First Chapter Plus August 2021 Issue by firstchapterplus

FIRST CHAPTE R PLUS Indie Books As Education Tools For Diversity I Loved This Book… Why Is Reviewing It So Tough? The Barefoot Librarian Corner Poems for Bad Poetry Day

A World without Words

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A World without Words Page 5 Featured Books and Authors Page 3 I Loved This Book… Why Is Reviewing It So Tough? Page 14 Indie Books! Pages 6-8 -1011-12 - 15 - 16 - 17- 20 - 26 - 27- 28- 29 - 30 - 32- 36 40-41 Interview with Y.M. Masson Author of “The Demons of War Trilogy” Page 22 Beautiful Dirty Faces Page 31 Book Videos Page 24-25 Indie Books As Education Tools For Diversity Page 38 Inside Scoop Live Podcast of the Month Page 29 The Barefoot Librarian Corner Page 34-35

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Table of Contents - Featured Books and Authors

36 Life of a Firefly 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. A multi-award-winning children’s book,

12 Bineta Ngom author of “Becoming an Angel of Change”” 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

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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.

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Published by I Have Something To Say Press 8650 Spicewood Springs Rd. - Ste 145-178 Austin, Texas 78759.

A World without Words… When I see people voicing hate and those who their words hurt, I wish for a world without words. But then I just imagine… Bad poetry would no longer exist because we wouldn’t be able to share how we feel. Silence would takeover as music could not be written to awaken melodies and rhymes for our voices to carryover and sing. We would have never known the Shakespeare’s and Maya Angelou’s of today, because the voices of the ones from before would have never been born.

History would be forgotten. Books would have never been written, Witches would have never cast spells and faith would cease to exist, as no one has ever learned to pray or speak. Jesus, Mohammed and Buddha would have never shared their teachings, because there were no words in the world. All because of a wish from someone who did not want to be harmed with words. Vio-2021

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Featured Authors Marjorie L. Anderson Marjorie Anderson is a native Virgin islander, retired bank executive, cofunder 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 graduate 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.

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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

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

. 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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Featured Authors Joab Russo For more than 25 years, Joab Russo has been investigating and corroborating Absolute Truth. Through expressing and sharing of this transformational journey, Joab enjoys helping others in discovering, understanding and applying Absolute Truth towards self-discovery, awareness and fulfillment.

As the first ever compilation of the most undistorted existential information to date, Absolute Truth provides you with the unequivocal, undisputable and everlasting answers to your personal questions, challenges and life events. By redefining your life, reality and existence with meaning of Absolute Truth, you are taken on your ultimate journey of self-discovery and self-trust, for this meaning explains the simple, generic principles by which only you choose and create all of your own reality.

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AbsoluteTruth By Joab Russo Joab Russol (2020) ISBN 9780359067619 Tradeback- 386 pages - $24.94 NonFiction - Self-Help

real eye-opener. Russo covers pretty much the entire construct of your perception of reality, from birth to death, and everything in between. I particularly enjoyed the sections on emotions and interpersonal communication. And in every word it is clear that Russo is highly passionate about his work. It's a passion that is infectious. You can't read Absolute Truth without feeling Russo's passion for his work. — Paul Harrison The Daily Meditation.

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rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. This is not light reading, but I would consider it essential reading. It's not a religion, and it's not a science or a cult. It's finding you. The real, you. — Onlinebookclub.org

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.

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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.

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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.

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Bad Poetry Day - August 18th Poems By Susan Violante Aquella Noche

Aquella Noche (That Night)

Aquella noche, cuando con un beso te encontré. Despertaste en mi lo que no conocía, de mi noche despuntó el día, y la ilusión por fin apacigüe.

Aquella Noche, when I found you with a kiss, you woke the unknown in me. From the twilight broke my day and the illusion I finally set to rest. Aquella Noche, I love you, I said not thinking, not knowing, unveiling what was yet to flourish.

Aquella noche, te amo, yo afirmé sin pensar, sin conocer, descubriendo lo que florecer podía.

Tonight in my own day spring, so much has happened, so little I have lived. I know enough to understand. It wasn’t you for whom I fell.

Esta noche en mi propio amanecer tanto ha pasado, tan poco he vivido, se lo suficiente para comprender. no fue a ti a quien amé.

I loved all that rose. The innocence, the feeling.

Ame todo lo que despertó El sentimiento, el no saber...

I loved aquella noche when I learned I didn’t know myself.

Amé aquella noche cuando aprendí que no conocía mi ser.

Vio. 1987 - translated 1994

Vio. 1987

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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 12

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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

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®

. 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

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I LOVED THIS B O OK… WHY IS REVIEWING IT SO TOUGH? By Skyler Boudreau

really enjoy writing book reviews. I use it to help me figure out what I do and do not want to do in my own writing and to practice looking at other people’s work through different lenses. However, no matter how much any reviewer enjoys their work, there will come a time when they are faced with a particular type of challenge: they love a book, but they have no idea how to review it. Maybe the book is written in a format they’re unfamiliar with or maybe they don’t know how to articulate what they enjoyed about it. I have a few tips for how to get yourself out of this odd little stump. The most important part of writing any type of review is being able to clearly articulate your thoughts on the subject. I recommend taking notes as you’re reading to help with this step later on in the process. This makes it a little easier to go back and reference the specific pages that provoked those thoughts as you’re writing. If reviewing these notes doesn’t help, try doing some freewriting. I like to list reasons why I think I’m having such trouble explaining my opinion. As I work through the reasoning, I inevitably begin finding ways to write that opinion on paper. As you review many different books, you inevitably build-up a large portfolio of work. This portfolio is useful not only to share with potential employers, but in your future work as well. Revisiting past reviews that you’ve written, especially ones that you found challenging or feature a book similar to the one you’re currently struggling to review, can provide a little insight into your writing. What did you do before that worked? How did you get out of this difficult spot last time it confronted you? Each time you write a review you improve and examining how you’ve grown and navigated through tricky reviews before is a great way to approach a similarly tough project. I’Sometimes the most intimidating option is ultimately the most helpful. You might be reluctant to reread the book you’re attempting to review, but that second reading can help you notice things you could have missed before. It can also help you cement your own opinions or clarify your general thoughts. If I have time to, then I try to reread the book even if I’m not having trouble with writing the review. I always notice something I missed during the initial read through, and I find it immensely helpful.

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Writing reviews can be both very easy and very difficult. Most fall somewhere in between. It’s inevitable that you’ll eventually hit a wall while reviewing. How you handle that wall is up to you. Will you climb over it or find a way to break through it?

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A Knock in the Attic John Russell Outskirts Press (2021) - ISBN 9781977239372 Tradeback - 170 pages - $15.95 John Russell, is a highly regarded professional psychic of almost fifty years, reading for thousands of clients around the world. A Knock in the Attic begins with his first paranormal experience at five-years old and highlights his development as a psychic and paranormal investigator into adulthood, explaining what it is like to grow up psychic, being inundated with spiritual experiences, and yes, sometimes even questioning your spiritual gifts and the guidance from the Other Side.

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Three Houses/Hou3zez Velma Price Smith Outskirts Press (2021) - ISBN 9781977223791 Tradeback - 680 pages - $49.95 The House of Pride, The House of Woe (Marriage) and My House examine Price’s childhood, young adulthood, marriages, 48-year career as a public speaker, English instructor and the interesting people who enriched her journey. Engaging stories & photos analyze the role of performance art and music, appearances on stage at Lone Star College-North Harris in Houston, TX. Price invites readers to explore their connectedness to others in the human family through communal experiences and traditions.

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Crabby Abby J. Naughton Harman Outskirts Press (2021) - ISBN 9781977237781 Tradeback - 30 pages - $26.95 What’s wrong with Crabby Abby? Will she need to go to the ogre doctor, or can she take some steps at home to help control her anger? Perfect for readers aged two to five, J. Naughton Harman’s picture book helps kids understand and manage their emotions. Tested over the decades, first with Harman’s daughters and then with the children they babysat, Crabby Abby offers a positive path toward a better attitude.

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Tales in Scales - The Empty Throne J.F. Gomez-Rivera Outskirts Press (2021) - ISBN 9781977240507 Tradeback - 393 pages - $25.95 Avalonia, One of the three Raptor Kingdoms of Cretatia is on the verge of war since the death of the Alpha-King. Vessel Silvus, a young First-Delta who just became a Mist Caster is forced out of his home by an Army of Rebels must recue his mother who stayed behind. In his journey, the young Raptor will uncover not only a conspiracy but also learns a secret that could save the Kingdom.

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Not for Profit Handbook Richard Cherry Outskirts Press (2020) - ISBN 9781977232045 Tradeback - 78 pages - $19.95 Interested in working for a nonprofit? Looking to volunteer or find a job? Want to donate money or time? Then this handbook is for you. Nonprofit organizations research, advocate & help the needy. Learn about the sector’s importance, the law, management, and finances. Understand the changes taking place in the sector today. Recognize the difference between for-profit and not-for-profit. This handbook provides an easy and quick reference to understanding all the essentials about nonprofits.

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Grossing the Goal Line- Football and the Inner-City Steve Axman Outskirts Press (2021) - ISBN 9781977234483 Tradeback - 390 pages - $14.95 Crossing The Goal Line is the story of two misfits who collide to take on the ills of a socially and racially troubled, inner-city high school football team that hasn’t won a game in four years. Dempsey fights off PTSD, gang wars, failing grades and poverty. Douglas, with the help of a befriended six-foot four, 300 pound offensive tackle, fights to lead the football team while protecting the sassy sister of one of the players.

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READER VIEWS B O OK OF THE MONTH Living Dolls and Other Women By S. Montana Katz Fiction - Novel Guernica World Editions (2021) ISBN 9781771835572 Reviewed by: Megan Weiss for Reader Views (08/2021)

.. Montana Katz’ “Living Dolls and Other Woman” is a wondrously unique novel whose characters and plot events emphasize the bias, harassment, and discrimination faced by woman of all ages, in all stages and circles of life, throughout human history. The book cycles through a myriad of different feminine perspectives. We have Maria, who struggles to juggle her passion for her career with being present in her children’s lives and a marriage that is straining at the seams because of her long hours spent working and not at home. Then, there is Jackie, a young nanny who balances taking care of Maria’s two young children so that she can make ends meet while finishing her degree. There is Roberta, Maria’s best friend, who seems to Maria to be living the luxurious, happy life she’d been trying so hard to find but never seemed to achieve. Kim is a college student who has caught the eye of both Maria’s husband and an overly aggressive friend, Jeff. Finally, there are the Living Dolls, a small group of women who don special costumes to crash events such as art shows, in order to call attention to the sexism of the art world and the fact that hardly any female artists are ever chosen to be showcased at a prestigious gallery in the neighborhood. Altogether, we have a cast of characters living in a world that is designed to make them run faster and harder than their male counterparts, and at greater risk of harm, all because they have two X chromosomes. Katz’ book hits right at home in our current cultural climate. Despite the “progress” the world has made, it still seems like so many women are losing out on chances simply because they are female. If we don’t capitulate to how a patriarchal American society views the “fairer” sex, or try to step out of the box society has put us in to soar higher in our lives, then we can be put in danger. In fact, it wasn’t until the 1970s that women really started to venture out into the workforce... To read complete review click here or visit www.readerviews.com.

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READER VIEWS KIDS B O OK OF THE MONTH The Great Green Tree and the Magical Ladders: Suburbia

By Stephen Kozan Young Reader - Ages 8 to 12 Ready Aim Write Publishing (2021) ISBN 9780692468647 Reviewed by Paola (age 13) for Reader Views Kids (03/2021)

“he Great Green Tree and the Magical Ladders: Suburbia,” is about a 10-year-old Shea who has been a problem with friends, family, and teachers. She steals, lies, bullies, and doesn’t listen. Her mom, Lucy, and her dad, John, don’t know what to do with her anymore. They gather family members for an intervention to discuss what they should do while Shea is at a friend’s house. The next day, Shea gets encouraged by her friends to kill a beetle that is outside while they play. Shea listens to them, and once they leave, she is called over by a strange a voice. She follows the voice to a bush and finds a spider, named Webster! He tells her she has been watched by the members of the Great Green Tree, a tree that stands in her backyard and has been there for ages. Webster shrinks her down and takes her on the most wonderful journey where Shea sees a whole new world. I loved this book because from the moment we meet Shea, we wonder how she can be such a troublemaker? Her mom, dad, brother, and grandparents are all so worried about her, but she didn’t seem to care. But when she goes into the Great Green Tree she enters a magical world! The author also creates a beautiful world with the descriptions of Shea’s journey. We also get to see pictures of every little creature Shea meets on journey. She meets all kinds of bugs and animals who all teach her lessons about life. They all really want her to become a better person for everyone around her, and more importantly herself. Webster is her tour guide through her journey up the tree and all the magical ladders, and he tells her “the first step in any great journey is always the hardest, it will get easier,” which we see in the book. Every enchantment branch has a leader and a lesson, and the higher Shea goes in the tree the more we learn about her and the Great Green Tree. Every creature she meets relate to her on some mistake she made in her past, and by the end I felt like I knew everyone in the book!...

To read complete review click here or visit www.readerviewskids.com.

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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.

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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

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INTERVIEW WITH Y.M. MASSON AUTHOR OF “THE DEMONS OF WAR TRILOGY”

s a young boy Y. M. Masson (Yves) struggled through four years of hardship under German occupation of Paris until he was liberated by the American Third Army. Twenty years later, after having served in the French army in North Africa during the French-Algerian war, he left France in 1965 for New York City and became a United States citizen in the early seventies. After working as a marketing executive in Corporate America, and then running his own consulting business, Yves turned to the arts. He is an accomplished portrait artist, but he loves to share his life experiences with his readers. He knows what war does to people and especially to children. His ability to describe their daily fears, their devastating hunger, and the despair of deprivation draws his audience into their conflict.

and finally struggled for years with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. All three books show the impact of war on the minds of all those touched by any conflict, be they innocent victims as Alain was in Paris during WWII, active participant as Alain during his days in North Africa, or survivors harboring the demons of hatred, guilt, and anger that invaded their souls during the atrocities of the conflicts they were part of. -The first volume "When Paris Was Dark, A Boy’s Journey to Survive Nazi-occupied Paris" is the story of Alain as a child who had to grow up fast to survive the threats, coercion, and deprivation of WWII in the French capital. -The second book "The War Inside his Mind, A Soldier’s battle to Erase the Emotional Trauma of Combat" is about Alain’s war in Algeria the stress of leading soldiers in combat, and the painful witnessing of atrocities inflicted on civilians.

Hi Yves. Welcome to Reader Views! Tell us about “The Demons of War” trilogy The three books of The Demons of War Trilogy, relate the story of Alain a man who experienced the Second World War as a child in Paris during the occupation by the Germans, then fourteen years later fought as an infantry lieutenant, in the French-Algerian War

-Finally, Never Give Up, A Man’s Fight to Heal his PTSD relates Alain’s long struggle with posttraumatic stress disorder, and his war memories. So, what are the demons of war? They invade one’s 22

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being when the war’s daily struggles affect everyone: Struggles against fears, deprivations, violence, and atrocities that children and adults alike have to witness and endure during the conflicts. They are demons because, for some, they vanish when the hostilities end, but for others, they linger in their minds and eat at their souls forever. Sounds dismal? Not a bit. Readers will be uplifted when they see how creative and resilient children and adults can be. What inspired you to sit down and write? Many of my friends were intrigued whenever I mentioned some of my adventures in Paris during WWII, because they were about a child who experienced war without any real understanding of why there was a war, and why he had to suffer from it, foregoing his childhood from age 5 to age 10. So I wrote When Paris was Dark. My writing mentor, Joyce Sweeney who

has been a Florida Writer of the Year more than once, talked me into writing the second book. It was about the war I participated in and that I had buried deep in my soul and never talked to anyone about. I wrote The War inside his Mind. The writing was wrenching as it brought me back through the combat memories and the images of atrocities committed on innocent civilians, many of them children. But in the long run it helped me make peace with myself. As I struggled with the dark images of North Africa for years, I wrote Never Give Up, to give other PTSD sufferers hope that there was a way out of it, difficult, painful at times, but a light at the end of a long struggle. Why tell your story in a fictionalized memoir? When I wrote the first book, I was advised not to call it a memoir because the memories of a five-year-old child cannot be trusted. ...

By Sheri Hoyte

Read the full interview with Y.M. Masson

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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When God Does Not Answer An Honest Prayer By Daniel Jappah Outskirts Press (2020) - ISBN 9781977228345 Tradeback - 138 pages - $13.95 For Christians with or without strong religious practices, encountering life’s crises, praying & finding no answers. The spiritual doubt that follows is the most difficult kind of doubt to overcome. How does a Christian deal with God, faith, and prayer when in a life-crushing situation, an honest prayer goes unanswered? When prayer fails, why still believe in God? Why continue to pray? If you want honest answers, this book is for you.

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Jimmy Donald Provance, Jr. Outskirts Press (2020) - ISBN 9781977228147 Tradeback - 199 pages - $17.95 Jimmy is the story of a boy growing up in the Ozarks, 1969. He and his dad love baseball and the outdoors until a terrible accident. Inspired by childhood friends, Ozarkian Donald Provance Jr. shows us the natural beauty of the region through Jimmy’s eyes, reminding us that friends bring joy to life and soften the pain of loss. Jimmy is a baseball story; a tale from the Ozarks which captures the triumph of positivity.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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INSIDE SCO OP LIVE POD CAST OF THE MONTH 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 graduate 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.

For more information about Marjorie Anderson and her work, visit her website at: www.ihavesomethingtosaypress.com/ author-marjorie-anderson/

Click Here To Listen to Podcast Topics of Conversation • Inspiration behind writing a finance book for teens and the need for a Spanish translation • Why teens and young adults get into trouble financially • Including Charity in your budget • Using a simple system for saving and spending

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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.

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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!

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

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More Poems - Bad Poetry Day - August 18th By Susan Violante Beautiful Dirty Faces (To the children of the Oklahoma tragedy) With the light in your eyes our rooms were always bright. I now see your once rosy cheeks all covered with dust, and try to imagine just how wonderful it was. Beautiful dirty faces. Who could ever wish you harm? With the laughter on your voices You could break through our worries. Children all over to their mothers, they waved Good-bye. Beautiful dirty faces. I’m afraid to hear your cries.

With the warmth of your smiles you would keep our chills outside. Your tiny helpless bodies, once never wanted to stop. In their little time, They had lived more than you and I. Beautiful dirty faces. You keep forgiving man. Now, your cheeks are all clean. Your spirits run free. I wish I could tell you, just how much you are in my thoughts. Oh, my beautiful dirty faces. Why can’t we love enough? Vio. (1994)

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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.

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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

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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

Back to school is different this year-Back To School My boyfriend and I followed a strict isolation protocol during the pandemic because I have an auto-immune disease. I did not see any friends, go shopping, or even pick up take-out orders. After I got my vaccinations and I could venture out again, I felt some unease. However, it was not anxiety about catching Covid. Instead, I was worried about interacting with multiple people again. Socializing is like a muscle that needs to be used to stay strong, and my social muscle was totally out of shape. The school year is fast approaching, and my thoughts have turned to the children who have been isolated for so many months. How much more challenging for them to reenter the classroom every day. How can we help them make this difficult transition? They will need to reconnect, nourish old friendships, and grow new ones. Once again, there will be the physical aspect of bullying. However, empathy, compassion, open-mindedness, acceptance, caring, kindness, and selfconfidence will need to be in ample supply. Reminding children of how to practice empathy, compassion, openmindedness, acceptance, caring, kindness, and self-confidence will give them tools to help them feel less anxious as they transition back to in-person schooling. It can be challenging to jump into conversations dealing with these topics. But books provide great springboards into these discussions for parents and teachers. I suggest having handy books which contain characters addressing these issues. Below are a few titles I recommend. And of course, the usual back-to-school books are always in demand. *Since I wrote this article, the COVID cases and hospitalizations have reached peak numbers again in the Central Texas area where I live – and I know this is true in many other regions around the country. I am now back to curbside shopping, curtailing my social engagements, and wearing a mask indoors. I am not sure what impact this will have on students going back to school. Whenever the children do go back to school, this article will hold true, and the books I recommend will be helpful. Discussions with children can start now even if in-class learning is delayed for this fall. Happy reading, Eve - Barefoot Librarian

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THE BAREFO OT LIBRARIAN B O OKS OF THE MONTH What Does It Mean to Be Present? By Rana DiOrio - Illustrated by Stephane Jorisch Little Pickle Press; Reprint edition (May 1, 2020) - ISBN 9781728223063 ( 4 - 8 years old ) - Tradeback - 32 pages - $8.99

What Does It Mean to Be Present? provides an introduction to learning empathy and mindfulness for kids of all ages. Being present means…Noticing when someone needs help, waiting patiently for your turn, Focusing on what’s happening now. This book also provides opportunities to have children can come up with their own examples of being present. The art is engaging, colorful, and whimsical. Highly recommended.

Big Words for Little People Series Usborne Books & More

Age 4 + years old - Hardbacks $12.99

”Each book in this series creates a special moment to focus on feelings and discover words and phrases needed to talk about them. All the words are carefully chosen, and with 10 sharing tips at the back of each book, as well as a glossary, offer easy opportunities to talk about first experiences and new emotions.”

”Understanding how someone else might be feeling is important. Especially if they’re not having as much fun as you.”

”Respect. We are all unique. Through friendship, we can accept each other and respect our differences.”

”Be yourself. Everyone is different, and to do your best, first, you have to be yourself.” “Positive. When we feel positive and powerful…we shine!”

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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. - A multi-award-winning children’s book: * 2021 International Book Awards Winner Children’s Mind/Body/Spirit * 2021 International Book Awards Finalist - Children’s Religious * Reader Views’ Grand Prize for Best Fiction 2020. * Reader Views’ Gold Medal - Young Readers Category 2020 * Reader Views’ Gold Medal - Teen Category 2020 * Reader Views’ Regional Awards - South Winner 2020 * Readers’ Favorite - 5-star Seal * The AME Award - Best Debut Fiction 2020

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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

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INDIE BOOKS AS EDUCATION TOOLS FOR DIVERSITY by Susan Violante Having been exposed to so many different cultures during my formative years I have always believed in diversity as part of our human evolution process. As an Indie book lover and Author, I am a believer in firsthand historical accounts and experiences as education tools for our children. This why I am organizing a panel podcast presentation to take place at SXSW. Because of all the great ideas out there, the community needs to vote for our idea to get a chance to be included. Please check out our idea through the link below and vote for us should you be inclined to help us make our presentation. Below is our premse and link with details: Including Diverse Indie Titles on Schools’ reading lists and book fairs to expand our kids’ instruction and ensure “diversity, and inclusion in education and beyond, with social and economic disparities, cultural responsive teaching, anti-racism practice, LGBTQ+ issues, and more to safeguard equitable opportunities and outcomes for all” currently improving understanding and acceptance of cultural, ethnic and lifestyles differences within schools and beyond school on future generations. Click below for more information and voting:

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Running High School Cross-Country, The Southwest Way P.M. Hall Outskirts Press (2020) - ISBN 9781977230195 Tradeback - 118 pages - $14.95 Southwest High School’s cross-country dominance is outlined from 1942-1980 and the phenomenal success of the program explained. Follow the authors’ journey through his senior season, in 1972. See how he uses the “Southwest System” during his 30+ year coaching career to obtain many successes. The book has running tips for any level middle to high school runner. It also has coaching tips, anecdotes and a summary at the end of the book.

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The Cantrill Book One - Beginnings K. Raymond Zabielski Outskirts Press (2021) - ISBN 9781977232328 Tradeback - 228 pages - $17.95 When eleven-year-old Etob Sheerbain learns about the legendary history of his homeland, hears stories of good vs evil, bravery, family values and lore, his life will change forever. As Etob understands his calling as scribe and historian for his people, events are unfolding that will test him as never before. Warm, beautifully imaginative, and rich with detail, this is sensitive, insightful coming-ofage story is the first installment in a gorgeously woven epic fantasy.

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Spirral - The CORT Chronicles Book 2 David D. Bernstein Outskirts Press (2021) - ISBN 9781977238405 Tradeback - 176 pages - $24.95 Civil war rages on, a world is falling into deep darkness. Andy, John, Wendy, and Zack are on a quest to save their world from a powerful corporation named CORT and their new dangerous robot Spirral. In this second book of the CORT Chronicles, each young hero is given powers and tools to survive, guided by sages and past memories, they fight to save Earth. Will good prevail over evil or vice versa?

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Rebirth - The CORT Chronicles Book 3 David D. Bernstein Outskirts Press (2021) - ISBN 9781977238429 Tradeback - 100 pages - $18.95 After a journey through time and space and a nightmarish world, two young boys come home to find themselves under a new world order. The place they left behind has changed. A new threat is rising, and things look bleak. In Rebirth, the final chapter of The CORT Chronicles, Andy and Zack hope to alter the future by saving the present. But can our two young heroes bring back the world they knew before?

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Moscow Embassy - The Angara Club Thomas J. Mitchell Outskirts Press (2019) - ISBN 9781977214935 Tradeback - 315 pages - $20.95 2020 CIPA EVVY Award. Russian KGB agents have recruited American construction workers to plant listening devices and engage in espionage while the Moscow Embassy is under construction—and while US intelligence and Britain’s M16 agencies work to neutralize the Russian threat. With a cast of colorful characters and a plot filled with danger and political intrigue, Moscow Embassy “The Angara Club” is a fascinating novel about an industry most people never think about.

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FIRST CHAPTER PLUS Connecting Readers to Indie Books www.firstchapterplus.

e-magazine . August 2021 volume 12 . issue 8

Published by I Have Something to Say Press

First Chapter Plus August 2021 Issue

Articles inside

The Barefoot Librarian Corner

Interview with Y.M. Masson Author of “The Demons of War Trilogy”

Book Videos