Now in an updated and expanded second edition, i-Tips 2000: The Insiders' Guide To School & Library Marketing, Kathryn Kleibacker, Linda Winter, and Carol Ann Waugh successfully collaborate to present authors and publishers with an invaluable, indispensable, authoritative, practical and innovative "how to" guide to successfully publicizing and marketing books to school and community libraries. Every aspect of promoting and marketing to libraries is covered including K-12 market trends; the emerging home school market; library market trends; product development strategies; internet marketing strategies; traditional marketing strategies; and concludes with predictions for 2010. Soundly researched, informatively presented, i-Tips 2000 is "must" reading for any author or publisher considering marketing to school and community libraries locally, regionally, or nationally.

This is a very useful book. There are no wasted words; every paragraph has at least one nugget of important information. I know of no other book that brings so much on this subject together in such a compact package. I am recommending it enthusiastically to our members. Robert Goodman, Publisher, Silvercat and President, San Diego Publishers Alliance

Great collection of marketing essays chock full of good-tasting morsels of educational marketing advice baked to perfection. I recommend a "must read" for amateur and veteran educational marketers alike. George Halo, National Sales Manager, Curriculum Administrator

In for a Penny was a good solid read with well-drawn characters that had believable relationships between them. I look forward to the next book in the series.

Excellent plot with interesting characters! This is a great mystery with lots of twists and turns - has excellent and accurate descriptions of the South Carolina coast and its people. A great "beach" read, perfect for anyone who loves a good mystery or wants to escape in an engrossing story...

The package had arrived by the time I got home from work on Friday. I tore into the package and then tore into the book. Didn't stop until I finished on Saturday! The book may be called "In for a penny", but you will be "In" for a great read!

This is one of my favorite cookbooks! Every recipe I've tried is fabulous and I've made some of them so often that I have them memorized. I really love the Pan-cooked Pork Medallions w/ Apples & Cider, Strawberry Roulade, Red Roast Pork w/ Bell Peppers (on the cover) and the Broiled Chicken w/ Lemon & Honey. The Red Fruits w/ Foaming Sauce is very simple to make and very impressive to dinner guests.

The recipes are simple and use ingredients that you can find at any grocery store. Most recipes are no more than 5 or 6 steps and include color photos of some of the steps--how to cut the meat, folding in ingredients, etc. I love this because I'm a visual person and I like to see what I need to do instead of just reading about it.

There is also a beautiful, full-page, color picture of the final product FOR EACH RECIPE! This is wonderful because you have an idea of what the finished product should look like and how you can present it. I highly recommend this cookbook! It proves that low fat does not mean no taste or flavor!

This is one of my favorite cookbooks! Every recipe I've tried is fabulous and I've made some of them so often that I have them memorized. I really love the Pan-cooked Pork Medallions w/ Apples & Cider, Broiled Chicken w/ Lemon & Honey, Strawberry Roulade and the Beef & Peanut Salad. My absolute favorite desert is the Red Fruits w/ Foaming Sauce. It's SO EASY and everyone thinks you spent forever making it.

Personally, I don't have any problems reading the text in this cookbook. Yes the print is tiny, but what do size text do you expect in a book that's only 6 inches tall? I really like the compact size because it's easy to take with me to the grocery store when I shop for ingredients.

The recipes are simple and use ingredients that you can find at any store. Most recipes are no more than 5 or 6 steps. Each recipie has photos of some of the more complicated steps. By complicated I mean they show you what size to cut the meat, how to fold in the ingredients, etc. I love this because I'm a visual person and I like to see what I need to do instead of just reading about it. There is also a beautiful, full page color picture of the final product FOR EACH RECIPE so you have an idea of what the finished product should look like and how you can present it.

I'm a novice cook, and this book is the cookbook that I refer to the most!! Mainly because there are huge pictures on every page! Detailing some of the steps, and the final outcome! It's nice to know what the outcome is supposed to be!! There are a lot of great recipes, including lowfat and crispy baked chicken!! It really works!! My whole family loved it!! Plus, it was crispier than any fried chicken that I had ever made!!

I'm ready to start buying more books in this series!!

Super book, kept me on the edge of my seat for days

A great combination of unusual, sexy, and suspenseful with an intelligent sense of humor. Not too long, not too short, just right. Would love to see (hear?) it on audio.

Kathryn Williamson has outdone herself with this one. Painted Spider is a story that pulls the reader so far in that every free moment is spent trying to get back to it to find out what happens next. I spent hours at a time lost in this one. When it was over I still wanted more. I think everyone who enjoys the intrigue of extraterrestrial life mixed with the government conspiracies should definitely read this one.

Agent Joe Stonehouse has dedicated his life to preventing violence at schools nationwide. His current assignment has sent him to Fairholm High School where he has been hired as a school psychologist. Joe is a man that has had many tragedies in his life, from his horrific childhood to losing the niece that was like his daughter in a school shooting. He has trained himself not to feel anything for anyone but his family, however he had never met anyone like Suzanna Quinn, the principal at Fairholm.

Suzanna Quinn is the widowed principal at Fairholm. When Joe Stonehouse and his partner Luke Ludezky want to come into her school prentending to be uncle and nephew, she is incensed. She has always stressed how important honesty is between her staff and students and she feels like it's a betrayal of all that she thinks is important. The hardest thing Joe asks her to do is keep it from her fellow teacher and surrogate daughter, Kelsey Cunningham. Joe convinces her that it is worth keeping from Kelsey as the lives of many students are at risk.

This is my first Shay novel and I was very impressed. The way she depicts the emotions of the characters is heartbreaking. All the characters have had something happen in their past that they are trying to deal with and they all turn to eachother. The secondary characters of Luke and Kelsey is especially heartbreaking, as Kelsey honestly believes she has feelings for a student that aren't at all teacher-like.

Shay also stresses to the reader how common violence is in schools and how important it is that adults, whether parents or teachers or counselers, be available to talk with them without jugding. I can't wait to pick up another Shay!

Three years have passed since Secret Agent Joe Stonehouse's beloved niece was killed in a school shooting. Since then, he has been dedicated to stopping that kind of random violence. His latest assignment has him masquerading as a guidance counselor and the uncle of a troubled youth, who is another agent, in a high school. His mission is complicated when he meets the principal, Suzanna Quinn, an attractive single mom to whom he finds himself drawn, despite the complications such a romance would create. On top of that, his "nephew" has definitely more than student teacher relations in mind when he sees Kelsey, one of his teachers.

As the two couples dance along the fine line between business and pleasure, a plot to have another Columbine is forming in their school. Romance could compromise the whole mission, and love between any of them could endanger not only the mission, but their hearts and careers as well.

... A timely, current novel that is easy to identify with due to the relevance contained herein, it is a welcome addition to the shelves. Ms. Shay should have broken into the full length novel genre long ago. Her talents are always finely displayed in the deep emotion her words evoke and her well thought out characters. These are all living breathing people you might meet anywhere at any time. The action and suspense balance well with the love, so that neither plot is skimped upon. I eagerly await her next release...

For the past five years, widow Suzanna Quinn has diligently worked as the principal of Fairholm High School in New York. Her philosophy is openness and honesty with the faculty, students, and parents. Until recently that has proven quite successful, but popular student Zach Riley changes the climate when he shockingly commits suicide leaving a note behind that warns Suzanna of a threat to her.

Secret Service Agent Joe Stonehouse pushed the formation of the School Threat Assessment Team after a gunman killed his beloved niece and four other teenagers. Now he believes Fairholm High School could be in jeopardy based on Zach's suicide note and an alleged hit list. He goes underground as a crisis counselor at the school. However, he finds himself very attracted to Suzanna and knows he violates everything she believes in with his covert activity.

With all the incidents in schools over the past decade and the post 9/11 homeland security question, PROMISES TO KEEP is a timely romantic suspense. The story line is well written as Suzanna epitomizes the struggle when community safety tramples on individual rights and the need to know. The romance between the lead protagonists augments the dispute between Joe and Suzanna on what needs to remain cloaked in secrecy. Kathryn Shay provides no easy answers to the safety and security vs. freedom debate, but the audience will feel they have reader a thrilling complete tale.

Harriet Klausner

Some books get to the heart of things. "I Don't Want to Talk about It" is one of them. I could say that it's a skillful psychological examination of the feelings a girl experiences when her parents announce that they plan to divorce. That would be true. But this girl expresses real emotions in ways a kid can completely understand with gobbling crocodiles and prickly porcupines. The animal metaphors make room for energetic pictures by Kathryn Kunz Finney. The lively text and illustrations raise this book head and shoulders above the standard divorce books.

The text covers the issue of divorce excellently. The "Note to Parents" at the end of the book is a wonderful tool for parents considering divorce or at at any stage of the process. This book is a "must have" for helping children sort through divorce issues AND it is SO MUCH MORE! Less abstract than 'My Many Colored Days' by Dr. Suess, this book is very effective! Through the use of animal imagery 'I Don't Want to Talk About It' covers the range of emotion a child might feel during ANY transitional time. As Director of Children's Ministry, I have used it to open discussion with assorted ages of children dealing with various issues. The kids compare their feelings or situation with the girl in the book. In my book 'I Don't Want to Talk About It' transcends the ages, the issues, and is a lot to talk about.

Children have a hard enough time dealing with their parents' divorce without getting patronizing advice from grownups who think they know better. This book speaks to children on their level, and gives them a chance to realize that although their lives will change, their parents' love for them will not. Children need to know that the things they count on the most will always be there, and this book helps reassure them that they will be OK despite what's going on with mom and dad.

I whole-heartedly agree with the reviewer from Connecticut. An excellent book. Very interesting. Really gives you a feel for Mexico in the early part of the 20th century. My only complaint is about the quality of the printing of the book. It is lousy. Their are many misspelled words and punctuation marks out of place. The quality of the photographs in the book is awful. I also have the book in Spanish and the quality of that copy is 100 times better. And there are additional photos not in the English language version.

Actually I just ordered it today but am sure I will love it as Albert Blair was my great uncle. Imagine my surprise when reading "merry bush's" review! My father is Morgan Blair who is the son of Alexander, brother to Albert.

I think that the book is wonderful, not only historically correct, but incredibly entertaining. Albert Blair, in the book, was my "Uncle Albert" who often came to our family's home for Thanksgiving dinner. As kids we were fastinated by him since he was from Mexico and would bring us "adult" gifts (like Guerlain perfume when I was around 10 years old...I still have the bottle!) Little did I know what a really fascinating life he had lead! I have been to Mexico and stayed at the home of the wonderful author. I hope she writes again!

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I have always been fascinated by illuminated books so this book immediately caught my attention when shopping for nieces and nephews. It is beautifully illustrated and the story is sweet. It would be nice though if once a young lady could render assistance by being invited instead of having her father injure himself first! The center fold on how to make paints is a little unusual. Read the two opposing pages first, then open. Lovely book for children and their parents.

600 years ago, Lady Isabelle of Paris ordered a book from Papa Jacques, a famous book maker and he has only three days left to finish it. However, Jaqueses' eyeglasses is broken. So Jaqueses' daughter, Marguerite finished the book for him. Margurite went to Master Raymond's house for gold leafs, a farm for parchment, the market for eggs, goose feathers,parsley, and a pot of honey, and finally the apothcary for dried saffron flowers, madder roots, a cake of vermilion, some wax, pine pitch, and some lapis lazuli stone. At her house, Marguerite prepared he pens and paint. Then Marguerite started to paint. On one page, which was decorated with Lady Isabelle's favorite daises Marguerite colored Lady Isabelle's robe and hair. When Isebelle came to check on the book, she was very impressed.

Wow, this book has the most beautiful illustrations I have seen in a long time! My daughter and I just love the story and the fold out pages! We have been inspired to do more digging into this topic. I am going to share this book with my Grade 2 and 3 art students. A definite must for little artists.

We both read the entire book and did the exercises which are challenging and really give your brain a workout, and some of them can be done while driving. It seemed to be saying the brain needs exercise regularly to keep it healthy just as the body does, and the book contains numberless exercises. There is something in it for everyone.

The authors blended together (in eloquent prose) concepts, strategies, and techniques to sharpen the mind. This book is not merely one to read, but a book to study and review periodically. It contains valuable information that one needs, and should know about the human brain. The authors did their research and it shows. They combined substance, style, and wit in presenting their imformation in a manner that makes the material "unforgettable". If you are looking for a gift that just about anyone can benefit from, this is it! It was a terrific gift I gave myself!

This book has provided the most interesting games and exercises for practice and entertainment. It has accomplished the goal of inspiring me to continue such activities to keep my aging brain healthy. Positive results from having read it are already noticed. However, this book is more than a book of games. The chapters which involve the development, styles of learning, and processes of the brain are presented in most understandable an dmeaningful ways.

After stumbling over examples of this incredible craft in Milan, I wanted more information and certainly found it here! The text is very informative, the pictures superb with great attention paid to lighting them correctly so as to show off the intricate detail; this is a book for the reference library of the serious quilter and quilt historian, as well as delight to read for those who appreciate fine handcrafts.

This book details the history and workmanship of the quilting craft that developed in Provence. The author shows the reader the origins of the provencal quilt and fabric prints. The text guides fhrough the centuries of Provencal needlecrafts and demonstrates the care and craft of quilted glories. A person who is experienced with quilt making can create their own provencal looking quilts for themselves or loved ones. For that is what it would take to create a quilted masterpiece or the quality found in this region. This volume could have had 10 stars if the skills were actually presented for the quilter.

Readers will find in Kathryn Berenson's book a solid reference work on the distinctive style of Regional French quilting, both as bed dressing, and in articles of clothing. The clear, detailed photography reveals the mastery of the "whole-cloth" style of quilting, in both full-view and close-up. I was struck by the greater variety of embroidered subjects than seen in American or English quilts. I particularly enjoyed seeing so many examples of the famous (infamous?) 'chinoiserie' printed Indian cottons that were banned by the Crowns of both sides of the English Channel! Although not footnoted, the book is complete with three authentic projects to make; a useful guide to the care & feeding of the antique quilt; a short list of museums and shops in Provence; and an excellent glossary & bibliography. "Quilts of Provence" will grace a travel or history collection, or inspire and stimulate any quilter.