First Chapter Plus e-Magazine - October 2022 Issue

First Chapter Plus

creative director/graphic designer Susan Violante

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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.

Published by I Have Something To Say Press 11900 Jollyville Rd. #201673 Austin, Texas 78759.

Editor’s Note

Susan Violante - Managing Editor

Born and raised in Venezuela of Italian immigrants, Susan completed a BA in Political Science and Business Administration before moving to the US . Al though she built a career as a Business Analyst/Ac countant, 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 edi tion: 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, Ari anna and Nicolette, and caregiver to her father. She enjoys cooking, reading, knitting, painting, writing, gardening, and any outdoor activity.

Trick Or Read

There are so many things I love about Halloween. The cutest trick-or-treaters goblins, the Halloween baking competitions on TV, the costume parties…But my favorite is the new spooky reads! I would be lying if I didn’t say that Stephen King and JK Rowling’s are my favorite Spooky/Fantasy authors. I already got King’s newest “Fairytale! But I have also found awesome Indies worth to keep in my library through the 12 years I have been reviewing books for Reader Views. Below are few:

• Requiem for a Queen by Kaylin McFarren

• Pulse by B.A. Bellec

• It Took Billy by Miguel Lopez de Leon

• The Lot Next Door by Arthur Mills

• Scarlet Reign: Malice of the Dark Witch R.D. Crist

• Between Witches & Angels: Romance Suspense by T N Traynor

• The After House by Michael Phillip Cash

• Stillwell: A Haunting on Long Island Michael Phillip Cash

This are just few So while you are waiting for the little goblins to come to your door Treat yourself an indie read that is sure to get you in the spooky mood of the season!

Table of

Contents

Page 02

Editor’s Note - Trick Or Read

Page 07

Book Reviews of the Month

Page 15

Roadmap to Book Placement in Book stores by Susan Violante

Page 21

Interview with Kaylin McFarren Author of “Requiem for a Queen”

Page27

ISL Podcast of the Month

Page 29 Book Videos

Page 37

A Culturally Diverse Take on Thanksgiving - Harvest Celebrations and Food by Barefoot Librarian

Trick or Treat!

Featured Books and 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 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 ReaderReyViews

This 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!

— Amazon Customer Review

For more information about Amy visit www.ausome-able.com.

This

who

meant

Amy Pflueger

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!

READER VIEWS BOOK OF THE MONTH

“ Read this novel if you dare – just make sure you read it with the lights on!”

By Zane Pinner

Studio Luck Dragon (2022)

Encore: The show must go on ISBN 9780645462708

Fiction - Occult/Horror

Reviewed by: Dawn Colclasure for Reader Views (10/2022)

Robin is a young man with ambitions of one day owning the theater that belongs to his Uncle David. He has spent years at the theater, either as a patron or employee, and knows the theater well. Or, it would turn out, not as well as he thought he did.

While Robin understands that there is something unusual going on in the theater with strange noises and ethereal sightings, he tries to convince himself that it’s actually nothing. Just a trick of the eye or imagination at work. Then one day the scares get a little too realistic, and Robin and his friends are soon trapped inside of a theater haunted by ghosts hungry for blood.

One would think with a haunted theater, what could go wrong? Well, in Robin’s case, plenty definitely could go wrong. Robin got used to the strange noises, the whispers, the sound of a woman crying, and seeing someone there one minute, then gone the next. Living in a haunted theater is something Robin has grown so accustomed to that he couldn’t imagine anything getting much worse than the mild haunts he has experienced. The problem is that Robin never took these harmless haunts very seriously. He understands that they are hap pening and that they are real, but not much else is done about them. And you know what happens when you let a bad situation continue: it will only get worse... I enjoyed reading this novel. The horror is not overdone and the scenes were realistic. It’s a good horror novel and I would recommend “Encore” by Zane Pinner to readers who enjoy a good ghost story. Read this novel if you dare – just make sure you read it with the lights on!

Read complete review or visit www.readerviews.com.

READER VIEWS KIDS BOOK OF THE MONTH

By Michael J. Bowler

Published (2021)

-Teen/Young Adult - Ages 12 And Up

Reviewed by: Sheri Hoyte for Reader Views (09/2022)

Spoiler is the third and final book in The Healer Chronicles, an epic YA fantasy series by Michael J. Bowler. Gifted with supernatural powers, twins Alex and Andy have the capacity to control life and death, making them targeted assets by groups who want to use them to progress their own agendas. In this dynamic conclusion, Alex is being held prisoner by Ms. G., head of the Kalandrian cult and his former teacher.

A secret mountainside that hosts a gateway to another dimension, Alex is the key to opening that gateway and, though he refuses to cooperate, how long can he hold out when Ms. G threatens to harm everyone dear to him? It’s an epic battle of good versus evil, with the fate of humanity at stake... Cockroaches anyone? I don’t know about you, but they are strangely more frightening to me than any old demon, and Bowler has vividly fabricated one of the most horrific cockroach battle scenes ever. I’m almost sorry he is so good at his craft because I can’t unsee that event, though I’m sure it will thoroughly satisfy teens aged 16+ who have an appetite for such things. No “spoilers” in this review, I kept it vague on purpose. Though “Spoiler” can be enjoyed as an exciting standalone story, I strongly urge readers to start the series from the beginning. Trust me, you don’t want to miss a thing! As YA books go, this is by far the most exciting series I’ve read lately. I will say I’m going to miss these characters. Absolutely phenomenal. Read complete review or visit www.readerviews.com.

“Bowler has vividly fabricated one of the most horrific cockroach battle scenes ever!”

Featured Books and Authors

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 hand-written copy of each edi tion. 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.

For more information about Marcus visit www.chameleonsthebook.com/ midnight-flight-to-nuremberg/

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.

Ariveting

—Midwest Book Review

Nannini,

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

Midnight Flight To Nuremberg

By Marcus A. Nannini

on Amazon

World, An Imprint Of Pen & Sword Books (2021)

-

- Biography

Synopsis: 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.

Featured Books and 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.

For more information about Conor visit www.lockdownsf.squarespace.com/

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 Shelter-In-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.

Lockdown

By Conor Mitchell

Press (2021)

-

View on Amazon

NonFiction -Photography / Photojournalismold)

Synopsis: On March 16th, 2020, San Francisco announced that it would be instituting a Shelter-In-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. 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. Conor hopes these photos will act as a force for change.

I Have Something To Say Press was founded in 2013 and has been an unseen force behind Book by Book Publicity since then. Our mission is to promote the sharing of life lessons through story telling by focusing our publishing efforts to produce a high-quality product, as well as publishing independent authors to help them develop marketable books with the current available tools. Our program is based on providing options to writers. We offer affordable Print On Demand Publishing Packages; An a La Carte publishing services menu and the opportunity to win publication through an annual manuscript contes which will open

La Clave

By Marjorie L. Anderson

I Have something To Say Press (2021, 2022) - ISBN: 9780985430825

Nonfiction - Spanish/YA-Teen- Tradeback - 100 pages - $16.00

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 lo cal products and donating to help others. La Clave is the Spanish translation of Marjorie L. Anderson’s Reader Views Award winner “The Key.”

READ First Chapter

Becoming an Angel of Change

By Bineta Ngom

View on Amazon

I Have Something To Say Press (2021,2022) - ISBN 9781647751784

Nonfiction - Memoir / Self-Help-Tradeback - 186 pages - $16.00

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, read ers will be inspired to discover their strength, uniqueness, and purpose in her recent memoir “Becoming an Angel of Change.”

READ First Chapter View on Amazon

Mr. McCoodle Shares a Secret

By Melissa Kerry

Bookwrangler (2021) - ISBN 9781736603123

Fiction - Children/Early Reader (4-8yrs old)Hardcover - 25 pages - $15.99

Mr. McCoodle encourages children to identify their feelings and to dis cover different possibilities for expressing emotions. It is the story of a man who has feelings that he has a challenging time identifying and expressing. He eventually recognizes his feelings through the help of a fish friend. He identifies his emotions and is able to feel his feelings while joining his friend on a ride.

READ First Chapter View on Amazon

ROADMAP TO BOOK PLACEMENT

For indies it is hard enough to finally convince a bookstore Could it be even possible to get a good placement for

1Make sure your book has the book return option through your pub lisher. Without that bookstores won’t carry it unless you agree to buy them back from them if they don’t sell. Also, that the publisher will sell wholesale to stores at 60% discount.

6Keep track of all the bookstores, their point of contacts, and procedures in a spreadsheet. It is important that you also update the information and keep it current.

2Visit your local bookstores out the displays the same genre of yours. events program and local authors events. they pick the books not a customer, become to have an established the store before you

*Finally, cultivate a relationship with your point of contact and other employees of each store you tar get and keep the door open for any other book you come up with!

5Follow up on your pitch polite and kind. offer yourself filler if any other scheduled signing cancels out. You want across as helpful. You can about what is the process be able to have a speaking their store or sign up for any thor promoting event. Let you are open for consignment; publisher offers 60% and books turnable.

IN BOOKSTORES

bookstore to take your book in consignment. their book?

bookstores and check of other books from yours. Look at their and find out if they have events. Ask who and how books they sell. If you are become one! The idea is established relationship with you promote yourself.

pitch via email. Be yourself as a scheduled for a book want to come also inquire to follow to speaking event at any local authem know consignment; your books are re-

stores and bookstores chains pick their books from their preferred publisher houses’ distributor catalogues such as Ingram and Baker & Taylor. If you published POD, you most likely can list your book in their catalogues. Budget to be able to list a big ad on the distributor catalogue that your target bookstore uses and subscribe to get a copy of the issue your listing will run on.

3Indie

4After all your research you’re ready to pitch your book. Send to the bookstore’s purchaser or store manager via mail a copy of your book, a copy of the distributor catalogue listing you pur chased, book sell-sheet, and any marketing give away merchandise you have available (bookmarks, t-shirts...etc). along with your pitch letter. You want your letter to sound professional, personable, and have input on how you can promote your books at the store. Send it as priority mail so that you can track the package and note the delivery date.

Featured Books and Authors

Frederick Reynolds

Frederick Douglass Reynolds is a retired LA County Sheriff’s homi cide 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 ad ditional seventeen years, retiring in 2017 with over seventy-five commen dations. He lives in Southern Califor nia with his wife, Carolyn, and their daughter Lauren and young son, Desmond. They have six other adult children and nine grandchildren.

Synopsis: 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.

For more information about Frederick visit www.authorfrederickreynolds. com

Frederick Reynolds

Featured Books and Authors

Suzanne Simonetti

Suzanne Simonetti grewup in the New York sub-urbs just outside of thecity. After earning a BSin marketing, she spentseveral years writingpress releases, until sheleft her corporate job tofocus on her passion forcrafting fiction. She liveson Cape May Harborwith her husband. The Sound of Wings is herfirst novel.

For more information about Suzanne visit www.suzannesimonetti.com

Synopsis: A gripping, touching, and memorable prtrait 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.

Suzanne Simonetti

OF “REQUIEM FOR A QUEEN”

Kaylin McFarren has received more than 60 national literary awards, in addition to a prestigious RWA Golden Heart Award nomination for FLAHERTY’S CROSSING – a book she and her oldest daughter, New York Times/ USA Today best-selling author Kristina Mc Morris, co-wrote in 2008. Prior to embark ing on her writing journey and developing the popular THREADS psychological thriller se ries, she poured her passion for creativity into her work as the director of a fine art gallery in the Pearl District in Portland, Oregon; she also served as a governor-appointed member of the Oregon Arts

WHi Kaylin, welcome back to Reader Views! Tell us about your latest novel, Requiem for a Queen. Here’s the summary: In the Outer Rim of Hell, Lucin da continues to plot her father’s demise and her ascension to the throne. Believing Lucifer plans to bypass her as Hell’s next ruler, she kidnaps his new heir and has every intention of killing him. Meanwhile, Samara is faced with the threat of death for her part in an invasion. Her survival depends on revealing a dark secret, giving her no choice but to depend on Lucifer and his Tracker Demons. Ultimately, Samara’s journey to self-discovery instills in her the importance of family and friends, and reminds her that belief in the impossible is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen.

This is the third book in your Gehenna series. What was the inspiration behind the storyline of Requiem for a Queen? According to Perry Bysshe Shelley, “Power, like a disease, pollutes whatever it touches.” In other words, many characters in litera ture become corrupted because of their quest for power. I fully agree with Shelley that power “pollutes everything that it touches” because having too much power concentrated in the hands of one person leads to a dictatorship and has bad conse quences. This is the story about the battle for power and the negative effects that ultimately result.

Our reviewer said, “I love that while some of the flawed characters have redeeming qualities, others are completely wicked.” Are the heroines or villains more fun for you to write and why?

I love writing flawed, wicked characters because they often surprise you with their unexpected actions and hidden emotions. They also direct the story’s plot and twisted ending. Requiem for a Queen is a spectacular blend of horror, fantasy and supernatural thriller, What do you enjoy most about writing in these genres? There are no boundaries when you write outside the box. I like pushing the limit of disbelief, whether it be fastfetched fantasy or touchesbriefly on biblical references. I like testing expectations and morals, and have discovered that often readers enjoy this too. The Gehenna series is a bit of a departure from the mysteries you’ve written in the past. What kind of feedback have you received from readers? This is a “huge” departure from the deep-sea diving stories I’ve written but my readership have written positive comments and love the characters in my Gehenna series thus far. In fact, I’ve been told by a number of readers that they LOVE my villains and evil characters.

“..There you write

By Sheri Hoyte

You’re notorious for taking readers deep down rabbit holes, or in the case of this series, the depths of Hell. How do you come up with your plot twists and keep things fresh and new after writing so many stories? I simply let the villains take over, directing the storylines, while putting up roadblocks and complications for my main characters and heroes to overcome. My imagination is on a constant simmer, I suppose.

Read the complete interview with Kaylin McFarren.

are no boundaries when write outside the box...”

Featured Books and 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.

For more information about Ari visit www.ariloeb.com

Synopsis: 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.

Ari Loeb

Featured Books and 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 ri diculous cats. L.E.’s 2021 novel, BLUE, was named a 2021 SPARK Award win ner 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 Fa vorite – Teen, and was named 2021-22 Teen/YA Book of the Year by Reader Views Kids. Her debut novel, TRAV ELER, was a Keystone State Reading Association (KSRA) Secondary Book Awards Finalist for 2018-2019.

For more information about L.E. visit www.ledelano.com

Synopsis: Blue’s older brother was in volved 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.

By L.E. DeLano

on Amazon

Gaze Publishing (2021)

Tradeback - 233 pages - $10.99

Fiction - Young Adult (age 16+)

Blue 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 LovittReader Views Kids

Overall: 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

INSIDE SCOOP LIVE

PODCAST OF THE MONTH

BA. Bellec’s debut novel, Someone’s Story, won the Reader Views Reader’s Choice Literary Award for Young Adult Book of the Year. Someone’s Story is a young adult coming-of-age book and has seen good support over Instagram, YouTube, and Goodreads. One of the aspects that makes Bellec’s projects unique is he includes musicians in his novels and then he ac tually produces the songs as his book goes through the editing stages. Bellec was born in Richmond, BC, and raised in Langley, BC, before settling in Winnipeg. A self-starter always interested in research, he taught himself many of the aspects of storytelling through reading books, screenplays, and material online. It took many years after attending film school for him to finally combine his creative skills with his life experience and tell these sto ries he had been holding back. Follow him on social media or at babellec.com to stay in the loop on new projects.

Listen to Podcast Topics of Conversation

Pulse and writing in different genres

creature

art and working with Midnight Comics

Music and the original song, Perduto

Views Literary Awards Sponsorship

and more...

B.A. Bellec

The Lone Sailboat - Navigating in Political Waters

By Edward Korczynski

Outskirts Press (2021) - ISBN: 9781977243478

NonFiction - Religion/Christian Living - 80 pages - Tradeback - $16.95

Like an American Chesterton, Ed Korczynski has taken a hard look at our current moral environment, compared it to the one within which he grew up in the 1950s and 60s, and asked himself “What the heck happened?” In answer to the issues he raises, Korczynski proposes solutions inspired by his Catholic upbringing that have been effective throughout the Church’s 2,000-year history.

READ First Chapter View on Amazon

A Boy Named Malachi

By Ruth Broek

Outskirts Press (2022) - ISBN 9781977247223

NonFiction-Memoir - Family - 234 pages - Tradeback - $19.95

Mal was only six when he found he was not welcome to join his friends in their white school. He was shocked. Sad and confused, Malachi looked for answers. One Saturday, while planting pansies, he looked up to see Julie, a very serious little blonde six-year-old. They both agreed the flowers looked like kitten faces. And there began his friendship of many years with her whole family..... the one which gave birth to this book.

READ First Chapter View on Amazon

A Collection of Tiny Stories - Diminutive Tales from the Tip of My Imagination

By CK Sobey

Outskirts Press (2022) - ISBN: 9781737506133

Fiction-Short Stories - Tradeback - 63 pages - $17.95

A Collection of Tiny Stories: Diminutive Tales from the Tip of My Imagination presents prose and art that represent an inspirational celebration of the spirit, gathering “tiny” works “born out of moments of whimsy, mystery, and longing.” Add “and magic” to that list, because CK Sobey’s works employ a magical element that gather tales both fantastic and reflective into three sections: “Inspiring Odysseys,” “From the Heart,” and “Fanciful.”

READ First Chapter View on Amazon

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 vid eos that help make the decision to read the book but also gives me insight on its contents, improving in many cases, my reading experience.

BOOK VIDEOS

•

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 mes sage, 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 nar rator’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 nar ration. Here is where we learn what the book is all about, and other information like endorsements, Author website, and where to get the book.

•

“Sometimes 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”

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

The Crown of Sammuramat

By Mel Weiser

Nothing is more satisfying than a book snaring attention in its first pages until its final words. In pitting the mysteries of Ancient Assyria against the forces of contemporary America, this book carries a reader breath takingly from a shocking opening to a glorious and gratifying conclu sion. Enlightening. Imaginative. Hypnotic. A reading experience bringing smiles of satisfaction long after it has been put on a shelf. “The Crown Of Sammuramat”, a thriller to be remembered.

READ First Chapter

on

Movin’ and Groovin’ - A Saga of Calamity

By Oakley Taylor

Outskirts Press (2022) - ISBN: 9781977250513 NonFiction-Memoir - Tradeback - 344 pages - $23.95

In 1973, a young woman embarked on a westward venture to unknown destinations. From the beginning, her plans go awry as she learns how volatile the world could be. This story is a tale of resur rection. From the depths of loneliness and the hardship of destitu tion, came hidden strengths. Inspired by the kindness of strangers and guided by blind faith lies hope for light at the end of a dark and dreary tunnel.

READ First Chapter View on Amazon

Featured Books and 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 Imani Lewis at manitheauthor.com

Synopsis: 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.

Lewis

Sheri Hoyte

Featured Books and 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 contin ues to struggle with reading and writing, Sam the Chosen serves as testament that all challenges can be overcome.

For more information about Wallyvisit www.theprophecystoryline.com

Synopsis: The attacks changed everything. Life would never be the same. So much car nage, 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.

Sam

well-crafted debut that challenges humankind's stewardship of the planet.

—Kirkus Review

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

A CULTURALLY DIVERSE TAKE ON THANKSGIVING - HARVEST CELEBRATIONS AND FOOD

BY BAREFOOT LIBRARIAN

This time of year, the focus is already turning to Thanksgiving and Christmas, even though Halloween has not yet happened. October and November can be challenging times of the year. Columbus Day, which occurred a few days ago, is problematic because of the nature of the legacy of Columbus. Thirteen states no longer observe Columbus Day, and many choose to celebrate Indigenous Native Day. Also, since November has been named National Native American Month, it is often the only time of year many educational institutions include Native Americans in their lessons.

I have addressed this issue over the years and have come to a few conclusions. Teaching about Native Americans should be part of the curriculum throughout the school year. And when creating lessons that include Na tive Americans, it is essential to use materials vetted and authenticated by a Native American, preferably someone in the field of education. (Debbie Reese, the creator of American Indians in Children’s Literature, is an extremely reli able source that I rely on heavily and highly recommend.)

I happened to be looking at photos of my Irish sPerhaps focusing on just the harvest ing of crops and food would be an interesting change of pace. After all, Thanksgiving was all about the harvesting and receipt of crops, which provided lifesaving food. Last month I wrote about worldwide holidays that honored and celebrated departed family members,

and now it seems fitting to discuss worldwide celebrations of harvesting food. It is another beautiful opportunity to introduce children to other cultures. Barefoot Books has just pub lished an excellent book for ages 4-8, called Harvest Days: Giving Thanks Around the World, recommended below, which includes harvest traditions and foods.

Instead of traditional Thanksgiving foods, have a feast with foods from around the world. Here are two books that do a lovely job of introduc ing foods from around the world: What’s On Your Plate: Exploring the World of Food (which includes foods and recipes from 14 countries ) and My food, Your Food If you do want to add a Native American aspect to your discussion of food, an excellent book for this is Fry Bread A Native American Family Story, which includes a recipe for fry bread. Dumpling Day, recommend below, reflects how so many cultures have dumpling-type foods featuring recipes from ten countries. There are endless possi bilities.

With many celebrations and holidays happening at this time of year, there are many opportunities to learn and teach about other cultures —more about that next month.

Eve Panzer reviews books for Reader Views Kids as well as her own business, Barefoot Librarian. Monthly she publishes the Barefoot Librar ian Newsletter. She sells children’s books published by Barefoot Books and Usborne Books & More at book fairs, educational conferences, com munity events, and online. She earned her Masters in Library and Infor mation Science from the University of Texas in Austin and worked as a school librarian before retiring to start her own business.

barefootlibrarian.com

Dumpling Day

Written by Meera Srirame and Illustrated by Inés de Antuñano

Publisher: Barefoot Books (2021)

ISBN: 9781646862818

Children-4-12 years old-Hardcover - $17.99

Adiverse community potluck brings together neighbors from ten countries to share their cultural versions of the dumpling. A beautiful rhyming book about celebrating our commonali ties and uniqueness. Endnotes include dumpling recipes from India, China, Nigeria, Japan, Israel, Mexico, Syria, Russia, Italy, and the U.S. and a map depicting these regions.

Harvest Days: Giving Thanks Around the World

Written by Kate DePalma and Illustraded Martina Peluso

Publisher: Barefoot Books (2022)

ISBN: 9781646866267

Children-2-6 years old-Paperback - $17.99

Detailed illustrations full of color and warmth are paired with lyrical, rhyming text in this timely title. Harvest traditions from 12 cultures are introduced. Endnotes give details of celebrations from South Ko rea, Poland, India, Bolivia, Ghana, Barbados, Morocco, Liberia, Iran, Spain, and Germany. A springboard for discussions about different foods, food production, and giving thanks.