With over 50 pages of informative, entertaining essays and anecdotes on the writing and publishing life, and with nearly as many pages of well-crated poetry, this book should appeal to beginning and seasoned poets alike.

Highlights include the sonnet "Reading with Mira" and the free verse poems "Rehab", "Stretchmarks" and "Shoplifting". In general, the poet's voice is confident and accessible throughout. Many of the poems are memorable in a way that makes the reader want to revisit them.

As an added bonus, the author includes a list with links for some of the best poetry venues on the web.

With over 50 pages of personal essays and anecdotes on the writing life and nearly as many pages of poetry, this book should appeal to beginning and seasoned poets alike.

The first half of the book contains essays and anecdotes on the writing and publishing life, including the authors views on such topics as poetry markets and the impact of the internet on the poetry world. There is also a valuable list of addresses for some of the best poetry venues on the web.

The latter part of the book includes aproximately 50 pages of poems. The highlights include the sonnet "Reading With Mira" and the free verse poems "Rehab", "Shoplifting" and "Stretchmarks". Throughout, the poet's voice is confident and accessible. In short, the poems are well-crafted and memorable.

The poet writes with a confident, authentic and accessible voice.
In this book, you'll find equally skillful free verse and formal verse. Gems include "Shoplifting", "Reading With Mira", and "Rehab".

In addition to poetry, the book contains essays on the writing and publishing life, thoughts on the impact of the internet on poetry, valuable links to poetry sites on the web, and reflections on self-publishing.

This is a book that should appeal to poets at the beginning stages of the submitting/publishing game, as well as to seasoned poets, and to anyone who is looking for well-crafted poetry to read.

Do you know that "The X-Files" TV series includes both "free-standing" and "bound" episodes? Do you know that these programs are thematically connected in many subtle ways? Are you aware that this program's view of reality has deep roots, reaching back to German Expressionism in painting and film, such as "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" released in 1919? That the character of Fox Mulder evolved from the traditions of such sleuths as Sherlock Holmes and Sam Spade? Does Dana Scully remind you of Clarice Starling from "Silence of the Lambs"? How do the details and atmosphere of "The X-Files" bear a familial resemblance to "Star Trek," "Twin Peaks," and even the Cold War paranoia induced by 1950's McCarthyism?

If you are interested in such explorations, Delasara's book is a rare treat. It is clear, intelligent, articulate, well-organized, and thoroughly researched. The author examines "The X-Files" as if it were a piece of superb literature. Delasara lucidly and easily discusses its characters, plots, themes, style, genre, and content. She then connects these elements to the program's genre (e.g., science fiction, gothic horror, film noir detective fiction and film).

Next--and especially fascinating--is the author's analysis of how this program links to its larger, social and cultural contexts, what she terms, "the zeitgeist of the 90s," which includes national and world politics, myth, folklore and urban legends, science, UFO and paranormal phenomena, religion, Jungian psychology, economics, folklore, and Cold War paranoia. One section explores how the discourse of UFOs, a dominant if "underground" type of discourse, functions in ways which influence our everyday lives.

Throughout this book, Delasara lays bare the creative complexity and nuance of "The X-Files." She mainly accomplishes this through deftly "playing" with oppositions: history vs. current issues; closed texts vs. open ones; cognition (Scully) vs. intuition (Mulder); the individual vs. society; science vs. the fantastic; head vs. heart.

Secondary and college teachers can use this book in many ways-for courses in literature, writing, cultural studies, anthropology, sociology, and contemporary history. Delasara's "deep reading" of "The X-Files" clearly demonstrates that what some people might refer to as a "silly TV show" actually functions as today's excellent literature. This book is energetic. It roams freely over our symbolic landscape. Throughout, though, what I admire most is not the author's objective analysis, though it fills these pages in abundance. What I DO like most is the author's pure passion for her subject.

In my review on this page, I mention the character EdAsner incorrectly. I realize that he was in another episode of X-Files. Can you delete that info? The corrected review follows: In the preface to her book Poplit, Popcult and the X-Files (Mcfarland & Co., 2000), Jan Delasara says that she intends her book for "Non-specialist but literate and interested readers." This describes me. Although I am an academic and can see how this book would have enormous appeal as a text for college students in a pop culture or literaray analysis class, I have only sampled the "X-Files" TV series and am certainly not a specialist in socio-political positions, aesthetics, literary constructs, or popular media. But I have read enough in several areas to find a connection to nearly aspect of this book. For example, I had read the short story "The Yellow Wallpaper" which she discusses on pages 153-156 of the book. As she weaved it into the themes of "The X-Files" (p.158), I became more interested in the TV show. Likewise, I enjoyed several particular episodes of the TV series, such as "Clyde Brickman's Final Repose."When I read Delasara's discussion of this episode in relation to horror fiction, I became more interested in that genre! Because the author "uses the terminology of literary analysis sparingly," and defines terms when necessary using common vocabulary, I think a variety of readers will find this book accessible and engaging.

In the preface to her book Poplit, Popcult and the X-Files (Mcfarland & Co., 2000), Jan Delasara says that she intends her book for "non-specialist but literate and interested readers." This describes me. Although I am an academic and can see how this book would have enormous appeal as a text for college students in a pop culture or literaray analysis class, I have only sampled the "X-Files" TV series and am certainly not a specialist in socio-political positions, aesthetics, literary constructs, or popular media. But the author summarizes each episode in the TV series and she relates each episode to a cultural mileau. I have read enough in several areas to find a connection to nearly aspect of this book. For example, I had read the short story "The Yellow Wallpaper" which she discusses on pages 153-156 of the book. As she weaved it into the themes of "The X-Files" (p.158), I became more interested in the TV show. Likewise, I enjoyed several particular episodes of the TV series, such as "Clyde Brickman's Final Repose" which is memorable to me because Ed Asner, from the old "Mary Tyler Moore" show, played a ghost. When I read Delasara's discussion of this episode in relation to horror fiction, I became more interested in that genre! Because the author "uses the terminology of literary analysis sparingly"--as she states in her preface-- and defines terms when necessary using common vocabulary, I think a variety of readers will find this book accessible and engaging.

What a refreshing book. How often do you read a story to your children and find a tear in your own eye? The artwork is exceptional and compliments the story so well. It's hard not to be drawn into the story even after you've read it several times. In an era where possesions seem so important it's refreshing for young and old to be reminded of what's really valuable.

Tessa's Treasures is a High quality book in every way. The pictures are paintings with astounding clarity, and capture realistic expressions and scenes with deep emotion. The writing is real--it feels like you're in their house. The content is appropriate and perfect for launching into a discussion regarding "cherishing others", and how important relationships are to us. To go a step further, the construction of the book is top rate, the binding will not fall apart, nor will the pages rip easily. If you are looking for a great book to read to kids that will help you discuss important life lessons, this is definitely one you should add to your library.

This book is a splendid mixture of great pictures to entertain the kids and a moral story to keep them interested. I found that my sisters have thoroughly enjoyed it and it keeps them occupied wondering what is going to happen next. I would reccomend this book to anyone looking for a children's story. It is a great combination of a good story with fun pictures. I happen to know the author personally and I know that he geers his stories towards the younger generation but still manages to keep it interesting for us old folks. I strongly suggest this book to anyone interested.

This wonderfully rich novel is the story of the passionate, flesh-and-blood men and women who began the Quaker movement in England in the 17th century and of those who settled in Philadelphia one hundred years later.

I received this book unsolicited from a book club during the seventies. The way in which the author presents the struggles of these early Quakers with themselves and the world in which they lived left me with a stronger sense of individual values and the importance of our individual commitment to our own. I have highly recommended this book as a must read since then. There are two sequels which are interesting but lesser works.

In the course of his flowing narrative, De Hartog manages to deal with all sorts of issues surrounding the intersection of religion, daily life and history including:

--is a prophet or founder of a religion anything other than a troublemaker who attracts women and wreaks havoc in society?

--how does "doing the right thing" differ from "being a do-gooder"?

--how does one listen for the voice of God?

--isn't religion absurd in the face of evil?

--what's the deal with religious people who kept slaves?

Not that there are pat answers to these and other questions De Hartog, a Quaker himself, explores in the novel -- sometimes there are no answers at all, just characters who go on with their lives and their work anyhow.

I think the book will be liked by the religiously inclined as well as atheists like myself. Just don't expect another absurdist, postmodern, depressing read, because you won't find it here...thankfully.

Welcome back the Gorn! You Trekkies should remember them. Greenish lizard like creatures, one which Kirk battled one on one on Cestus III?

Well, enter the diplomat, Jean-Luc Picard. The story starts out with a younger Picard on the Stargazer. They encounter the Gorn, and Picard transports over to their ship and eventually to their homeworld. With very little known about the Gorn, except for accounts from Kirk's encounter, Picard somehow figures them out.

This sets up the current time, where the Gorn want to establish diplomatic relations with the Federation. Picard is the only one who is fit for this of course. While traveling there, the Enterprise comes upon a huge space station. While investigating it, power surges take place, and some of the crew manage to get transported back to the Enterprise, but Picard. Then, he is caught in a blinding beam, and wakes up 100 years or so in the past in an infirmary. Guess where? Cestus III, although the captain is not aware of this yet.

Eventually, he learns where he is, and in the meantime, is considered suspicious by all the colonists there, except the doctor, who he becomes attracted to. Going by the name of Dixon Hill, he finds out what Stardate it is, and knows it will not be long, before the Gorn invade and destoy this colony. He plans his escape, but before he even has a chance to move out, they find out he is not who he says he is.

Picard then reveals some information to the doctor about who he really is, since she is the only one who trusts him. Picard manages to save the colony from a reactor core overheating, but has to use force to do it, as everyone things he is sabotoging it. After doing this, he runs away into the canyons, trying to find his communicator, in the only hope of being found 100 years in the future. The Enterprise 1701-D, get the help from Bajoran pirates. As Picard is being pursued by the colonists, the Gorn invade. Being torn between obeying the Prime Directive, or helping the colonists, and the doctor who he cares about, he decides to help them, hoping it will not affect the future timeline. While helping them, he is beamed away back to the future, or his time. Toward the end of the book, Kirk, Spock and Bones appear.

All in all a great book. Was mislead a little, thinking Picard would be facing one on one with a Gorn like Kirk did.

Star Trek: The Next Generation, Requiem by Michael Jan Friedman and Kevin Ryan is a classic. Where could you get Captain Picard, everyones favorite gnarley lizards (Gorn), time travel, interplanetary war, and camios by Kirk, Spock, and McCoy... only in this book.

This book starts out on the U.S.S. Stargazer Captain Jean-Luc Picard's first command, twenty-five years prior to his command of the U.S.S. Enterprise. Picard works on negotiations with the Gorn, but as we know the Gorn are sneaky for lizards and can hardly be trusted. But the Enterprise and her crew are now sent to finish the negotiations with the Gorn some twenty-five years after Picard's initial contact. While on their way, the Enterprize comes into contact with an alien space station, as the crew begins to evacuate, Picard is caught in a blinding light and is transported 100 years back in time to Cestus III.

At first Picard does not know where he is, then befriends the Doctor on the colony. All this time that Picard has been missing, Riker and the Enterprise crew have been searching , but to no avail, and the Gorn negotiations are going to hell in a hand basket. While on Cestus III, Picard witnesses the Gorn invasion and is in a position to change history.

This is classic TREK at its very best. You will not be disappointed reading this book, as it keeps the reader well engrossed with a tale written for the trekker in mind. You will be thouroghly entertained as war looms over the galaxy.

Picard is the key, the challenges are great, only now will the future of the Federation be held in the past?

I had so much fun reading this and many other Star Trek books in High School. Particularly good are books that elaborate on the more mediocre average Star Trek episodes. This book is one of them. It elaborates on the episode Arena, the first and only time we ever saw the Gorn in Star Trek. Time travel, another fun Sci Fi idea is also a part of this book. Seeing (in my imagination) Picard going back in time to the Original Star Trek is better than watching the DS9 episode Trials and Tribbilations (A crossover of the orginal classic episode Trouble with Tribbles). I good book. I highly recommend it if you're a Sci Fi buff.

If you like healthful eating, this is a good book to have in your kitchen. It combines the spiritual well being with the physical well being.
God as our creator, gave us an abundance of certain types of foods to eat. The authors have provided great recipes. I have tried some of them with great results.

Though this book is written in large part by a Seventh Day Adventist, there is nothing about this book that promotes anything but a healthier lifestyle. I bought this book when it first was published, and it was an answer to a longtime desire to find a book that addressed pure eating- whole grains, raw vegetables, fruit-sweeteners- not just low-fat or low-sugar eating. The chapters are not only informative, but the recipes are easy and so tasty. This book was a great introduction to the world of the health food store, with even a glossary in the back defining various foods foreign to the average supermarket shopper, and the names and addresses of common health food brands. I highly recommend this resource for those ready to take the plunge into new eating habits.

In 4 months I have lost 75 lbs. I still have a hundred to go, but have no doubt that I will get there. The simple weight loss plan put it all together for me. I know that by the time another 8 or 9 months go by I will never be fat again.

This book tells the traditional story of Sleeping Beauty with magnificent language, accompanied by spectacular illustrations. As in the original, Sleeping Beauty's mother is told that her dream of having a child would finally come true and that she would have a baby girl. The Queen did have the baby girl and her husband was so pleased he threw the biggest and grandest birthday party. He invited all but one person and not inviting her was the result in a terrible spell cast upon his daughter, Briar Rose. The spell was to put her to sleep on her 15th birthday, in which it did, after she touched the spinning wheel. Only a handsome man could wake her from the spell, and many years later that is what one man did. By kissing her, she returned to life and brought the whole castle life back with her. What catches the reader's attention in this particular book is the depth and colors of the illustrations. The position of the text also is very relevant in this story. Each picture is extremely detailed and shows that a great amount of thought was put into completing each page. It is very unique that the placement of the words on each page is located in some form of an opening. The text is placed in open skies, doorways, and blank walls on each page. In the beginning of the book, when the tone is darker, opening words are placed in a smaller and darker area; when Sleeping Beauty is awoken, the tone is much livelier. An example of this transition is relevant on the first two pages of the book, from the time when you are told the Queen could not have children to the time she has given birth to a baby girl. The first picture has dark colors and the trees are scary, close together and representative of a dark tone. With a turn of the page the tone takes a great positive change with open skies, doves, and vibrant colors. The text on both pages is in the middle of the darkness and then in the middle of a window. The position of the text and the illustrations are key factors in determining the over all tone and mood of the story. This book tells such an amazing story with the pictures that words are not even necessary. Children can read this book and better understand because of the colors and detail that each picture possesses. The doves that are used on the page of the birth of Briar Rose and the end of the book symbolize her life and what joy she lived. The colors in general are also used a symbol for joy and sadness, with such powerful colors meaning and representing happy times.

Trina Schart Hyman entranced me with her illustrations of Snow White when I was just a child. This book, with all its wonderful depictions, is equally as rich and magical. I have always loved the way her drawings looked and she was a direct inspiration for me to take up illustration when I got to college. I definitely reccomend it. It is a lovely, well-written tale and anyone, young or old, will love it.

As soon as you see the cover, you will know this is an edition of Sleeping Beauty that you will want. You actually feel the joy of the baby's christening, and the hurt and turmoil of the wicked fairy's curse. The scenes in this book are medeieval looking and it even shows some of the seasons that pass. This might not be the way that you see Sleeping Beauty often depicted. The princess, Briar Rose has long red hair and she wears a knife around her waist, in true medieval princess style. This is definetly a good change for the story. With it's expressive wording and beautiful, unique illustrations, you will want to check out her other books such as Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel and some others!!!!

When I reviewed this book for All About Romance, I gave the Lavyrle Spencer story a C-, and the Jan Freed story an A.

"Sweet Memories" is a reprint of a 1984 romance by Spencer, and it shows its age. I admit to being a relatively new romance fan, and I like the snappy fast paced romances prevalent now. The slow, dragging story, zero action, and painfully self-conscious afterschool special "message" (Breast reduction surgery can be a Very Good Thing!) made this story a chore to get through, although the writing is very good.

The Jan Freed story, "One Tough Texan", on the other hand, is everything I like. There's certainly nothing new to the plot--rancher has to raise orphaned niece and falls in love with the woman acting as a nanny/surrogate mom to the little girl--but Freed makes the characters come alive as individuals who are quirky and believable. It's too bad you have to buy both books to get this one, but it is definitely worth it!

I have read everything La Vyrle Spencer has written and Sweet Memories is still one of my favorites. These characters are so real they come off the pages. Spencer develops her characters so that you feel what they feel and you understand the choices they make. I was hooked from the moment I picked up this book and I've been reading her books ever since. I only regret that she has stopped writing.

LaVyrle is one of the most romantic writers I've ever read! She call tell a love story. She can bring you to tears and then make you laugh all in one chapter! If you read one of her books you haven't read them all--she's not a cliche'! Read one of hers--especially this one--and you'll be a dedicated fan for life! It's terrible that she gave up writing! Please write us a new one LaVyrle--we need it!!!

After Lea and Ted Hardy went home from school one day and found their parents dead, they became closer than ever. While Lea decided to stay as far away from Stonybrook as possible and the memories the town held for her, Ted married the daughter of the richest man in Stonybrook. With his marriage over, Ted is fighting hard for custody of his two daughters. Everything seems to be going great for him, for almost all the citizens of Stonybrook are standing by his side. Then, one horrific night, Ted goes to pick up his girls and finds the house on fire with his daughters inside. Shellshocked and heartbroken, Ted doesn't care that he is convicted of the murder of his whole family and sentenced to die.

Lea Hardy is returning to Stonybrook after nearly twenty years. She needs to sell the house her father killed her mother in and then killed himself. She also started getting anonymous letters saying that Ted was innocent and all she had to do was come back to Stonybrook. Soon she is pieceing together an even greater puzzle than the murder of Ted's family. When it seems everyone in the town is turning her away, Mick Conklin, her next door neighbor is there for her.

Mick always watched out for Lea when she lived next door. As a teenager, he was astounded by her courage. As an adult, he is awed by her strength and beauty. Lea not only brightens up his life, but his daughter's as well. When he had given up hope that Heather would ever open up to him again, Lea helped her like he wasn't able to. Strange things then start to happen as Lea tries to uncover the real murderer.

This is a great book and I'm looking foward to reading the one that came before it. Jan Coffey also writes under the name May McGoldrick, who rights historical romances. Don't miss it!

Lea Hardy returns to her home town to mount a death row appeal for her brother, Ted, who has been convicted of murdering his wife and two young daughters. She immediately becomes the target of threats and attacks on her life from a community that wants to see Ted put to death. Living in her parents old home and with no friends or allies in town Lea is forced to rely on her new neighbor Mick Conklin. She immediately befriends his teenage daughter, Heather, who is dealing with some severe problems of her own. Trusting Mick is more difficult, but she needs his help to find the truth and he needs her help to understand his troubled daughter. I really enjoyed this book. It's well written romantic suspense that's just perfect for a rainy day or a day at the beach.

This latest offering from "new on the romance suspense scene" Jan Coffey is sure to turn many readers heads. From the stunning cover to the incredibly satisfying tale within, this book is sure to become a classic in the romantic suspense sub-genre. It has all the important elements: characters readers care about from page one, a suspenseful plot with incredible depth (angst and hope), secondary characters who don't distract from the story but add richly to it and of course the all important ending sure to hold the reader to the final page.

Ms Coffey's talent to tell so much story in so few words makes her standout as a pioneer in this growing sub-genre. Add to this Ms Coffey is able to provide an incredible balance between the romance and suspense without one suffering for the other makes her a must read for serious romance readers. Something today's leading authors in this arena: Catherine Coulter and Julie Garwood, could learn from Ms Coffey.

That Ms Coffey is a mid-list author makes this affordable, but it won't be for long as a hardcover contract is surely on her horizon. Ms Coffey joins the ranks of other mid-list authors Dee Davis and Mariah Stewart in providing what is surely destined to be Classic Romantic Suspense. If you haven't tried Romantic Suspense, why not start with the best, TWICE BURNED by Jan Coffey?

If I'd seen this book in a store, I don't think I'd have felt compelled to buy it. It doesn't look that different from countless other children's books on the shelves... Yet it IS different. It was given to me as a gift, and I'm so glad it was. My son was fascinated by it. He was 8 months old, and it was the first book he ever took an interest in. Months later, it is still his favorite. It makes him smile every time, guaranteed.

Jan Pienkowski's "Zoo" uses a simple format to appeal to the youngest children. The book introduces the reader to 14 different animals that you would see at a zoo: crocodile, hippopotamus, toucan, gorilla, and more. Each page combines a one-word caption with a colorful illustration.

The pictures are particularly appealing. Bright and colorful, these illustrations combine an iconic quality with realistic touches. From the grandeur of the peacock's tail to the charm of a koala mother and her baby, each picture is delightful. This is a fun book for both child and caregiver.

I bought this book for my son when he was 7 months old. He is now one and still chooses it over all of the other books we own. He loves the illustrations! He took his first step to get this book off of a table and he said his first word when we turned to the lion page. He now says "Yion" each time we read it!And he's learned to roar!