The Book Shepherd Recommends as Ideal Gifts …
I love it that I get to work on so many books throughout the year. Below are a few that should capture your attention that I shepherded this past year … all are available through Amazon.com
for the quickest fulfillment. Add them to your libraries … give them as gifts (for yourself … and definitely for others)! And enjoy.
Heart of Fire by Lesia Cartelli
Inspiration, Trauma, Memoir 978-0990439711, Carlyle Press, $19.95… Playing at her grandmother’s home at 9, Lesia was standing by the furnace in the basement when the house exploded—severally burned… she’s gone on touch the lives of millions and received accolades from Dr. Phil, Barbara Walters, the Mary Kay Foundation and countless others throughout the country. My “cold eye” editor said it was her favorite book of the year. It just might be yours as well.
Shot Down! The True Story of the Captain Howard Snyder and the crew of the B17 Susan Ruth by Steve Snyder.
Military, WWII, Biography 978-0986076008 Seabreeze Publishing $27.95A true American Hero—for the first time, the delivery of the full and complete story of the B-17 Flying Fortress in unbelievable detail pulled from crew members’ personal letters and journals and letters from the villagers who hid and supported them in Belgium. Recently, the 70th anniversary was celebrated in Belgium with 30 family members attending—there are two memorials and a museum dedicated to what the men did stealthily to support Belgium. Ideal for any history/action buff—my three brothers are each getting a copy for Christmas.
Natural Childbirth Exercises by Rhondda Hartman
Childbirth, Pregnancy, Exercise, Women’s Health 978-1995331472, Mile High Press $25.00 illustratedA multi-book award winner, Rhondda Hartman is a Colorado-based author who worked side-by-side with Dr. Robert Bradly creating the exercises that are used within the Bradley Method for childbirth. She asks simply, “Do you want to have the best birth ever?” I would have one of these “on hand” … you never know which friend, relative or daughter of one is going to have a baby.
Life Before the Lottery by Ashlee Bratton
Motivation, How to 978-0990488507, Pipe Dream Press $18.95
The most successful people have failed—bombed—multiple times. Ashlee’s theme is that there is an amazing life before winning a lottery ticket (and we all know the odds of doing that!)—this is a fun book, tons of photos of what the she did before she hit the magic 30 mark—her question: what’s holding you back? Create your bucket list now—whether you are 20 or 70 plus. Live, Love and Laugh and have a great time and oh yes, stretch yourself. This is a book just off the press a great “gooser” and fun read.
Beyond Infinity by Charles Ames FischerYA Fiction, Adventure 978-1-940107004 Sienna Books $9.99What if numbers came alive? They do when Matthew Forsythe discovers a weird computer and a secret door in the boys’ bathroom at school that leads to a series of events where he and his friends solve one mathematical puzzle after another. Great read for kids12 and up. The Bootlegger ’40 Ford by Charles S Clark
Fiction, Action and Adventure, Hot Rods 978-0990352600, Flathead Press $20.00
The Ford Standard coupe is the main character and star, each time selling/reselling for $500 (all true) and landing in a variety of adventures including the famous race with a high performance Mercedes on the Autobahn (all true). Six wonderful stories—it’s a great “guy” read … and yes, Charles does take a few liberties with “the truth”—great fun. Great car illustrations.
What’s Hot on the Moon Tonight? by Andrew Planck
Science, Astronomy, Lunar 978-0990876908, Moonscape Publishing $27.99
This is the ultimate guide to lunar observing—a combo workbook to record observations and a day-to-day what to look for and see each day of the lunar cycle (who knew that days 6 and 7 were the best to see all detail on the moon?). This book is hot off the printing press—I’m giving to my daughter, a sky-voyeur, for Christmas.
Cristina Gradina-The Girl with Ten Busy Toes
Bella the Baker Street Baker by Julie Griffin
Children 978-0983820505 and 978-1467596565 Red Jasper Press $16.99 each
If you have kids from 5 to 8 in your life … the girls, Cristina Gradina and Bella the Baker Street Baker belong in theirs. Delightful and fun, beautifully illustrated (Bella is hot off the press and comes with recipes!), kids are delighted with the antics of busy toes and cooking! I have given many of these as gifts…the perfect read with kids and the adults who love them.
TransitionPoints by Nancy Sullivan
Business, Careers, Change 978-0996086110, Little Gems, Inc. $18.99
Careers are a maze and too many are caught/stuck and are clueless on how to get back on track. The author has been trained by the pioneers of change, and has coached and guided many NY Times gurus in their own careers and has created a gem of a book that is concise, relevant and highly useable. Readers quickly discover the power of being in the right place, in the ideal career that their skills match. This book is hot off the printing press.
7 Critical Mindset Strategies for Entrepreneurs to Succeed Starting Today! By Heather Elliott
Business, Careers, Change 978-0991409501. ShayNou Publishing, $12.95
(Book is available on both Amazon.com for U.S. buyers and Amazon.ca for Canadian buyers/addresses)
If “rules” are holding you back—yours or others … would you like to get unstuck, starting now, as in today? You can with Heather Elliott’s 7 quick steps to get you un-rooted and redirected pronto. It all starts with the blueprint of your mind. Meet a visionary in transformation; you will want her words and wisdom at your fingertips.
The Concrete Killing Fields by Pat Morgan
Policy, Mental Health, Homelessness 978-1995331533 Mile High Press $18.95
To read The Concrete Killing Fields is to travel with those our nation has left behind so many times. Yet Pat Morgan brings her “Southern side” to the mix in a gripping and gritty, fascinating and funny, mesmerizing yet motivating read. An eye-opener, I recommend this to all.
Living Autism Day by Day by Pamela Bryson-Weaver
Autism, Parenting, Special Needs 978-0-993642906 Freedom Abound Press $23.99
(Book is available on both Amazon.com for U.S. buyers and Amazon.ca for Canadian buyers/addresses)
Welcome to the un-perfect world of autism … a world that has grown explosively over the past decade. As Temple Grandin said in her endorsement, “Living Autism Day-by-Day will help parents to persevere and meet the challenges of raising a child with severe autism.” And, I might add, anywhere on the autism spectrum. Beautifully done, four-color throughout, it’s a combo daily journal, inspiration thoughts and ideas, and like having a hot cup of tea on a cold day. Ideal for any parent who has an autistic child in their midst.
Have You Ever Held a Mountain? by John Maling
Inspiration, Mountains, Poetry 978-185331328 Mile High Press $23.00
A multi-award winning book, it’s a 32-line poem that flows through each page that includes a gorgeous photograph by also award-winning photographer Grant Collier. Have you ever held a mountain-cupped it gently in your hand-felt the texture of its ridges-sifted slow its granite sand-brushed its trees and touched its meadows-heard its glaciers grinding down-felt wet and rock muscle-under flesh of green and brown? Get this book for you and for others pronto.
Snappy Sassy Salty-Wise Words for Authors and Writers by Judith Briles
Authors, Writers, Publishing, Quotations 978-1885331496, Mile High Press $22.95
OK, OK, I get to do a shout out for me too. The perfect gift for any writer or author, a 4×6 hardback gem that supplies a pick-me-up, inspiration goose, even a little silliness. It’s 250 plus of my favorite quotes that I created over the years. Many of these I routinely share with clients to keep them going … and keep them on track. Get a copy for yourself and extra to give away. It’s an ideal “host/hostess” gift for any occasion (remember, 80% of the population wants to write!). I loved creating this gem just for you!
