“PRIDE and Prejudice” - The Barefoot Librarian Corner
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Books With Movies Page 5 Featured Books and Authors Page 3 2021-2022 Reader Views Awards Winners Page 8 Indie Books! Pages 6-8-1214-16-18 -24-28-30-31-3236-40-42 Interview with Martin Bunis Author of “With a Smile, a Frown, and a Wink” Page 22 Building Your Platform Via Guest Writing Page 10 Healing From the Wrongs of History’s Past Page 17 Book Videos Page 26-27 Inside Scoop Live Podcast of the Month Page 35 The Barefoot Librarian Corner Page 38
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Table of Contents - Featured Books and Authors
14 Becoming an Angel of Change Through a collection of inspirational stories, Bineta Ngom details her journey exploring her life’s purpose, helping others in need. From her beginnings as an eight-year-old philanthropist in Senegal, to her adult life establishing outreach programs in the United States, readers will be inspired to discover their strength, uniqueness, and purpose in her recent memoir “Becoming an Angel of Change.”
6 Imani Lewis Imani Lewis is a multi-award winning and national best selling author of multiple genres. She enjoys reading to her babies and creating worlds that others can relate to.
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Editor’s Note Born and raised in Venezuela of Italian immigrants, Susan completed a BA in Political Science and Business Administration before moving to the US . Although she built a career as a Business Analyst/Accountant, she also kept herself active as a freelance writer in the US; publishing articles, poetry, children’s stories, and illustrations since 1996. She published her first book in 2009, and released her revised edition: Innocent War: Behind An Immigrant’s Past – Book 1 in 2011. Her picture book: Tuma: The Tribe’s Little Princess was published in early 2013 under her own label. Currently, Susan Violante is the Managing Editor/CEO/ Partner of I Have Something to Say Press and Book By Book Publicity, Author, Reviewer, Publicist and Publisher. She resides in Austin, TX with her husband Michel and her dogs, Canela, Karina, and Nutela. Susan is mother of two adult daughters, Arianna and Nicolette, and caregiver to her father. She enjoys cooking, reading, knitting, painting, writing, gardening, and any outdoor activity.
Please consider the environment before printing this e-magazine * First Chapter Plus is a monthly e-Magazine which includes the First Chapters, book videos, and podcasts of recently published books and back lists books. It is distributed to libraries, book stores, media, readers, reviewers, and bloggers; It also offers content of value to our audience.
listings https://www.firstchapterplus.com/contact subscriptions www.firstchapterplus.com email admin@firstchapterplus.com creative director/graphic designer Susan Violante © Copyright 2022 First Chapter Plus eco-friendly information First Chapter Plus e-magazine is environment conscious, and has gone 100% green.
Published by I Have Something To Say Press 11900 Jollyville Rd. #201673 Austin, Texas 78759.
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Books With Movies I recently joined my community’s book club. I have always been a member of writing groups but honestly never belonged to a book club before because I always want to pick what I want to read. But I decided to be adventurous and joined. The first time I was not crazy of the book and did not finish it. (I am not citing titles on purpose as I do not wish to review any books here and my opinions of the different titles are totally bias on type of books based on genre and not quality of writing). The second book was a funny one and there was also a movie made based on it. We read the book and right after the book discussion meeting, we went into our building’s media room and watched the movie. Now, I’ve always avoided watching movies that I have read the book; but I must say I wished I hadn’t! I found that watching the movie only enriched what I had imagined instead of being disappointed by it as I had originally thought it would. I can see that some fantasy or sci-fi books might fall short on what is possible to produce in a movie, but on the other hand watching the movie can also show a different perspective of the book that we find interesting. Either way reading the book complemented by watching the movie for sure made our book club’s meeting more interesting and fun!
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Featured Authors Imani Lewis Imani Lewis is a multi-award winning and national best selling author of multiple genres. She enjoys reading to her babies and creating worlds that others can relate to. Check out more titles by her at www.manitheauthor.com
Hello & Goodnight gives you a look at a day in the life of a toddler, through the eyes of a toddler! Engaging you with fun rhymes, beautiful imagery, and adorable humor, Hello & Goodnight is sure to become a bedtime favorite.
View Book Video Here
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Hello & Goodnight Imani Lewis Red Beetle Publishing, LLC (2021) ISBN 9781734517088 Tradeback - 34 pages - $11.99 Fiction - Preaschool/Early Reader
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delightful story that will appeal to little ones, their parents, and their grandparents, and I highly recommend it as a must-have in every little home library.
— Sheri Hoyte Reader Views
Read First Chapter Here View on Amazon Here
Reader Views Kids Award for Best Children’s Book of the Year 7
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Featured Authors Marjorie L. Anderson Marjorie Anderson is a native Virgin islander, retired bank executive, co-funder and former executive director of the Greater Philadelphia Minority Business Strategic Alliance. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Morgan State University, a Master of Science in Management from La Salle University, and is a gradute of the Wharton’s School agement Program Manate of the Wharton’s School Management Program of the University of Pennsylvania. Her book “The Key” is a Reader Views Literary Awards Winner. Marjorie currently lives in Liberty Hill, Texas.
View Book Video Here
La Clave shares the author’s financial knowledge and experience to help teens get a head start in life. The book presents readers with basic financial knowledge and life changing know-how tips on how to manage money to make the most of their income to build a successful future. But Anderson does not stop there, she also teaches young people to invest in their communities by buying local products and donating to help others. La Clave is the Spanish translation of Marjorie L. Anderson’s Reader Views Award winner “The Key.”
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La Clave Marjorie L. Anderson I Have something To Say Press (2021, 2022) ISBN 9780985430825 Tradeback - 100 pages - $16.00 Nonfiction - Spanish/YA-Teen
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he skills teens develop in this workbook can be applicable to all aspects of their lives, not just finances.
— Nico Neak Social worker/Children and Teen Therapist
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. his is an invaluable resource
for the financial preparation of our adolescents to ensure an economical, stable and successful future.
— Juliana Leal-Belloso Preschool teacher and mother of a teenager
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Building Your Platform Via Guest Writing Want to Learn New Things and Build Your Platform while Helping Others? Try Guest WritingWe all know there are multiple benefits of learning new things, but one of the most important reasons is that sharpening your brain keeps you healthy, mentally and physically! During the pandemic, we’ve all had many opportunities to learn and grow through webinars, reading (of course), and hands-on training. I’m grateful for those who’ve shared their knowledge through these avenues. If you’ve ever spent hours, days, weeks, or even months learning a new skill or process, you know it can be daunting, to say the least. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a “Best Practices” buddy—a writing and publishing exchange where you can share what you’ve learned with others? Good news is we do—each other! Authors can be the most beneficial resource for other authors, be it new authors looking to soak up every bit of information available to improve their craft, to those with a few books under their belts just looking to streamline some of their processes and stay updated in this ever-changing literary world. What does this have to do with building your platform? There are many reasons, but two of the key considerations are: • Sales. The best reason of all is sales. Obviously, your end goal as authors is to sell more books. Exploring different avenues of “getting yourself out there” has the potential to increase your book sales. • Brand Awareness. One way to increase awareness of your books is through link-building. Every time you guest post on another website or blog, you create external links to your site, which is excellent for SEO. Want to Share Your Experience with Others? We’ll Print Your Article! The editorial section of our newsletter is open to guest writers with the goal of sharing your knowledge and building your platform. If you have tips you’d like to share with your fellow authors, bloggers and/or readers, we’d love to feature your work. Not only will you be imparting your wisdom with your peers, but you’ll also have the opportunity to promote your book/website in the process.
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Getting Started Learn more about our Guest Writing program here: https://www. readerviews.com/write-for-us/ Indie authors have more drive, perseverance, passion, and resilience than any other professional group and you inspire me daily. I am so honored to work with you and I thank you for all you do to enrich the literary world. For more information about Reader Views, email us at admin@readerviews. com or schedule a complimentary consultation: https://calendly.com/ readerviews/meeting-with-reader-views. Article previously published by Reader Views
by Sheri Hoyte “Sheri, brings content to the Magazine through Author Interviews about their own writing and publishing experiences. She is also the Managing Editor/President of Book By Book Publicity and Reader Views.
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Featured Authors L.E. DeLano L.E. DeLano comes equipped with a “useless” Theatre degree that has opened doors for her in numerous ways. Though mostly raised in New Mexico, she now lives in Pennsylvania with two adventurous kids and two ridiculous cats. L.E.’s 2021 novel, BLUE, was named a 2021 SPARK Award winner by The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), a 2021-22 Gold Medal Winner for Young Adult in the Reader Views Reviewer’s Choice Awards, a 2021 NYC Big Book Award Distinguished Favorite in Young Adult Fiction, a 2022 Independent Press Award Distinguished Favorite – Teen, and was named 2021-22 Teen/YA Book of the Year by Reader Views Kids. Her debut novel, TRAVELER, was a Keystone State Reading Association (KSRA) Secondary Book Awards Finalist for 2018-2019.
Blue’s older brother was involved in a car accident that killed the father of her classmate, Maya, and now Maya has returned to school determined to make Blue’s life a living hell in the aftermath. When Maya’s taunts push Blue to retaliate, they find themselves forced into a project meant to foster cooperation. Blue learns about Maya—and her own sense of privilege— when revealed secrets cast a new perspective on everything in Blue’s world. View Book Video Here
Bronze Winner: Overall Best Fiction
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Blue L.E. DeLano Gaze Publishing (2021) ISBN 9781736473108 Tradeback - 233 pages - $10.99 Fiction - Young Adult (age 16+)
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lue by L.E. Delano is an intense and completely engrossing YA novel about perspective . . . a must read for teens and anyone else who enjoys a great fictional story.
— Paige Lovitt Reader Views Kids
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. verall: 10.00 out of 10.
DeLano has an excellent ear for teens' idiomatic speech . . . This is a fast-paced novel focused more on feelings and the social world of teens . . . An easy read for its intended audience. — BookLife Prize BookLife Prize
Reader Views Kids Award for Best Teen/Young Adult Book of the Year
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Read First Chapter Here View on Amazon Here
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Featured Authors Bineta Ngom Bineta Ngom was born in Senegal, West Africa in 1964. She grew up without her father, who died when she was a little over four years old. She was raised by her mother who taught her how to appreciate life and serve people in need even when the family was enduring hardship. She came to America in 1994 to pursuit her dream, to give her children the opportunity she never had as a child, and to empower the global community. She never stops learning and always strive to be best role model to her children. She decided to write her book “Becoming an Angel of Change” to share her stories with the world to inspire parents, immigrants and women to make positive change within themselves, their homes, their work places as well as their communities.
Through a collection of inspirational stories, Bineta Ngom details her journey exploring her life’s purpose, helping others in need. From her beginnings as an eight-year-old philanthropist in Senegal, to her adult life establishing outreach programs in the United States, readers will be inspired to discover their strength, uniqueness, and purpose in her recent memoir “Becoming an Angel of Change.” View Book Video Here
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Becoming an Angel of Change Bineta Ngom I Have Something To Say Press (2021,2022) ISBN 9781647751784 Tradeback - 186 pages - $16.00 Nonfiction - Memoir / Self-Help
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ineta shows us all how we, too, can develop the spiritual depth to become angels of change. A fast-paced, inspiring read!” .
— Donna Winters author of the Great Lakes Romances Series®
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. resented in three parts,
‘Becoming an Angel of Change’ is a fascinating story and one that encourages hope, positivity, and gratitude…
— Sheri Hoyte Reader Views
Read First Chapter Here View on Amazon Here
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A Hill Toward Home By Robert Earl Winter Outskirts Press (2021) - ISBN: 9781977237590 Historical Fiction- Tradeback- 568++* pages - $29..995 Jesse Logan spent his boyhood in East Tennessee 1840s, grew up out West then returned as the country struggled with divisive states’ rights issues, slavery, and commitment to one’s principles. This carefree, lighthearted youth transforms to commander of a regiment pursuing renegade bushwhackers. Jesse’s inclination to act impulsively causes conflict with superiors, but places him in positions of responsibility, becoming a significant contributor to the success of the Union in the American Civil War.
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Playful Teaching Practices By Dr. Bill Michaelis and Ezra Holland Outskirts Press (2019) - ISBN 9781977202093 NonFiction-Education - 106 pages - Tradeback - $19.95 During this era of “drill and grill,” accelerated stressful learning, overdrive consumer lifestyles, excessive testing and a great decrease of play in the early childhood and elementary education curriculum, playful teaching practices are sorely needed...and playful teaching practices are essential to relationship building and creating “connections” to the learning process, to joy, to success, to self-esteem and to our group members of any age.
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Shamanomics - A Short Guide to the Failure, Fallacies and Future of Macroeconomics By Giles Conway-Gordon Outskirts Press (2021) - ISBN: 9781977226853 Nonfiction-Business & Economics - Tradeback - 210 pages - $20.95 The Crisis of 2008 exposed the flaws in their ‘science’. The fact is that macroeconomic advisers have proven no better than witch-doctors and shamans, uttering their ritualistic mumbo-jumbo and issuing forecasts and policy recommendations based on flawed theories which are not only badly inaccurate and misguided but, as the Crisis showed, very dangerous. Macroeconomics must return to the socially-useful roots it should never have left. www.shamanomics.info
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Healing From the Wrongs of History’s Past Susan Violante Out of all of humanity’s historic atrocities against each other slavery and genocide are by far the worst. So much so that society has not heal from them after decades and even centuries have gone by. It is said that time heals all wounds. But how does civilization heal from mass oppression, torture, and extermination? The amount of suffering recorded in our consciousness and history is such that it is impossible to erase it from our genetic memory. On the contrary we feel the need to remember it to make sure that we do not allow those wrongs to happen again. But can he as a diverse society heal while remembering? I think that we must remember to be able to heal, and thus establish days to celebrate and to remember events in history. But remembering is not enough to heal a society from the wrongs of history’s past. As someone who grew up under the parents’ WWII Post traumatic stress disorder, I learned few things witnessing how they coped with the past while building a new life from the rubble. • They owned the good and the horrible they witness during the war and came to terms with who they were because of it. • They learned from the wrongs done to them during that time and built their new lives from the life lessons within them. • They opened the minds of their children and made them curious, inquisitive, and respectful of all different cultures and lifestyles so that could discern independently and recognized the signs of oppression. History repeats itself not because time erases the past, but because the lessons learned are not shared to the coming generations. Teaching in school just the historical facts desensitize the events and thus we learn about them as simply an academic topic. In my opinion therefore societies never heal from their dark historical events which keep haunting its people through generations. Healing will only happen when we take the initiative to learn about what people went through slavery, torture, and genocide in the past to get a glimpse of what it was like to be in their place. Then we can genuinely understand and own our history and let the healing begin. I encourage everyone to learn about Juneteenth this month.
Featured Authors Marcus A. Nannini MARCUS A. NANNINI Mr. Nannini began his writing career when he published his own newspaper in the sixth grade and charged 25 cents per school quarter for the privilege of reading the only handwritten copy of each edition. The newspaper was a modest success. During his undergraduate years, he was a paid newspaper reporter and worked three semesters as the Research Assistant to journalism professor Richard Stocks Carlson, Ph.D. Nannini’s newspaper reporting paid for his senior year of undergrad. Carlson advised him to always write as if his readers have an 8th-grade education or less, something he took with a grain of salt. This is the story of an American C-47 ‘Dakota’ pilot who earned three Air Medals, seven Battle Stars and flew twenty-seven combat missions during the Second World War. Around midnight, in early April 1945, he was sent on a secret mission to fly to a point near Nuremberg, which was behind enemy lines at the time. It was necessary for him to locate an empty meadow in the dark, land, load a party of US soldiers and their captives, and then take-off again. He pulled it off. Among those prisoners was Franz von Pappen, the man who had persuaded President Hindenburg to make Hitler Chancellor of Germany in 1933. Von Papen had been seized at his own home by First Lieutenant Thomas McKinley and his men from the US 194th Glider Infantry Regiment.
• Gold Winner: Overall Best Non-Fiction
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MIDNIGHT FLIGHT TO NUREMBERG Marcus A. Nannini
Air World, An Imprint Of Pen & Sword Books (2021) ISBN 9781526792730 Hardcover - 224 pages - $32.95 Nonfiction - Biography
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riveting and detailed military memoir, "Midnight Flight to Nuremberg: The Capture of the Nazi who put Adolf Hitler into Power" is an extraordinary and recommended addition to community, college, and university library World War II biographies.
— Midwest Book Review
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.annini, author of Left for Dead
at Nijmegen, takes flight in this gripping account of courage in the air, the story of pilot Harry E. Watson, who flew 27 combat missions in World War II and was the recipient of seven Battle Stars and three Air Medals. Nannini, who interviewed First Lieutenant Watson extensively, opens this vivid account in the thick of the war, with the tense tale of Watson,
— Book Life
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READER VIEWS B O OK OF THE MONTH All Our Yesterdays: A Tale of Cunning & Grit By Forest Bowman Fiction - Novel Primedia eLaunch LLC (2021) ISBN 9781639012701 Reviewed by: Ashley Hooker for Reader Views (06/2022)
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orest Bowman has written a tale that could only be told from the mountains of West Virginia. I am not a native West Virginian, but I do live in this majestic state. I have learned in my short time here that these people have a fierce love for their families and know what it takes to survive. “All Our Yesterdays” is the story of a young boy who is orphaned and sent to live with a horrible family, the Jepson’s. Jehu Jepson would whip Adam viciously for no reason, and his sons, Luke and Paulie were relentless in their physical abuse toward Adam. They hit him in the face, bloodied his nose, and even pulled out Adam’s teeth. This was the breaking point for Adam. He knew he was leaving and began his preparations.....The story brings the reader to the ethical questions which are, can we do something wrong to make something right? Is it ok to break a few rules if it means we gain something good? There is truly a lot to consider when we look at the choices people make, or even the ones we make, and why we make them. What I truly loved about this book was how Bowman gives us a character that had every right to hate the world but chooses to love and care for others, anyway. Adam is that man you want on your side. He is the friend we all strive to have in our lives. He is proof that our past may haunt us, but it doesn’t have to define us. Adam tells us that with hard work, creative thinking, and determination, we can reach any goal we have for ourselves...... Overall, I loved “All Our Yesterdays” by Forest Bowman. I could not put it down. At a time when it seems that evil is prevailing in our world, Bowman gives us a refreshing view of society. Adam, Will, Oliver, Tally, and Sarah all remind us that there are good people in the world. Love and friendship can prevail. I highly recommend this book to readers who want a story filled with mystery, action, and friendship. To read complete review click here or visit www.readerviews.com. 20
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READER VIEWS KIDS B O OK OF THE MONTH Alice and Jack Hike the Grand Canyon By Amy Graves and Pam Schweitzer (authors) McKenzie Robinson (illustrator) EARLY READER - AGES 6 TO 8 Opalave Publishing (2022) ISBN 978173631060 Reviewed by Ruggles for Reader Views (06/2022)
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’lice and Jack Hike the Grand Canyon, by Amy Graves and Pam Schweitzer, illustrated by McKenzie Robinson, is not only a cute children’s book with adorable pictures but also carries a great message about culture and the environment. We start with young Alice as she and her little brother Jack ready themselves for a family trip to the Grand Canyon National Park, using a checklist as her guide. Alice brings the reader into the story with charm and personality, and guides the reader through their trek every step of the way. One thing you’ll notice right away is the wonderful way story and illustrations blend together creating a stimulating visual as well as hands-on experience. When Alice’s checklist is mentioned, there is an illustration for the reader to refer to, thus inviting the reader to make their own mental checklist. The message that hiking can be fun, but must be prepared for and taken seriously at the same time, for safety reasons, comes across effectively. This is also where Alice’s personality comes across clearly, as she decides to do a little research prior to their trip and isn’t so fond of the idea of bridges and cliffs. To prepare for the trip, they have practice hikes. As a reader, you feel as if you’re getting ready to take the trip right along with the characters. Another appealing illustration is the Bright Angel Trail Map provided at the beginning of the story, with clear markings of special landmarks that can be visited–Phantom Ranch, Indian Garden, and the Colorado River for example. On their hiking/camping adventure, they encounter animals, other hikers, shooting stars, and the spiritual feeling of nature. "Alice and Jack Hike the Grand Canyon,” by Amy Graves and Pam Schweitzer, is a wonderful story for all ages. It is a perfect way for families and young readers to enjoy a vacation vicariously, and also learn about meeting challenges, overcoming fear, finishing what you start, and, of course, the beauty and majesty of the Grand Canyon.
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INTERVIEW WITH MARTIN BUNIS AUTHOR OF “WITH A SMILE, A FROWN, AND A WINK”
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orn in Brooklyn, NY of 1954, Martin Bunis grew up in a working class, multi-ethnic neighborhood. After attaining a Master’s degree in Education, he worked as a civil servant for 40 plus years, though not in education. Martin doesn’t consider himself an artist. The works that appear in the book pretty much erupted out of him during the most intense years of his analysis. As he approached retirement, he decided to put those bursts of feelings into a book. The result is “With a Smile, a Frown, and a Wink.” Hi Martin, Welcome to Reader Views! Tell us, what is “With a Smile, a Frown, and a Wink” all about? SThe book is, at its core, about me, and my feelings expressed through the various images. That, along with my desire to share those feelings. While each of us is unique, we all do have much in common when it comes to our emotions; feelings of all kinds often resonate with images with are exposed to. It was, in a sense, my attempting to connect with others who might be interested in the internal workings of a fellow human. How did you come up with the title? I tried to come up with one that in some way summarizes the sentiments the images reflected. In the end, I just thought it had a nice, interesting ring to it. You’ve
stated you don’t consider yourself an artist and yet your work is phenomenal. What inspired you to publish your collection? Thanks very much. Over the years since creating the images, I thought about having an exhibit of some kind but didn’t pursue the idea. Not long before I began working on putting the book together, I felt impelled to go public with them in some way. I don’t know that I can put it any other way, I just had this drive to get it out there. I was reluctant to do so for various reasons, exposing myself in that way and it also being presumptuous, thinking that it would be of interest to anyone else. Have you submitted your work to any exhibitions or competitions? Not being comfortable with such outright competition, I never thought of entering an art competition. What are some of the different mediums used in your collection? The images were created using oils, acrylics, crayons, and pens. I don’t really have any preferred medium. Whatever struck me at a particular moment is what I used. There is no prose attached to any of your pieces. Did you consider adding information about what each piece meant to you? Why or why not? I did consider including specific information about each image, materials used and a title, where one occurred to me
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at least. I decided against it because I thought doing so would be intrusive in a way, getting in the way of the viewer’s reaction. Can you talk specifically about a couple of the pieces that mean the most to you and the motivation behind each piece? It’s difficult to choose images that mean more to me than others. The one on the front cover would, though, be one. It was done quickly one morning after having had a particularly powerful dream. At the time, I didn’t think so, but in some ways, it was
prophetic. There is a woman in the painting that resembles a woman I met years later, someone who continues to be important in my life. Do you have friends and family who supported you through the publishing process? How did they react when they learned you were publishing your work?y Over the years, others have, in general, tried to encourage me in various ways with respect to various endeavors. Once I let them know about the book in particular, they were very supportive.
By Sheri Hoyte
Read the full interview with Martin Bunis
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Featured Authors Amy Pflueger
I am a Best-Selling and AwardWinning author, and is a proud mother of two totally awesome boys who both have autism. I have a bachelor’s degree in business, and I am an autism self advocate who loves learning about autism and supporting autism organizations. I advocate for kids with autism to be heard, valued and understood. My mission through this book is to encourage self belief and resilience, to embrace different abilities, and to empower kids with autism to reach their full potential no matter what challenges they have. This book explains autism though the lens of an autistic child in a special way inviting people to visit their unique world, to help people understand more about autism and the reasons behind their unique behaviors, to embrace differences and to raise acceptance. This story is to empower kids with autism to believe in themselves and reach their full potential no matter what challenges they have; encouraging them to be confident in being who they are - because they are who they’re meant to be !
View Book Video Here
* Reviewer’s Choice Award for Best Book Written/Illustrated by an Author/Illustrator Age 18 and Under 24
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This Is Me! I am who I’m meant to be! Amy Pflueger Independently Published (2021) ISBN 9798519247504 Tradeback - 30 pages - $9.99 Nonfiction - Children/ Early Reader-8
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his book shows us how to embrace our own uniqueness, talents, and interests, empowering those that read it to feel super! Perfect for kids beginning school, full of new faces, to those well versed in making new friends, this is a read perfect for helping our little ones understand more about themselves and the talents of everyone around them. . — Jill Rey Reader Views
Read First Chapter Here
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. his is such a powerful
resource. As a pediatric occupational therapist myself, I find this book to be important for parents, students, teachers and the team that a child has around them. We so often get lost in what a child cannot do, and need to stop and remember all the beautiful powers each unique and individual child has. Love the incorporation of all the calming strategies!
View on Amazon Here
— Amazon Review
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B O OK VIDEOS The best way to check out a book!
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ometimes we need a little bit more than an endorsement, book review or book cover to get a feeling for the story and decide on whether to purchase or not a title. For me, the little something is a book video. A book video not only brings to life the main story or topic for the reader, it can also portray a feeling on who the Author is and what message he or she wants to share. Below are some things I get from book videos that help make the decision to read the book but also gives me insight on its contents, improving in many cases, my reading experience. • The images – unlike movie trailers which use previews from the movie, the book video images could be off putting when reading the story, as the characters looks and settings will be a combined result of the descriptions, and the readers’ imagination. But images that do not mess with such specifics and instead reflect the message, topic, or plot are perfect as a preview of a book, because it helps us to visualize in a short time the content of the book. • Background music and narrator’s voice – The sound allows the possible reader to feel the mood of the story. Is it thrilling? Mysterious? Romantic? • Finally, but not least is the script of the slides or voice narration. Here is where we learn what the book is all about, and other information like endorsements, Author website, and where to get the book. What is awesome about book videos is that we get all the above information in one minute or less! Check out some book videos we included here by clicking on the cover!
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Book Videos on this page were provided by https://www. youtube.com/user/ReaderViews - For information on how to place your bookvideo here email us at admin@firstchapterplus.com
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Featured Authors Ari Loeb Ari Loeb spent much of his life traveling as a circus artist. Now he lives in Los Angeles and works as a stuntman, specializing in creature horror such as Zombieland, Fear The Walking Dead, and the Resident Evil video games. He also writes books.
College student Jimmy Johannsen returns to his small hometown, only to find it’s been overrun with death, chaos and strange rumors. Now with his shocked, hayseed mother under his arm, Jimmy must defend himself against a storm of horrors, as well as the town’s dwindling survivors, who’s history adds up to a deadly sum of guns, conspiracy, and bad blood. Welcome to Thunder, Arizona – a small town with a big nuclear secret.
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Thunder, AZ Ari Loeb Abandoned House (2021) ISBN 9781736993934 Tradeback - 186 pages - $16.00 Fiction - Horror / SciFi
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cracked carnival of a book pendulum rides, freak shows, and the best damn shooting gallery. You'll gasp, grin, and line up for more.
— Glen Berger Emmy Award-winning author of "Song of Spider-Man"
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. ngrossing... Complete
annihilation... An unforgettable tale that hasn't been told before!
— Paige Lovitt Reader Views
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2021-2022 Reader Views Literary Award Gold Winner in the Horror category and The Jack Eadon Memorial Award.
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Auntie Oddity and the Vampire Neighbor By Frankie McDonald Outskirts Press (2021) - ISBN: 9781977245571 Fiction - Fantasy/Urban - Tradeback - 73 pages - $3.94 Witchy Hester Habbakuk had it all. After decades as sole curator of a nightmarish occult collection, she’s retired and celebrating with her young nephews. But something evil has moved in next door to her boys. To save them, she’ll risk it all, pitting her witch’s skills against a powerful immortal entity. From Florida to medieval Romania, Hester journeys through space and time to save her family and confront the evil that just won’t die.
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Beyond Pipe Dreams And Platitudes By Geraldine K. Piorkowski, Ph.D. Outskirts Press (2020) - ISBN 9781977227744 NonFiction-Self-Help-Popular Culture - 151 pages - Tradeback - $15.95 In this award-winning collection of essays (a 2021 CIPA EVVY winner), Dr. Geraldine K. Piorkowski shares what she learned working with people for over fifty years. In this provocative book, she asserts that positive thinking often does more harm than good, romantic love is basically an illusion, you can’t control anybody, vulnerability is more appealing than self-confidence, a bit of narcissism is healthy, and luck or chance affects success more than anyone thinks.
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Purest Mercy By Daniel Roberts Outskirts Press (2022) - ISBN: 9781977250001 Fiction-Romance-Christian - Tradeback - 305 pages - $21.95 A Miraculous Young Woman. A Night of Devastation. A Profound Sacrifice. And Gifts of Healing and Hope. Mercy does not even have a name to call her own, until she arrives at a homeless shelter, sick and alone, setting in motion a chain reaction of miracles that will transform everyone around her. But the greatest Miracles are still to come...
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The Hunger Month By Jessamine Koch Outskirts Press (2020) - ISBN: 9781977209184 Fiction-Mystery-Detective - Tradeback - 421 pages - $23.95 There’s a place to get a second chance. How do you make a fresh start? Where do you go? And what if the danger you find there is worse than the trouble you left behind?
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Featured Authors Suzanne Simonetti
Suzanne Simonetti grew up in the New York suburbs just outside of the city. After earning a BS in marketing, she spent several years writing press releases, until she left her corporate job to focus on her passion for crafting fiction. She lives on Cape May Harbor with her husband. The Sound of Wings is her first novel.
A gripping, touching, and memorable portrait of three women rising above painful pasts to seize present opportunities and of friendships that grow, despite differences, to sustain and inspire. The novel is set on Cape May Island.
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The Sound of Wings Suzanne Simonetti She Writes Press (2021) ASIN B08F2BJP1N e-Book - 296 pages - $8.69 Fiction - Novel / Women
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story world so completely alive with characters so real, I can feel them breathing behind me.
— Caroline Leavitt New York Times best-selling author
R
. eminiscent of Alice Hoffman
in its elegant unfolding and sheer magic of its storytelling. — Mary Morris award-winning author
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* Silver Winner: Overall Best Fiction
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Happy Father’s Day!
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INSIDE SCO OP LIVE POD CAST OF THE MONTH Dr. Calvin James began his creative journey when he was nineteen. He taught himself how to play guitar, started writing music, and founded a record company, Climax Records, Inc. in 2001. He released his first album, “City” in 2004. Around 2011, he took an interest in writing and gradually shifted his focus away from music to writing children’s stories. Once he finished graduate school in 2018, he decided to share all the music and stories he had written and founded Calvin James Creates in 2019. The mission statement of his company is to share children’s stories, novels, and music that promote the values of truth, kindness, friendship, love, and hope. The first two music videos released under the Calvin James Creates brand were “Hurricane” on October 16th, 2020 and “Listless Christmas” on December 4th, 2020. The first children’s book that will be released is “The Colored Water Fountain” on December 1st, 2021. To learn more about Dr. Calvin James and his work, visit his website at https://calvinjamescreates.com/.
Click Here To Listen to Podcast Topics of Conversation • Creating a series for children about social issues from a different perspective • Building a world outside our reality to show how crazy the concept of judging someone by their skin color is • Diversity in children's books • Favorite books and inspiration • Music, Children's Books and Novels • What's next?
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Featured Authors Frederick Reynolds Frederick Douglass Reynolds is a retired LA County Sheriff ’s homicide sergeant. He was born in Rocky Mount, Virginia, and grew up in Detroit, Michigan before joining the US Marine Corps in 1979. After a brief stint in Okinawa, Japan, he finished out his military career in southern California and ultimately became a police officer with the Compton police department. He worked there from 1985 until 2000 and then transferred to the sheriff ’s department where he worked an additional seventeen years, retiring in 2017 with over seventy-five commendations. He lives in Southern California with his wife, Carolyn, and their daughter Lauren and young son, Desmond. They have six other adult children and nine grandchildren.
This book is far more than just “cop stories”; it is a looking glass into life in ways that had not been thought of before. , The author set out on a path of destruction, living on the streets, dealing with drugs and gangs, and even ending up in jail before an unlikely career as a police officer in Compton, California. As a Black man who found himself on both sides of the law, the author offers a truly unique perspective to readers, showing the intricacies of how society works in different ways for different situations. No matter what someone’s gender, race, or political views are, any reader will be able to take these life experiences and learn the reality of racism and policing in America through the author’s lenses.
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Black, White, And Gray All Over Frederick Reynolds Mindstirmedia (2021) ISBN 9781638485216 Tradeback - 395 pages - $16.99 Nonfiction - Memoir / Law Enforcement / Black / African
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n intimate, sharply written account of one cop's perseverance in a broken system...Get it . — Kirkus Reviews
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worthwhile, eye-opening read! — Book Excellence
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* Silver Winner: Overall Best Non-Fiction
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BAREFO OT LIBRARIAN CORNER Eve Panzer reviews books for Reader Views Kids as well as her own business, Barefoot Librarian. Monthly she publishes the Barefoot Librarian Newsletter. She sells children’s books published by Barefoot Books and Usborne Books & More at book fairs, educational conferences, community events, and online. She earned her Masters in Library and Information Science from the University of Texas in Austin and worked as a school librarian before retiring to start her own business. www.barefootlibrarian.com Eve Panzer
PRIDE and Prejudice
I know I sound like a broken record writing so often about inclusiveness. But I see it as a big issue, so I keep coming back to it. June is PRIDE month, and while strides have been made in accepting a person's sexual orientation, there is still too much prejudice and hatred. I think this prejudice and hatred stem from fear of the unknown. I believe that most people who fear LGBTQIA+ don't personally know anyone who identifies as LGBTQIA+. Understanding comes when we allow ourselves to know one another as fellow human beings. We have so much in common, and our stories all come from being human. It is not always possible to meet with people face-to-face, so books are valuable resources to help us learn about others. However, the removal of books that have LGBTQIA+ characters is happening at an alarming rate. This limits access children have to books that serve as windows to see into and learn about others and mirrors to see themselves and reaffirm their identity. So please proudly display LGBTQIA+ books at your bookstore, library, and classroom this month. Below are a few titles that I recommend. I would be remiss if I did not mention the horrific school shooting in Texas, the state where I reside. As adults, it isn't easy to process, but for kids, it is overwhelming. They don't have the life experiences or words necessary to deal with this. This is where picture books can be of such value. It shows children how other children have managed their feelings during times of loss and tragedy. I will recommend a few titles, but other wonderful ones are available Eve - Barefoot Librarian
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THE BAREFO OT LIBRAIAN B O OKS OF THE MONTH Twas the Night Before Pride By Joanna McClintick Candlewick Press (2022)
(Children - Family - LGBTQ) - ISBN: 9781536213430 Hard cover - 32 pages - $16.73
* Through rhyming text and bright colors, this cheerful book handles the concept of PRIDE in a fun, gentle, age-appropriate, and inclusive way. This Day in June By Gayle E. Pitman Magination Press (2014)
(4 - 5 years old - Family) - ISBN: 9781433816581
Hard cover - 40 pages - $14.83
* Spare rhyming text and exuberant, colorful illustrations tell the story of a PRIDE parade. Named one of the Top 11 Most Challenged Books of 2018 by the American Library Association. All of a Sudden and Forever By Chris Barton Carolrhoda Books ®; Illustrated edition (2020)
Children’s Books on Violence - ISBN: 9781433816581 Hard cover - 40 pages - $16.86
* “…important to me was the opportunity to give my audience some insight into how individuals and families and communities—maybe even some of my readers themselves—respond to tragedy and grief. I wanted to show what recovery looks like, how far into the future that process might last…” Chris Barton After the Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again)
By Dan Santat Roaring Brook Press (2017)
Children’s Fairy Tales & Folklore - ISBN: 9781626726826 Hard cover - 40 pages - $17.66
* How Humpty Dumpty overcomes his debilitating fear after his fall.
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Featured Authors Conor Mitchell Conor Mitchell was born in October of 1994 and raised in the suburbs just outside of Baltimore, MD. Growing up, he had gained a fascination with photography and videography. In 2007, while visiting his uncle in Palo Alto, CA, Conor experienced the city of San Francisco for the very first time. From the minute he got on the plane back to Baltimore, he never stopped talking about his plan to eventually move back to the city he fell in love with after only one visit. Conor started his own YouTube channel, Dragon Rider Network, in October of 2008, dedicated to discussing technology news and tech product reviews. In September of 2018, nearly 11 years after his first visit to the city, he would travel 3000 miles over four days by train to his new home of San Francisco, CA. Although Conor was unsure what he was so drawn to the city for expressly, he knew he had a purpose of serving, and San Francisco was the key to this purpose. With all he had experienced with COVID-19 and the last several months of his time in the city, documenting one of the most historical times in world history could very well have been his calling. On March 16th, 2020, San Francisco announced that it would be instituting a ShelterIn-Place to help combat the spread of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. It was the first major metropolitan area in California and the United States to enact such an action. Yet, throughout those first 100 days, Conor Mitchell, a photographer and videographer living in downtown San Francisco, found himself alone in the city he had called home for just 18 months. Taking as many pictures as he could, Conor curated a collection of photos in this book to best illustrate what a total lockdown in one of the most famous cities in the world looked like. 40
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Lockdown By Conor Mitchell NonFiction -Photography / Photojournalismold) Outskirts Press (2021) ISBN 9781977241160 Tradeback - 84 pages - $29.95 But the street would not stay quiet for long. Aside from the pandemic itself, San Francisco was one of many cities that hosted a string of protests that swept through the country fueled by the death of George Floyd. As a result, the city saw empty city streets become filled with protestors and even scenes of civil unrest. It felt as though the entire country was beginning to pull itself apart.All of these photos present how uncertain things were for San Francisco at the time, but they also paint a picture of how uncertain the city’s future could be as well. Wherever we may be in history relative to the pandemic and protests, Conor hopes these photos will act as a force for change. He hopes that some action will result in a better future for us after dealing with this pandemic, a summer of revolutionary protests, and what feels to be a lifetime of uncertainty. * Overall Best Non-Fiction Bronze Winner
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Featured Authors Wally Jones Wally Jones is a first-time author. He is also fully dyslexic. It wasn’t until his late twenties, and after dozens of tests for physical disabilities and learning disorders, that it was discovered he was missing the fundamental ability to encode and decode word phonics. Reading and writing simply wasn’t possible for him. He subsequently spent many years building a comprehensive Sight Vocabulary and is now considered to be fully compensated. However, dyslexia still causes him many problems. Though he continues to struggle with reading and writing, Sam the Chosen serves as testament that all challenges can be overcome.
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The attacks changed everything. Life would never be the same. So much carnage, and yet the enemy was never seen. Not even once. The truth is, humanity had no chance. You can’t fight what you can’t see. Sam tries to return to a normal life after the attacks end, but constant reminders and paranoia feed the need for protection at all times. The desire to run, that internal voice triggering the urgency to escape this harsh world, is very real. Now an ill-fated camping trip will show Samantha just how deep the peril goes. Swept up in a new reality, she gains a deeper understanding of the way the world operates. For Sam, there is no returning to her old life. Sam is now Chosen.
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Sam the Chosen Wally Jones Koehler Books (2021) ISBN 9781646634545 Tradeback - 271 pages - $19.99 Fiction - Fantasy/Epic
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n entertaining, well-crafted debut that challenges humankind's stewardship of the planet. — Kirkus Review
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.ally Jones respects
his readers and know how to take us to the conflict in his opening paragraph. Sam the Chosen is a page-turner, taking its readers to a time and place they will never forget. — Mary Ellen/Gavin
Literary Agent
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2021-2022 Reader Views Literary Awards Overall Gold Prize Winner Winner in the Fantasy category B.A. Bellec’s Production Studio Marketing Package The Author Marketing Experts Award for Best Debut Fiction Best Southesast Region -Regional Award Winner Best North America - Global Award Winner 43
FIRST CHAPTER PLUS Connecting Readers to Indie Books www.firstchapterplus.com
Published by I Have Something to Say Press e-magazine . June 2022 volume 13 . issue 6
