All Things That Matter Press

ATTMP AUTHORS ON THE AIR!

2012-01-22T12:41:00.000-08:00

What a month it is for our own ATTMP authors.

We are thrilled to have as our guests this Thursday evening none other than Ms. Barbara Woolley and Kaycee Nilson or Kandace as you may know her.

Please share their show page link with others and try to support our newest authors by catching the show this Thursday evening.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/monicabrinkmanandoana/2012/01/27/candid-chat-with-authors-barbara-woolley-and-kaycee-nilsen

The show date is Thursday, January 26th @ 9PM EST, 8PM CST, 7PM Mountain, 6PM PST.

The genre's are fascinating. Can't wait to talk with our show guests.

And while we are at it, Mr. Kenneth Weene will be talking about his newly released and highly anticipated book of short stories, Tales From the Dew Drop Inne, the following Thursday, February 2nd.

It's ATTMP time all the way!

Here is that link if you'd like to get a reminder sent to you from the show page.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/monicabrinkmanandoana/2012/02/03/an-interspective-look-at-humanity-with-author-kenneth-weene

Tales From the Dew Drop Inne

2012-01-21T11:18:00.000-08:00

NEW RELEASE!

Tales From the Dew Drop Inne

Authored by Kenneth Weene

"Tales from the Dew Drop Inne" reads like a darkly humorous sitcom. The tone is both heartfelt and deliciously irreverent, showing that one does not need to hate humanity to appreciate the humor of life. Here are tales of drifters, alcoholics, religious renegades, veterans, and drag queens set in pub that is at once a confessional, a circus, and a psychiatric hospital. --Marina Julia Neary, author of "Martyrs & Traitors: a Tale of 1916"

About the author:
A New Englander by upbringing and inclination, Kenneth Weene is a teacher, psychologist and pastoral counselor by education. Having retired to Arizona, where he lives with his wife of forty-five years, Ken took decided to fulfill a childhood passion and become a writer.

Ken's poetry and short stories have appeared in numerous publications - both print and electronic. Tales From the Dew Drop Inne is Ken's third novel, following Memoirs From the Asylum and Widow's Walk.

With two other novels and a novella waiting in the wings and a movie script currently under construction, Ken feels more creative now then he has ever been

http://allthingsthatmatterpress.com

NIGHT FALLS ON CHICAGO

2012-01-15T08:16:00.000-08:00

NEW RELEASE!

Authored by Kaycee Nilson

For millenia, "The Code" has protected vampires from discovery. It has maintained the balance of
power and provided the guidelines and laws by which all vampires must live.
IT IS ABOUT TO BE SHATTERED!

About the author:
After spending several years in Chicago, Kaycee Nilson has returned to her native Texas, where she resides with her family. She writes for several websites.

http://allthingsthatmatterpress.com

Book Review: Dark Is the Sky by: Jessica Chambers

2012-01-12T10:16:00.000-08:00

Book Review: Dark Is the Sky by: Jessica Chambers

THE BIGGEST DOOR

2012-01-07T10:46:00.000-08:00

NEW RELEASE!

Authored by Les Russo

Ken Sabino is a middle-aged businessman living in a wealthy Chicago suburb with his college sweetheart. When he discovers that his manufacturing company is on the verge of bankruptcy, his lingering feelings of inferiority surface. Ken turns to an unlikely
source for help: Debra, a dream therapist.
Although she knows little about boardrooms, her unconventional approach helps Ken confront his failing business and longstanding feelings of inadequacy with renewed hope.

About the author:
Les Russo was born and raised in Greenwich, Connecticut. After graduating from Manhattanville
College in Purchase, NY, he moved to Chicago with his now wife, Patricia 'Petie' O'Connor. Les and Petie still live in the Chicago area, where they
have raised their five children. This is his first novel.

The Irish Focus On Martyrs & Traitors

2012-01-05T14:43:00.000-08:00

Bohemians, Protestants and the 1916 Easter Rising

By Pete Maher

Publisher & Editor, The Irish Focus

http://www.amazon.com/Martyrs-Traitors-Marina-Julia-Neary/dp/0984651748/ref=sr_1_17?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1325803179&sr=1-17

Anyone who has ever studied the cast of characters that went into the historic 1916 Easter Monday Rising in Dublin will tell you there was certainly no shortage of colorful individuals involved. Volumes have been dedicated to scrutinize the lives and motivations of the men and women who orchestrated the effort, those who swept into the General Post Office, Jacob’s Biscuit Factory, the College of Surgeons, et. al., and in the telling such larger-than-life characters as rebel leaders Padraig Pearse, James Connelly or Constance Gore-Booth Markievicz often take center stage.

So when approached to review a book of historical fiction based on the true life events surrounding a man named Bulmer Hobson, one of the least-heralded rebels of the Irish rebellion, I was more than intrigued. After all, in most of the many accounts I had read about that fateful weekend, the name Bulmer Hobson was often mention in passing as a traitor to the rising without context or background. So to read an account, albeit a fictionalized account, of this man’s role before, during and – perhaps even more importantly – after the rebellion held promise of a story well worth reading.

The author behind the 432-page tome “Martyrs and Traitors, a Tale of 1916” that would eventually land on my desk is Marina Julia Neary, who apparently takes a certain amount of pride in focusing her attention on such a relative unknown.

“My choice of focal character has been questioned on several occasions,” she writes in her afterward. “I have been asked ‘Why did you choose Bulmer Hobson for your protagonist? That’s not a name you hear frequently.” And my answer is because Michael Collins has been done to death, and I have nothing more to say about him.’”

In selecting Hobson - a non-drinking Quaker and devout Irish-speaking republican - as the central character in her story, Neary was able to shed some light on an element that played a pivotal role in the development of nationalism in Ireland – the Protestant North.

Perhaps equally important, at least in this reviewer’s opinion, is the role of the bohemian underground that both sheltered and encouraged some of the more radical elements in the Irish republican movement. As she builds her narrative, bringing the reader along as we learn of Hobson’s Antrim roots and early involvement in the Irish republican cause – as well as his sympatico attraction to the hero Wolfe Tone – we are also exposed to the eccentric people and lifestyles of the intellectual and creative elite of turn of the century Dublin.

As the story details Hobson’s emotional entanglements , the reader is exposed not only to a growing sense of Irish identity through Hobson’s involvement with the Dungannon Clubs in the North and the creation of the Irish Fianna – an Irish version of Sir Baden Powell’s British Boy Scouts – but also to the notions of free love and open sexuality that was flourishing at the same time among the city’s upper classes.

Also of interest in Hobson’s role in several key events that have long been woven into national lore without trace of his involvement – from the gunrunning incident at Howth to the inclusion of Redmond’s Volunteers into the republican organization and the subsequent rift resulting in two separate “Volunteer” organizations – as well as the sudden rise of a schoolteacher named Patrick Pearse onto the IRB (Irish Republican Brotherhood) scene, where Pearse would eventually attain a sort of sainthood while Hobson would be quickly relegated to obscurity.

Overall, the writing of this narrative is clean and constantly moving forward, and the author does a superb job of keeping the characters and situations easily absorbed by the reader without cluttering up the narrative with extraneous details. Additionally, the narrative does provide some new perspective on such historical luminaries as James Connelly and Roger Casement, among others, that shows both the author’s depth of knowledge about these characters but no little bit of insight as well.

As someone who has read extensively on the Easter Rising of 1916, I can honestly say that Neary has brought some elements of this story to light that I had either never seen covered before and filled in some gaps in the narrative of that historic period that have often been studiously avoided by others. This is clearly a narrative that falls into that rare “must have” category of books on Irish history.

“Currently, Bulmer Hobson is not a star in the popular epos of Irish nationalism, but he certainly was a star in his day – a star that was abruptly extinguished,” Neary writes. “The story of a man so precocious and egotistical in his politics, yet so naïve in matters of the heart, fascinated and moved me. This novel is my hymn for all prematurely extinguished stars.”

HOLIDAY GREETING, 2011

2011-12-24T07:53:00.000-08:00

For better, or worse, the old year is gone. May it rest in peace.
Let the New Year be guided by your highest vision, molded by your truest desires, and fueled by your innermost passions.
Let nothing derail you from your path. It is yours, and yours alone, to be tread in the way and manner of your choosing. Claim it, and create it.

Blessings of Peace, Light and Love for all.

SINCERELY,

DEB & PHIL

THEY'RE HOT, THEY'RE NEW

2011-12-03T08:03:00.001-08:00

A LOOK BACK

2011-12-03T07:08:00.000-08:00

Sit back and relax!

NOAH

2011-12-01T16:45:00.000-08:00

a supernatural eco-thriller

Authored by Patricia L. Meek

A quirky, action-packed rollercoaster ride that takes the reader through science and religion, technology and indigenous wisdom. Noah's struggles are those of humanity as we attempt to find meaning in universal paradoxical patterns. Noah is a wisdom tale for wise folks.

About the author:
Patricia L. Meek derives her inspiration from mysticism, archetypal imagery, and the life and death struggle within the natural world. She was one of the winners of AWP Intro for Fiction, American Writers Program for the introduction of emerging writers in fiction and poetry. After earning an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas, she taught English composition and creative writing in Kansas, California, Utah, Louisiana, and New Mexico.
Meek also holds an M.A. in Counseling from Southwestern College in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where studied transpersonal psychology and holistic healing practices, including Reikî and Noetic Field Therapy. This interest in the subtler forms of human consciousness led her to the high Andes to learn the ceremonial and initiation practices of the Q'uero Paqos.
She currently works as a therapist in Southern Colorado and frequently returns to her hometown of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
For additional information, please visit her website:
www.patricialmeek.com

MY YEHIDAH-THE JOURNAL

2011-11-30T10:38:00.000-08:00

THE JOURNAL COMPANION TO THE BESTSELLING:

SIX WEEKS TO YEHIDAH

A Journal into the Story of You

Authored by Melissa Studdard
Illustrated by Cheryl Kelley

Bursting at the seams with joy and truth, My Yehidah leads you through one of the most important adventures you can take: the journey to the center of your very own self.

Filled with writing and drawing prompts and beautiful illustrations to color, this book is the perfect jump start for meaningful, creative exploration for people of all ages.

My Yehidah is great as a standalone, but for even more fun, explore it alongside the bestselling, award-winning novel, Six Weeks to Yehidah.

About the author:
Melissa Studdard is a community college professor, a book reviewer at-large, a magazine editor, the host of a radio program, and the author of the bestselling novel, Six Weeks to Yehidah. Her stories, poems, essays, reviews, and articles have appeared in dozens of magazines and journals. She currently lives in Texas with her daughter and their four cats.
For more information, please visit www.melissastuddard.com.
Cheryl Kelley is a professional artist with a focus on photorealism.
As a painter, she is represented by major galleries in New York, San Francisco
and Houston. She lives in California with her husband, two children, four dogs, four goats, two cats and three geese.
Please visit cherylkelley.com for more information.
AVAILABLE FROM http://allthingsthatmatterpress.com and from other outlets soon!

FOR THAT SOMEONE SPECIAL

2011-11-26T08:53:00.000-08:00

New releases as great gifts!

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

SUFIS AND MYSTICS OF THE WORLD

2011-11-26T04:43:00.000-08:00

Authored by Farzana Moon

This book is a journey into the realm of ancient wisdom through the eyes of the Sufis and the Mystics. Their quest to attain mystical union with the divine beloved chisels a path toward the garden of love, peace and harmony. Since eighth century onward, Sufis and Mystics have captured the hearts and minds of the spiritual seekers with their timeless message of unity in all creeds, cultures and religions. Featured Sufis and Mystics in this collection are: Hafiz; Jalalal-din-Rumi; Omar Khayyam; Sa'adi; Rabia; Ibn Al Arabi; Al Hallaj; Farid-ud-din Attar; Sarmad; St. John of the Cross; Prophet Muhammad; Khalil Gibran; Umar Ibn al-Farid; Kabir; Rabindranath Tagore; C. S. Lewis; St. Augustine. All are proclaiming love as the highest of virtues and singing the song of oneness. Nurtured by my love for the Sufis and Mystics this book lends voice to my speech on Sufism delivered at Columbia University. Love is the theme of this book as abridged in the quatrain below:
Love holy and enshrined
From the string of each heart
Serenading beloved with a song divine
On the harp of frolicsome breeze

About the author:
Farzana Moon is a teacher and a bibliophile. She writes plays, poetry, short stories and historical, biographical accounts of Moghul emperors. Her collection of plays is archived at Ohio State University. She has participated in author/panel discussions at Clyde Library and Columbia University. Her published works in the sequels of the Moghuls are: Babur, the First Moghul in India; The Moghul Exile; Divine Akbar and Holy India; The Moghul Hedonist; Glorious Taj and Beloved Immortal. Her other published works are: Holocaust of the East by Cambridge Scholars Publishing. Irem of the Crimson Desert by ATTM Press. Prophet Muhammad: The First Sufi of Islam is accepted to be published by the Garnet Publishing UK. Babur The First Moghul in India: In the Land of Cain; Divine Akbar and Holy India are reprinted 2nd editions by Hamilton Books. Currently researching for a book about the last Moghul.

TO ALL, PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE!

2011-11-23T15:20:00.000-08:00

On the day of Giving Thanks, let us remember to not only give thanks for what we have, but for what we HAD. To all of my loved ones, family and friends, who are experiencing their first Thanksgiving in their first "year of days" in the "perpetual presence of the absence" of their loved one, as well as to those who are celebrating the holiday many or a few years later, please remember to remember ...and honor not only your grief but also your joy. A new tradition, a candle on the table, a favorite flower in the centerpiece, opening your home and heart to someone who would otherwise be alone ... any and all ways in which you acknowledge and share your heart's song and love ... ah, so appropriate. Laugh, cry, share ... and heal. Know that we love you and are holding you close in our hearts always.
Much love,
Deb & Phil

Also, be thankful for the infinite potential that lies within you to do, be and achieve anything your heart desires!

WHO IS JESSICA FROM THE U.K.?

2011-11-23T09:41:00.000-08:00

Soon after Jessica was old enough to walk and talk, her parents realized two things.

The first was that she had an incredibly vivid imagination. Unlike many small children, she was content to spend hours at a time amusing herself, inventing ever more dramatic games of kidnap, runaway orphans and wicked stepmothers. When she wasn’t playing, she could often be found listening to an audio book, Roald Dahl, perhaps, or her favourite Enid Blyton, becoming lost in the tales woven by others. Even as a child, Jessica cherished a dream that one day she would be a writer herself. Always a shy person, she revelled in the ability to escape into another world, something that remains true to this day.

The second thing which gradually became apparent to her parents was that there seemed to be something wrong with her sight. She was forever tripping over toys left lying around on the floor, or being chided for sitting too close to the television (“You’ll get square eyes if you don’t watch out.”) It took several years of appointments with specialists, of brain scans and visual tests, but when Jessica was five years old, experts diagnosed her as having Retinitus Pigmentosa, a degenerative disease affecting the retina.

At school, Jessica’s teachers did everything in their power to make life as easy for her as possible, including providing her with a CC TV and computer. However, as she approached her ninth birthday, her sight had deteriorated so severely that the teaching staff no longer felt equipped to meet her needs. It was decided that she should transfer to Dorton House, a weekly boarding school for the visually impaired. For Jessica, this was a dream come true. Having devoured all the boarding school stories she could lay her hands on, from Billy Bunter to Mallory Towers, she couldn’t wait for her own adventure to begin.

Of course, her time at Dorton House wasn’t quite the round of classroom pranks and midnight feasts she had anticipated. Nevertheless, her nine years there were extremely happy. In addition to the standard subjects, she learned to read Braille and to use a computer with speech output, was introduced to talking kitchen scales and white canes, and mastered countless every day skills to help her adapt to life as a visually impaired person. Outside of lessons she tried her hand at horse riding and archery, fell in love, and had her first painful dose of heartbreak. When she left at eighteen, she did so not only with top grades in her exams, but most importantly with the encouragement of her English teacher, which gave her the confidence to pursue a career as a writer.

Perhaps as a result of going away to school, spending more time in the company of her peers than her own family, Jessica developed an intense interest in people. Everything about them fascinates her. She loves to observe the ways in which they interact, their steadfast loyalty and tendency to hurt those closest to them, their capacity for both cruelty and kindness. It’s this understanding that makes her such a skilled writer. In the words of multi-published author Molly Ringle, “Jessica has an amazing talent for creating true-to-life characters, throwing them together in a gorgeous setting and letting the sparks fly.”

This insight into the best and worst aspects of human nature comes to bear particularly strongly in her novel “Dark is the Sky”, soon to be published by All Things That Matter Press. An emotional read fraught with tension and unexpected twists, the novel follows a family’s struggle to come to terms with the past. Twelve years after tragedy tore them apart, the Camerons reunite for the first time since that terrible summer’s day. Far from being allowed to lay their ghosts to rest, however, a shocking revelation almost destroys them for a second time.

Want to know more? Keep up to date with all Jessica’s news, including the release of “Dark is the Sky”, by joining her Facebook fan page

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jessica-Chambers/177537202257347?ref=sgm

or subscribing to her blog.

http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify

For more information about Jessica and her novels, visit her website

http://www.jessicachambers.co.uk/

DARK IS THE SKY

2011-11-21T16:37:00.000-08:00

Authored by Jessica Chambers

It's been twelve years since Olivia and Joel Cameron last invited the family to spend the weekend at their country home; a visit that ended in tragedy. Scott, Joel's outrageously sexy youngest brother, was found dead. The repercussions have torn the family apart.
Olivia's sister Violet has persuaded her to host a reunion so that they can finally lay their ghosts to rest. However, there are some secrets too destructive to remain hidden, and Violet, still grieving for the man she loved, is determined to uncover the truth.
As the web of hostility and deceit begins to unravel, family ties are tested to the limit.

OUT OF THE BOX

2011-11-21T16:31:00.000-08:00

A Soul's Surprising Journey

Authored by Barbara Lucerne Woolley

Out of the Box: A Soul's Surprising Journey chronicles the 25-year modern-day odyssey of the soul now known in the spiritual realms as Lucerne. This saga of actively lived soul retrieval and karmic resolutuion begins with the author's sudden transcendent remembrance of being born into this lifetime. Through direct, ongoing, laser-like experiences, she is able to recover parts of her soul that had been "frozen in time," offering the reader a glimpse into the lessons of karma and how karmic residue comes up for redress in present time.
Through intercession by her Divine Self, her tireless spirit guides, and Mother Mary, the author benefits from a broad-based spiritual curriculum that literally took her all over the world. To continue her spiritual adventure, this soul must first let go of long-held anger, and must truly forgive herself and others.
At times hilarious, at times shocking, every word is true!

WHY IS RANDY HAPPY TO BE LIVING?

2011-11-20T07:59:00.000-08:00

Randy woke up this morning in Vanderhoof, British Columbia, happy to be living—quite literally. We don’t have many days on this earth and Randy appreciates that fact more than many because he is a survivor of a rare kind of brain bleed—a subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Although there are scars, a titanium plate and some lasting mental challenges, Randy leans on his degree in education, his past work with children, and his knowledge that a good story can change outlooks and lives. Having survived may, to large degree, fuel his drive, but his past work with children infuses his writing. Randy’s stories encourage readers and leave them wanting more.

Randy has had two books in print, his most recent, #9 Grundpark Road. The main character is a young boy named Daniel Sterling, who, like all of us, struggles with his own particular challenges. Daniel refuses to let his disadvantaged beginnings prevent him from reaching his goals. This uplifting, page turner will make you feel like you are capable of more, too.

Check Randy out at http://www.allthingsthatmatterpress.com and any of these other places:

www.randykwallace.com

justajot.blogspot.com

http://www.facebook.com/randykwallace

twitter.com/randykwallace

Look him up at Amazon.com where you can find paper or electronic versions of his book. #9 Grundpark Road is also available in Nook.

'SHIPS

2011-11-14T16:14:00.000-08:00

Authored by E. Joyce Moore

Her book is about life, the good, the bad, the shameful-but the truth.

About the author:
A Renaissance woman defined as an artist, writer, poet, author, community activist, fine arts curator and advocate of the arts. Her book, "Ramblings Through the Attic of Thought" garnered the 2009 SORMAG Poetry Book of the Year award. Joyce recently completed an artistic collection of poems for tweens and teens, "Like Air, I Rise." She is currently writing two new novels: a mystery and a fact-based drama.

MAY WE COME AND VISIT YOU?

2011-11-12T09:58:00.001-08:00

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

WHO IS THIS RISING SOUTH AFRICAN AUTHOR

2011-11-11T07:54:00.000-08:00

Maggie Tideswell walks in two worlds. The one is reality, the here and now: in the other there is no concept of time and space. But in both worlds love is what holds it all together. The love of the Superior Beings, the love between a parent and a child, the love between siblings, friends, for a project, or object, or animal. The world as we know it cannot exist without love relationships.
The ultimate love relationship is that between a man and a woman, and this is what Maggie explores in her writing. But as nobody exists in a vacuum, the world intrudes on every relationship.
In Dark Moon, Maggie took and extraordinary meeting between two strangers, added the world and wrote a book that will have the reader turning the pages until the thrilling end.

"A great combination of the occult and the romantic. An additional delight of this book is its setting in South Africa and the authentic African voice."

Book Trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvFqnD20-IE

Available in paperback & e-book format at:
http://tinyurl.com/5sklwxd
http://www.kalahari.com/books/Dark-Moon/632/42728694.aspx

HOW BOOKS ARE BEING MADE

2011-11-11T05:19:00.001-08:00

VIC THE SLEEPWALKER

2011-11-09T17:09:00.000-08:00

I grew up speaking English and Sicilian dialect. Don’t know which came first. At St. Mary’s I was “the boy in the third row staring into space,” tuning out the Principal, who was visiting our class. I would sleepwalk through my first 30 years, baffled by the bittersweet mystery of life. Heck, I still may be sleepwalking. At Lafayette High School I was #72, right guard on the ‘66 team, the weakest link on a fine squad. At Western Michigan University I faked my way to a degree in Education. I hid behind the persona of football coach for six years, until a November night when I began a novel, Five Cents, imagining the plight of an average Vietnam veteran, not the psycho Hollywood version. That began a 20-year jag that produced nine novels, two screenplays, two plays and about 60 short stories, more than 50 of which have been published. I am fascinated by the theme of man struggling to live a good life in a world where temptation beckons at every turn. For four years I was a teacher’s aide at John Dewey High School, where I met a woman I still think about each day. I tended bar for a year, then worked at the Commodity Exchange for nearly 25 years, a square peg learning not to be afraid of the world amidst the screaming of traders out to score big. It was there that I met the one who got away. In 2000 I self-published Close to the Edge - ever wonder what makes someone go off the deep end? In 2008 Adjustments, which chronicles my football experiences, was published by my literary angel, Victoria Valentine, of Water Forest Press. In 2009 A Hitch in Twilight, inspired by my fascination with the work of Rod Serling and Alfred Hitchcock, was published by All Things That Matter Press. These days I promote/sell my books on the streets of Brooklyn, and continue to submit manuscripts.

Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/

Vic's Short Story Collection: http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb

Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6

Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h

Vic's Word Press blog: http://vicfortezza.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post-new.php

WHAT IS A LEWANDOWSKI?

2011-11-05T11:50:00.000-07:00

I did not go to Alaska because I wished to live deliberately; I went to make money, hopefully enough to fund a trip to Sweden. The plan was to work in a cannery for the first half of the summer, and then fly to Stockholm, hometown of Hans, a college buddy from the University of Kansas. Things didn’t work out that way. When we arrived in May salmon wasn’t running yet; jobs at the fish processing plant in Homer were scarce. By the time the jobs arrived at the end of June, Hans, his girlfriend, and her brother had given up and left Alaska. I stayed on for the rest of the summer, sometimes working 18 hour shifts “sliming” salmon for many days in a row. I never overslept, even though I didn’t need an alarm clock. Before I went to bed each night I popped some Tylenol. Like clockwork I’d wake up five hours later, once the Tylenol wore off and the pain returned to my hands. By the end of the summer things so striking before, like the bald eagles as common as crows in the Lower 48, or moose lumbering down the main street, clogging up early morning traffic, had become the norm to me.

In August I started a Master’s of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at Wichita State University. I arrived in Wichita in the middle of the night, about four hours before Orientation was to begin. The second story I wrote for my first workshop was called “The Slime-Line Queen.” It became the first story in my collection, Halibut Rodeo. Like all the other stories in the book, “The Slime-Line Queen” was inspired by the jobs I did, and the people I worked with at Seward Fisheries.

That was 1988. I planned on going back to Homer the following summer, but in March 1989 the Exxon Valdez spilled its load into Prince William Sound, setting back the Alaskan fishing industry for years. Seward Fisheries had no immediate use for slimers. Full time residents found work scrubbing oil off of sea rocks with paper towels. I never returned to Homer. But I continued to visit places outside my comfort zone. I lived in Poland as a Peace Corps Volunteer, and in Lithuania as a Fulbright Scholar. I travel just for fun, too. My experience traveling infuses all my writing, both short stories and essays. I like to believe that I have a keen eye for “place.” In all my narratives setting plays a primary role.

Now I am an Associate Professor of English at Indiana State University, with a modest list of publications in numerous literary journals. Halibut Rodeo came out 22 years after that summer in Homer. When I think of how much time has passed, I recall a conversation I had with a single dad I worked with on the Slime-Line. He had just finished his first year of classes at the local community college:

“You know why I’m going to college?” he asked.

“Why?

“So I can get a job where no one looks over your shoulder and tells you to go faster.”

I think I took his words to heart.

Buy the paperback version of Halibut Rodeo:

http://tinyurl.com/2bdpwgn

Buy the Kindle version:

http://tinyurl.com/275ycpz

Read my blog:

http://halibutrodeo.com

Just Who is Sandy Cohen, Anyway?

2011-11-03T09:35:00.000-07:00

When’s the last time a novel made you laugh out loud? When’s the last time you fell in love with a character? In Revelations by Sandy Cohen you won’t be able to help yourself, you’ll do both. Join Abis, trickster-god or mad man, you decide, as he guides Manny Markowitz, and you, through the wilds of Greece and the bogs and barrier islands of south Georgia, and ultimately back to life as they search for Abis’s boss, Willy Love. Goofy, wise, and ultimately enchanting, this is the guidebook not just for anyone who has gone through one of life’s great tragedies, but for anyone who wants to return to the pure joy of living. There are three ways to learn the meaning of life, namely reason, intuition, and revelation. In Revelations, you’ll learn Abis’s, and your, great lesson—that life has no meaning any more than a flower has meaning, or needs to. It is the beauty and fragrance that enchant. Life is simply an experience to enjoy and exalt in. For here, and now is your eternity to enjoy.

KEN WHO?

2011-10-26T14:45:00.000-07:00

Just who is Kenneth Weene anyway?

Life itches and torments Kenneth Weene like pesky flies. Annoyed, he picks up a pile of paper to slap at the buzzing and often whacks himself on the head. Each whack is another story. At least having half-blinded himself, he has learned to not wave the pencil about. Ken will, however, write on until the last gray cell has retreated and there are no longer these strange ideas demanding his feeble efforts. So many poems, stories, novels; and more to come.

So far Ken has two novels published by All Things That Matter Press and a third will be out soon.

The first is Widow’s Walk, the story of a woman restarting her life and her two adult children. Widow’s Walk is a tale of love, sexuality, religion, and spirit. A box of Kleenex is an essential accessory when reading this emotional and meaningful novel.

Memoirs From the Asylum is set in a state psychiatric hospital. Full of tragedy, humor, and pathos, Memoirs reminds us that there are many forms of asylums and that it is all to easy to give up the most essential human freedom, the freedom to choose who we are. More than anything, Memoirs From the Asylum is a book for people who love words; it is a book that asks to be read aloud.

Coming soon is Tales From the Dew Drop Inne: Because there’s one in every town. The folks who hang out at this neighborhood bar are struggling to know that they too belong. This is a book of intersecting stories that illustrate the humanity of us all and our search for a place in which to belong.

Trained as a psychologist and an ordained minister, Ken knows that the human heart is the most elemental place to begin any story. Having also written a good amount of poetry, he strives to make the language of his books unique. Ken also brings the clear-eyed realism of a born and bred New Englander to his writing. The overall results are books that are especially moving and well-written.

You can learn more about Ken at http://www.authorkenweene.com

A good link for more about Widow’s Walk is:

http://vidego.multicastmedia.com/player.php?p=wbgzb2yk

For Memoirs From the Asylum visit

http://vidego.multicastmedia.com/player.php?p=nqm74a8k

Both Widow’s Walk and Memoirs From the Asylum are available in print as well as Kindle and Nook.

JUST WHO IS XYZ, ANYWAY? TOUR

2011-10-23T11:19:00.000-07:00

ATTMPress has started a blog tour called "Just who is xyz, anyway?" Our authors have gone 'beyond the bio' and have written some creative pieces about who they are and what they are all about as writers. You may see Tweets and FB posts with the tour title in it. If you do, take a moment and get to know our authors a little better and see what makes them tick. Oh, if you can re-Tweet and SHARE these posts, that would be wonderful.

Please support an independent publisher and their authors who really do have some great thoughts, insights and interesting takes on life.

Stealing Andrew Jackson's Head

2011-10-22T10:22:00.000-07:00

Authored by Charles D. Rodenbough
Assisted by Ryan Ray Rodenbough

In his obituary in 1899, the New York Times called Samual Worthington Dewey "one of the most
picturesque characters in American history."
For most of his life, Dewey was referred to in public as a sea captain, but his 92 years were
much more eclectic. He collected knowledge and was attracted by persons who shared his acquisitive thirst for
experience and learning.
Based in the true-life experiences of Samuel W. Dewey, Stealing Andrew Jackson's Head is a fictionalized account of those events, as told by Dewey to eleven-year-old Jake Cooper.

About the author:
Charles D. Rodenbough, grandfather, is a writer and historian, author of four books and many articles in historical magazines and journals. This was a special project because he partnered with his grandson,
Ryan Ray Rodenbough, who added the perspective of a twelve-year-old boy.

WHO IS JESSICA CHAMBERS?

2011-10-18T16:16:00.000-07:00

Soon after Jessica was old enough to walk and talk, her parents realized two things.

The first was that she had an incredibly vivid imagination. Unlike many small children, she was content to spend hours at a time amusing herself, inventing ever more dramatic games of kidnap, runaway orphans and wicked stepmothers. When she wasn’t playing, she could often be found listening to an audio book, Roald Dahl, perhaps, or her favourite Enid Blyton, becoming lost in the tales woven by others. Even as a child, Jessica cherished a dream that one day she would be a writer herself. Always a shy person, she reveled in the ability to escape into another world, something that remains true to this day.

Want to know more? Keep up to date with all Jessica’s news, including the release of “Dark is the Sky”, by joining her Facebook fan page

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jessica-Chambers/177537202257347?ref=sgm

or subscribing to her blog.

http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify

For more information about Jessica and her novels, visit her website

http://www.jessicachambers.co.uk/

“JUST WHO IS JEFF GEPHART, ANYWAY?”

2011-10-15T12:22:00.000-07:00

Just as my wanderlust has kept me moving from place to place and working in diverse capacities, my writing defies strict categorization, from the satirical humor blog I post on my website (jeffgephartwriting.com) to the poignant drama of my first two novels—2006’s The Second Life and Out of Dark Places, published in 2011 by All Things That Matter Press. The settings and characters can change, but one theme that ties most of my writing together is the examination of the human spirit. I find people fascinating, and I want to understand what motivates and inspires them, so that’s what I write about. Most of the kids my age loved Star Wars for the space battles and memorable aliens, but what drew me in was the battle raging within Luke Skywalker’s soul and his ultimate decision to reject the Dark Side. To me, nothing is more compelling than a story of someone finding the resources within themselves to overcome life’s staggering obstacles. The Second Life deals with a man who rejects society’s definition of religion and struggles to find the truth within himself, while Out of Dark Places features a protagonist who learns that the connections we make with others might be enough to redeem his tattered soul.

While my next project will be a more light-hearted, comedic look at a character finding his way through a confusing world, I’m sure you’ll notice those same themes of self-discovery and the evolution of the human spirit. If you’re a reader that enjoys having your empathy awakened and discovering that the similarities of our life experiences is what binds us all together, I have a feeling you’ll find it as rewarding to read my books as it was for me to write them.

http://www.jeffgephartwriting.com/

https://www.createspace.com/3589477

http://www.amazon.com/Out-Dark-Places-Jeff-Gephart/dp/0984639209/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1302752992&sr=8-2

http://www.amazon.com/Out-of-Dark-Places-ebook/dp/B004W8E9XU/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1313263945&sr=8-3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyArqsc5QtI

"Just who is Elizaveta Ristrova, anyway?”

2011-10-13T14:58:00.000-07:00

With her balance of misanthropy and anthropological curiosity, author Elizaveta Ristrova travels around the world in search of interesting material. Her books consider the significance of religion, clashes between races and culture, the relationships between humans and the environment, and the creation and unravelling of human relationships. She keeps a day-job as a lawyer, focusing on environmental and international development issues.

We in Pieces, Tales from Arctic Alaska, arose from her years living 500 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle. There, she interviewed community leaders regarding traditional knowledge, cut and served whale despite being vegetarian, and read every issue of the local newspaper dating back to the 1960s. Writing was a great way to fill the three months of darkness each year.

Ristrova hails from south Louisiana and currently finds herself in Makati City, the Manhattan of the Philippines. She likes singing the blues, dancing tango, making soy brownies, creating kindergarten-style art, and proselytizing about the environment. Her previous books include Taking off My Sweater, Something Short of Salvation, and Small Fish in a Small Pond.

We in Pieces is available at http://www.amazon.com/We-Pieces-Tales-Arctic-Alaska/dp/0984651756. Pictures of the nineteen characters in the book and a diagram of the relationships between them are at www.facebook.com/ristrova.

Six Weeks to Yehidah Book Trailer

2011-10-11T17:13:00.001-07:00

#9 GRUNDPARK RD.

2011-10-07T05:19:00.000-07:00

NEW RELEASE!

Authored by Randy K. Wallace

Sold into slavery by his foster parents and smuggled out of Alberta, Canada, Daniel is held captive by Terrance McMaster, a greedy and sadistic farmer. While he toils in a mine, Daniel discovers an ancient geode and a forgotten civilization. Though the discovery would change the known history of the world, the world is not ready for the crystals' amazing powers. #9 Grundpark Road is an inspiring tale of perseverance and heroism. Will Daniel be able to survive a power that has destroyed
everyone who has come in contact with it? Will he discover the true meaning of family?

About the author:
Randy Wallace was born in Stayton, Oregon. A few years later, his father moved the family of seven to Vanderhoof, a tiny town in central British Columbia, Canada. There was no electricity, water, or phone service in their new home. Randy grew up helping his family turn a piece of wilderness into a farm. These meager beginnings shaped his life, his teaching career, and, later, his writing.

ZAIRE'S PLACE

2011-10-07T04:18:00.000-07:00

NEW RELEASE

BY

T.C. GALLTIN

When thirty-four year old Charlene Wilson discovers she is dying, she makes the biggest move of her life and leaves her abusive husband. Not knowing how many days she has left, she's determined to spend them in peace. She turns to Zaire's Place to find comfort. Aisha Carter can be found at the center of every conflict at Zaire's Place. While she plots disruption, Aisha finds herself on a path that takes her on a course she'd never imagined. Rebecca Reich was raised in a prejudiced home and has issues with black people. A fish out of water at Zaire's Place, a predominantly African-American shelter for abused women, she is forced to rethink the lessons of her youth. Zaire's Place explores the relationships among these women as their lives converge, as they make decisions, large and small, that will impact the rest of their lives.

About the author:
T.C. Galltin was born and raised in Baltimore, MD, where she currently resides. She is a writer, a blogger and a mother of one. Of all the things she has created, she believes her beautiful baby girl is her magnum opus. A graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park, she enjoys writing poetry, listening to music, and playing Scrabble. On any given day, you will find her tweeting away on Twitter, one of her favorite social media outlets.

Celebrating Inspirational Words & Perennial Wisdom

2011-10-02T05:52:00.000-07:00

Rumi Poetry Club

This Month’s Feature: Six Weeks to Yehidah

A ten-year-old girl, Annalise of the Verdant Hills, falls asleep and wakes up in a wonderland (actually in the sky) where she embarks on a journey with her two sheep, Mabel and Mimi. A search party is sent to find Annalise, and Annalise, in turn, is trying to find out why she is where she is. As the novel’s central character, Annalise remains charming throughout the story: Inquisitive, fond of outdoors and adventure, and at ease to talk with animals. To know the rest of the story, it is best to read Six Weeks to Yehidah by Melissa Studdard.
This is Studdard’s first novel which happens to be in the genre of children fantasy, in the tradition of Alice in Wonderland and Dorothy in the Land of Oz. And like these books, Six Week to Yehidah will be loved and read by adults as well partly because it contains spiritual allegory. Take for instance the word Yehidah: In Hebrew it means “oneness.” Isn’t that we are all seeking in the wonderland of our own life? Therefore, Annalise is an archetype of the wonder child in all humans, although this story gives a shape and color to it.
Melissa Studdard, MFA, has taught at several colleges and currently teaches creative writing at Lone Star College in Houston; she is also a contributing editor for both Tiferet Journal and The Criterion, and a book reviewer for The National Poetry Review. She lives in Texas with her teenage daughter Rosalind to whom the book has been dedicated. (A poem in the story is actually Rosalind’s contribution.)
The idea to write Six Weeks to Yehida came during a critique-writing group when the participants were asked to write a short fairy tale. Studdard’s assignment ended up in this novel of nineteen chapters. The book offers a delightful story for all ages to read.
For more information visit:
www.melissastuddard.com
www.allthingsthatmatterpress.com

- Rumi Poetry Club
www.rumipoetryclub.com

DARK MOON

2011-09-19T16:49:00.000-07:00

NEW RELEASE!

Authored by Maggie Tideswell

A spellbinding novel of love, murder,and the supernatural.Chance meetings can have far-reaching effects. Loved ones may not be who they seem. The line between comprehension and confusion is thin ~ particularly when one's thoughts are being manipulated by another. In Dark Moon, the eternal triangle takes an innovative twist into the occult as dark magic fights against those who serve the Light. The prize? A woman's soul.

About the author:
Maggie Tideswell was born and raised in sunny South Africa, where she still resides. She has always been intrigued by finding "the purpose" and the dimensions of reality. She believes that actions have consequences, that if one shakes the web of existence in one place, the whole web moves. Maggie explores these themes in everything from her poetry and short stories to her novels.

MARTYRS AND TRAITORS

2011-09-18T06:17:00.000-07:00

NEW RELEASE!

A Tale of 1916
Authored by Marina Julia Neary

Dublin, Good Friday, 1916
Kidnapped and held at gunpoint by his former IRB comrades, Bulmer Hobson, the misunderstood antihero of 1916, denounces the ill-fated Easter Rising he had tried to prevent. While his captors joke about shooting him and dumping his body on the railroad tracks, his terrified fiancee roams the chaos-ravaged city in search of him. Fifteen years of political rivalry, international conspiracy, botched love affairs, and taunting promises of glory culminate in a bloody showdown. Once branded 'the most dangerous man in Ireland' by the police, Hobson is about to be
deleted from history.
Based on historical accounts, Martyrs and Traitors is an intimate glance into the conflicted and shattered heart of Ireland's discredited patriot.

Now available as a Kindle Edition and Nook and print from ATTMP. On Amazon.com shortly!

http://allthingsthatmatterpress.com

WE IN PIECES

2011-09-16T15:02:00.000-07:00

NEW RELEASE

Tales From Arctic Alaska
Authored by Elizaveta Ristrova

Welcome to Arctic Alaska, a land of twenty-four hour darkness and twenty-four
hour light, poverty in the midst of unfathomable wealth, 4,000 year-old
traditions, and the latest gadgets, raw whale meat, high fructose corn syrup, pristine beauty and gum wrappers. Follow the lives of nineteen souls in a rare
existence where ancient meets present. Some are the original Inupiat Eskimos, some
are Outsiders. Some subsist on the bounty of the land and sea, some are outdoors only for the 20- second trot between the car and the building. But all are dependent on what lies beneath--oil, until something happens that threatens to destroy this existence altogether.

About the author:
Elizaveta Ristrova, author of Small Fish in a Small Pond, Something Short of Salvation, and Taking Off My Sweater, never tires of sticking her large nose into other people's cultures and lives. She is now pulling her nose out of Arctic Alaska and moving back to the tropics-this time the Philippines. Eventually she will return to her native Louisiana or another Third World setting with the delusion of getting a job as a tree-hugging lawyer.

http://allthingsthatmatterpress.com

The Once and Future Wizard

2011-09-03T12:00:00.000-07:00

The Awakening
Authored by Tom Averna

The journey of the once and future wizard begins almost at its end. Professor Judah Zelig, a speech teacher, has felt compelled to write a novel about Merlin. This unremarkable man would soon discover that his writings were actually a remembering of his true identity and purpose. For Judah and Merlin, or Merlanu as he was known among the elves that helped train him, were the same. The truth, he discovered, about Merlanu was older and stranger than anyone knew. This is the story of a rebel band of angels who took human form and ruled this planet as gods. Their leader became known in Greece as Zeus, who was opposed in his plans by Poseidon. Poseidon genetically manipulated a Greek King, Theseus, to become the greatest wizard of all time with the power to defeat Zeus and restore order to Gaea-Earth. Merlanu was not just to crown a ruler, but to awaken the gods of old who have taken human form. These gods, who now make up most of humanity, were forced into the Karmic cycle because of their greed and lust with the hope that they may be redeemed and then reminded of their true purpose and power as angelic beings. Merlanu alone remained free of the cycle to accomplish this task; however, he succumbed to his own lusts in Camelot. Because of that, he endured a series of deaths and rebirths until at last he awoke in modern times with the help of a strange old woman, his soul mate and his elven grandchildren. But did he awaken in time because Zeus had his own plans to defeat Merlanu and remain in control of Earth.

About the author:
Tom Averna is a lifelong student who also enjoys teaching, performing and speaking. He believes in the power of positive communication as well as the potential of humanity to create a world of harmony
and peace. He established the first Internet positive-conscious music radio stream and recently helped develop Gratitude Radio playing music that encourages an attitude of gratitude. Information on his writing and radio projects can be found at www.joyfulltimes.com.

THE ONCE AND FUTURE WIZARD

2011-08-25T05:22:00.000-07:00

IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING

2011-08-24T05:23:00.000-07:00

NEW RELEASE!

Authored by Edward F. Ciesielski, Jr.

This compelling story begins on June 6, 1944 when Corporal Paul Pinski of the 101st Airborne Division is killed in action after he covers a hand grenade with his body during the D-Day Invasion. At the same time in Highlandtown, the blue-collar section of east Baltimore, Paul's wife Lucy gives birth to their first child who learns at an early age the benefits associated with limited competition. Drama is found on every page of this story as the Dexter-type anti-hero follows his natural instincts that lead him down a road to success paved with the bodies of his rivals.

About the author:
Edward P. Ciesielski, Jr., aka "Ski," was born and raised in Baltimore City and currently resides in Bowie, MD with his wife Janet and son Paul. Mr. Ciesielski graduated from the Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High School in Baltimore and later attended the University of Maryland University College. He served as a Prince George's County Maryland Police Officer from 1970-90, having attained the rank of Sergeant. Mr. Ciesielski's tenure with the PGPD includes service in the homicide section from 1976-1981 where he was responsible for the investigation of over 400 deaths. Included in those investigations were fifty-nine homicides of which only three remain unsolved.
While a member of the PGPD's Special Operations Division, Mr. Ciesielski and other squad members were temporarily assigned to the US Secret Service and arrested Arthur H. Bremer immediately after he shot Alabama Governor George C. Wallace and three other people at the Laurel Shopping Center in Laurel, MD on May 15, 1972.
Currently, Mr. Ciesielski serves as a background investigator for the federal government.
The impetus for Mr. Ciesielski's debut novel, IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING, is based in large part on his personal and professional life experiences as well as those of friends and relatives, especially his father, a retired Baltimore City Firefighter. He has begun work on a sequel, THE KIT, expected to be completed sometime in 2012.

"adventure, battles, ancient civilizations and symbolism, secret societies, love triangles, sex"

2011-08-23T08:41:00.000-07:00

"The second book in the Waking God Trilogy, The Sacred Rota does not disappoint.We continue to witness the battle between "good" in the form of Lucifer and "evil" in the form of the archangel Michael, while continuing the adventures of an assortment of characters both mythical and human.Harris and Doe give the reader all in this novel- adventure, battles, ancient civilizations and symbolism, secret societies, love triangles, sex- all in the name to save humanity from it's demise from blindly following the dogma of organized religion.The message, I think, is that there is "God" in all of us and all around us and that we have the ability to create our own universe and universal truths.But aside from that, this is a good read- it is a fast paced adventure novel that is difficult to put down.Can't wait to read Book III and see how it all turns out!"

REVIEWER, Jen Sculli

A NEW CLASSIC

2011-08-23T08:23:00.000-07:00

REVIEW BY SANDY COHEN found at:
http://sandy-cohen.blogspot.com/2011/08/new-classic.html

What should we expect from a classic children’s tale? Imaginary gardens with real toads in them? An enchanting story told with wisdom and great charm? One you can read aloud to your own precocious, nearly-perfect child, then read again yourself for the adult insights and delights it reveals and the places of enchantment that it takes you to? Choose all of the above and enter into the plausible and implausible wise and whimsical, alluring world Professor Studdard has created for you in Six Weeks to Yehidah. It’s a story destined to be an adolescent-adult classic. Enter this wonderful world of the almost perfectly mannered Miss. Annalise of the Verdant Hills in this tale of wonder and delight. Take a child with you or be one yourself as you travel through the real imaginary places of clouds and seascapes and great truths. Your only regret will be that the story ends, though, of course, in it’s ending is it’s beginning, and the promise that one can begin again. Learning universal truths has never so much fun.

SIX WEEKS TO YEHIDAH AMAZON BESTSELLER

2011-08-09T05:21:00.000-07:00

Melissa Studdard's new book has just made the Amazon Bestselling Book List and Hot New Book List! Her kindle is also now available as well as her Nook Book.

KINDLE: http://www.amazon.com/Six-Weeks-to-Yehidah-ebook/dp/B005GGALFC/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1312892012&sr=1-1

"...angels are devils, and devils are angels."

2011-08-08T15:33:00.000-07:00

Waking God Book I: The Journey Begins...what a journey! A story reminiscent of a combination of Divinci Codes combined with Lost, this book takes you through the adventures of Andrew, a college professor who finds himself in the middle of a battle between good and evil in which neither good nor evil exists, in which angels are devils, and devils are angels; a battle in which the future of humanity is at stake. The reader is introduced to mythical creatures, ancient civilizations, and forgotten universal truths woven into a fast paced adventure book. Harris and Doe keep the reader guessing and questioning everything we have been led to believe about organized religion, as well as the capabilities and truth of humanity. Would love to see this in film format!
5.0 out of 5 stars Waking God, August 8, 2011
By
Jen

MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW OF "LET THERE BE EVOLUTION"

2011-08-08T15:25:00.000-07:00

Who says faith and science needs to be mutually exclusive? "And God Said, 'Let There be Evolution!': Reconciling the Book of Genesis, the Qur'an, and the Theory of Evolution" is a meeting of science, faith, and more as Charles Wynn and Arthur Wiggins as they try meet the three Abrahamic with the commonly accepted theory of evolution. Presenting a picture which science and God are not enemies, they remind readers that they do not have to abandon their faith for science. "And God Said, 'Let There be Evolution!'" is a strong pick for any fan of both faith and logic, highly recommended.

Six Weeks to Yehidah-DEBUTS AT TOP 1%

2011-08-08T08:59:00.000-07:00

Yehidah debuts on Amazon at 123K!

Authored by Melissa Studdard

Move over, C.S. Lewis; Melissa Studdard is here!
Annalise of the Verdant Hills is one of the most delightful protagonists to skip through the pages of literature since Dorothy landed in Oz.
Join Annalise and her two walking, talking wondersheep as they travel to ever more outlandish places and meet outrageous and enlightening folk on their journey to discover interconnectedness in a seemingly disconnected world.
Discover with them how just one person can be the start of the change we all strive for.
A book for all ages, for all time: wonderful, wacky, and bursting with truth!

About the author:

Melissa Studdard is a professor, a book reviewer at-large, a contributing editor, as well as the host of a radio interview program. Her writings have appeared in dozens of magazines and journals. She currently lives in Texas with her daughter and
their four cats.
For more information, please visit
www.melissastuddard.com, or
www.sixweekstoyehidah.com.

CONCEALED WARNINGS

2011-08-05T05:40:00.000-07:00

Authored by Greg L. Didaleusky

The chief of pediatrics at Orlando General Hospital in Florida sets out to prove that a precocious twelve-year old patient has something to do with the miraculous recovery of two deathbed children and the mysterious events occurring at the hospital.
Across town, a renowned archeologist on ancient Mayan culture, receives artifacts from a recently discovered cave near the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. The curator at the Orlando Museum of Arts and Science asks her to decipher a strange configuration on a vase and an unusual pattern
of hieroglyphs on a tapestry.
What is the connection between the patient and the ancient glyphs? Are these events tied to the Mayan prophecies? Do the glyphs and the patient offer hope, or do they foretell the end?

"An ancient civilization holds the answer to this terrific medical thriller."~Robert Delp, M.D., The Villages, Florida

About the author:
Greg Didaleusky graduated with a teaching degree in Unified Science and a minor in English from Wayne State University. He received a Physician Assistant degree from the University of Detroit-Mercy. His first novel, FROZEN DEATH was published in 2009. He lives in Florida with his wife, Holly.

MY FATHER'S BLOOD

2011-08-01T07:36:00.000-07:00

"Darkness: the place where light best reveals itself." In the potent and poignant language of fine literature, this stunningly honest autobiographical novel grants candid views of chronic illness, blindness, and Native American racial identity, against the backdrop of a world often determined to demean, degrade, and disenfranchise. Though Amy Krout-Horn's inheritance brings illness, it also brings strong medicine, medicine remembered on a cellular level, derived from the profound wisdom of her Lakota ancestors. But can the ancient council fire's "spark" that ignited within a young girl's heart continue to guide the woman, even as the monster drags her into the "darkest darkness"? Like the reverberations of a native drum, Amy Krout-Horn's visceral voice resounds, imparting the message that, sometimes, our bloodlines become our lifelines.

About the Author
Amy Krout-Horn worked as the first blind teaching assistant at the University of Minnesota's American Indian Studies Program. A staunch advocate for social and environmental justice, she writes and lectures on native history and culture, diabetes and disability, and humanity's connection and commitment to the natural world. She is currently at work on her third novel.

Listen to a fragment from The Healing Session in Love

2011-07-24T08:30:00.000-07:00

PODCAST-MONICA BRINKMAN

2011-07-24T05:24:00.000-07:00

CONFESSIONS OF A CRAZY FOX

2011-07-19T06:12:00.000-07:00

NEW RELEASE-PRINT, KINDLE, NOOK

Authored by Anna Maria Kolojaco Mullins

Texas in the 50's, 60's, 70's to the present! This
autobiography-memoir contains it all. Drama, humor,scandal, sex, inter-racial relationships, greed, oil, money,religion, family dysfunction. What a ride!

"Confessions of a Crazy Fox" is the culmination of almost a decade of trying to write my strange life story as honestly as I can remember. It took some extremely stressful events to make
me finally realize I didn't care anymore what anyone thinks about the way I think. It happened...and it was sometimes just outright bizzare...so that's the way I wrote it.

Anna Mullins has a great voice...She pulls no punches, whether talking about sibling relations, race relations, feminism, or herself. As she says, "You can't undo the wrong you do by trying to make someone appear worse than you. That's why I'm confessing my worst sins, not just others'." And boy does she!
~Mike Stiles-Oklahoma City, OK.

"This is an extraordinary tale about an extraordinary life, told by an extraordinary writer." ~John M. Daniel, author of THE POET'S FUNERAL

About the author:
Anna Mullins now lives on the outskirts of San Antonio Texas. She enjoys helping her youngest grandchildren with their school projects and various activities. She also loves visiting with her best friends who live in Houston as often as possible. Her five children and eleven grandchildren remain the focal point of her life. When Anna is not around those who love and understand her...she prefers to be alone to create whatever artistic endeavor she feels needs accomplishing, whether it's painting in a variety of mediums...or writing...or cooking her family's favorite foods.

8 Tips on Creating An Army Of People To Market Your Book

2011-07-18T12:53:00.000-07:00

8 Tips on Creating An Army Of People To Market Your Book

PIERS ANTHONY REVIEW OF SECOND COMING

2011-07-15T11:29:00.000-07:00

New York Times best selling author, Piers Anthony reviewed WAKING GOD BOOK III: THE SECOND COMING OF HUMANITY, released by ATTMPress. he said:

I read Waking God III, The Second Coming of Humanity, the conclusion of a trilogy by Philip F Harris and Brian L Doe, published electronically (and in print) by ALL THINGS THAT MATTER PRESS. Like the prior volumes it has heavy action interspersed by the religious theme. It begins with a dense summary of the prior volumes, then gets to the continuation. The essence, if I understand it correctly, is that the child, Adam, has been conceived, who when born will herald the new order. Naturally there are those who wish to prevent this child from being born and who don't hesitate at murder; the minions of Evil don't pussyfoot. His parents have to travel deviously to Jerusalem, avoiding killers. At one point a woman who looks like the mother runs to intercept the bullet meant for the mother, giving her life for the child. The novel concludes with alternate endings, and a series of maxims from the Da Vinci Prophecies from the Codex Atlanticus, such as “OF CRUCIFIXES WHICH ARE SOLD: I see Christ again sold and crucified, and his saints suffering martyrdom.” I don't pretend to understand all this, but it's interesting, and I think exactly what would happen to Jesus Christ if he came again and tried to thwart the special interests who govern our society. Religion, the opiate of the masses, is fine as long as it doesn't interfere with business; that's as true in our day as it was in his day. So I recommend this for those who are more into adventurous religion than I am, who may be more competent to relate to its nuances. The authors obviously take religion and prophecy seriously."

His review can be found at: http://www.hipiers.com/newsletter.html

Writing mature characters is Knox at her best.

2011-07-10T11:29:00.000-07:00

Review: 'To Begin Again'
By Marisela Chavez
Special to the Express-News

Struggling with the isolating effect of sudden change stirs inner turmoil. And when it's not yours, it's entertaining. Few can resist gawking at a car crash or watching competing drag queens and chefs standing on a televised chopping block.

Jen Knox, a San Antonio College instructor and author of the memoir “Musical Chairs,” sets the cast of her new story collection, “To Begin Again,” in moments of transition and isolation, be it within a family, the world or one's aging mind.

Similar to how fans of the personal essay eavesdrop by invitation while essayists explore the human condition, readers of these 23 stories overhear characters working through their own understanding of life.

Although “To Begin Again” is a work of fiction, Knox's skill as a memoirist permeates. Whether told in first or third person, the language reads confessional; narrator and speaker alike expound on life's tribulations in voices both unapologetic and reflective. The book's title hints at a conclusion the characters never explicitly draw: begin again, start over, try again because you can.

The opening story, “At the Window,” lays the collection's foundation. While walking down the street, a homeless man unexpectedly socks the speaker in the jaw, and although numerous people observe, no one intervenes. The victim questions her assailant's motivation and the witnesses' lack of response. She confesses: “It was, to my mind, more an act of nature than one of aggression, or even free will. In a strange way, in fact, I feel as though he were as much a victim of his own rage as I had been. So why not extend the same sympathies to the people in the window?”

The stories that follow echo this contemplative focus on the various incarnations of isolation and the two-headed beast, perpetrator and victim, within each of us.

In “Asleep” and “Composure,” young women reflect on social, romantic and geographic isolation. The protagonist of “Asleep” is awakened by a visit from her sickly mother, who wheels in and begins a spontaneous love affair with a much younger man and, in turn, pushes her daughter to take control of her own love life. A young girl contemplates independence and co-dependence on a family visit in “Composure.” Subjection to rowdy neighbors in her aunt's apartment building widens the girl's perspective, more so when her aunt later stabs the abusive neighbor to death.

Writing mature characters is Knox at her best. Although the heroes of “Absurd Hunger” and “Disengaged” battle dulling minds, they shine with self-assurance. The refreshingly brash Walter of “Absurd Hunger” finds solace by writing hilariously touching letters to his dead wife. The task begins as an assignment in grief therapy but turns into something much larger. The speaker's mind in “Disengaged” gently deteriorates alongside a keepsake sunflower given to her by Henry, a man she befriended, maybe loved, at an age well past their prime. Her pragmatic voice slowly sweetens and leaves the reader with an affecting image of an old woman isolated in a nursing home but surrounded by memories.

“To Begin Again” is slim but packed. Any of the 23 stories could grow into a longer work, and, it is hoped, one will.

San Antonian Marisela Chavez is a San Antonio writer and tutor at Our Lady of the Lake

Read more: http://www.mysanantonio.com/entertainment/books/article/Isolation-transition-more-entertaining-than-it-1456966.php#ixzz1RjCRIilD

NOOK BOOKS

2011-06-28T08:16:00.000-07:00

ATTMPress is happy to announce that all of our titles are in the process of being loaded to Barnes & Nobles NOOK BOOKS! All titles are only 5.99 and add to our growing distribution of titles to electronic venues to meet the needs of our readers.

If you need Nook apps, go here: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/free-nook-apps/379002321/

To find our growing list, go here:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/all-things-that-matter-press?store=ebook
(Not all titles on this page are from ATTMP but the list is growing)

"unexpected and unconventional "

2011-06-24T14:46:00.000-07:00

Re-Post from: http://dailyspress.blogspot.com/2011/06/to-begin-again-jen-knox-all-things-that.html
Winner of the 2011 Next Generation Indie Book Awards for Short Stories, To Begin Again is a lively and unique collection that examines the impact of unexpected and unconventional romance, unforseen wealth or loss, and the dynamics of family ties, despite distance.

The characters Jen Knox created are eclectic and engaging. Each is faced with a small decision that leads to life-altering circumstance. Some thrive and others surrender; but within each story there is a balance of grittiness and inspiration that will stay with a reader long after the last page.

You can read a review and an excerpt at Lit Endeavors.

Jen Knox works as a creative writing professor at San Antonio College and served as Fiction Editor and Workshop Coordinator at Our Stories Literary Journal. She is the author of Musical Chairs, her short stories and essays have been published in Annalemma Magazine, Bartleby Snopes, Flashquake, Foundling Review, Metazen,Slow Trains, SLAB, Narrative Magazine and other magazines.

About All Things That Matter Press
All Things That Matter is a no fee-royalty paying, POD small press that seeks to publish those books that help the author share their Self with the world: "Our interests are on spiritual, self-growth, personal transformation, fiction and non-fiction books with a strong message. We understand that new authors have an increasingly difficult time in wading through the morass of agents, publishers, query letters, and marketing. Our press may well be the place where you get your first book published."

SINS OF THE ABUSED

2011-06-12T10:31:00.000-07:00

A TRUE STORY!
Authored by Marco L. Bernardino Sr., Helen J. Wisocki

Young Marco, blissfully living with his grandparents, is whisked away to a new school when his parents re-enter his life. Befriended by Father McCool, Marco is groomed with methodical precision, exclusive indulgences, and thrilling sports outings. Slowly, he is introduced to alcohol and porn, molested, and programmed for life with sexual perversions.

Years later, Marco self-medicates in a subconscious attempt to suppress the lurid memories of dark secrets hidden behind closed rectory doors and to control an insatiable appetite for morally depraved behavior. He struggles to prove to himself there is a virtuous self hiding deep inside. When he finds a patient and understanding therapist, the reconstruction of his twisted life begins. But by now the rippling effect of abuse has spread throughout his dysfunctional family. Marco crawls, wobbles and falls, gets back up, and continues on his painful yet heroic journey to separate himself from the shameful creature he'd become ... all the while juggling single parenthood and his career along with his internal battles.

About the author:
Marco L. Bernardino, Sr., is a survivor of clergy sexual abuse and works to bring hope and help to
others in similar situations. His aspiration for this book is that it will offer a path to recovery for victims who feel alienated from mainstream society - a direct and insufferable result of the actions of predators lurking in the shadows of our churches.

Helen J. Wisocki has published short stories and co-authored Innocence Betrayed. She owns a retail business in Newburyport, and resides in Massachusetts. Helen helps others put their life stories on paper.

SHOW US THE EMOTIONS

2011-06-04T12:26:00.000-07:00

In this session I’d like to address ‘showing’ your characters’ emotions in dialog scenes rather than ‘telling’ the reader in what way the words are being said. Oftentimes I see writers relying on those dreaded and lame ‘ly’ adverbs dangling at the end of dialog tags, a lazy way of qualifying the ‘said’ or ‘asked’ verbs. Let’s take a look at just such a passage-

Mary sat in the breakfast nook bench across from John. “Why didn’t you bother to let me know that in the first place,” she asked pointedly.
“Because I knew you’d never believe me anyway,” he said angrily.
“So you don’t trust my ability to handle much of anything, huh?” she whined.
John said abruptly, “No, I don’t.”
“Fine,” she cried, “just fine. Be that way.” She walked quickly away, pausing at the door to turn around and hastily say, “I’m leaving for mother’s house. Bye, John.”
“Yeah, whatever,” he said flippantly.

~~~~~

Now we have been ‘told’ how John and Mary are feeling and in what kind of tone and emotion they are talking to each other. But there is no movement, very little visualization to the scene. To this writing coach, it is just plain lazy writing. Reliance on qualifying adverbs is a shortcut that results in flat, lifeless scenes. Let’s now examine the same scene being shown to the reader, with little or no need for embellished tags-

Mary sat in the breakfast nook bench across from John. Her eyebrows furrowed and her eyes locked on his, she leaned in, tapped a forefinger twice on the tabletop and said, “Why didn’t you bother to let me know that in the first place?”
A wince shot across John’s face. His pupils narrowed. He bit his lower lip as his face glowed crimson and he clenched his fists. “Because I knew you’d never believe me anyway.”
Mary looked down and away, pouting. “So you don’t trust my ability to handle much of anything, huh?”
John rapped his whitened knuckles on the table. “No, I don’t.”
She sniffed and whimpered. “Fine. Just fine. Be that way.” She shot out of the bench and trotted away, pausing at the door to turn around. Her parting words were fired like bullets. “I’m leaving for mother’s house. Bye, John.”
John tolled his eyes and shook his head, flapping his lips with a sigh of mock sincerity. “Yeah, whatever.”

~~~~~

See how much it opens the scene up? There is seldom any need to add anything other than ‘he said’, ‘she said’ to a dialog tag and, indeed, quite often there is no need for any tag if your writing is done in such a way as to reveal the moods and emotions of your characters through their motions and expressions.

Marvin D Wilson, multi-published author and editor with All Things That Matter Press, using the pen name “Professor Old Silly,” posts writing tutorials on his blog each Tuesday. The above tutorial is a re-post from the archives of his blog at: http://theoldsilly.com.

THE SECOND COMING

2011-05-23T17:53:00.000-07:00

EVOLUTION, RELIGION, SCIENCE

2011-05-23T17:42:00.000-07:00

EVOLUTION

2011-05-23T09:51:00.001-07:00

And God said, "Let there be evolution!"

2011-05-21T05:56:00.000-07:00

NEW RELEASE!

Reconciling the Book of Genesis, the Qur'an, and the Theory of Evolution

Authored by Charles M. Wynn, Sr., Arthur W. Wiggins

This book answers "YES!" to the question, "Is it possible to reconcile the Theory of Evolution
with the Scriptures?" Accepting evolution does not require abandoning
one's faith. Created in response to 9/11, this book addresses the continuing conflict between science teaching
and religious beliefs, the dangerous effects of scriptural literalism, and heightened interest in
interfaith initiatives. A JEWISH scientist (David Kay, Conservative Rabbi in Florida), CHRISTIAN scientist (Howard Van Till, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Astronomy and Physics at Calvin College in Michigan), and MUSLIM scientist (T.O. Shanavas, M.D., pediatrician in Michigan) present scientific evidence for the Theory of Evolution and then explain how they reconcile that theory with the scriptural sources and beliefs of
their religions.

"Lucifer is not your enemy, and angels are not your friends. "

2011-05-17T11:57:00.000-07:00

The Second Coming of Humanity
December 21, 2012. Doomsday? Armageddon? The end of the world? Or ... the Dawn of Humanity’s Enlightenment?

The last book in an epic trilogy, with a heavenly-high bar already established by books one and two, The Second Coming of Humanity does not disappoint—in fact, it yanks the bar off its stanchions and hurls it into the stratosphere. Eternal arch-enemies, Mantrella (aka ‘Lucifer,’ ‘The Morning Star,’ and ‘Christ,’—yes, you read that last one correctly) and Michael come angelically and mightily head-to-head and wing-to-wing in the battle for the future of earth and the fate of the human beings that inhabit it. In this gripping and status-quo-challenging trilogy, Lucifer is not your enemy, and angels are not your friends.
“Is it not written in your law, I said, ye are gods?”
That quote of Jesus, taken from the New Testament, is repeated thematically throughout The Second Coming. Because, and this is where ‘traditional’ ‘Christians’ and the organized church will shout, “Heresy!” and, “Burn the authors at the stake!”—Adam, who was ‘put into a deep sleep,’ is about to awaken. The ‘dream,’ all that we know—the Buddhists call it “Samsara”—the illusion of our reality, created by us all with our thoughts as part of Adam’s dream, is about to come to an end. If Adam awakes, humanity is reunited with the godhead and, returns to its birthright—as gods, higher than the angels.
Michael doesn’t like that idea. One bit. He uses all his power, magic, and influence to stop it. Mantrella is using all his power, magic and influence, to thwart Michael and facilitate the rise to godhood that is humanity’s birthright. He knows the complete DNA—including the ‘god’ seed—can be ‘reborn’ in a divine child if he can successfully have main characters, Andrew and Mara, mate ... they both carrying each other’s latent half of the necessary seed that activates upon conception. If that happens, “The Fall” of mankind is reversed, man is returned to the Garden, and Adam awakens as the whole god-being you and I and He, were originally created to be by the I Am That I Am.
A supernatural, spiritual/inspirational suspense thriller, The Second Coming of Humanity is loaded with twists and turns, highly developed and multi-faceted, fantastic characters from all levels being and non-being, and has an ending that ... no, I can’t spoil it for you. You must find out, understand, and manifest the ending, for yourself.
Authors Phil Harris and Brian Doe spin this tale with crisp, compelling, no frills and gutsy prose, along with poetic and deep passages that transport you to other-worldly realms—then smacks you right back dab in the middle of ‘reality’—or is it? In the end, it is up to you, to us, to awaken and create our own reality. The book gets to you. It pervades and inundates you. And it makes you, as you compulsively turn each of the final pages, wonder ... just who you—and we—really are, for god’s sake?
- Review by Marvin D Wilson, author of Beware the Devil’s Hug, Owen Fiddler, and I Romanced the Stone (Memoirs of a Recovering Hippie)

DIGITAL DIET?

2011-05-13T10:00:00.000-07:00

About The Digital Diet: The 4-Step Plan to Break Your Tech Addiction and Regain Balance in Your Life

Have you ever felt that something hasn’t really happened until you post it on Facebook or Twitter? Does a flashing red light on your BlackBerry make your heart flutter? Do you know you shouldn’t be texting and driving—but still do it? If you said “yes” to any of these questions then you’re not alone; you’re among the millions of people who can relate to being overwhelmed by technology. Fear not—from leading technology reporter Daniel Sieberg comes the first self-help book to address America’s newest addiction: THE DIGITAL DIET: The 4-Step Plan to Break Your Tech Addiction and Regain Balance in Your Life (Three Rivers Press; On Sale: May 3, 2011; Trade Paperback Original; $13.00), a four-step, dietary-style approach to help you slim down on everything from gadgets to social networks to video games.

A Question and Answer Session with Daniel Sieberg, author of The Digital Diet The 4-Step Plan to Break Your Tech Addiction and Regain Balance in Your Life

Why did you decide to write this book?
It started as part of a personal journey to streamline my own technology intake. During a series of events in late 2009 I realized that despite my myriad gadgets and devices and websites, I had actually lost touch with my family and friends. My over-indulgence in technology was largely to blame, and I needed a plan going forward. I still love technology but now I make it work for me rather than the other way around.

How is your book different from others about “de-teching”?
In my opinion, too many books about “de-teching” or “offlining” start and stop with the idea of abandoning technology—forever, for a short time. My book is about instilling a greater cultural awareness (both at home and in the workplace) while encouraging people to use technology to their advantage. It’s about having a long-term strategy that works for all aspects of life. There are anecdotes and tips and ways to maximize your time spent in the digital world, and clear guidelines on how to trim the stuff that isn’t enhancing your relations and work. It’s about consciousness and control, which I think we’ve lost over time as technology has infiltrated so many aspects of our lives.

Can you explain the concept of “Facebook envy” and how it can have a negative impact on your mood?
Social networks make it easy to be a voyeur and peek over our digital fences. If we indulge in that behavior too much it can result in feelings of inadequacy, jealousy and frustration. Most people portray an idyllic life on social networks and don’t reveal the very real struggles they may be going through. Therefore the way we “see” our friends and family can be distorted and inaccurate. My hope is that this book gives people perspective on their real life versus their online avatar or alter ego. Real life is real, social networks are not. End of story.

What is the link between technology and childhood obesity?
There have been countless studies linking the over-use of technology with childhood obesity. Whether it’s spending too much time playing video games or avoiding physical activities or simply exercising the fingers and thumbs and nothing else. Parents constantly struggle with monitoring their child’s use of technology, and the book is meant as an educational resource that inspires them to stay involved. It’s also about suggesting plenty of technologies that assist children with losing weight or staying in shape. There are real ways to incorporate gadgets and software and do it the right way.

Some may initially think this is a book about the evils of technology. Can you explain why its not?
It’s absolutely not a book about the evils of technology or how everyone should be anti-technology. Just like a diet book isn’t anti-food but rather about consuming meals that make you healthy and energetic. In the same vein, my book encourages people to embrace technology but for the right reasons and for the right occasion. It’s all about seeking balance. Technology that liberates not inundates.

For much more information about Daniel Sieberg and The Digital Diet: The 4-Step Plan to Break Your Tech Addiction and Regain Balance in Your Life visit http://www.danielsieberg.com/. For your own copy, visit http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Diet-4-step-addiction-balance/dp/0307887383 (print) and http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Diet-addiction-balance-ebook/dp/B004J4WM3G (Kindle)

About the author

Daniel Sieberg is an Emmy-nominated reporter who hosts Tech This Out! for ABC News NOW. He has also covered science, environment, space and technology stories for CBS News, CNN, PBS, NPR, BBC News, Planet Green, MSNBC, Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, Oprah.com, Details, Time, The Vancouver Sun, CTV News, CleanSkies.TV, Fuse.TV, The Nate Berkus Show and The Dr. Oz Show.