Alan Sweeney's name enshrined at Civil War museum

Scranton Times-Tribune,
November 9, 2009

Sweeney's name enshrined at Civil War museum
by Roger Dupuis II

On the seventh day, members of the Sweeney family always knew where to find dad.

"He spent every Sunday at the historical society," Kara Sweeney said of her father, Alan.

The former president of the Lackawanna Historical Society - a beloved fixture at the group's Catlin House on Monroe Avenue - died of cancer in December at age 55.

"If he wasn't there, he was upstairs, reading his history books," his daughter recalled.

As dusk fell Sunday, Mr. Sweeney's family and friends gathered in the pastel-hued basement of Scranton City Hall to help cement his own place in the book of local history.

The warren of rooms that once housed the city's police headquarters became the new home last year of a century-old Civil War museum, thanks to the efforts of Mr. Sweeney and other dedicated volunteers. On Sunday, the space was rechristened "Alan Sweeney Hall" in his memory.

"I think he wouldn't like everyone making a fuss over him," Ms. Sweeney said. "But I think he would be proud."

Speaker after speaker - friends, family, Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty - recalled a low-key kind of guy whose passion for local history was matched only by his reticence toward self-promotion and the limelight.

Mr. Doherty said Mr. Sweeney came to him three years ago when the museum - which had been on the second floor of the historic GAR Building at Penn Avenue and Linden Street since 1904 - needed a new home. Mr. Sweeney asked Mr. Doherty whether the basement of City Hall was available after the Police Department's relocation to a modern facility on South Washington Avenue.

Mr. Sweeney assured the mayor that group members would see to renovations.

"It was characteristic Alan," the mayor said. "He said it would be no big deal."

He was right.

Members of the Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Association of Scranton, which runs the museum, quietly went about putting in new carpets and painting the walls to ready 1,000 square feet of space for their collection of artifacts and literature related to the War Between the States.

In late 2007 the group signed a 10-year lease and began work. A grand reopening ceremony was held Nov. 1, 2008.

"Alan was that rare person who just wanted to make a difference and make everything nice in the city he lived in," Mr. Doherty said. "And he loved history. He embodied history."

The mayor on Sunday presented a commemorative plaque to Mr. Sweeney's widow, Judy, and daughters Kara, 20, and Rachel, 21, before the two young women unveiled a larger plaque in the hall outside the museum's rooms.

About two dozen people then trekked across the street to a reception at the Scranton Club, and a speech by local history columnist Cheryl Kashuba, who teared up during remarks about the man she described as "a mentor and a true friend."

When she first went to volunteer at the historical society, Ms. Kashuba said she expected to find a place that was "staid and stuffy."

"How wrong I was," she explained with a smile. "It was a hopping joint."

She credited much of that energy to Mr. Sweeney and his indefatigable passion for local lore. Indeed, he had a special place in his heart for the Civil War, Ms. Kashuba noted, but that was only one of his many well-plumbed niche interests.

"He could rattle off facts about railroading and coal mining," she said. "He was a walking history book."

In addition to his work with the historical society, Mr. Sweeney wrote books about local history, lobbied for library funding and historic preservation and served on numerous fraternal and civic boards, including that of the Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority.

No small feat, that, considering Mr. Sweeney was not a professional historian but a district sales manager for Schiff's Food Service who joked with self-effacing humor about how he sold "french fries for a living."

"He didn't think of himself as important," LVHA Executive Director Natalie Solfanelli said. "He was so down-to-earth. I can't tell you how I miss him."

Ms. Kashuba agreed.

"Alan left us too soon," she said. "It's that simple."

ABOVE: Jason Farmer / Staff Photographer: Rachael Sweeney, left, and Kara Sweeney reveal a plaque in the Civil War museum in Scranton City Hall in memory of their father, former Lackawanna Historical Society President Alan Sweeney.

Page Turners reviews "Red in the Flower Bed"

Page Turners,
November 6, 2009

Red in the Flower Bed
by Amber Clark

Great story, to discuss adoption (interracial adoptions), I loved the illustrations. There really isn't much I can say about this book, that hasn't already been said in the synopsis. I was excited about reading this book, my mom was adopted and we have family members who have recently adopted. I will definitely, tell them about this book.

The poppy seed has to leave its home; it is carried by the wind. The poppy seed finally lands in a garden. It blooms into a beautiful red poppy. The color red was missing from the garden, so adding a red flower made the garden a rainbow of colors.

3 Boys and a Dog adds "Call Me Kate" to its Girls 13-15 Holiday Gift Guide

3 Boys and a Dog,
November 12, 2009

Girls 13 to 15 Holiday Gift Guide
by Kelli Miller

This was a good book! But then, I am a reader. As a homeschooling mom, books are a major part of my life and the lives of my kids. :-) The book seemed a little drawn out, like the author needed to reach a certain word count, but all in all I give it an “A”.

All American Mommy adds "A Different Kind of Hero" to children's gift guide

All American Mommy,
November 11, 2009

Holiday Must-Haves for Kids
by Tonia Butterworth

Tribute Books offers many great ideas for children's books! A Different Kind of Hero: The rainforest is under attack. One monkey is determined to save it. His name is Tomagochi. He’s brown. He’s small. He’s plain. But when a group of men enters the rainforest armed with bulldozers and axes, Tomagochi the monkey springs into action to defend his natural habitat. While larger animals like Peshe the tiger run and hide, Tomagochi charges into battle. Will he be victorious? Will the rainforest be saved? Join Tomagochi as he fights to protect his home and discovers just how special he truly is.

Fantasy Pages blog interview Molly Roe of "Call Me Kate"

Fantasy Pages,
November 11, 2009

Guest: Molly Roe
by Denyse Bridger

This week begins an on-going feature for authors with TRIBUTE BOOKS. In the coming weeks I will be introducing you to the talented poets & historical authors with this wonderful independent press. My first guest is Molly Roe, who has written a wonderful novel entitled Call Me Kate which I think will be enjoyed by anyone who reads history, and history-based fiction. So, before we get to the interview, let me introduce you to the author:

MOLLY ROE (pen name for Mary Garrity Slaby)
Call Me Kate: Meeting the Molly Maguires

Molly Roe is the pen name of Mary Garrity Slaby, a veteran language arts & reading teacher at Lake-Lehman Junior Senior High School. Mary holds a Ph.D. in education from Temple University, and Pennsylvania teaching certification in six areas. She has pursued the hobby of genealogy for the past decade. Mary was born in Philadelphia, raised in Schuylkill County, and currently lives in Dallas, Pennsylvania with her husband, John. They are parents of two grown children, Melissa and John Garrett, cover illustrator of Call Me Kate. Digging into the past has given Mary newfound respect for her ancestors and a better understanding of history. Call Me Kate is the first in the author’s trilogy of historical novels loosely based on the lives of the strong women who preceded her.

The interview:

1. Have you always been drawn to history, or did something in particular trigger the idea for an historical novel?

Certain historical eras have always intrigued me, but overall I was never a history buff. Genealogical research led to discovery of a connection between my great grandparents and the Molly Maguires, a big topic in local Pennsylvania history. Once started, I continued delving into topics related to the Mollies: labor unions, immigration, and the Great Hunger in 18th century Ireland.

2. Do you feel that fiction and fact are well married in historical fiction, or does the make-believe overshadow rather than enhance the reality of history?

I am a strong proponent of historical fiction and definitely believe it enhances reality. My readers have told me that they were fascinated by the glimpses of daily life in the coal patches and are looking forward to my next book to learn more. People who would never pick up a book about anthracite mining will learn many facts about the industry in Call Me Kate, but the facts are couched in a heart-wrenching, suspenseful story.

3. How much research has gone into your book? A lifetime, or was the researching done as it was required throughout the process of creating your book?

I began researching when my son was a freshman in high school and he is now 26, but those dozen years went quickly! I also had to dig up expert information during the writing. My writing group friends kept me busy checking details that they were curious about. Researching is very enjoyable activity for me. I am currently researching the mine fire in the town of Centralia, and the Molly murders in that area.

4. What “message” do you feel you are trying to convey with your work, or is there one?

There are several messages, but a primary one is: Respect your immigrant ancestors- they gave you the life you have today.

5. What would you like to tell readers about your specific book that would encourage them to buy it and experience it for themselves?

Call Me Kate has a nice mixture of history, adventure, suspense, emotionality, and humor. It informs the younger generation about the rigors of nineteenth century life, but it also sparks memories in the older generation who lived during the era when coal was king. That quality makes it a great gift to share with young and old alike.

Blazing Trailers interviews Jay Luke of "When Coal Was Queen"

Meet Jay Luke

Interview with Jay Luke, author of When Coal was Queen. Read an excerpt and watch the trailer at Blazing Trailers.

Why do you write?

I write because like most people, it provides an outlet for me. It’s a great way to vent and get things off my chest. Some people aren’t fortunate enough to use their artistic talents in that way. I find it’s like a form of therapy. Some people end up doing very regrettable things when they have no outlet, so I feel lucky that I have writing, my music, and painting as a form of escapism for life’s daily frustrations.

What kind of promotions do you do for your books?

I have been very fortunate to have a great publishing company behind me (Tribute Books) that have kept me in the press quite a bit since my book has been released. They’ve set me up with plenty of book signings, television appearances, newspaper articles and interviews, etc. I try to be as available as my schedule allows me when I’m not working or performing with my band. I love to be able to network and connect with people as often as I can. It reminds you why you get into writing and art in the first place.

Who do you think you are?

I guess there are a million labels that can be put on anyone but more than anything I consider myself an artist. I love to write, play music, paint, and create. So I think the simplest answer to describe myself in a nutshell is an artist, as it encompasses all of my passions without pushing me into a corner. There’s a great degree of freedom to know that art is everywhere and each day is like a blank canvas for us to paint in any way we choose. Some people just choose not to pick up the brush.

What would you tell aspiring writers about the publishing business?


My advice is to always listen to your heart, because if you listen to everyone else you’ll find your creativity and desire in a grave. Criticism is fine but don’t let it deter your vision or dreams. In my estimation, success comes with unshakable perseverance and determination. You have to be willing to get your feelings hurt and not let it destroy you. Personally, when someone says I can’t do something I go out of my way to try to prove them wrong and it fuels me to accomplish goals.

The late Randy Pausch said it better than almost anyone I can recall in his book, The Last Lecture when he said, “Brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want something badly enough. They are there to keep out the other people.”

I try to let that statement be my mantra through life. It’s a blueprint for success.

Do you belong to a critique group? How has this helped or hindered your writing? What do you see for the future of publishing and e-books?

I don’t belong to a critique group but I do know who to turn to for honest advice and brutal truth. I think it is very important to have people to turn to for advice and direction-pointing at times. It’s great to have self confidence but it’s also good to learn from others that you respect. You don’t always have to take their advice but getting different viewpoints makes you a well rounded writer. You might get into a conversation with someone and then realize a whole portion of your book needs to be rewritten. For as many times you reread your work you’d be amazed that all it takes is for someone else to glance through it to pick out mistakes that you missed a million times.

As for the future of publishing, I think there will always be a market for having printed books. Music, movies and magazines have all felt the massive wrath the internet has dealt them, but I am pretty confident that printed books will always have a place in the world. E-books are gaining popularity but there’s just something about holding the physical book and turning the pages on your own that has a certain romance to it.

They say authors have immensely fragile egos. How would you handle negative criticism or a negative review?

As I said, if you try to please everyone else you’ll find the one person who gets the least satisfaction is you. Negative reviews are something you have to deal with in all walks of life no matter what your job is. You can’t be loved by everyone, not even God can claim universal acceptance. I think the fact of the matter is most people have an easier time talking about what they dislike more than what they like. So you have to accept that people will like your work and people will dislike your work. A bad review can be disappointing but I try to let my heart be my guide. Sometimes critics like to slam others out of jealously or because of their own failures in the writing world, so I might have developed a thicker skin than others. They can be brutal in the music world and I have learned to let it roll off my back. I just put my helmet on and run like hell towards the next goal. My advice is to not live your life by the viewpoint of critics, be true to yourself and you’ll never be let down.

Technically speaking, what do you struggle with most when writing? How do you tackle it?

I think most often the answer here would be writers’ block, but over time you learn when you get in a quandary it’s best to step away for awhile and do something else. I try to keep my writing fresh and not reuse a lot of phrases or repeated quotes. So coming up with new ways to say certain things can be a great challenge in writing. You’re not going to reinvent the wheel but it is nice to have a few different ways to say things to avoid a stale sounding piece. Certain people think time schedules and feeling rushed can also be a big problem, but I was always the kid in school that waited until the very last minute to do anything. Knowing the deadline is approaching is when I really get my motivation. The creativity seems to be the purest for me in moments like that.

Do you have a website/blog where readers may learn more about you and your work?


Yes, I’ve been trying to keep all of my social networking pages updated with all my goings on such as shows, book signings, and appearances. I can be found at:

www.myspace.com/jayluke
www.facebook.com/jaylukepage
www.twitter.com/jay_luke

Do you have another book in the works? Would you like to tell readers about your current or future projects?


My next book will be a thriller novel with some very exciting twists and turns about two childhood friends that live very different lives in a big city, and each go on to accomplish incredible things that seem impossible. I am hoping it will be finished by 2010.

Thanks for visiting Blazing Trailers, Luke!

Win a FREE copy of "Call Me Kate: Meeting the Molly Maguires" at 24/7 Moms

WIN - Call Me Kate Book

Like most teen girls my two daughters enjoy reading fiction. So, when introduced to Molly Moes new Historical fiction book "Call Me Kate " I as the mom thought WOW what a great opportunity for my girls to read books they enjoy and at the same time learn a about history being that Historical fiction is typically based on real historical events, but in which the characters are not real, and the minor events may not be realistic. So a sort of mix of fiction and history.
Call Me Kate: Meeting the Molly Maguires

Fourteen-year-old Katie McCafferty risks job, family, and eventually her very life to rescue a lifelong friend. Disguised as a draft resister, Katie infiltrates a secret Irish organization to prevent bloodshed. Tragedies challenge her strength and ingenuity, and she faces a crisis of conscience. Can Katie balance her sense of justice with the law? Call Me Kate is suitable for readers from eleven to adult. The story is dramatic and adventuresome, yet expressive of daily life in the patches of the hard coal region during the Civil War era. This novel will appeal to readers of the Dear America series, as well as more mature readers who will enjoy the story’s rich context and drama.

WIN- 24/7 MOMS and Molly Roe are giving away Call Me Kate -meeting the Molly Maguires book to one of our 24/7 MOMS.

enter for your chance to win:

1. Become a 24/7 MOMS Subscriber Enter your email address below then leave a comment that you subscribed along with your email address.

2. If you are already a subscriber just leave a comment that you are a subscriber along with your email address.


US entries only and one entry per person. Winner will be chosen on November 22nd, 2009.

Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers reviews "Scranton: The Electric City"

Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers,
November 6, 2009

Scranton: The Electric City by Alyssa Amori
by Gina

Taking a nostalgic walk down memory lane today...okay, a walk down a path that ran right by my memory lane...to sample the simpler and more familiar things in life. Memories of home and days gone by (hey, not that many days...I'm not THAT old....just enough days to be in the past). Today's pick is....

Scranton: The Electric City by Alyssa Amori

A pictorial tribute to a place that meshes both golden and modern times, Scranton: The Electric City provides a little piece of home for those that have been there, or a tantalizing look at what those who haven't, have been missing....depending on your view. (Score one for longest run on sentence!)

This is one of those books you keep on a coffee table...not because it is the size of one, but because you love to look through the pictures held within. You feel the desire to share those same said pictures with guests that grace your living room or sitting area. Their beauty, the light, the architecture, the simple quality that is threaded throughout their gathering and assembly. It easily takes you to the city to get a birds eye view of some of the most beloved and memorable places the area has to offer.

Ah yes...another one that definitely brought back memories of childhood. Some of the places shown, I have actually visited and they are as lovely as the pictures reveal. It amazing how your memory actually works. I mean, your mind is like a giant camera. (well more like a video camera with sound and picture options, but you get the idea) snapping various photographs of your life. How well you remember each one and keep it living in bright technicolor clarity all depends on if you were there in the moment. For example, if you are taking a test whether it be in high school, college, or a work program, you are there under pressure and "forced" to focus on the task...try remembering one in detail. Struggling, right? Now picture your most memorable moment of a summer gone by....ah ha! See, you could instantly bring to mind the summer experience down to the feel of the sand under your feet (or whatever your memory was) whereas with the test memory, you probably were vaguely able to recall the question you were trying to answer. Being in the moment made it that much more for your life experience. Now, off the heavy stuff, on to more fun!

Favorite pictures? You bet!

The Albright Memorial Library (big surprise right?)! Though I've never been there (that I recall, unless I was REALLY little), the outside is gorgeous! I'm not a historical architecture buff by no means, but it brings to mind castles and old Paris (just my take on it probably). That older rustic (not the right word....umm, maybe old-worldy...) look was popular in my home town as well....old cities = old buildings. As much as I love new sites, new structures, new stuff in general....I have to love the classics as well. There is a certain class, a grandeur if you will, that goes along with them. (See the picture at right? That's it! Nice, huh?)

Oh, oh, and they include a look at Nay Aug Park (totally didn't realize that was in Scranton)! We went there many times in my youth....nature, swimming (pool...no fishies swimming with me, thank you), and a small animal exhibit of sorts. Then there's Montage Mountain....summer home of water slide fun, winter home of skiers everywhere. PNC Field....we use to watch Red Barron (baseball) games there! Looks like it's been upgrades to the "home of the Yankees". Awesome!

Special notes from the publisher's site that I felt really should be passed on (just in case you didn't click the link in the title)...

Alyssa’s ultimate hope is to get the book into the hands of as many Scranton service men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan as possible. The book is designed to provide the troops with a much welcome glimpse of home.

Tribute Books will donate $1 for every copy sold to the memorial fund for the son of the late Sgt. Jan Argonish of Peckville, PA.

So whether you've been there, done that, and missing it like crazy (mE, Me, ME!)...or you are a fan of location based pictorial histories (yep, made up my own genre there...no, but seriously...), this is a book that (I feel at least) can be enjoyed by one and all.

eGalley copy made available for review by Nicole at Tribute Books! (Thanks!) Tribute Books can also be found on Twitter (yep...another "tweeple" to add to your publisher lists) so take a moment to check them out!

A Bookworm's World blog reviews "Scranton: The Electric City"

A Bookworm's World,
November 6, 2009

Scranton: The Electric City by Alyssa Amori
by Luanne Ollivier

When I hear "Scranton" I immediately think of the television show The Office - set in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

But Alyssa Amori's photographic essay, Scranton The Electric City, gives a face to the name. It is those who live in a community that really see and know it the best and are able to show us the beauty of their surroundings.

I am always fascinated by architecture - it gives you such a wonderful glimpse into the history of a city or town.

Amori has covered it all, featuring shots covering the downtown area, new additions, parks and recreation, religion, statues, sports, the annual St. Patrick's Day parade and much, much more. Some of my favourites (go figure) were the Albright Memorial Library and the Lackawanna County Children's Library. Both are older, distinguished buildings, promising a suitable home for books! I was surprised by some of the pictures - great ski resort - who knew? And impressed by others - The David J. Wenzel Handicapped- Accessible Treehouse was a marvel. Scranton has a rich coal mining history as well.

There are over 100 full colour, glossy photographs. All are labeled, but I wish there was some text included. I would have liked to read the history behind some of the photographs.

"Alyssa Amori first became interested in photography while living in Redondo Beach, CA during the early 1980s, having been inspired in large part by the region's abundant natural beauty. Returning to Scranton, she eventually showed off the best of her California work in a show at the Lackawanna County Courthouse. In late 2006, Amori returned to photography taking over 3,000 photos of the Northeast Pennsylvania area with a Cannon XTI digital camera. Currently, Amori is taking courses through the New York Institute of Photography in addition to her career at Moses Taylor Hospital as a certified pharmacy technician."

What I found interesting was Amori's goal - "Alyssa’s ultimate hope is to get the book into the hands of as many Scranton service men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan as possible. The book is designed to provide the troops with a much welcome glimpse of home. Amori is looking for individuals or groups willing to either provide addresses or donations to finance the printing and mailing of the books to the troops." And her publisher - Tribute Books - is also donating a portion of every book sold to another cause close to Amori's heart - The Jakub Fund - a memorial fund for the son of the late Sgt. Jan Argonish of Peckville, PA.

Email Alyssa or visit Alyssa's web site. You can find Alyssa on Facebook as well.

Want a sneak peek? Click here.

Scranton the Electric City was a General Photography finalist in the 2008 USA Book News awards.

Peek-a-Boo(k) blog reviews "But Then Again I Could Be Wrong: The Book of Rants"

Peek-a-Boo(k),
November 6, 2009

But Then Again I Could Be Wrong: The Book of Rants
by Pratima Jayaram

I received this book last month as a review copy from Tribute Books. Thanks to Nicole for sending across this copy to me!

Jim Rising, the author, is the program director of 102.3 The Mountain WDMT and hosts a weekly show called "Rising at Ten". This book is a collection of some of these shows from the past few years.

As the title suggests, this book is nothing but full of rants. It's not really stand-up comedy, so don't expect to have a hearty laugh. But it's quite funny and a good source of entertainment. It's a collection of Jim's personal experiences and mundane activities and other random life situations which are presented in a humorous way..The nice part of the book is that Jim talks about those small things in life which we usually think about...He has a very unique take on life and it makes you wonder if he is reading into your thoughts!

Each of the rants is just about 2 pages long and that makes it an easy read. Some of them are extremely hilarious while a few others have some inspiring & thoughtful messages. However, I did find a few of them quite boring and bland which I just skipped through. Jim's style is quite different, so it takes a bit of getting used to, in order to understand his sense of humor. 10-20 snippets down the line, I got a hang of it and enjoyed reading it...

I feel that an audio version of this book would be a better choice, something that you can listen to while driving or doing some mindless tasks ...for those times when you don't want to stretch your mind a lot...

"Pegasus at the Plow" in the Northeast Pennsylvania Business Journal

Northeast Pennsylvania Business Journal,
November 2009

Achievements

Pegasus at the Plow: A Poetry Collection by Patrick Walker of Factoryville is the winner of honorable mention in the Rebecca’s Reads Fall 2009 Written Art awards in the nonfiction: poetry category. RebeccasReads.com hosts the Written Art awards, a biannual literary awards program that takes place in the spring and fall of every year. It has been founded to pay tribute to authors who have had their books published by an independent book publisher. All initial judging is done by RebeccasReads.com reviewers. Criteria for judging is content/originality, presentation/design, innovation, social relevance, production quality, enjoyment/impact, plot/story line, and resourcefulness (depending on category). Five finalists in each category are determined by a point system. Final judging is determined by a jury of judges.

Pennsylvania Magazine reviews "When Coal Was Queen"

Pennsylvania Magazine,
November/December 2009

Book Reviews
When Coal Was Queen

This book is a tribute to people, past and present, of this coal-mining community in Lackawanna County. Locals of Olyphant called their home the Queen City, when in the late 1800s and first half of the 1900s coal was the primary fuel used by most of the nation's businesses and homes.

Among the famous natives of the city are Nestor Chylak, a baseball umpire for 25 years; Loretta Walsh, the first enlisted woman in the U.S. Navy (in 1917); and actresses Patricia Crowley and Judy McLane. The book will interest Lackawanna County historians.

Win a FREE copy of "The Evolution of an Identity" at Sweeps4Bloggers

Giveaway - The Evolution of an Identity by Diya Das - Ends 11/11/09

The Evolution of an Identity

Indian American Immigrants from the Early 20th Century to the Present

A Fictional Family History

by Diya Das

Publisher's Description: They are known as the turbaned tide. Novelist DIYA DAS explores the journey made by Indian immigrants from the subcontinent to America’s shores. Weaving the narrative as historical fiction, the novel focuses on a young girl who uncovers the American roots of her Indian family tree.

The story unfolds in three venues. The protagonist discovers a Californian ancestor, a scholar-turned-farmworker who participated in the 1917-18 Ghadr movement to gain Indian independence from Great Britain. She then follows the voyage of a doctor aunt who immigrated to Chicago in the 1970s and was also a newspaper columnist. Finally, the narrator explores how to merge her Indian and American identities as she attends a Hindu festival in New York City.

When I read the description of this book, it looked very interesting to me. I like reading historical fiction and learning about culture and social issues.

It was only after I received the book that I realized that the author was born in 1991. Yes, 1991. The author is a teenager. Her own family experiences and her youth have given her a unique perspective. The story itself is fictional, but she has great insight into the experiences of Indian Immigrants in the US. I thoroughly enjoyed it and hope that Diya Das will continue with her writing career.

The Evolution of an Identity is available from the publisher or at Amazon :)

PRIZE ALERT - 1 of you will win The Evolution of Identity - thank you Tribute Books! :)

Here's what ya gotta do to enter to win ....

***Main Entry: For your main entry, check out The Evolution of an Identity and comment about the book *** (If you are not a blogger or if your email address is not publicly available on your blogger account, please post it in your entry so that I may contact you if you win)

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Giveaway ends on November 11th, 2009 at 8pm Pacific Time. Giveaway is open for US mailing addresses only. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to notification with shipping info - if no response, another winner will be chosen . Subject to the official rules. Disclaimer/Disclosure: Review product was provided to me.

Kali's Blog reviews "Red in the Flower Bed" & "Second Chance"

Kali's Blog,
November 2, 2009

Answering the Call
by Kali Van Baale

November is National Adoption Awareness Month and November 21 is National Adoption Day—a campaign to raise awareness about the thousands of children, youth and pets waiting in foster care, orphanages around the world, and shelters for permanent loving families. A campaign particularly near and dear to my heart. We are a family who answered the call two years ago when my husband and I adopted our daughter, Gauri, from India.

I’m often asked what made us decide to adopt, and moreover, adopt internationally. I never feel like I’ve got a straight, easy answer. Every family’s decision and journey to adoption is different. Ours was certainly filled with plenty of twists and turns. The summer of 2005, with two healthy biological boys, my husband and I decided to try for a third. Boy or girl, we didn’t care. We just knew we wanted one more to properly fill out the craziness of our household.

Alas, heartbreak and disappointment abounded with two miscarriages, my third overall. It was an agonizing decision, but I couldn’t go through it again. I was done trying. We’d be a family of four. Only…we didn’t feel like a family of four. It was a nagging sense, like an unfinished sentence about our lives. After a time, my husband and I started to talk about how, in the early days of our marriage, we’d both mentioned how much we’d like to adopt a child. I generally don’t like to discuss our three lost babies, but I did, in that moment, have a strange sense that maybe we’d suffered those losses in order to find the child we were meant to have, wherever he or she was.

We quickly settled on international adoption, attracted to the idea of bringing another culture into our family, and simply followed our gut when we chose India. A year later, we had a referral for a little girl in an orphanage in Pune, a city where my husband’s company just happened to have an office. And this little girl just so happened to have the name Gauri—as in Goddess Gauri—a nurturing form of the Goddess Kali. And if that weren’t enough, it just so happened that our Gauri was born July 16, 2005, five days before I lost the second baby, and she was relinquished by her birth mother in mid-September, five days before I lost the third baby. This wasn’t answering a call; it was practically a shovel whack over our heads. And here we are, two years later. As a writer, I sometimes can’t find the words to express what adopting Gauri has been like. Wonderful. Amazing. Frustrating. Fun. Hard. Scary.

But…oh, so worth it.

In the spirit of National Adoption Month, I recently read two really sweet books about adoption. The first, Red in the Flower Bed: An Illustrated Children’s Story About Interracial Adoption by Andrea Nepa, is a beautifully illustrated picture book about a seed that drops from a poppy flower onto ground too hard for it to grow. Soon the wind and change of seasons carries the seed to a garden where it is planted and soon blooms into a brilliant red poppy—the missing color to finally complete the garden family’s rainbow. (Short intermission as I dab my eyes.) The poetry of Red in the Flower Bed is simple but charming, and an easy way to introduce the concept of family diversity to a little one. An added bonus—a portion of each sale benefits Paul’s Kids Vietnam Children’s Charity.

The next book, Second Chance: How Adoption Save a Boy With Autism and His Shelter Dog by Sandra J. Gerencher, is told through the eyes of Chance, a rescued Rottweiler German Shepherd mix, and the bond he forms with Ryan, an adopted special needs boy who befriends him. Sensitively written with softly blended watercolor photos of the author’s loved ones, the story shows the positive effects of a stable, compassionate and loving home. An added bonus for pet lovers—a portion of each sale benefits the Human Society. Both paperbacks from Tribute Books retail for $12.95 and can be purchased on Amazon.com, and make great gifts for any newly adoptive family.

So here’s three cheers for National Adoption Month—whether you’re in the process of doing it, have done it, are thinking about it, or just plain think it’s great!

"I got more children than I can rightly take care of, but I ain’t got more than I can love."
–Ossie Guffy

Love After blog reviews "What Was I Thinking?!: How Not to Date"

Love After,
October 28, 2009

Book Review: What Was I Thinking?! How Not to Date
by Annie Earley
by Jessica Linnell

After going through a divorce, Annie Earley found herself single again at 51. In her book, What Was I Thinking?! How Not to Date, Earley recalls her experience of being thrust back into the dating scene. Her comical, and sometimes painful, descriptions of men she met (mostly through online dating sites) leave the reader questioning: What WAS she thinking? But anyone who has dated, online or otherwise, should be able to relate. We’ve all been there. Putting up with inappropriate behavior from someone we’re dating or finding excuses for why we should give our relationship another chance instead of heeding the red flags and getting out sooner. From men wearing leg warmers to ones who tell corny jokes all night, Earley met all types, and she openly shares her experiences with readers.

Earley’s book provides great insight to women considering online dating, new to the online dating scene, or getting frustrated with their lack of success with dating. Readers will not only be entertained by Earley but learn some valuable safety tips and warning signs. Earley’s style of being up front with the men she dates online is a great example of how women should clearly communicate their feelings to the men they are dating. When Earley realizes she doesn’t intend to date a man longer, she calls him and tells him, instead of ignoring his phone calls or trying to send an email explaining the situation. This upfront style should be an example to all daters!

An easy read from start to finish, this book will entertain and teach. Learn from Earley’s mishaps and laugh at her misfortunes. This book is a great reminder that dating is an adventure—sometimes wonderful, sometimes laughable, and sometimes downright painful. Be sure to read through to the end, including the author bio section to find out how Earley’s dating experience ends.

Ask Wendy blog interviews Leah Beth Evans author of "A Different Kind of Hero"

10 QUESTIONS FOR…Leah Beth Evans, author & high school freshman!

Author Interview Leah Beth Evans

My name is Leah Beth Evans and I’m a freshman at Valley View High School. I live in the town of Peckville located in the state of PA.I enjoy composing songs and literature.I have one published book,a children's book, called “A Different Kind of Hero”.

1. Tell us about your latest book.

My latest published book,“A Different Kind of Hero”, is a fictional children’s book about a Monkey who seeks out his special talent or prowess.

2. How did you get started as a writer?

Ever since I was young,I would write short story’s or poems. In fourth grade though, I was “influenced” by a nonfictional story I had read in class all about the rainforest.Soon after,I wrote “A Different Kind of Hero”.

3. What does a typical day look like for you?

My typical day consists of attending school,studying,writing,practicing the piano,and occasionally socializing with friends.

4. Describe your workspace.

I have a variety of workplaces.My computer desk,my kitchen table,and my bedroom.

5. Favorite books

My favorite books consist of “The Twilight Series”,”the Diary of Ann Frank”,”Flowers for Algernon,and “Little Women.”

6. Tell us 3 interesting/crazy things about you

I am capable of writing with both hands, sometimes I sleep on the opposite end of my bed (helps me sleep better),I not only have a love for writing but also music/theatre.

7. Favorite quote

I find all quotes to be special and creative and generally do not favor one over the other.

8. Best and worst part of being a writer

The best part of being a writer is getting to fill just a simple sheet of paper with your own thoughts and feelings.The worst part of being a writer is being given a limit to writing. As a writer, I do not enjoy writing essays that have a limit of “At least 5 paragraphs” or “No more than 3 pages”. As a writer, I believe that one should have the freedom of writing as much or as little as wanted. I believe a story should be written until the author feels it is complete,not when you are at your limit (3 pages or 5 paragraphs).

9. Advice for other writers

Write what you feel and love creating. Writing is beautiful and should be enjoyed and appreciated.

10. Tell us a story about your writing experience.

When I started seventh grade my parents got my book published. It was an unforgetable day. One of my goals had been “achieved” and one of my dreams “come true”.

Where can people buy your book?

My book can be published at Amazon.com, Borders(online store),Barnes n’ Noble(online store),and Target.com. Also, fans can follow me on twitter at www.twitter.com/theatregirl2

Thank you for this opportunity,

Leah Beth Evans

Tribute Books authors at Pages & Places Festival

Pages & Places Festival, Scranton, Pa.
October 3, 2009










Helen Silvestri (pen name Ellen Chaksil)
"With God There Is Hope: Hope for Humanity"











David Wenzel (with wife, Janet)
"Scranton's Mayors"











Molly Roe (pen name for Mary Slaby)
"Call Me Kate: Meeting the Molly Maguires"

Reading for Sanity reviews "Red in the Flower Bed"

Red in the Flower Bed - Andrea Nepa

Summary: An illustrated children's story about interracial adoption--A seed is dropped from a red poppy flower and carried by the wind on a journey to a lovely patch of flowers that is just right. In Spring, when the flowers begin to bloom, they are many different colors and the beautiful red poppy flower fits perfectly in her colorful new family. (Summary by RFS - Image from Tribute Books)


Mindy's Review: Many children will be attracted to Red in the Flower Bed 's beautifully simple, yet colorful illustrations. It shares a universal message about familial acceptance and love. In a broader sense, this book could be applied to fitting in everywhere with the message that we “bloom where we are planted.”

Her rating: 4 Stars (for a kid's book)

Sum it up: A great read for any adoptive families, interracial or not, with young readers. ____________________________________

Kari's Review: I thought this story was very sweet, had great pictures. It's cute.

Book Journey reviews Nine Things Nathan Noticed at Night

Nine Things Nathan Noticed at Night by Christy Baldwin
by Sheila DeChantal

Night skies and little eyes ... a book of soft words and pictures with comforting scriptures for the little ones in your life.
- Sheila

Nine great things happen when the sun sets for the evening. Each page includes a statement about what is happening and then some fun facts and information about that event. Written from a Christian perspective, the story describes how God made things when He created the Earth. While the story was written specifically for ages 3-8, children of all ages will enjoy this book. Even adults can admire the beautiful watercolor artwork.

My Thoughts:

This book for young children is just a sweet read. It is small with great night pictures and short sentences and scriptures that will hold a young childs attention. I can almost picture a little 3 year olds eyes getting big at the latge moon and desriptions of the sounds of the crickets as they chirp you to a peaceful sleep.

I think this is just the perfect length for the little ones. The pictures have a water color look to them that compliments the authors words.

J.W. Nicklaus' Interview with Fellow Ranter Jim Rising

An Interview with Fellow Ranter Jim Rising

October 22, 2009 by avomnia

Those everyday annoyances and head scratchers: bounced check fees, stupid drivers, escalating gas prices—or perhaps something not as common but equally as maddening, like mailing packages during the holidays.

Blogging offers us an outlet, a vehicle for getting those things off our chest which most likely afflict the rest of the blogging community. We comment on them, and in a sort of virtual ripple effect manage to impart at least the mere vestige of a catharsis upon lots of anonymous readers. However, some of us can’t help but let slip a written tirade once in a while—or most every day in Jim Rising’s case.

Mr. Rising has bundled his own take on the stalwart rant into a book entitled But Then Again I Could Be Wrong – The Book Of Rants. I saw “Rant” in the title and immediately knew I had to see what was up.

Rising’s rants aren’t nearly as acerbic or embittered as my blatherings. They approach the rant from a more entertaining perspective, sprinkled with humor and humanity. I was fortunate enough to have his publisher send me a copy of the book and to have Mr. Rising available for an interview as well.

I hope you’ll take a few moments to enjoy my interview with Jim Rising, and perhaps even leave a comment for him as well!

---

JWN: I’d like you to go waaaaay back, and recall your first rant. What was it about?

JR: In my senior year in high school we moved from Burlington, VY, which was flowers and beads and hippies in the trees to Barre, VT, which was (to my mind) hard scrabble, carhart wearing, tobacco chewing nowheresville. The first day we had an anti-drug assembly and I wrote 1,000 words on it about how much I thought the Principal looked like an EVIL Telly Savalas. To my utter amazement they printed it in the school newspaper. Mostly because I think the editor had a crush on me.

JWN: Was this crush to be the now regionally famous “long suffering wife”?

JR: Nope. To be honest I’m not sure what her name was…LSW is my second wife. Met her after 11 years of marriage # 1 and have been with her now for 25 years!

JWN: WOW! That’s highly commendable, respectable, and a slew of other “ables” I’m sure. That is, as you are keenly aware, no small feat. My genuine congratulations to you and the LSW for your marital longevity!

JWN: Have you always had a hunch that you were the ’soapbox’ type? When did you first have an inkling you were prone to fits of written or verbal browbeating?

JR: I chose a career in radio where you could make fun of people with very little fear of reprisal. Being an avowed pacifist (read: Coward) this worked well for me.

JWN: I’m a big fan of the rant because I believe it showcases us wrapped in our passions about whatever the subject matter. Some don’t care for it, prefering the staid, logical approach to argument. While that may be the more academic and/or learned approach, I think it fails to completely bring across the raw power of a solid rant. Using empirical datum as a carrier to make your argument is respectable, yes, but let those same thoughts piggyback upon a wave of emotion and I think it more solidly connects with more people. You can always (and should always) question facts, but being passionate is something most folks can really dig their teeth into.
Having said all that, how deep and varied are the colors you use upon your rant canvas?

JR: I like to think that I use very dispersant styles according to subject material. It always goes back to my radio days—that is, when I write I have clearly in mind what the voice will sound like when it’s read out loud.

JWN: Do you write (or rant) every day, or just when Catharsis taps you upon the shoulder? Do you have a routine you stick to?

JR: When I did a daily radio show I wrote a rant a day for that and one extra for my newspaper deal. Now I only write weekly (Weakly?) for the newspaper. It doesn’t much matter where or when. I have written some pretty good ones IMHO with my thumbs, on my handheld, on a plane.

JWN: I suppose the larger question there is: Would you, could you, write it in a box? Would you, could you, with a fox?

JR: Yes.

JWN: Is this your first book? If so, have you any plans for future tomes?

JR: Yup-first and only one that will get published probably, although I am writing romance novels under a pen name. The problem is they all end Stephen King like with the hero and heroine being killed in a blood bath. Lots of rejection slips there. I wonder why?

JWN: I’ve heard it said that romance is overrated. You’re just putting a little more intrigue into it; I see nothing wrong with that!

JWN: Ever considered a full-length novel, perhaps ‘inspired’ by your fist-in-the-air ramblings?

JR: See above. There is a novel in everybody. Most people should keep it there.

JWN: Rough guess: How many times have you been wrong?

JR: I wrote once about the Silly String company not helping out the troops in Iraq. I got a note from the President of Silly String who told me how wrong I was. I wrote a retraction.

I also wrote about Budweiser taking over Rolling Rock and got an email from a local Bud rep telling me how I knew nothing about beer. I suggested a tour of the brewery so he could teach me (Free beer!) but he never responded. To my knowledge those are the only times I have been wrong…but then again I could be…well you know.

JWN: Out here, at our County and State Fairs, a huge must-have when you go is the Indian Fry Bread; awesome with honey on it! I don’t believe I’ve ever seen funnel cakes out here; are those high on your list when you are carb-loading?

JR: OMG—as the kids text—YES! At the Bloomsburg Fair here they fry anything that will stand still long enough to dip into the oil. You have not lived until you have had a deep fried Oreo. Each serving comes with a free Heart Attack.

JWN: My brother (who lives in Arlington, TX), wrote to inform me that the big culinary thing this year at the Texas state fair is—and I swear I’m not making this up—deep fried butter. Would you consider trying such a delightful morsel?

JR: How do they deep fry butter? Freeze it first? I think I would have to try it just to say I did.

JWN: Admittedly, I am new to you and your rants. I know you’ve been involved in radio for quite some time, and still do a stint on 102 FM – The Mountain. I’m curious as to how your rants are received by your listeners.

JR: I actually have been off the air for about two years. I got a lot of positive feedback from what I did, more so in person when people recognized from my voice. “Oh you were the guy who got his lawnmower stuck all those times, right?”

JWN: A lot of people probably have no idea that you collect transistor radios, on the cheap if possible. Tell me the story behind the coolest, cheapest one you have!

JR: It wasn’t cheap (at the time it was probably $50, and this was in 1969) but it was a Sony 6F-21W, I was 15-years-old and it was the radio I first heard “Progressive radio” on—WBCN in Boston. It put the hook in me deep and I dreamed about being able to work at that station. My last job in radio—The Mountain—was my homage to that format.

JWN: I’d bet you get this question all the time since the book came out: Is that your silhouette on the cover?

JR: Nah-I’m the old fart on the back. If you look close at the back cover photo you will see the wine bottles are labeled “Ye olde paint thinner” in honor of my taste for cheap wine. Also the page in the typewriter reads “All work and no play makes Jim a dull boy” over and over again. A nod to Stephen King and “The Shining.”

JWN: In your book you tell a story about two disparate yet indirectly related obituaries. I won’t ruin it for those who might read it, but amidst all the daily junk life hands us (which you call to question) you find the smallest wrinkle upon the larger canvas, and yet that wrinkle gives the entire painting a more profound life. So the question is odd, yet I’m truly curious: Which do you find more personally gratifying, the cathartic rant or the poignant?

JR: I like it when I can do both. I was a big fan of O’Henry in my youth. I love to turn it around at the end. I like to think that, at my best, I can make someone think. But you have to do it in a manner that doesn’t cram it down the throat.

JWN: What is your favorite food/drink item to have at your side as you write?

JR: H₂O by the gallon. Tea. I don’t drink alcohol when I write. I also don’t really eat. I am very messy and it gets the keyboard all sticky.

JWN: In your book you state all the proceeds from sales will go to the Hoyt Library in Kingston. The majority of folks who read this blog aren’t from that area, so could you explain what happened.

JR: We had a big snowstorm and it collapsed the roof, pretty well destroying almost all the library and ruining most of the books.

JWN: That’s gotta be a whole lotta snow. For those of us who like the golly-gee-whiz kind of figures, do you recall how much snow was on the roof, preferably weight-wise?

JR: Dunno…It was probably a few feet but I think it was very heavy wet stuff and then froze.

JWN: Finally, what sage words of advice would you pass along to any aspiring writer (or rant progeny)?

JR: Nothing succeeds like excess. I write less than I should but the more I do the more I remember how much I enjoy it. For me it’s like breathing; I gotta get this stuff down. Like the flea market conversation I overheard yesterday: He says “It’s original!” She says “Original what?”

Priceless.

JWN:And for those readers who like a good rant every now and again, where can they pick up a copy of your book?

JR:Amazon still has it here , and you can learn more about it from my publisher, Tribute Books.

I would certainly like to thank Mr. Rising for taking time out of his schedule to do this interview with me, and to Nicole Langan and Tribute Books, who provided me with a copy of Jim’s book, But Then Again I Could Be Wrong – The Book Of Rants. If you’re looking for an entertaining read about the everyday things that drive us all nuts, then give Jim’s book a read. As added incentive, all the proceeds go to the Hoyt Library–and we sure could use more of those!

You can also visit Jim’s blog for more of his musings/ranting!

Jay Luke featured on Book Place

Jay Luke is a musician and artist from Throop, Pa. A graduate from Marywood University, Jay is very active in all things art, whether it be through painting, performing with his band, or through his day job as a graphic designer. As a project engineer of the Olyphant Coal Miner Memorial Association, he has delved deeply into the origins of the area and the forgotten histories of the towns around him.

Passionate about not letting future generations forget their local origins, he took on this project to reconnect readers to the past. As writer and poet Wendell Berry once said, “The past is our definition. We may strive, with good reason, to escape it, or to escape what is bad in it, but we will escape it only by adding something better to it.”

Published work includes "When Coal Was Queen" from Tribute Books

Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers reviews A Different Kind of Hero

Monkey of Steel: A Different Kind of Hero by Leah Beth Evans

Hello, hello! Post two for this week and going strong! (Whoo-HOO!) Before we get to the actual post, just a quick reminder that tomorrow we are playing host to the Bear-ly There Book Tour....stop by for all the festivities! (Psst! A little bear...I mean birdie, told me there will be a chance to win some great prizes too!)

Now on with the show.... You must be wondering about the title of today's post (you know you were). 'Monkey of Steel'....I just couldn't help myself! You'll see why in a few moments (or at least I hope you do or this will be rather awkward). Today's book choice is....

A Different Kind of Hero
by
Leah Beth Evans

Meet Tomagochi. He isn't your typical hero (but, you probably guessed that from the book title) as hero's usually go. He's not super strong, super fast, super loud, or....well pretty much "super" anything. He's just plain Tomagochi...small, brown, fuzzy monkey from the rainforest. Why is he so worried about being "super"? Well, when you have special friends like the mighty tiger and the ravishing toucan, and you are just a seemingly plain monkey, how could you not feel down? (Poor monkey!) Though his friends try to tell him it's what's on the inside that counts (Great message!), Tomagochi has a hard time accepting it. One day, their little corner of heaven is threatened by man's progress. There are BIG bull dozers threatening to tear down the very place they call home! (GASP!) What's a rainforest dweller to do? Run for the hills with his friends? Or stand up and fight for their home? In the end, Tomagochi discovers that no matter your size, shape, or color, there is truly something special or "super" about us all.

A wonderful message for readers young and young at heart...it's not what's on the outside, but what's on the inside that counts. Often times in society, we see the exact opposite. I mean whether it be with each other or simply with a book, we judge by the cover. It takes a genuine effort to look behind the veil and into the layers underneath (hmmm, this sounds more like a cake than a person, but anywho...) to find out what truly makes them the fantastic person they are.

I must say that aside from the cute (yet short....again it's technically a picture book) story, the illustrations were rather unique as well! They give the appearance of being drawn with oil pastels (they are kind of like chubby crayons, in case you haven't seen them), thus adding to the personality of each character. Also, in-between the full fledge drawings, you have what I would call "cut-outs" of the different animals and symbols in the book. You'll see an outline effect of a monkey (white space in the middle) and the actual monkey picture will be peeking at you off-center of the outline, thereby creating the "cut-out" effect. It's actually pretty neat. One more quick tidbit....for all of you aspiring writers out there, this story came as a result of a rainforest research project the author was given in fourth grade! So you see...you never know where your inspiration is going to come from....all of your experiences when funneled properly can become the golden moments you seek for your next endeavor!

Review copy courtesy of Nicole at Tribute Books! (Thanks!) You can see their other titles online and of course they are follow-able (new word!) on Twitter as well!

COMMENT CREATOR
So, in the spirit of Tomagochi, I ask you to consider your past reads. Name one book that you read despite a cover that was lacking that certain oomph or that you less-than-loved. Why did you read it? What was the outcome (was it good, bad, ugly, somewhere in-between)?

Jay Luke Interview for When Coal Was Queen/History of Olyphant, PA on Northeast Current

Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers reviews But Then Again I Could Be Wrong: The Book of Rants

Hello there! Welcome back to another day and another post here at Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers. We've got a few different events coming up but alas...I like surprises and therefore the details shal be known only to moi at this time. =0) (Promise...you'll like them!) With the sun shining and the humidity rising, it felt like time to dive into a book to bring back memories of the past...and SNOW! So, let's move on with it...

Today's post is similiar to another recent one in the fact that I am letting the actual book title act as the post title as well. (Well, if not for the length, come on! The title is pretty cool anyone, right?) Today's book of choice (for those of you that DIDN'T read the title) is.....

But Then Again I Could Be Wrong:

The Book of Rants

by

Jim Rising

WHOO-whoo-WhOo! (insert flashing red lights) This is a HUMOR ALERT! Inside the pages of this book, you will not only find a memoir of sorts detailing the life and times of a radio personality (okay, spokesperson, disc jockey...whatever terminology works for you, go with it), but humor to boot!

Ever have a time when you wondered why people do such silly (*COUGH**stupid*COUGH*) things? Do you just file these instances away in the "forget-as-soon-as-possible" folder? Or are you the person that gets online and types up a storm on the lastest thing that crossed you today? Whether former or later, not to worry...there are many like you out there in either case. Jim Rising, author and "subject" of this book has the privilege of talking about his "weighings on the mind" almost whenever the mood strikes....such is the freedom of life on the radio! If you've tuned to any local station recently, you are sure to have heard the DJ's talking about this or that. If you are like me, you probably tune them out half the time and either wait for a song to play, or change the station. There are however those rare occasions when the person's personality comes through in what they are delivering and it just hits home. This book is a collection of just that. Daily "rantings" of situations encountered, thoughts entertained, and various what-not to spark conversation, laughter, and maybe your own remembrances. Take it in all at once, or merely in small doses....but I'd definitely recommend this book the next time you encounter a "what the heck" kind of day.

Now I may be a bit partial on this one, and no....not because of how I obtained the book (don't worry, it's disclosed at the end of this post). After being contacted by Nicole from Tribute Books, I was surprised to learn that not only are they located in Scranton, Pennsylvania (ah, it feels good to spell that out again), but the author and subject, Jim Rising, lives in the general vicinity, thereby making his stories and recollections all about that area! (SQUEEEE!) So....oh, wait, you look confused? Why is that important to me? Oops! Forgot to mention that. My family was transplanted to our current location FROM around the same location in PENNSYLVANIA! (LOVE spelling that! You know in school up there, it's like one of the FIRST words you learn how to spell. Yep, no PA abbreviations for you. Spell it out or face the consquences....) (overly dramatic, yes! But worth the effect..) So, as you might be able to guess, this was like a walk down memory lane...at least in the aspect of locations mentioned and such.

The stories were highly entertaining and although some of that may come from an understanding of the sense of humor and living in the area he is speaking of, I feel it would be entertaining to "outsiders" (meant in the nicest way) as well! Give it a try! You can't tell me that you've never seen someone seriously investigating the most outrageously crazy item being sold at a sale and wondered, "why on earth would anyone buy that or sell it"....or maybe you've seen a great event coming up in your area only to discover the main act is minus a few players and the main draw is the refreshments....or maybe you've had a bird feeder that mysteriously ends up clear across the yard and your thinking OMG, it's Super Squirrel! (Okay, so I'll stop now...it's really something you have to read to understand...***laughing at the screen***)

Review copy in eBook format courtesy of Nicole at Tribute Books! (Thank you for both the book and the smile!) For those of you that live in the Twitter world (GUILTY!), feel free to "follow" them! (Who isn't on there nowadays?)

Writing About History by Jay Luke

Jane's Ride,
October 15, 2009

Writing About History by Jay Luke
by Jane Kennedy Sutton

"If you want to understand today, you have to search yesterday."
Pearl Buck

I’d like to welcome guest blogger Jay Luke, author of When Coal was Queen. Jay is a musician and artist from Throop, Pa. A graduate from Marywood University, Jay is very active in all things art, whether it be through painting, performing with his band, or through his day job as a graphic designer. As a project engineer of the Olyphant Coal Miner Memorial Association, he has delved deeply into the origins of the area and the forgotten histories of the towns around him. Passionate about not letting future generations forget their local origins, he took on this project to reconnect readers to the past.

So without further ado, I turn you over to Jay.

I would like to discuss the topic of writing about History. While some can argue any genre of writing has its pros and cons, I have delved a bit into many of them and found that in writing about history I found my greatest challenge.

Many times with history you face a lot of things that are untrue slipping in through time as people tend to get a bit more of an imaginative recollection of things gone by.

For my writing and research I found many errors and mistakes in previous publications regarding the topic of my book, which is about Olyphant, PA and its history. Dates clashed, names were misspelled. My biggest pet peeve was getting accurate information, as I felt the entire concept of writing history is to let future generations know about their past. As more time passes us by, the youth lose the connection with their roots because when buildings and historical places get knocked down and built over they become forgotten memories for many. So, as with most things, the best way to keep a memory alive is to tell the real story and get as much information as you can that goes back to the target time period.

In my instance I did my library work but was blessed to have been fortunate enough to get firsthand accounts from some surviving coal miners in the area. For those of you that are not familiar with Olyphant, PA, it was basically built upon the anthracite mining industry and flourished through the booming business. The best stories I heard were from the mouths of the men who were there and lived it. They helped me to correct previous errors and misconceptions I had initially written.

So to make a long story short, when writing about anything, be it history or whatever, know your material because if you publicize something you're not sure about it might be passed along through time as an absolute certainty. In other words, don't take the risk of spreading lies. The source of truth is not always easy to find but when you do it's like discovering treasure and can be passed to the future generations knowing they have the facts straight to learn from.

So get out there, get the information and get writing.

Thank you, Jay. You made some excellent points about the importance of getting it right.

Now here’s a little bit about Jay’s book, When Coal was Queen:

Journey into the history of what was once called the "Jewel of the Mid Valley" - Olyphant, Pennsylvania, "The Queen City." This journey takes the reader through the earliest days of the township and notable events of the past. Included are some famous residents and visitors who passed through over the years, and of course the storied Anthracite Empire that built the town. Check out a wealth of photographic documentation as well as many interesting facts about Olyphant, such as:

- A mine disaster occurred at the location of Olyphant’s mining memorial statue in 1903 that swallowed an entire hotel into the ground below.

- The first woman ever enlisted in the U.S. Navy was from Olyphant.

- Patricia Crowley of Olyphant once graced a Life magazine cover in the 1950s.

- Nestor Chylak of Olyphant is in the National Baseball Hall of Fame for his work in the major leagues as an umpire.

- President Theodore Roosevelt came to Olyphant to try to find a solution to mining relations in 1910.

The book is available on Amazon. You can also find Jay on Facebook.