Book Review: Afraid of Everything

(Click graphic to buy the book)

If you’ve ever taken a fiction writing course, chances are you’ve heard, “Stick with one point of view. Very few writers can switch in the middle of a story and pull it off.” Well Karen Jones Gowen didn’t listen. Afraid of Everything starts out as a well written firsthand account of the life of one woman desperate to change her life after an incident at work causes an all-consuming fear to take hold of her. It is within the discussion of this fear that the author- without being dull or sounding as if she is writing a diagnostic account- gives some very real explanation of Generalized Anxiety Disorder that is neither dumbed down or patronizing.

Gowen then deftly turns the tables on the reader and transports him or her into an artfully crafted third person account of what happens to the main character after a life altering injury and her subsequent coma within which she is taken on a journey that evokes the pages of a well-crafted fantasy novel – complete with a guide called Coriander.

It’s a story of a woman who was afraid of everything but was just beginning anew when her world is shattered. In the bulk of the book, we are with the main character Coriander as she guides her through this other land and teachers her through stories, parables and the occasional encounter with the dead relatives, about herself, relationship, and a life well lived and the messages she has been given on her journey to impart to those in her life.

Afraid of Everything

Spring is in the air but it’s still a great time of year to cuddle up under a blanket with your favorite book or ebook.  If you’re looking for your next great read, join me Wednesday, March 11th as I review Afraid of Everything by Karen Jones Gowen.

A Black Night for the Bluegrass Belle

 

On November 6, 1936, 40-year-old Verna Garr Taylor of LaGrange, KY, was found dead in a soggy ditch just over the Henry County line. Her companion that night, 60-year-old Henry H. Denhardt, the sitting adjutant general of the Kentucky National Guard and recent lieutenant governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, insisted that Verna had spontaneously committed suicide with his gun on the same night she tried to return his engagement ring. Because of a series of macabre, bizarre, and sometimes laughable events, “the Iron General” would never be held legally responsible for the murder of this beautiful, honorable widow and businesswoman. But that does not mean that Denhardt was innocent.

Just in the time for the 80th anniversary of this tragedy, Ian Punnett—who resigned as host of the most listened to overnight show in North America to pursue a PhD in journalism and mass communication—has uncovered the final missing, convincing details that bring A Black Night for the Bluegrass Belle to life. As part of the Commonwealth of Kentucky book series by Acclaim Press, Punnett also reveals the unknown truth behind Denhardt’s ignoble demise, a death that is considered the last “code of honor” slaying in Kentucky history.

Through storytelling skills honed as a veteran radio personality on the nationally syndicated Coast to Coast AM, a PhD candidate at Arizona State University, and an instructor of Multimedia Journalism at Ohio Northern University, Punnett crafts every chapter of this murder-to-trial-to-murder-to-trial nonfiction narrative with evocative historical detail and the passion that is only possible from a family member. Punnett’s maternal grandmother was Verna Garr Taylor’s first cousin and confidante. As a result, Punnett has access to family insight no other author can claim.

Read more and  buy tie book at: http://www.acclaimpress.com/store.aspx?panel=3&productid=2275&categoryid=1

Submit Today

Are you a cook? Do you love to come up with new and creative ways for you and others to enjoy simple, timeless, recipes? Then I need your recipes for inclusion my upcoming book which is titled in “Well We’ve Got Rice: A Short History of Helping the Hungry in America.” (Copyrighted) Recipes can be long or short but must be based on rice and simple, inexpensive ingredients. The top 10 recipes chosen will receive a copy of my last book To Your Success: How to Choose the Best Home Based Business for you. Recipes will be chosen for inclusion in the book and the authors contacted at the end of April 2016. No private information will be used within the book unless written permission with an original signature is given by the author/cook. This included information would be limited to name and city/state. To start the process of privately submitting your recipe, please fill out the form at the front of this blog

My New Book

My new book “Eighteen Great Home Business Ideas You’ve Probably Never Thought Of” will be available as follows:
CreateSpace eStore: Immediately
Amazon.com: 3-5 Business Days
Amazon Europe: 3-5 Business Days

 

This book gives details on how to set up and run 18 lucrative home businesses and includes other insights into small and home based businesses.

recipes word in mixed vintage metal type printing blocks over grunge wood

Learn about my recipe contest and win a copy of my book: To Your Success! How to Choose the Best Home Based Business Type for You at http://www. ricebookrecipes.wordpress.com

 

Late Bloomers

While reading this great article I’m reminded that  some of the most well known authors had to wait to get their works published such as  Laura Ingalls Wilder who did not publish until her mid ’60’s.  Read “It’s Never Too Late,” and you may learn to relax and just create.

Reviewing and Editing

Get your book reviewed and/or edited for half price at Connected Solutions. As the owner of Connected Solutions, I also  have years of experience writing and editing as well as a degree in journalism. I love reviewing eBooks as well as physical books and can get a review of your book up on Amazon as well  a long list of other places on the web. If you wish, I can also put in the time to try to get that review published in actual magazines and newspapers. Contact me through http://www.connectedsol.com for more information or through this blog.

Would You Consider South Africa a Gift to Writers?

A little something enjoyable from another blogger.

Read: Would You Consider South Africa a Gift to Writers?.

How to Sell an Ebook on WordPress

Have an Unusual Way to Promote Your Book

I was trying to think of not only a good way to promote a book but also get some input into a book I am writing. As I’m writing it I’m soliciting recipes to go into it. Though it’s not going to be a cook book, it will rely heavily on recipes so I developed a page at Causes.com.

 

What ways have you thought up to promote a book or idea? Send me your idea and I will include it in a post on the blog.

April

So there’s snow in the mountains and sun down here-most of the time. Saturday was the first time Stella (a calico kitty) saw hail. She’s an indoor kitty so she hasn’t felt it yet but being that she’s only 1 1/2, she may in her lifetime depending on where and when I move.

Still looking for a job- or I should say normal job. I don’t consider working at home normal-even for those that are able to survive on it.

Anyway, so for the second half of this month: Working on Rice book,getting job offers here and there and started a new collage. Eeh, no much.