First Chapter Plus - June 2021 Issue by firstchapterplus

FIRST CHAPTER PLUS New Book Video!

Are you a Book Geek?

A BOOK FOR DAD

Kick Off Your Summer with Some Contemporary! The Barefoot Librarian Corner

T C

O N

F S

Are you a Book Geek? Page 4 Featured Books and Authors Page 3 Inside Scoop Live Podcast of the Month Page 25 Kick Off Your Summer with Some Contemporary! Page 10 Interview withStephanie Teer Author of “I...Am...Cheetah!: The Gift” Page 18

Indie Books! Pages 6-7-8 11-12-4 -22- 23-24-28-29 Book Videos Page 20-21 The Barefoot Librarian Corner Page 26-27

FIRST CHAPTER PLUS

Table of Contents - Featured Books and Authors

14 Someone’s Story by B.A. Bellec As he struggles to ﬁnd a new footing in a new space, we encounter the many ups and downs of modern teenage life, the diﬃculties that adjusting to adult feelings bring, and a few tear-jerking surprises along the way. The endearing debut novel from B.A. Bellec is a coming-ofage story you won’t forget anytime soon.

8 Kevin Kunkel Author of “The World We Choose” Kevin Kunkel believes people are good. He hopes his books help unlock that goodness. He lives in Minnesota with his wife and two boys, which means he can never see a movie featuring snow without commenting that “Hollywood doesn’t understand real cold.” Kevin is a former stand-up comedian who is fully committed to fixing the screen door by fall or next spring at the latest.

FIRST CHAPTER PLUS

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 2021 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 8650 Spicewood Springs Rd. - Ste 145-178 Austin, Texas 78759.

Are You a Book Geek?

ccording to Wikipedia: “The 1975 edition of the American Heritage Dictionary, published a decade before the Digital revolution, gave only one definition: Geek [noun, slang]. A carnival performer whose act usually consists of biting the head off a live chicken or snake." I am definitely not that type of geek! But per Urban Dictionary Book Geek is “like Book Nerd but way cooler.” I will use this definition for this article. Growing up with a mother and older brother book addicts gave me an appreciation for reading and an open mind for genres, as my reading list was most times created by their hand me downs. During that time (as a teenager) I needed to be discrete about my love for reading and books in general if I wanted to be perceived as cool. But my excitement for some books would always give me away in school when they turned into homework! As I grew up, I discovered my own preferences which only increased my passion for books. It was then when I began collecting and creating my own library. But did that make me a book geek? I’m not sure it did. As the daughter of WWII Italian survivors, I feel gratitude to the American soldiers who gave their lives to stop the insanity of Fascism and Nazism in Europe. Even though I am a pacifist as I have heard all the horrible war stories from my parents and grandparents firsthand accounts; I know that diplomacy sometimes fails. In these cases, we must always support and honor our soldiers regardless of how we feel about the conflict. I think that what makes me a Book geek is not the number of books I read or the size of my book collection. It is the passion for reading. The contagious enthusiasm for books. The uncontrollable desire to share what I read with others. So what do you think…Are you a Book Geek?

Gifts of Grace Cynthia Bowen Floyd Outskirts Press (2021) - ISBN 9781977239389 Tradeback - 95 pages - $13.95 Losing a child is one of the most difficult things imaginable, but in all things, we all have the promise from our most Precious Savior....Jesus, that absolutely nothing can be truly separated from us, be it a child, a family member or even a true friend that has left this earthly life. We can rest in assurance, redeeming hope and consolation from the Book of Truth; the Bible.

READ First Chapter

View on Amazon

BEYOND PIPE DREAMS AND PLATITUDES Geraldine K. Piorkowski, Ph.D. Outskirts Press (2020) - ISBN 9781977227744 Tradeback - 151 pages - $15.95 In this eye-opening collection of essays, Dr. Geraldine K. Piorkowski shares what she learned working with people from different socioeconomic levels, races, sexual orientations, and walks of life. Besides reaffirming that all people are fundamentally the same, she discovered many psychological realities that run counter to popular culture.

READ First Chapter

View on Amazon

Lake of the Cedars Patricia Spencer Outskirts Press (2020) - ISBN 9781977213464 Tradeback - 604 pages - $30.95 Rebecca Smally knows that she has a complex family history. In some ways, it’s typical of the American melting pot, with ancestors who came from England and Germany at the turn of the century, looking for new opportunities and a different life. But in other ways, they are anything but typical.

READ First Chapter

View on Amazon

FIRST CHAPTER PLUS

Stone Fever By Norman Westhoff Fiction - Young Adult / Science Fiction / Apocalyptic & Post-Apocalyptic Iguana Books (2020) ISBN 9781771804561 Tradeback - 386 pages - $25.10

ne of the things which I particularly enjoyed about this novel was how direct the narrative was, making it so easy to fall into the story. With Keltyn you feel as though the story is being told to you by an old friend, and young adult audiences will be sure to respond to the immediacy of being immersed in these excellent settings... Stone Fever is a high quality read for YA and adult science fiction fans everywhere...

— K.C. Finn Readers' Favorite

tone Fever is a clever blend of two civilizations in a sci-fi action adventure for young adults but I don’t think the audience is limited to that age group. It’s an action-packed journey that will be enjoyed by all age groups and I look forward to the next book in this new series.

— Amy (age 16) Reader Views Kids

Synopsis: Radical climate change has reshaped human geography by the 24th century. Geologist Keltyn Sparrow Hawk flies to ice-free Antarctica to scout for iridium, and encounters a tribe of nomads. She befriends Luz, a young horsewoman, also searching for the iris stone, from which her mother makes jewelry. Despite warnings, they climb a nearby volcano to find the stone, but mortal perils await on the mountain and with the tribe. 7

Read First Chapter Here View on Amazon Here

FIRST CHAPTER PLUS

Featured Authors Kevin Kunkel Kevin Kunkel believes people are good. He hopes his books help unlock that goodness. He lives in Minnesota with his wife and two boys, which means he can never see a movie featuring snow without commenting that “Hollywood doesn’t understand real cold.” Kevin is a former stand-up comedian who is fully committed to fixing the screen door by fall or next spring at the latest.

Winner of The Book By Book Award for Best Children’s Picture Book 2020/2021 - focuses on the good things about our planet and encourages—and empowers!—kids to make our future even brighter. Cable news often reports on the bad things that happen every day, but we can choose a positive story and make it a reality. This uplifting children’s book reminds us all that we can choose a better world.

View Book Video Here

FIRST CHAPTER PLUS

The World We Choose By Kevin Kunkel Kevin Kunkel (2020) ISBN 9781643438962 Hard Cover - 24 pages - $17.95 Fiction - Early Reader (5-7 years old)

ngaging, relevant, and fun. "The World We Choose" made a timely appearance and shines a much-needed light on the positive in our world.... — Eve Panzer Barefoot Librarian

ncouragement, inspiration, and positive vibes fill these pages and remind that life is full of hope and just as many good things (if not more) than bad. — Tonja Dreckerw Bookworm for Kids

Read First Chapter Here

View on Amazon Here

FIRST CHAPTER PLUS

KICK OFF YOUR SUMMER WITH SOME CONTEMPORARY! By Skyler Boudreau

ummertime is usually the season I have the least amount of time to read during. I work at a local summer camp and, while it’s a lot of fun, it’s exhausting and takes up a huge chunk of time. As a result, I usually prioritize the books I have to review during that limited reading time. When I do find the time to read for pleasure, I usually prefer lighter, quicker reads as opposed to the larger books I read during the rest of the year. Maybe it’s just me, but I have a tough time reading fantasy and sci-fi during the summer. While speculative fiction is my favorite genre by far, it’s very much a winter genre. Summer is a season that seems more for contemporaries. Today, I would like to offer you three recommendations! "Eliza and Her Monsters" by Francesca Zappia is a novel I believe I first read during the winter. Despite that, it’s definitely a great novel to kick off your summer reading with. It follows Eliza Mirk, the shy, anonymous creator of the highly successful web comic Monstrous Sea. She tries desperately to keep her identity a secret, but when it is accidentally revealed, her life changes drastically. I love novels about writers and artists, and this one is a wildly creative, interesting read! If "Eliza and Her Monsters" is not quite to your taste, then maybe "The Universe Versus Alex Woods" by Gavin Extence will be. When main character Alex Woods was a child, he was struck by a falling meteorite. This extraordinary event is merely the beginning of an eventful life. This novel is both poignant and heart-breaking. Despite being published in 2013, Extence raises questions that are still considered controversial among modern readers today. If you want a story that will make you think about what it means to choose your own fate, then this is the novel for you.. This last recommendation is a little different from the previous two. "In Real Life" is a graphic novel by Cory Doctorow and illustrated by Jen Wang. I read it just a few weeks ago after I fell in love with the art style. In Real Life is about a young girl named Anda who begins playing Coarsegold, a MMORG after being introduced to it by a speaker visiting her school who is attempting to inspire more female gamers. The love that went into both writing this story and illustrating it is obvious throughout the book. Watching Anda making new friends and learning to navigate right and wrong will make you smile. It’s a feel-good story and makes a fantastic beach read.

FIRST CHAPTER PLUS

Summer is definitely my least favorite season. I dislike the heat and I would take my New England winters every day if I never had to have another summer. However, even I have to admit that there’s something nice about reading a book outside without shivering. Hopefully these three books will help you kick off your own summer reading!

View on Amazon Here

LISTEN to Sample Here

FIRST CHAPTER PLUS

Featured Authors Sandra Brown Lindstedt Sandra Brown Lindstedt was born and raised on the south-side of Chicago. As a black girl growing up in poverty, with virtually no role models, she struggled. But with the help of her grandmother’s abiding faith in God and in her, she graduated from Lewis & Clark College with a bachelor’s degree in Theatre and English. Today she resides in Gothenburg, Sweden, with her husband Christer, working as the drama director for Smyrna International.

Sandy has an invisible secret weapon. It’s activated by her grandmother to ward off the evil she’d face, moving to Chicago to live with her mother. Though it was tiny, it was the most powerful thing in the Universe. When darkness was out of control, it was strong enough to turn a bully like Gorilla Girl into her friend. It was the Firefly. If she could keep it glowing inside her, she could conquer anything..

FIRST CHAPTER PLUS

Life of a Firefly By Sandra Brown Lindstedt Fiction - Juvenile / Young Reader (8-12 years old) Independently published by Sandra Brown Lindstedt(2020) ISBN 9798679133327 Tradeback - 157 pages - $9.85

andra Brown-Lindstedt says simply and ingenuously that it is “particularly suited for ages 8–12.” I’m afraid that’s like saying To Kill A Mockingbird is at heart a children’s book just because it’s narrated by a child. So is Life of a Firefly. But the child, a young girl named Sandy Forte, is every bit the storyteller and every bit as literate as Scout. This book is every whit as powerful, as emotive, and as profoundly evocative and compelling as its more-famous classic cousin. Sandy Forte is one of the most appealing characters ever to appear in contemporary fiction. — Joel R. Dennstedt Readers’ Favorite I loved this book! When I first picked it up I was afraid it would be too “young” for me but Sandy is a character that captured my attention immediately and I soon found myself taking any chance I could to break away from everything and read. Sandy is hilarious and had me laughing out loud throughout the whole book. Her personality is as big as life – she says what’s on her mind and that often gets her into trouble, but sometimes it’s her inner thoughts that are the funniest. — Amy C. Reader Views Kids

Read First Chapter Here View on Amazon Here

FIRST CHAPTER PLUS

Featured Authors B.A. Bellec A graduate of Lights Film School and a proud recipient of a grant from The Canada Council for the Arts, B.A. Bellec has shown a knack for utilizing his skills and background to cast a wide net and attract talented partners. He has completed two very different novels and produced an eclectic mix of songs to accompany them. Come find him on YouTube, Twitter, or Instagram to keep up-to-date with his projects.

Someone’s Story is literally Someone’s story, as in a first-person narrative of a teenager that calls himself Someone.

As he struggles to ﬁnd a new footing in a new space, we encounter the many ups and downs of modern teenage life, the diﬃculties that adjusting to adult feelings bring, and a few tear-jerking surprises along the way. The endearing debut novel from B.A. Bellec is a coming-of-age story you won’t forget anytime soon.

FIRST CHAPTER PLUS

Someone’s Story B.A. Bellec B.A. Bellec (2020) ASIN B089M43TS2 eBook - 328 pages - $3.99 Fiction - YA-16

A. Bellec has crafted a masterpiece of emotive and well-rounded young adult fiction.

— K.C. Finn Author

. A. Bellec has truly created

a masterpiece that deserves worldwide recognition, awards and so much more.

— Rebecca Ryan Reedsy

Read First Chapter Here View on Amazon Here

FIRST CHAPTER PLUS

READER VIEWS B O OK OF THE MONTH If It Rains By Jennifer L. Wright Fiction - Historical Tyndale House Publishers (2021) ISBN 9781496456847 Reviewed by: Ashley Hooker for Reader Views (06/2021)

f It Rains is the story of two sisters, Melissa and Kathryn, whose bond is unbreakable. Melissa and Kathryn have been living in Oklahoma with their Pa during the time of the Dust Bowl. Melissa marries Henry Mayfield and moves from a dugout home to a grand house with walls that are sealed from the dust. Kathryn is still young and lives with a clubfoot, guilt over the death of her mother, and anger toward her stepmother Helen. Pa and Helen do what many people during the Dust Bowl did. They chose to move...The plot of “If It Rains” centers on a dust storm that leaves Kathryn stranded and separated from her Pa and Helen. Kathryn is a girl I can relate to. She is determined to get to Indianapolis no matter what. She has a grit and determination that only someone who has lived a hard life can have. Her journey consists of men who betray her and help her, long walks, horseback riding, and jumping a train...Melissa’s story drives home the idea that some things are not what they seem. We can have big dreams and see the best in people. We can try our hardest to please everyone, especially those we love. Even with all our hard work, we can’t make people love us back. What I truly loved about this story is how Kathryn describes her family and the people of Oklahoma. She says, “We can either shine in the dark or be overcome by it. Sometimes shining means staying. Other times shining means going. But it never means quit...” Jennifer Wright has crafted a beautiful story with historical references to the Dust Bowl. I appreciate the way she has brought fact and fiction together. Her story reminds us that home is not just a place. It is a feeling that can’t be described. A sense of peace we can’t understand. To read complete review click here or visit www.readerviews.com.

FIRST CHAPTER PLUS

READER VIEWS KIDS B O OK OF THE MONTH The Goblin Pitcher By Paul Lonardo Young Reader - Ages 8 TO 12 PL Publishing (2021) ISBN 9781736701621 Reviewed by Grady D. (age 8) for Reader Views Kids (6/21)

he Goblin Pitcher by Paul Lonardo is an amazing book with intriguing characters and plots that are just phenomenal! It tells the story of 11-year-old Jake Lupo, who accidentally stumbles across the goblin world. When Jake constructs a fort out of magical Rowan wood, he creates a portal to the goblin world, allowing Buach (Bw-a-ch), the evil, baseball-hating goblin king, to kidnap his mother, and replace her with a doppelganger. Jake has no choice but to challenge Buach to an epic baseball game, with his mother’s life and the game of baseball at stake. I loved the plot, which is very intriguing, especially Jake’s mom being kidnapped, because that adds the question, will Jake be able to save her? I also loved the characters, especially Ruadhan, who is a shapeshifter, which makes him pretty interesting. Jake is also really cool, especially when you learn that he is the only one with the power to win this war. It also turns out he is an otherkin, someone who has goblin blood from both sides! Can you imagine talking to someone and them saying, “Hey, did I mention you’re part goblin?” A connection I can make between this book and real life is how at the end, Jake ends up playing on a baseball team, and in real life I play in a youth soccer league! I can understand the pressure he feels, because when I’m on the field, and my team is down, I feel pressure to score! In the end, Jake learns not to doubt his abilities but to believe in himself, which is a message I can bring on the field. I would recommend this book to 8-10-year-olds. Anyone who loves baseball is sure to love it, but even if you’re not a fan of baseball, the book is full of adventure, and fantasy elements that you’re sure to enjoy! In conclusion, “The Goblin Pitcher” by Paul Lonardo is a spectacular book with a very interesting plot and a very good author. This is an awesome book for kids who like sports, adventure, and fantasy! I hope you like the review! Be sure to check the book out and enjoy the hours of fun and great reading!

To read more reviews click here or visit www.readerviewskids.com.

FIRST CHAPTER PLUS

INTERVIEW WITH STEPHANIE TEER AUTHOR OF “I...AM...CHEETAH!: THE GIFT”

The Wild Animal Kids Club. The kids soon discover that the power of their imagination and ability to believe that anything is possible opens up a magical portal where they can interact with real live animals. The fun part of the secret club is that the animals are only visible to them. The kids learn that even with the wonder of magic, there is great responsibility. Especially, when the cheetahs run into the soccer’s team net by accident. The kids soon learn that they need to find the courage and the wildlife warrior within themselves to help save the cheetahs. But most importantly, they must find a way to stand up for what they believe in and be proud of who they are. It’s a fun and engaging story for young readers and for older struggling readers. What inspired you to write this story? I wrote this book for my youngest son as a gift. I wanted to write a fictional story that would motivate him to read. At the time, my son hadn’t discovered his love for cheetahs and anything to do with Africa. But he was

tephanie Teer truly believes that a child’s imagination is magical. When her son fell in love with wild animals, she began searching for fictional books that portrayed his favorite animal—The Cheetah! After her search came up empty, she decided to write her first book, I…am… Cheetah! for her son as a gift. It was a gift, which soon turned into The Wild Animal Kids Club series. Hi Stephanie, welcome to Reader Views Kids! Tell us, what is “I...Am...Cheetah!” about? I like to describe my story as an enchanting story of five kids who love wild animals. Three siblings, The Cedillo family, and their friends attend their community Park Day at Safari Park every week. The day starts out like most days, but the little sister runs into a situation where she encounters the park bully, captain of the girl’s soccer team, who thinks that all kids who love animals are a bunch of geeks and nerds. This sparks, the oldest brother, to share a magical secret and create a special club, 18

FIRST CHAPTER PLUS

also a struggling reader and understood that for his age, he wasn’t able to read books at his level. He was embarrassed by books that he could read. In several books, I found that he struggled mostly with the vocabulary. There was no joy or motivation in reading on his own. He loved when I read to him, but he didn’t want to struggle on his own. We’d also been studying concepts around conservation, and he was fascinated with people who dedicated their lives to saving animals. We actually met Dr. Laurie Marker, from the Cheetah Conservation Fund, when she was touring in the US. Her efforts to save the cheetah in Namibia gave me the final

push to write engaging stories that also helped children learn about endangered animals. This is the first book in a series, what kinds of animals will you feature in subsequent stories? How many books are planned for the series? There are five books in the series. The animals featured, include the cheetah, wolves, red pandas, tigers and the last book will be the polar bear. I also have a higher-level middle grades series for ages 9-12 to follow the end of this series with the same characters. Read the complete interview with Stephanie Teer

By Sheri Hoyte

FIRST CHAPTER PLUS

B O OK VIDEOS The best way to check out a book!

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!

FIRST CHAPTER PLUS

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

FIRST CHAPTER PLUS

Moments in Flight By Jo-Ann Vega Outskirts Press (2020) - ISBN 9781977233240 Tradeback - 233 pages - $21.95 Set in the last half century of transformative cultural change, Jo-Ann Vega’s memoir chronicles personal voyages of discovery beyond traditional boundaries of gender and culture.

View on Amazon

READ First Chapter

Disappeared And Found By Kerry Reis Outskirts Press (2021) - ISBN 9781977217721 Tradeback - 183 pages - $15.95 A young woman’s search for her biological family opens up a mystifying nineteen-year-old cold case of a mother and her baby daughter disappearing while on a walk, a development that arouses interest and surprise from a couple of television programs, local and federal law enforcement, and a splintered family.

View on Amazon

READ First Chapter

Lincoln’s World By James Reilly Outskirts Press (2020) - ISBN 9781977235428 Tradeback - 245 pages - $20.95 This adventure begins as a young African boy’s story and unveils some dramatic changes in the societies across the entire African continent. We travel into Africa’s’ undiscovered possibilities and a future open to many wonders from the reclaiming of ancient lands to the newly discovered outposts that are now shared by the human race along with other strange and unique life forms using much different unimagined technologies orbiting around the planets of extremely distant stars.

READ First Chapter

View on Amazon

FIRST CHAPTER PLUS

I am Cheetah! By Stephanie Teer Graphic Brains Press (2014) - ISBN 9780692269596 Tradeback - 155 pages - $10.99 It’s Park Day! Best day ever. At least until the park bully shows up. She thinks all animal lovers are just a bunch of geeks and nerds, but five kids don’t agree. Together, they decide to create THE WILD ANIMAL KIDS CLUB to learn about endangered animals and stand up to the bully! But this club has a magical secret and no one can ever find out what they are hiding. But you can!

View on Amazon

READ First Chapter

Megan Weiss is a colaborator for First Chapter Plus,a book reviewer for Reader Views and the Author of "The Familiar Dead."

To READ First Chapter of "The Familiar Dead" by Megan Weiss click here. To view book on Amazon click here.

A New Lease on Life By James Ocansey Outskirts Press (2021) - ISBN 9781977230171 Tradeback - 119 pages - $18.95 We all have only one life to live. It is safe to assume that we all want to live a long and healthy life free from pain, disease and untimely death. A New Lease on Life helps us to do that based on research by various authorities mostly in holistic medicine. It shows you how the body works and what you can do to help it do its work of self-repair or healing.

READ First Chapter

View on Amazon

FIRST CHAPTER PLUS

KILO 3 By Richard W. Foster, Jr. Outskirts Press (2020) - ISBN 9781977239068 Tradeback - 363 pages - $33.95 This is the true story of a 17-year-old kid who quit high school in his junior year to join the Marines. After a short cruise with the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean, he was assigned to a rifle company in Vietnam during the heaviest fighting of the war in 1967 and 1968.

View on Amazon

READ First Chapter

If Men Were Gods By Larry Farr Outskirts Press (2021) - ISBN 9781977240019 Tradeback - 470 pages - $25.95 George Slay is a smallish man who has learned how to fight. He fought bullies in school, NVA soldiers in Vietnam, road bandits in Venezuela, street thugs in Oregon and challenges of all stripes as he developed a chocolate empire. His final battle will occur in the house of Congress of the nation George calls home.

View on Amazon

READ First Chapter

Two Chairs and a Box of Tissues By Greg Delaney Outskirts Press (2021) - ISBN 9781977225078 Tradeback - 289 pages - $28.95 Graduate student Kathleen consults with Greg, an experienced counselor and educator, for help with her Master’s thesis about the work of counseling professionals. With Greg providing examples, anecdotes, and lessons from his own counseling and educational work, the two of them explore, discuss, and debate a variety of topics related to counselor education and development.

View on Amazon

READ First Chapter

FIRST CHAPTER PLUS

INSIDE SCO OP LIVE POD CAST OF THE MONTH Del Bates is an author, speaker, and an enthusiastic encouragement to many. She has been on leadership with Aglow International for numerous years. Her hope is to see the lost saved and healed through those meetings. She has self-published two books and has numerous stories in various publications. Crosslink publishers released her latest book on Spiritual Warfare, “Walking In A Minefield” in June

For more information about Del Bates and her work, visit her website at: www.Delbates.com. Click Here To Listen to Podcast Topics of Conversation • The inspiration behind Walking in a Minefield • What is spiritual warfare? • 14 areas and action needed to fight the spiritual warfare we face daily. • How to recognize the bombs before they go off

FIRST CHAPTER PLUS

BAREFO OT LIBRARIA N 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

How We Can Address Racial Inequality

The massacre of African Americans in Tulsa marked its hundredth anniversary on May 31. Unfortunately, it is only in recent years that I (and many others) heard about this horrific event. Through books and other resources, I learned the details of that day and the history that led up to it. With the long-overdue focus on racial injustice, it is incumbent upon us to learn and teach the history which has created these inequities. I believe that we cannot know how someone feels until we have walked in their shoes. Often, the only way to do this is to read and educate ourselves about their lives. And the best time to start is with children in school. However, some entities are set against allowing students to have access to this kind of information. "Lawmakers in at least 12 states are attempting to pass legislation denying teachers the right to be honest about the role of racism, sexism, heterosexism, and oppression throughout U.S. history."*This trend is evident in the roadblocks to the 1619 Project, which provides resources on Black people's history in America from the time the first slaves arrived to the present. Hagopian, Zinn Education Project team member and Rethinking Schools editor was recently interviewed on CBS News. He talked about the vital role of the 1619 Project. "The 1619 Project is really about undoing master narratives that have erased the struggles and contributions of Black people to this country that are far too often whitewashed out of corporate textbooks. And it's about acknowledging that for over 400 years, Black people have stood up to racism in an unrelenting Black freedom struggle. It's about reframing this country's history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of Black Americans, really at the heart of what our country is about." - https://www.zinnedproject.org/news/ hagopian-on-cbs-news/ Humans often react to the unknown with fear, and fear can drive us to unthinkable actions. Ignorance breeds hatred while knowledge enlightens us. Therefore, it is imperative to teach history from inclusive perspectives. It will be incumbent upon parents, booksellers, and public librarians to fill the gap left in students' education. Though too few, some excellent books have been published that help children understand the struggles and challenges people of color have faced and continue to face. By buying diverse books and suggesting these books to patrons and customers, libraries and bookstores will help ensure that literature with diverse viewpoints will be easily accessible. In these diverse books, children of color see themselves, and all children have the opportunity to see the world through different eyes. Happy reading, Eve - Barefoot Librarian

FIRST CHAPTER PLUS

THE BAREFO OT LIBRARIAN B O OKS OF THE MONTH Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre By Carole Boston Weatherford - Illustrated by Floyd Cooper Carolrhoda Books ® (2021) - ISBN 9781782857426 (Grades 3+) - Tradeback - 32 pages - $8.99

“A picture book for young readers, Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre centers on the history of the thriving Black community of Greenwood before the 1921 Tulsa Massacre. Children learn about the Black businesses, libraries, good schools, bus system, auto shop, hospital, newspapers, movie theaters, hotel, and post office.” “Then comes the white terrorists. Sensitive without hiding the truth, Unspeakable explains the tragedy that was designed to destroy the nation’s wealthiest Black community.” Zinn Education Project

The Extraordinary Life of Rosa Parks By Dr. Sheila Kanani - Illustrared by Nan Lawson

Age 7 to 11 - Tradeback - 24 pages - $5.99 Published by Kane Miller (2020) ISBN 9781684640775

The author makes the story of Rosa Parks accessible and exciting for upper elementary school children, even reluctant readers. Throughout the book are informational explanations of concepts such as the Klu Klux Klan, NAACP, and the Jim Crow laws. Challenging vocabulary words are defined on the page they appear. Quotes from Rosa Parks frequently appear in the book. There is even a diagram of the segregated seating on the public buses at the time.

FIRST CHAPTER PLUS

ABOUT ANDRE et al. By Delcy Voisine Outskirts Press (2020) - ISBN 9781977234858 Tradeback - 97 pages - $10.95 “About Andre et al.” is more than a book about a boy. It is about his father’s family and how a tragic event during its first year ended what was a happy and promising start. It is about how a decision to relocate and gamble on a career that he was ill-prepared for led to an austere life though happy and healthy it was.

View on Amazon

READ First Chapter

Riding with Ghosts, Angels, and the Spirits of the Dead By John Russell Outskirts Press (2020) - ISBN 9781977233288 Tradeback - 165 pages - $14.95 As an internationally known professional psychic, John Russell has experienced a host of compelling and sometimes spine-chilling paranormal adventures. His book Riding with Ghosts, Angels, and the Spirits of the Dead is an episodic collection of really good ghost stories...all of which happen to be true!

View on Amazon

READ First Chapter

Check out the Sponsors for the 2021-2022 Reader Views Literary Awards!

FIRST CHAPTER PLUS

A Book for Dad

It has been my experience to grow up knowing more about my mother than my dad. Unfortunately, life has way to make us so busy as grown ups that we seldom have time to share who we are as individuals with our children. But in my case, it also had to do with my parents post traumatic stress from WWII. So, after becoming a mother myself, and felt the need to make sure my children knew who I am; I realized it was up to me to get to know my dad. But how do you make someone talk about their past when all they want is to forget it? You tell them you want to write a book about them for their grand kids! That is what I did, and it worked! My Book “Innocent War” was a biproduct of my effort to get to know my father. To my surprise, it was the best gift I could have ever give to my dad. This Fathers’ Day give yourself a gift and start the process of giving the best present ever to your father next year. A book for dad will be the gift that keeps giving as they read their own story and remember what is lost in their memory later. Happy Father’s Day to all of you dads!

View on Amazon

FIRST CHAPTER PLUS

Connecting Readers to Indie Books www.firstchapterplus.com

e-magazine . June 2021 volume 12 . issue 6

Published by I Have Something to Say Press

First Chapter Plus - June 2021 Issue

Articles inside

Interview withStephanie Teer Author of “I...Am...Cheetah!: The Gift”

The Barefoot Librarian Corner

Book Videos