#iUniverse Blog

[iuniverseblog]

African-American poets through the centuries

We at iUniverse would like to honor Black History month by taking a look at three African-American poets. We’ve chosen one excellent poet from each of the preceding centuries, to celebrate black poetry through the ages!

Phillis Wheatley: One of the earliest writers of poetry in the US was Phillis Wheatley (c.1753-1784), who arrived in the American colonies as a slave around 1760. Wheatley studied poetry under the Wheatley family that she lived with in Boston, and published Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral in 1773. She was even able to read Latin and Greek by the age of 12!

Wheatley’s poetry shows classical elements, in keeping with the neo-classical style popular in the 1700s, an era which also featured Alexander Pope. At the same time, her poems also infuse elements of Christianity. The time period, which consisted of rising tensions between the American colonies and the British government, is reflected in her writings, especially in a poem to George Washington during the Revolution:

Thee, first in peace and honors—we demand

The grace and glory of thy martial band.

Fam’d for thy valour, for thy virtues more,

Hear every tongue thy guardian aid implore!

Incidentally, Wheatley was not actually the first Black poet in America. Sometime in the late 1740s, Lucy Terry (also living in Massachusetts) composed a poem called “Bars Fight”, about an incident in 1746. However, the poem was only in oral form until it was published in 1855. Thus, Wheatley is America’s first published female black poet. (The first published poet, male or female, was Jupiter Hammon.) Her writings created a sensation in England, where she went to publish them, meeting members of the aristocracy during her visit. She was also praised by Voltaire, American naval her John Paul Jones, and of course, George Washington.

  Paul Dunbar: Paul Dunbar (1872-1906), hailing from Ohio, emerged at the end of the 19th century, in the first generation born after emancipation. He was a skilled linguist, writing in various American dialects, and published his first two poems at the age of 16. Ultimately, Dunbar wrote a dozen books of poetry, four novels, four books of short stories, lyrics for a musical called In Dahomey (the former name of Benin), and a play.

William Dean Howells, who launched The Atlantic Monthly, praised Dunbar’s skill, as did Maya Angelou, who said his works had inspired her writing ambition. Frederick Douglass, whose eloquent narrative of his own slavery and freedom is now a classic work in American Literature, was also fond of Dunbar’s poetry. Dunbar wrote a poem to Douglass, eponymously titled “Douglass”, which ends with the moving apostrophe,

Oh, for thy voice high-sounding o’er the storm, For thy strong arm to guide the shivering bark, The blast-defying power of thy form, To give us comfort through the lonely dark.

Dunbar’s works fell somewhat into obscurity during the first half of the 1900s, but have fortunately received more critical attention in recent years.

Langston Hughes: One of the leaders of the Harlem Renaissance, Langston Hughes (1902-1967) flourished well into the artistic and tumultuous period of the American 1960s. Hughes, originally from the American heartland, saw a fair amount of the globe during his early years, living in Mexico in his late teens and then serving as a crewman on a ship that visited Africa and Europe. He eventually settled in the northeast, first New Jersey and then New York City.

Hughes’ first poem, “The Negro Speaks of Rivers”, was published in the NAACP’s magazine, and helped establish his reputation. It was later published in his first book of poems, The Weary Blues. As a poet, Hughes’ focus was on blacks in the lower-classes, i.e. the proletariat. He had a passion for illuminating the daily life, both struggles and laughter, of the ordinary, working-class African-American, and became known as a “people’s poet”. One very emotional poem by Hughes, which reflects his appreciation for the common black American but also all people, is “Kids Who Die”, which begins with the stanza,

This is for the kids who die, Black and white, For kids will die certainly. The old and rich will live on awhile, As always, Eating blood and gold, Letting kids die.

Hughes was a much-celebrated and respected member of the intellectual community in New York City, and remains a famous name to this day. Movie star Danny Glover is a huge fan of Hughes’ poetry, and has toured America giving readings of many of the poems. Here is a recording of Glover’s rendition of “Kids Who Die”, along with his presentation of “Ballad of Roosevelt” and “Montage of a Dream Deferred”. Make sure to check them out — Glover’s charm really brings the poems to life.

Once again, we at iUniverse salute all of the contributors to the world of African-American poetry, and hope you’ll check out more poems by these superb authors.

Now, for the big question: Who is your favorite African-American poet of the 21st Century? Write in and let us know!

Make sure to check out the iUniverse site for more advice and blogs, as well as iUniverse Facebook and iUniverse Twitter.

  The post African-American poets through the centuries appeared first on iUniverse Blog.

[jimwish]

Homey's Adventures Too

Homey’s Adventures Too

Greetings,  First and foremost, thank you to all who have read my blog posts and my book, “Homey’s Adventures.”  I just finished writing my second novel, “Homey’s Adeventures Too.” I am currently in the process of getting a detailed edit completed so that I can find a literary agent and publisher.   I self-published my first book through IUniverse. I have established my brand and credibility…

[arnoldjaime13]

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the TO TRUST IN WHAT WE CANNOT SEE by Dennis Mansfield Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway! About The Book: Title: TO TRUST IN WHAT WE CANNOT SEE Author: Dennis Mansfield Pub. Date: April 21, 2020 Publisher: iuniverse Inc Pages: 228 Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org To Trust in What We Cannot See is the first book in Dennis Mansfield's series of time-traveling, historical thrillers. The story builds a genre-bending, thought provoking plot around a little known historical fact: During the month of January 1913, Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Vladimir Lenin, Leon Trotsky, and Josip Tito all lived in Vienna, Austria, near each other, and all regularly frequented the same coffee shop, Cafe Central. At the time, these five young men did not know one another-although some of them may have faced off in games of chess. This historical science fiction epic travels across space-time dimensions in an effort to prevent past horrors-in particular, the rise of the Nazi party and the Holocaust. Yet, a calculated act of murder to change the past winds up having an earth-shattering impact on the future. “To say that Dennis Mansfield is a gifted author is merely to state the obvious. Dennis has a unique knack…a singular gift…of drawing the reader into the story with immediacy and the compulsion to know more. In his latest work, To Trust In What We Cannot See, suspension of disbelief requires perhaps 10 seconds before the notion of being involved in science fiction completely disappears, to be overwhelmed with a passionate desire to see what happens next…right now. Yet at the same moment, there is also the lurking notion the reader is experiencing something profound.”– Brock and Bodie Thoene, Authors of more than 70 best-selling works of historical fiction, including The Zion Chronicles and The AD Chronicles “Science and history remarkably meet fiction! Dennis Mansfield’s spacetime thriller may change how you even look at time.”– Les Parrott, Ph.D., #1 New Yo https://www.instagram.com/p/CBV60O9go2m/?igshid=f506be0b8qku

[atrayo]

Jewels of Truth Statements and Favorite Quotes of the Month

Hello All, Boy! I've missed writing here on "Atrayo's Oracle" these past few weeks. I've been posting once every couple of weeks or so at my Facebook Fan page of the same name. But it's not the same as here. Otherwise, I've kept busy with my local school for the psychic arts of "The Spirit University". Including participating in their community psychic faires as an Intuitive reader or a volunteer. This is aside from being a caregiver for my mother with Parkinson dementia. That sort of caregiving has truly zapped my motivation from sharing my clairvoyant inspired automatic writing. Not including the more so elaborate channeled conceptual designs this blog site saw once a month over a year ago for a decade. Today's trio of inspired angelic wisdom is one of three topics of Command, Lightworkers, and Reincarnations. Most of my angelic automatic writing has been done either at my Facebook page. Or the practice group at the school for automatic writing. Otherwise, my motivation is sluggish to a degree until I build it up to share as of right now. For a little background, I've accomplished now 23 years of Clairvoyant Inspirational Automatic Writing. With three self-published books by iUniverse of angelic wisdom called the "Jewels of Truth" series. Although the subject matter is intriguing. Even if you disagree with aspects of the statements. Please allow it to just expand your consciousness onto new horizons. Thank you. May you enjoy these spiritual wisdom statements of the Inclusive compassionate angels within us all. Namaste. Command: 2717) To all those who declare wonders through an utmost sincere faith. Will come to understand an oft-forgotten grace referred frequently as "The Command". For aside from prayers, meditations, contemplations, affirmations, and gratitude as living praise to God. There is the divine power to command the allness around you known as the holiest Spirit of God. The God spark is the kernel of you that is married to the eternal and infinite emanation of God forever in you. Each One of us has this focal point as our unique thumbprint of God's divine spirit upon us. Hereby the power to take Command that alone triggers your will power to harness your holy highest self, as a righteous faculty of the soul within. You can indeed move the spiritualized forces around you like a baby angel via trial and error. Each of us has this as our Inherited Divine Birthright from the Heavens above and upon the Earth. It is an everlasting grace that the Ascended Masters as the avatars of God have stipulated we too can accomplish in the world like them. This is the function of calling forth your brethren and sister angels to your earnest begotten aid. For only this can be exercised through the spirit of a pure heart and never by the human vain ego. All powers are showcased to the blessed seekers when they are ready to commence. In earnest spiritually by an unconditional faith lived in sacred moderation on Earth. Be forewarned the power to command the heavens only works when in perfect alignment with the Pure Will of God(dess). Never will it occur by the petty and empty Will of Men and Women on any world in the cosmos at large. Be the Angels in Heaven once more and never forget your godhood is sacred as a living gift from the Creator forever and ever. Hallelujah!   ---Ivan Pozo-Illas / Atrayo. Lightworkers: 2712) We thank those that have come our way before. We have not forgotten your kindness and certainly haven't misplaced our blessings steeped in our Love for all of you Light Workers. You have carried the torch of the beauty of God in each of your soul's truth. Only when you stop and reflect for a moments pause can we reach out to your open hearts. To squeeze each of you gently by rubbing your shoulders with an "Ata boy or girl!" for your sincerest efforts by genuine faith. The Angels of Paradise cannot overcome the errors of this world without your unconditional cooperation. You are us reborn as the ancient smiles of God's beauty remembered in all the grandeur that only the Creator can muster. Not one reborn spirit is erroneous for all have merit to God(dess). No matter the circumstances of your human conditioned lives day to day and lifetime to eternity. All of it has consequences to us in the heavens with jubilation. Even though it is constantly forgiven by the Absolute Love of God Forever. The world isn't just a school it is also a playground and a nursery for all to mature with beauty and compassionate inclusive truth. Amen. ---Ivan Pozo-Illas / Atrayo. Reincarnations: 2722) For all those that care deeply for topics such as this regarding the reincarnation of souls. Those who believe and do not believe upon reincarnation it is of no consequence. For all rebirths are miraculous sacred sojourns of the Infinite Presence of God upon reality. Be not afraid to comprehend the near impossible for people do not just reincarnate as people again and again. That is a narcissistic fallacy that is species superiority complex of the ego mind. All Over Souls as the pinnacle connection with the Creator as his/her Infinite Supreme Self commands a multiplicity of varied lifeform expressions of rebirths. This becomes an endless chain of custody times Infinity across all creatures from the tiny to the behemoth scales of life and death conceived by the Creator. Nothing escapes from being reborn not even the Almighty Angels at the right-hand side of the God of all gods. Irrespective of the divine influence of the angelic choirs upon the Heavens, Limbo's, and combined endless metaphysical and literal Hells. Your Soul can have a zoological legacy that can include semi-sentient mammalian primate species such as humanity. However, it can go way way past such animalistic forms of reborn physicality. One can be reborn as the archetypal forces of Mother Nature herself. As the elemental weather, as entire landscapes, bodies of water, as the Planets themselves, and even entire Nebulas in deep outer space. Even unto other semi-permanent metaphysical constructs as the Angels and the lesser deities across other Universes as the Immortals. The scale of rebirths can dwarf the human Imagination of what reincarnation can express upon Totality. Here we welcome this knowing upon the world. From one lifetime as a person to a refreshed spirit of your direct soul lineage can be reborn into a caterpillar literally. As a form of near-mindless escapism from a former toxic complicated human lifetime of abuse. Especially those seeking a very natural release of being a troubled spirit in chaotic worlds such as your Earth. Remember all is embarked upon with dignity for the rebirths of souls as the beauty of God restored in each of you forever. It is always the Infinite Faces of God smiling back at Creation as a whole. Amen. ---Ivan Pozo-Illas / Atrayo. Blessed are those who can give without remembering and take without forgetting. ---Elizabeth Bibesco. The function of freedom is to free someone else. ---Toni Morrison. Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble. ---Psalm 119:165 Great necessities call out great virtues. ---Abigail Adams. The trick it seems is to be able to hold both things very close, the gratitude and the misery, and then with a semblance of faith to let them fly. ---Elizabeth Aquino. Ivan "Atrayo" Pozo-Illas, has devoted 23 years of his life to the pursuit of clairvoyant Inspired automatic writing channeling the Angelic host. Ivan is the author of the spiritual wisdom series of "Jewels of Truth" consisting of 3 volumes published to date. He also channels conceptual designs that are multi-faceted for the next society to come that are solutions based as a form of dharmic service. Numerous examples of his work are available at "Atrayo's Oracle" blog site of 13 years plus online. Your welcome to visit his website "Jewelsoftruth.us" for further information or to contact Atrayo directly.

[itunesbooks]

Avoiding Extinction: Reimagining Legal Services for the 21St Century - Mitchell Kowalski

Avoiding Extinction: Reimagining Legal Services for the 21St Century Mitchell Kowalski Genre: Law Price: $9.99 Publish Date: April 21, 2016 Publisher: IUniverse Seller: AuthorHouse “Mitch Kowalski has translated his considerable understanding of tomorrow’s legal profession into an original, provocative and entertaining narrative.” —Professor Richard Susskind, author of The End of Lawyers? “This is the most innovative law practice management book I’ve ever seen. Mitch has deftly combined an engaging novel about the lives of working lawyers with an illuminating treatise on how law firms must respond to extraordinary change in the legal marketplace. Avoiding Extinction is as entertaining as it is instructive -- and it couldn’t be more timely.” —Jordan Furlong, Partner, Edge International “This is a must read for managing partners, and for all lawyers under the age of 50. Written as a parable, once you pick it up it’s difficult to put down. And it literally screams relevance to the lives of those lawyers today who worry about the sustainability of the current model of legal practice. Big firm or small. City or rural – no matter, this book is for you. Can the law be both a profession and a business? Is it possible to escape the tyranny of the billable hour? Is it realistic to imagine being a truly happy lawyer in private practice in the twenty-first century? You bet – and Mitch Kowalski shows us how! —Ian Holloway QC, Dean of Law, The University of Calgary “Avoiding Extinction is the most original, far-thinking and innovative book on transforming the way that law is practised that I have ever read. Mitch has taken the traditional law firm and turned it upside down. In the process he has reworked the law firm model and given us an insight into how a firm could be structured and run. If you are looking for a creative vision into what a new, truly different law firm could look like, then this book is manna from heaven.” —David J. Bilinsky, Practice Management Advisor, lawyer and writer on law practice management and technology. Creator of the law blog, Thoughtful Legal Management. http://dlvr.it/R1jQyk

[archivlibrarianist]

Rory Litwin at LibraryJuice created an informal survey of librarians’ attitudes concerning print-on-demand materials.  

Some of the results were...interesting.

...[O]f the 408 responses, 312 were from people who had clear ideas about POD (whether or not they gave opinions about it). Of those 312 people, 271 showed in their answers that they held mistaken ideas about POD and how it is used in the industry, while 40 understood POD more or less correctly. That means that 87% of librarians surveyed have incorrect ideas about POD. That is a strong result, and somewhat disturbing, as it has implications, in some cases, for how librarians do their jobs.

I also coded responses to see whether respondents viewed POD positively, negatively, or neutrally. Of the 312 otherwise usable responses, for 40 of them I couldn’t really tell how they felt about POD, leaving 272 usable responses. Of 272 usable responses to these questions, 198 librarians viewed POD negatively (73%), 12 viewed it positively (4%), and 62 viewed it neutrally (23%). I counted responses as neutral if they indicated that a book’s status as POD would not affect their treatment of it in the context of their work.

...Bearing out my initial impression from discussions on the AUTOCAT list, most librarians associate POD books with self-publishing and reprints of out-of-copyright works, and they also think that the signs indicating that a book is self-published or a reprint are what tell them that a book is POD. Common reasons given for identifying a book as POD were ugly covers, poor layout, poor editing, no ISBN, no catalog records available, known self-publishing imprints like CreateSpace, Authorhouse or iUniverse, and a lack of publishing dates. Many librarians who gave this type of response said that they could “always tell” when a book was POD.

I guess the question is begged here: should POD be a service provided by libraries?  Why or why not?  Should libraries eschew POD materials?  Why or why not?  And finally, should librarians catalog items to make clear they are POD, and if so, how would they do that?

[mysteryshelf]

BLOG TOUR - Eugenia: Destiny and Choice

DISCLAIMER: This content has been provided to THE PULP AND MYSTERY SHELF by Pump Up Your Book. No compensation was received. This information required by the Federal Trade Commission.

    We’re happy to be hosting Georgeos C. Awgerinos on his EUGENIA: DESTINY AND CHOICE Virtual Book Tour today!

Title: Eugenia: Destiny and Choice Author: Georgeos C. Awgerinos Publisher: iUniverse Pages: 280 Genre: Romantic Thriller

Debut novelist Georgeos Constantin Awgerinøs paints an epic love story and political thriller in EUGENIA: DESTINY AND CHOICE. The title character, Eugenia “Jenny” Corais, a Columbia University graduate, is an idealistic young feminist and intellectual who charts her destiny against such volatile backdrops as cabaret-era Berlin, America during the Civil Rights and anti-Vietnam War protests, and the violent final days of colonial Africa.

With its potent combination of politics and romance, EUGENIA: DESTINY AND CHOICE resembles  Erich Segal’s LOVE STORY, coupled with a tale of political intrigue that would fit comfortably in the novels of Graham Greene, John Le Carre or Stieg Larsson, and historical developments reminiscent of James A. Michener.

Awgerinøs’s title character, Eugenia, is complicated. Her idealism and social consciousness, the author notes, is tempered with “a compulsive curiosity for the weird, unusual, or forbidden. She aims at the light but she cannot resist the temptation of the darkness.”

Jenny’s co-protagonists include Dietrich Neuendorf, a charismatic and unyielding German human rights attorney haunted by his family’s past and his country’s history. He and Jenny quickly fall in love.

A third character, Desmond Henderson, attracts Jenny’s darker side. Despite his humble origins and abundant charm, Henderson has a deeply dark core. A former British colonial officer, he is the head of South Africa’s military industrial apparatus, linked to the high echelons of international corporate elite and secret intelligence. He is an immense figure who designs mass murder and forced relocations on spreadsheets and is involved in some of the most defining political acts of the 20th century.

But in this novel, even the most invincible have an Achilles heel. As Awgerinos puts it, “EUGENIA doesn’t romanticize power; rather, the book demystifies the powerful by exposing the intimate, vulnerable and disowned aspects of human psyche.”

Jenny, Dietrich, and Desmond cross paths and embark on a perilous journey together in an exotic African country, a wonder of nature that faces massive winds of historical tide and a catastrophic revolution.

“Through my characters and their interaction, I try to convey another view on love and sexual conflict, society, human nature and beyond-natural, democracy and collective mind control,” says Awgerinøs. “I also try to offer a historical account about a very volatile era in a turbulent region, Southern Africa.”

Awgerinøs hints that he is working on a sequel to EUGENIA: DESTINY AND CHOICE. Meanwhile, EUGENIA shows great potential to be adapted as an exciting and thought-provoking feature motion picture or TV movie.

For More Information

Eugenia: Destiny and Choice is available at Amazon.

Pick up your copy at Barnes & Noble.

Interview with the Author:

What initially got you interested in writing?

  I discovered writing in elementary school. My writing pad was the window to distant worlds in time and space, my pen was the magic wand that could get me there. At the stroke of a pen I could travel to medieval Europe, to prehistoric Atlantis or to a futuristic galaxy a million light years away from Earth or even cross dimensions. I could create heroes, knights, queens, and villains; I could dispense justice or not at whim; kill the protagonist if I wanted without the fear of karma. I could be the creative force, the god of my own Realm… until I heard the voice of my mother reminding me that dinner was ready.

  I also discovered that writing gave me a celebrity status in the classroom, as my assignments and essays were written in an unusual format, often with unexpected turns, dramatized scenes and climaxing conclusions. Perhaps my ability to attract attention was an additional incentive to consider a career as a novelist and dramatist.

  What genres do you write in?

  My writing could be considered a cross-genre or multi-genre form; or you could call it Awgerinos-writing. All of my novels, whether historical or socio-psychological, or even the crime stories, could be classified as “roman à clef,” based on real life and highlighting some metaphorical and symbolic theme. Underlying and driving the surface plot is a moral or social message, or philosophical concept.

  What drew you to writing these specific genres?

  My love for history and geography, and my passion for psychology and the complexities of human behavior provided an abundance of colorful themes and topics. The dark side of the psyche has been a main concern. Through my writing I could share with the reader my curiosity and perhaps my explanations for why society creates certain characters. Why do people cheat? Why does a woman who happily lives with her family and loving husband run away with a rough dude? I was walking in the red light section late one night and wondering what makes a woman choose to work in one of these places while she could have a better income and quality of life working at a socially acceptable job? What would lead a man to collaborate with a brutal oppressor occupying his country, and volunteer to be an executioner of his own people? What makes a devout priest become a molester? What instinct urges a group of young white men to stop an African-American passerby and hang him from a tree just to have some Saturday night fun? Why do so many people have such a concern about the gay stranger but they don’t care if their children play with toy guns? What does a worker in a prison’s death row do after executing a condemned inmate with a lethal injection? Does he go for a coffee and chat? Does he go back home to his family to watch the latest news? All of the above simple examples could become themes of social investigation under the façade of a novel’s narrative. I would add that my propensity for exploratory traveling has brought out the adventurer in me; my curiosity for unexplained political or military occurrences has brought up my predisposition to suspect intricate conspiracies; and my wishful thinking has created ideal characters, which often become the heroes of my stories like Dietrich Siegfried Neuendorf, the Homeric Epic-resembling, larger than life protagonist of my novel Eugenia.

  How did you break into the field?

  I haven’t broken into the field yet, I just try to push my way through.

  What do you want readers to take away from reading your works?

  Eugenia is an allegory, in which each of the central characters resembles energy fields, psychological and spiritual archetypes. The narrative provides a plausible proposal for a future open democracy for the human family, while illustrating the complexities of love and sexuality, and the abyss of the human psyche. Eugenia is also a vivid tapestry giving readers an intimate view of diverse and often conflicting cultures and societies, in variety ranging from Berlin’s cabaret era, to Columbia University in the sixties, to a war of independence in Southern Africa.

  The excerpts below reflect some central principal concepts of the novel:

1) “Trying to understand people is like interpreting dreams.”

2) “When I witness injustice and I remain silent, I’m not only a coward, I’m guilty.”

3) “Lust may last for a night, but this night may last for a Lifetime.”

4)” I look big because the mirror I look into is small.”

5) “I can see in him the ‘deadly presence of being’; but I am the illusionist that rules this world. Consciousness is cold and boring, but in the daydream you can be anything you imagine yourself to be. Come with me, I have the means to make the daydream appear real.”

6) Evolution is boundless, patriotism and ideologies are about borders. Everyone who builds walls, sooner or later will be conquered.

7) “President Kennedy in his inaugural speech, back in 1961, conveniently uttered the famous challenge, ‘Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.’ To this I have a rebuttal: I should not only ask myself what I can do for my country, but what my country can do for me as well. Responsibility must be shared, and commitment goes both ways. Unconditional allegiance is for serfs only! Dear friends, learn how to be free citizens of the world, not subjects of the state!”

    Brexit, Rhexit and Patriotic Delusion.

  We all know the term BREXIT and the British referendum in June 2016, to leave the European Union. If we want to predict what the outcome will be from BREXIT (Britain leaving the EU), however, we can discover in my novel Eugenia a distant parallel case: RHEXIT. By this I mean the Rhodesian Exit from the British Commonwealth. By the way, I just coined the term Rhexit while I was working on this article: The actual term was UDI: Unilateral Declaration of Independence. In 1965 a prosperous Southern African white colony broke away from Britain, when the British government forced the colonists to accept African majority rule. Unwilling to relinquish their colonial-era privileges and minority governance, they “claimed their country back from Britain” and went their own way, ignoring warnings from the world community. In reality, declaring “white independence” was the pretext for maintaining racial segregation and colonial rule over millions of disenfranchised natives. The UK and UN swiftly resorted to the toughest embargo ever imposed on a country. But populist politicians and unscrupulous corporate interests exploited the crisis, deceitfully leading Rhodesia—through propaganda, national security scaremongering, political extremism and the imposition of a militarized state—to an unnecessary war. In the process one of the richest countries in the continent became one of the greatest disasters of the twentieth century. Rhodesia’s little-known history should be a lesson for those who are oblivious to the winds of change, fall prey to populist demagogues, buy the myth of their racial or national exceptionalism, and are consumed by patriotic fanfare. A kidney cannot declare independence from the body and go on its own. Likewise, no country can be an “island.”

  What do you find most rewarding about writing?

  The writing itself is a reward. The process of research and interviewing different people is also rewarding. When traveling is required—down the Zambezi River, or through a Mozambican land-mined field or a slum in Harare, it is a life-changing experience. Writing with some jazz in the background, checking the clock across the wall and seeing it is 3 a.m. and keeping on typing is the ultimate involvement, the romanticized scene of the novelist. But it comes at a heavy cost.

  What do you find most challenging about writing?

  The editing, often tedious and boring, and the promotion, with the uncertainty of how the book will be welcomed, are excruciating challenges—enough to make someone wonder sometimes if it is worth writing in the first place. Trying to deal with day-to-day life necessities, economic adversities, family responsibilities and often disapproval, writing sometimes becomes an unbearable struggle. If we add that the author has to write in a language that is not his mother tongue, the uncertainty of the project’s outcome is often paralyzing, not to mention the rejections from literary agents and publishing houses. My usual response to all of the above challenges has been to watch motivational videos on YouTube to keep myself going.

  What advice would you give to people wanting to enter the field?

  It is difficult to provide any suggestions, since writing is such a solitary path and individual creative process.

  What type of books do you enjoy reading?

  Histories, Politics & Global Affairs have always been a passion of mine; I’m reading, since my teens Science, New Age and Buddhist spirituality. Lately, for reasons I don’t understand, I have developed an interest in gender studies and women’s issues. Strangely for a novelist, I don’t read much literature these days, unless if I find the topic captivating.

A few days ago I purchased Karl Ove Knausgaard’s (Norwegian: Knausgård) first volume.

  Is there anything else besides writing you think people would find interesting about you?

  The book is the mirror of its creator.  So, at this moment, Eugenia is the representation of the Author and his world.

  What are the best ways to connect with you, or find out more about your work?

  The website – www.EugeniaNovel.com – is the best way to connect with the author.

Also check www.EugeniaDestinyAndChoice.com, or www.EugeniaTheBook.com

  Email: contact@georgeos.net

Facebook: Georgeos C. Awgerinøs

Twitter: GeorgeosC@Awgerinos

Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GeorgeosC@Awgerinos

  Book Excerpt:

“Mr. Prime Minister, I urge you to reconsider your decision.”

The South African prime minister, a tall and imposing man with silver hair and a wide smile, dismissed the warning of his national security advisor.

“Dr. Duplessis, our republic is under imminent threat from within. I will never allow this country to be hijacked by a shadow government. In one hour, I will reveal to the parliamentary caucus what has been going on behind closed doors.”

“Never before has a public exposure of such marquee names come before the legislative assembly. This unorthodox approach is unheard of in the history of political affairs,” Dr. Duplessis commented, in his distinctive Wallonian inflection. He was a long-skulled, pale-skinned man of average build, no taller than five foot seven, with close-cropped gray hair, an icy stare, and robotic mannerisms. He listened as the prime minister went on with his rant.

“South Africa didn’t gain its independence from the British crown in order to subordinate itself to its military industrial complex. Apartheid was meant to protect the racial order in this country, not to become a self-destructive debt-spiral ploy.”

“Independence means the freedom to choose your own masters, Mr. Prime Minister, and racial order is a costly agenda.”

“This is the South African Republic, not South Africa, Inc.”

“It is the South African Republic, Inc. All states are corporate entities, monsieur, one way or another; this country is not an exception. With all due respect, presidents, prime ministers, even absolute rulers are the stage protagonists in the theater called politics; they are neither the writers, nor the producers of the show. This is a friendly reminder.”

The premier was aware that South Africa had become a “republic” because of Dr. Duplessis’s gerrymandering and intricate offstage diplomacy. He owed his prime ministerial chair to Dr. Duplessis’s byzantine machinations, but he would not yield to his trusted policymaker’s insolent innuendo and skillful pressure. When he spoke again, it was apparent that he had removed from his mind the last shadows of hesitation. The tone of his voice was conclusive.

“Dr. Duplessis, alea jacta est-the die is cast. The security operations units are on alert. The disarming of the Armée-Gendarmerie and the arrests of the Concession’s board members will begin once I commence my speech.”

“As you wish, monsieur.”

The PM relaxed his tone with his advisor; he became genial as usual.

“On Thursday, I will turn sixty-five years young. I have a family gathering at home. You will be there, Fabien, you promise?”

“Of course Hendrik, I will,” Dr. Duplessis responded.

The prime minister watched his advisor retreat. As he sat alone he stared at the antique clock across from his oak-paneled desk. He checked once more the printed page of his speech, which he had placed on the desk. Today he would make an announcement signaling a shake-up in modern history, and in the process he would settle some old scores. For a few seconds he visualized the reaction of the caucus: a standing ovation for his daring initiative. Pleased with this thought, he approached the window and watched the midday bustle of Cape Town, his beloved city.

Nestled in the southwest corner of the African continent, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, with glistening coastlines and breathtaking views of Table Mountain, Cape Town, the parliamentary capital of South Africa, is a thriving metropolis with Dutch architecture, wide boulevards, colorful parks, and a flourishing business district. The city’s rich history contains an intriguing mix of European sophistication and Cape Malay exoticism that dates back to the seventeenth century, blended with subtropical African beauty.

Picturesque and prosperous though it might have been, Cape Town was not a paradise for all. The eye of the conscientious traveler in 1966 would observe, from stores to parks to the sandy beaches, two signs, in Afrikaans and English: “Slegs blankes/whites only” and “Slegs nie-blankes/non-whites only.”

Seven miles into the sea across the panoramic Table Bay was Robben Island. It appeared a tiny idyllic islet, which one might have guessed was a fisherman’s retreat; but such was not the case. Once a leper colony, Robben Island was one of the most infamous penitentiaries on earth. And yet, it hosted no penal convicts but instead, civil rights activists, some of them with world-renowned names: Govan Mbeki, Nelson Mandela, Jacob Zuma.

Just ten miles to the east of the majestic capital there was another world that most Capetowneans did not know existed: a district for natives only, which no whites except the police could enter. There, the neighborhoods of Langa, Nyanga, and Guguletu resembled more a massive dumpster than a sprawling suburbia. Newly built project buildings that reminded one of barracks sat beside wooden shacks with tin roofs. African women washed their clothes in rusty bins with boiled water outside their slum dwellings. Their children, most barefoot, played soccer with tin cans in dirt alleys with numbers for names, such as NY1 or NY4, which stood for native yards, as the city called these dusty, unpaved lanes.

It was 2:15 p.m., Tuesday, September 6, 1966, when the prime minister of the South African Republic made his entry to the House of Assembly to deliver his speech.

While he took the podium, a man with Mediterranean features dressed in a messenger’s uniform entered the building. He crossed unchecked through the heavily guarded lobby and approached the podium. Within seconds, the messenger pulled a dagger out of his jacket and stabbed the prime minister four times in the chest. Parliamentary members rushed to pin the assassin to the ground, while the PM’s blood gushed from the gaping wounds in his chest. An ambulance rushed him to the Groote Schuur Hospital, but it was too late. He was pronounced dead on arrival.

Later that day, television and radio stations around the world announced the staggering news. From nations opposed to the apartheid regime came lead stories declaring: “Demetris Tsafendas, the son of a Greek immigrant and an African woman from Mozambique, assassinated Dr. Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd, the prime architect of apartheid.” Conversely the local media stated: “A mentally disturbed extremist assassinated the father of white South Africa, motivated by hatred and rage.” The African underground press was jubilant: “Tsafendas inyanga yezizwe—Tsafendas, the healer of the nation!”

That evening witnessed an unusual commute in front of the ministerial houses below the campus of the University of Cape Town. Cars carrying government officials and parliamentary members came and went. It was after midnight when the gates of a palatial mansion opened, and three stretch limousines with black-tinted glass made their exit. The convoy moved slowly down Belleview Road, encountering little traffic. Police patrols created a strong presence that night. In the second car of the motorcade, two men sat in the back of the limousine. One was a short, plump gentleman in his sixties. After looking nervously at the car following them, he reached for the limo’s bar and took a bottle.

“Thirty-year-old Glenfiddich, Mr. Henderson? I know it’s your favorite,” he said and poured some into a shot glass.

“I’ll have tobacco instead, Minister,” his companion replied with a conspicuous English accent. He was a towering man with broad shoulders, a wide face with a prominent jawline, and a thick mustache. He resembled a nineteenth-century British colonial military officer. Oddly, he wore a safari pith helmet, like a jungle explorer ready to hunt his prey. He lit up and silently puffed on his cigar. He sat comfortably, apparently enjoying his smoke. At one point, he too glanced back to face the limo that was following. The headlights illuminated his face, showing a man in his late forties with harsh features and piercing dark eyes.

“What a night, Mr. Henderson.”

“It was a great night, Minister,” the big man with the pith replied, puffing his fat Havana.

“Now that the obstacles have been removed, the door is open for the government and the Southern African Development Concession to sign the agreement. The armaments production executive board will be replaced, and within a week the shopping list will be on your desk, Mr. Henderson.”

The Englishman stared outside the dark window, momentarily in thought.

“Minister, the signing of agreements is not enough. The Concession is part of South Africa’s apparatus, and we need our territory secured. We cannot intervene every time some careless bureaucrat in your administration oversteps or defies our initial arrangements.”

“What do you have in mind, Mr. Henderson?”

“The Southern African Development Concession needs ironclad legislation that secures our role in this country’s future. You did it with the Oppenheimer gold and diamond cartel; you will do it with us too.”

“That was the situation five decades ago, when this part of the world was the Wild South. This is 1966.”

But the Englishman didn’t seem in the mood to brook refusals.

“Rhodesia and South Africa will always be the Wild South. Africa is made by monopolies for monopolies; the Concession would have to refuse anything less. Without the Southern African Development Concession, apartheid will fall swiftly like a shack in a gale. You know that as well as I, Minister.”

The driver continued moving on the barren road. His burly build and crew cut made apparent his role as secret security rather than a mere chauffeur. Henderson puffed his Havana contemplatively while he rolled past the closed stores of Belleview Road. The South African minister of defence and national security refilled his glass.

“Are you sure you don’t want some malt?”

“I never mix liquor and business; and this is business, Minister.”

“I’ll make the arrangements tomorrow morning. Be assured that from tonight we enter a new period of friendly cooperation for both sides.”

Henderson seemed pleased with the minister’s conclusive reply. He looked at his watch.

“It’s already one o’ clock. I need to be back in Rhodesia in two hours, but I enjoy myself every time I am in the Cape, especially tonight.”

About the Author

  Geórgeos Constantin Awgerinøs, author of EUGENIA: DESTINY AND CHOICE was born and raised in Athens Greece. He lives in New York City.

Visit his websites at: www.EugeniaNovel.com, www.EugeniaTheBook.com, or www.EugeniaDestinyAndChoice.com

BLOG TOUR – Eugenia: Destiny and Choice was originally published on the Wordpress version of The Pulp and Mystery Shelf

[itforinternalteaching]

11 Easy Ways to Use Technology in the Classroom, Even for Technophobic Teachers

Everyone wants teachers to use technology in the classroom. But you're busy -- meeting standards, prepping students for tests -- and maybe you’re not too fond of computers, anyway. Never fear – there are easy ways to bring your classroom up-to-date, technologically.

Prepare for Your Technology in the Classroom Adventure!

Do you have a iPad in your classroom for your use? How about iPads for students to use? Could you get a classroom iPad?

What kind of Internet access is available at your school? What are school policies on student use of the Internet?

What do you have to do to get Ipads for your students?

Also try to find a technology “mentor” on campus – the computer teacher or just another teacher who uses technology more than you do. It helps to know there’s someone who can guide you and help you incorporate technology in the classroom if you’re feeling overwhelmed.

Perfect Ed Tech Activities for Beginners

Do a PowerPoint “Game Show Review”

Many tech-savvy teachers have used Microsoft PowerPoint to create review games based on famous game shows, including “Jeopardy!,” “The Weakest Link,” and “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” These templates are available online for teachers to download and revise, including their own content. Check out this template or search “powerpoint game show template” online. A fun way to practice using a projector and get your students to review important material!

Have students complete a written classroom activity as if it was online.

Ever have your students write a diary from the perspective of a character or famous person? Why not have them create a blog instead? Take a look at various blog sites (Blogger and WordPress are two of the most popular) and create a template for your students to fill in.

Want students to summarize information? Ask them to tweet the lesson – that is, have them write summaries of 140 characters or less, as if they were writing on Twitter. Or create a template for a web page and ask students to use it to design a webpage about the content they are studying. While these activities don’t actually use technology, they familiarize you – and your students – with the Web 2.0 world, which can be a great first step.

Try a Webquest

A webquest guides students to search the Internet for specific information. For example, students are asked to serve as curators of a museum on a particular topic. They must search the Internet to determine what artifacts belong in their museum and explain their choices.

There are tons of already-constructed webquests out there, a perfect way to teachers to begin integrating Internet searches into their curriculum.

Good Ed Tech Activities for All Skill Levels

Use technology as a topic for a writing assignment

For younger students, have them write a “how-to” piece about using technology in the classroom. It’s a natural fit, as young people usually have a higher comfort level with technology than many adults. Tell kids to write a piece instructing someone – maybe a grandparent? – on how to send an email, set up an Ipod, or play a video game. For older kids, have them research the impact technology has had on a particular time in history or science or include a unit on science fiction and technology in your Language Arts curriculum.

Create a class webpage

A class webpage can be anything from a basic site where you post announcements (think “online bulletin board”) to a much more elaborate one that includes class photos, a class blog, downloadable materials, and your own domain name. Those of you with a little more experience may enjoy Webs.com (http://www.webs.com/), which offers both free and premium service packages.

Use an online grading system

While some schools are mandating the shift to web-based gradebooks, you don’t have to wait to try one out. Sites like MyGradebook.com (http://www.mygradebook.com) offer the opportunity to track grades, record attendance and seating charts, and compile reports on student progress. You can also email students and parents directly to allow them to view their updated grades. Never worry again about bringing home your gradebook – you can access it from any computer.  

Do an email exchange

When we were kids, some teachers had class penpals or had you practice your penmanship by writing a letter to an author. Try the 21st-century version of that by instituting an email exchange. Have your students exchange emails with students in another school, city, state, or country – especially valuable if both sets of students are studying the same material. Or arrange for a group of experts to accept emails from your students on a particular topic. Students who fail to see the “real world implications” of math or science may develop new interest if you can put them in touch with a video game designer, astronaut, or engineer who uses those skills every day. And for adults who might want to volunteer but feel pressed for time, email can be a great way to help out, since they can respond on their own schedule.

Give multimedia presentations – or have your students give them

Liven up a traditional lecture by using a PowerPoint presentation that incorporates photographs, diagrams, sound effects, music, or video clips. For high school teachers, consider having your students develop presentations as a review tool before semester exams. Their work may be so good that you will want to use it in future classes!

Supplement your lessons

When you’ve taught the same material for awhile, you – and your students – may find it less-than-exciting. A quick Internet search may help you identify ways to supplement your lessons with interesting new material. Make a habit of searching before you begin each new unit. You may find photographs, sound clips, video clips, and more that can bring your lessons to life. Many museums now offer online “virtual tours” and teachers are constantly developing new presentations and webquests, which are posted online. Add these in to keep your lessons fresh.

Advanced Ed Tech Activities

Create a class blog or wiki

Take appropriate precautions for Internet safety, but a class blog or wiki can be a great way to integrate technology in the classroom and develop student knowledge. Some teachers use blogs to drive outside-of-class discussion – particularly helpful for AP/IB students who are motivated but short on class time.

A wiki is a website that uses software which allows many different people to edit it (think Wikipedia). Have your students work together to create a wiki on a topic they are studying. They will need to correct each other’s work and collaborate in order to make it a success.

Listen to – or create – a Podcast.

There are thousands of podcasts available on the Web. Search for ones that meet your students’ needs. Some colleges are offering professors’ lectures via podcast, which can be great for advanced students. In other cases, you may be able to find an interview with the author of a book your students are reading, or other supplemental material. Make arrangements to download it and play it for your students. For the really ambitious, have students create their own podcasts to document their progress through the year or discuss their ideas on a variety of issues pertaining to the course.

“Publish” your students’ work

Tools exist today to allow your students to create really professional looking work using a desktop computer. Have students create a short film, run an ongoing class website that features student work and opinions, or – if they’re really ambitious – raise the money to have their work professionally published by a self-publishing company like iUniverse or Lulu.

No matter what your skill level, integrating technology in the classroom offers the chance to increase student interest and teach valuable professional skills – and have some fun!

[iuniverseblog]

Book signing guidance from an expert! (Part I)

iUniverse’s Douglas Gardham, author of The Actor and The Drive In, has significantly bolstered his marketing presence through engaging in book signings, and recently reached the milestone of selling his 1000th book at a book signing. Here, Douglas discusses how he got involved in doing book signings and the benefits derived from such events.

For something I had decided I wasn’t going to do, in-store book signings have turned out to be an activity that in my book world follows writing and reading.

My initial reluctance was really related to my own reservations and confidence. My thinking was that book lovers and constant readers go into a bookstore to find a book and a shelf to get away from the world for a while. Why would I want to interrupt such a fabulous pastime? I decided I didn’t.

Then a very fortuitous meeting, quite by happenstance, took place while visiting one of Canada’s national book chain stores. I was trying to find a way to get The Actor (my STARBook awarded novel) onto their bookshelves. The store manager confronted me with the question: “Why would we want your book on our shelves? Nobody knows who you are.”

Wow! And to think this hardwood head of mine actually heard what the book manager was saying. The Actor would take up valuable shelf space, and unless somebody knew about The Actor and valued its story, it was going to stay on the shelf hogging space that an otherwise known book might take. I had to find a way to change that. But as I said, this was a meeting of good fortune that changed everything for me and what followed.

The book manager asked me a question after a short exchange, perhaps seeing the glimmer of determination in my eye: “Have you thought about doing book signings?” I, of course with my naïve expertise, explained (whined) as to why I had decided not to do them. It wasn’t the way. The “magic” came from the manager’s next question: “Where else was I going to go and talk about my book and my work for a couple of hours, in a bookstore and—no guarantees here—possibly sell a couple of books?” I couldn’t answer that question. In fact it made so much sense that I booked my first signing there and then – technically not my first “signing”, but rather my first “booking”, eight months away. The reason for the date being so far out, as I later found out from the manager, was because he never expected to hear from me again.

All that is in the past now, after 75 book signings in our national book chain of Indigo-Chapters stores across Ontario and elsewhere in Canada. In fact, in July I reached the milestone of selling my 1000th book from a book signing.

While having no desire to become a “carnival barker” at the front of a bookstore, I figured if I could have professional career as an engineer and still become an author, I could likely find a way to become comfortable promoting my books. That comfort has mysteriously become love. I love talking about books and writing with almost anyone, but especially with book lovers and constant readers. Mix in my love of movies and music, and it’s a wicked combination of fun and discussion.

Signings may not work for everyone, but for me its great way to get in touch with readers and book lovers. Today it feels a little unfair, as I take away so much from the interesting people I meet at each signing. Many have touched my life in ways they’ll never know. As the great Stephen King once said, “it all goes in”. But remember, none of this makes one iota of difference without first writing the book that you love.

I’ll talk more about how to actually book a signing in my next post.

The post Book signing guidance from an expert! (Part I) appeared first on iUniverse Blog.

[arnoldjaime13]

Blog Tour- TO TRUST IN WHAT WE CANNOT SEE by Dennis Mansfield With An Excerpt & #Giveaway! @iUniverse, @MouthDigitalPR @RockstarBkTours

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the TO TRUST IN WHAT WE CANNOT SEE by Dennis Mansfield Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

About The Book:

Title: TO TRUST IN WHAT WE CANNOT SEE

Author: Dennis Mansfield

Pub. Date: April 21, 2020

Publisher: iuniverse Inc

Pages: 228

Formats:  Hardcover, Paperback, eBook

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

To Trust in What We Cannot See is the first book in Dennis Mansfield's series of time-traveling, historical thrillers. The story builds a genre-bending, thought provoking plot around a little known historical fact: During the month of January 1913, Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Vladimir Lenin, Leon Trotsky, and Josip Tito all lived in Vienna, Austria, near each other, and all regularly frequented the same coffee shop, Cafe Central. At the time, these five young men did not know one another-although some of them may have faced off in games of chess. This historical science fiction epic travels across space-time dimensions in an effort to prevent past horrors-in particular, the rise of the Nazi party and the Holocaust. Yet, a calculated act of murder to change the past winds up having an earth-shattering impact on the future.

“To say that Dennis Mansfield is a gifted author is merely to state the obvious. Dennis has a unique knack…a singular gift…of drawing the reader into the story with immediacy and the compulsion to know more. In his latest work, To Trust In What We Cannot See, suspension of disbelief requires perhaps 10 seconds before the notion of being involved in science fiction completely disappears, to be overwhelmed with a passionate desire to see what happens next…right now. Yet at the same moment, there is also the lurking notion the reader is experiencing something profound.”– Brock and Bodie Thoene, Authors of more than 70 best-selling works of historical fiction, including The Zion Chronicles and The AD Chronicles

“Science and history remarkably meet fiction! Dennis Mansfield’s spacetime thriller may change how you even look at time.”– Les Parrott, Ph.D., #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of Love Like That

“Clearly Dennis Mansfield’s love and deep reservoir of historical knowledge comes though in the clever fabric of  To Trust In What We Cannot See. The blending of some of history’s most diabolical mega-monsters and the effort to set things right reveals it’s simply not that simple.” – Cameron V, Filmmaker/Author

Excerpt:

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style="text-decoration: underline;" >Preview to Trust in What We Cannot See by Dennis Mansfield by   style="text-decoration: underline;" >Jaime Arnold on Scribd

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About Dennis:

Dennis Mansfield is the author of 8 books – non-fiction and fiction. He loves a great story, especially those born from history. Hence, he’s a veracious reader and movie buff. While he’s always enjoyed writing, he had no ambition to be an author. When his son Nate passed away in 2009, he began looking at life in a totally different way. It was the crucible of grief that ignited his passion to write about life and to chronicle the lessons he learned from his experience, in his first book, Beautiful Nate. Seven books later he’s still writing and it’s part of his DNA — an outlet for the stories that fill his mind. A Member of the West Point Class of 1978, where he served as Class President and a candidate for U.S. Congress, Dennis is an author, business coach and speaker at DennisMansfield.com Website | Facebook | Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will win a $10 Amazon GC, International.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

6/1/2020

Jaime's World

Excerpt

6/2/2020

Two Chicks on Books

Excerpt

6/3/2020

The Phantom Paragrapher

Excerpt

6/4/2020

Lone Tree Reads

Excerpt

6/5/2020

bookhounds

Excerpt

Week Two:

6/8/2020

Books A-Brewin'

Excerpt

6/9/2020

books are love

Excerpt

6/10/2020

JaimeRockstarBookTours

Excerpt

6/11/2020

The Try Everything/jenifer_reads

Excerpt

6/12/2020

Mythical Books

Excerpt

Week Three:

6/15/2020

The Suburban Lifestyle

Review

6/16/2020

Lifestyle of Me

Review

6/17/2020

Hurn Publications

Review

6/18/2020

Locks, Hooks and Books

Review

6/19/2020

@_ebl_inc_

Review

[type2diabetestreatments-blog]

"e-Patients Live Longer": A DIY Guide to Health Technology

New Post has been published on http://type2diabetestreatment.net/diabetes-mellitus/e-patients-live-longer-a-diy-guide-to-health-technology/

"e-Patients Live Longer": A DIY Guide to Health Technology

Nancy Finn's motto is that "healthcare is not a spectator sport, it is a participatory sport." In her book, e-Patients Live Longer, The Complete Guide to Managing Health Care Using Technology, released late last year, she goes on to state:

"(Patients) should participate in decision making with their physicians, ask questions, and be willing to invest time and effort in understanding their conditions. Physicians, for their part, must be willing to share information, with their patients (including access to their records), and must respect that although they may be experts in some aspects of healthcare, their patients will always be experts in themselves."

Amen.

On that basis, I was very excited to have a look at this book, which is the first-ever hands-on guide that I know of to using the latest and greatest technologies aimed at health, like PHRs (personal health records); clinical "portals"; online pharmacies; and "teletherapies," or technologies you can use to get care from afar, for those who live in remote areas.

Nancy Finn is a Boston-based digital communication expert who previously held several senior corporate marketing positions in high tech, publishing and financial services. For the last several years, she's turned her attention to the hot trend of digital health, and is an avid Twitter user, where you can find her active in her capacity as a healthcare writer and consultant. For this book, she interviewed hundreds of individuals "who are on the cutting-edge of e-health and medical practice" — including a fair number of patients and caregivers. She intersperses her no-nonsense chapters with brief testimonials from these people, set off in italics. I found these to be the most interesting bits, because of course these mini-case studies tell the real story about why and how technology can help people live healthier.

What You Will Learn

Do you feel like you should have your comprehensive medical records stored someplace online, but you just haven't figured out how or where to do it yet? Are you anxious to find a doctor willing to email with you, but not sure what the privacy or etiquette rules are? Are you worried about how your local hospital(s) might protect against those scary medical errors we keep hearing about? Or need to truly understand the difference between an HMO, PPO and POS health plan, and what they might mean to your wallet?

You will find all of that and more in this succinct 200-page guide. The author uses lots of numbered and bulleted lists to break down these items into bite-sized information chunks, and step-by-step instructions for how to sign up, investigate, and/or use this stuff. Especially recommended are the chapters on patient safety (avoiding medication and billing errors!) and on receiving care across geographic boundaries (if you're unlucky enough to land in the ICU, did you know that nationwide, eICU programs use surveillance cameras to connect clinics for specialized care, for example?)

This book is definitely chock-full of information about how patients can make use of tech tools to best interact with their doctors, clinics, hospitals, and health plans.

What's Left Out

However, I was surprised and disappointed to discover that Finn doesn't cover peer-to-peer technologies in much detail at all — in other words, the value of blogs, patient social networks, and forums where we chronic-types can utilize each other as amazing information resources and sources of moral support. She makes a brief mention of PatientsLikeMe (arguably the internet's most-hyped patient community) and of DailyStrength (possibly the least successful), but the chapter on Web Resources mainly lists a lot of .gov and .org sites, along with the likes of WebMD.

What happened to the Patient Community Revolution? That's what I always think of when I hear the term "e-Patient." This is one of the core tenets of the work of Harvard Prof. Clay Christensen, who wrote the seminal book on disrupting the status quo in U.S. healthcare. "Patient networks enable better treatment of chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and kidney failure," he says.

(Note that Christensen is a type 1 diabetic himself, and shook my hand vigorously after seeing a presentation I did on our DiabetesMine Design Challenge at the Mayo Clinic a few years ago. My D-Geek high point!)

Anyhow, I wish I'd had a chance to introduce Finn to our parent company, Alliance Health Networks, and the work they are doing to help people keep healthy and active through patient social networks before she completed this book.

DIY = Good For You

Still, all in all, e-Patients Live Longer is an important book, I think. It codifies many of the aspects of being an e-Patient and provides a great modular do-it-yourself (DIY) guide to everything from Mental Health Services to HIPAA: how to discover this stuff and use it to your best advantage as you jockey for position in this "participatory sport."

iUniverse Publishing, $13.88 on Amazon.com

The DMBooks Giveaway

Once again we're giving you the chance to win a free copy of our latest book reviewed. If you'd like to win a copy of ePatients Live Longer, check out the instructions below!

Entering for your chance to win is as easy as leaving a comment.

Here's what to do:

1. Post your comment below and include the codeword "DMBooks" somewhere in the comment (beginning, end, in parenthesis, in bold, whatever). That will let us know that you would like to be entered in the giveaway. You can still leave a comment without entering, but if you want to be considered to win the book, please remember to include "DMBooks."

2. This week, you have until Friday, June 8, at 5pm PST to enter. A valid email address is required to win.

3. The winner will be chosen using Random.org.

4. The winner will be announced on Facebook and Twitter on Tuesday, June 12, so make sure you're following us! We like to feature our winners in upcoming blog posts, too.

The contest is open to anyone, anywhere. Best of luck!

Disclaimer: Content created by the Diabetes Mine team. For more details click here.

Disclaimer

This content is created for Diabetes Mine, a consumer health blog focused on the diabetes community. The content is not medically reviewed and doesn't adhere to Healthline's editorial guidelines. For more information about Healthline's partnership with Diabetes Mine, please click here.

Type 2 Diabetes Treatment Type 2 Diabetes Diet Diabetes Destroyer Reviews Original Article

[iuniversepub]

iUniverse author Patricia A. Gray creating great characters

In her first guest blog for iUniverse, Patricia A. Gray described how she has developed as a self-published author and now in this second post, she takes us through how she identifies and develops her characters within the storylines of her novels.

The king of characterization Charles Dickens

Special Characters

“To create flawed characters in everyday situations that we often don’t notice is one of my specialties.  For example, my latest novel, “Ash Man,”takes place in an old crematorium in downtown Riverside, California.  I pass this cemetery every day during the week.  And when I see the smoke coming out of the little, old

Latest novel from iUniverse author Patricia A. Gray

building I wonder.  What a strange and fascinating job; so where can we take that?  Perhaps the cremator has been there for years and years…maybe he started as a teenager and it’s the only job he’s ever known.  When I go to and from work I see some of the homeless community and I wonder what has put them there and what has living on the streets done to their view of life?  When they have no walls to live between and they constantly check their backs, how do they trust?  What if my cremator was a former homeless kid who ran away from an abusive foster care situation and has grown up trusting no other living soul?  And just to make it interesting, maybe all that time around the ovens has allowed him his share of interactions with the souls of people he’s cremated.  That part scares him yet doesn’t keep him from doing what he can to help those that have been wronged in their previous lives.  How about if the cremator has a record of murder that no one else knows about?  A very nice man, he is.  But driven to do wrong, he will.  That is Raymond Faustanetti:  protagonist of “Ash Man”, and an unlikely hero to the dead.”

Archetypal Dickens dark villain Bill Sykes

Reminiscent of Dickens

 “I so enjoy writing and only wish I could make it a full-time endeavor.  Yet, I think:  if I didn’t get out and go to the job that pays the bills, I’d miss out on all that contact with potential characters and landmarks in my community that might seem innocent enough but could be trouble in the right hands.  This is all inspiration, for it is the everyday Joe or Jane who gets up, goes to work where nothing spectacular happens, comes home and lives to do it again and again:  that is my typical character—the one that keeps it going even when the going isn’t real exciting.

My job as a writer is to make these people worthy of a good read…to get inside their heads and make them come to life.  Great characters are alive everywhere we go.  We just need to get to know them.”

Future Plans

iUniverse publishing thinks Patricia’s blog posts have been great in that they really gave insight into an author’s psyche, especially in the contexts of writing inspiration and characterization. So as she mentioned she is completing her seventh novel and we wish her well with that and all her future writing.

Bibliography

The Loner, November 2007 Scarred, June, 2008 Ridder of Vermin, February 2009 Binding Ties, December, 2009 The Fugitive Blues, October 2010 Ash Man, April 2012 All self-published with iUniverse publishing.

To learn more about Patricia and her books, visit her website at www.darkgraytales.com

To learn more about the role of iUniverse in the successful publishing revolution, Click Here

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More tips on finishing your novel!

In Part 1, iUniverse discussed the difficulty – and necessity – of finally saying “that’s enough” for your characters. Now, we move on to talking about how to finish resolving your plot while not getting bogged down with too many subplots.

While many novels just have one plot, a great deal of novels also have at least one subplot. While subplots can add more diversity (and pages) to your novel, one thing is crucial: they must reach a resolution. If not, it is one of the first things that critics will notice and criticize.

William Thackeray, whose Vanity Fair is often thought to be several chapters too long.

Main plots: Some authors become so involved in the momentum of their story that they are unable to bring the action, or main issue, to a close. However, this can be remedied by looking at the outline of your book. When you view it from top to bottom, circle the point at which the novel reaches its climax – which of course is the resolution of the plot. At this point, you can allow yourself one last chapter. Writers who are writing a series of books can use this to introduce a new problem or issue for their next book, but the important thing is to not “drag out” your story.

Subplots: iUniverse knows that subplots have two main functions: to add variety to your book, as well as to add some more pages. At the same time, please bear in mind that subplots can be risky. It is often fun to begin them, but they become easily forgotten about as you invest more time in your main plot and characters. We suggest having not more than two subplots, and that you resolve them before resolving your main plot, or immediately after in an “epilogue”. A subplot that you find particularly consuming may very well be best for another novel that you wish to write.

So what stage have you reached in YOUR novel?

Make sure to check out the iUniverse site for more advice and blogs, as well as iUniverse Facebook and iUniverse Twitter.

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iUniverse presents tips on writing Romance novels, Part 3

Having discussed characters, dialogue, settings, and word counts, today iUniverse turns to conflicts and cultural differences. As you probably know, conflict is an inevitable part of a relationship, and adds a considerable bit of “spice” to your story. Cultural differences are also important to observe, especially as some cultures are more conservative than others. So here’s some final tips from iUniverse for Romance writers:

Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn in Charade

Creating conflict: This is easier than it sounds. Just think of your past relationships and any serious problems you had with your partner. As we know, there can be conflict over almost anything, but you’ll want to make the cause something that is relatively serious. A conflict should come up in conversation, and can be used to create amorous tension but also to increase your word count. Past lovers, secrecy, inattentiveness, and of course jealousy – these are all great causes for conflict.

You will probably want to have more than one conflict over the course of the novel, so as to present somewhat of a “roller-coaster” ride that keeps the readers on their toes.

Observing cultural differences: consider the open-mindedness of the audience for which you are writing. This is particularly important in Romance fiction, as the genre involves deeply personal feelings and actions. The most obvious aspect is sexuality. If your novel is aimed at the young adult market, you will probably want to be careful about how explicit your love scenes are, both in dialogue and in description. In contrast, a novel targeting the adult market has a bit more latitude with its delineations of intimacy. The general rule involving sex scenes is that it is better to err on the side of caution. There are ways to create a passionate scene without being overly descriptive.

iUniverse hopes you have enjoyed our tripartite discussion of how to write Romance novels. Make sure to check out parts one and two.

What else, in your opinion, makes a Romance novel great?

  Make sure to check out the iUniverse site for more advice and blogs, as well as iUniverse Facebook and iUniverse Twitter.

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iUniverse presents tips on writing Romance novels, Part 2

In Part One, iUniverse looked at dialogue and setting as important aspects of your Romance novel. Today, iUniverse focuses on characterization and word count.

Colin Firth, as Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice

Characterization: Characters: must have depth, and this is especially relevant in a story where readers want to see two people love each other. To provide depth to characters, we need to see what they like and what they don’t like – regarding people, clothes, food, work, and personal interests. Unlike thrillers, where action supersedes character description, Romance requires a detailed attention to a character’s appearance and personality. Keep in mind that most readers of Romance are women, and women are more detail-oriented than men. Some further tips on characterization are:

Male character: the male lead, who ends up with the girl, should be overall a decent and likeable person. At the same time, he has to have flaws. These may include: detachment, selfishness, too dominant, or even their opposites.

Female character: this is really the main character of your book, as you want your female readers to empathize with her. Hence, you will want to draw her as deep as possible. While she should indeed have some strong characteristics, please bear in mind that if you make her too masculine it may confuse readers. A good female character has usually been hurt before and is cautious about the men she meets; she doesn’t fall head-over-heels. She is also not too young, and has life experience. Lastly, although she is most probably looking for stability, she is not afraid of a little adventure.

Word count, i.e. length, of a Romance novel is relatively straightforward. The length should be under 200 pages, or around 60,000 to 80,000 words. If you find yourself pulsating with too many great ideas, don’t be afraid to save them for your next book!

iUniverse hopes you have enjoyed our Romance tips thus far. We’ll be back with the third and final part shortly. In the meantime, who is your favorite romantic character in fiction?

Make sure to check out the iUniverse site for more advice and blogs, as well as iUniverse Facebook and iUniverse Twitter.

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iUniverse presents tips on writing Romance novels

With the approach of Valentine’s Day, we at iUniverse thought we would get into the spirit of the season! One of the most popular – i.e. salable – genres in the world of reading is that of Romance novels. Nora Roberts, a romance novelist, makes an estimated $60 million a year from her books. Yes, that’s right: 60 million dollars.

Nora Roberts

Romance is clearly a genre which sells well. However, if you want to write Romance, you have plenty of competition. Today, iUniverse advises you on how to write Romance novels while giving you tips on how to differentiate your book.

First: iUniverse advises that you focus on creating good and convincing dialogue. As with any relationship, conversation plays a crucial role, and much of the story’s content and action should be conveyed through dialogue rather than narration. Here are a few other tips:

Women tend to speak indirectly, and manipulate the conversation round to what they mean to say or want. At the same time, some directness from your female lead can be refreshing.

Men are much more blunt and “basic” with their words. It is part of the male psyche to avoid ambiguity. However, as with the above, a little variation on this can make your male character deeper and more interesting.

Of critical importance: make sure to read your dialogue aloud, or have a friend read it with you.

Setting: iUniverse suggests that you try something unusual. Venice and Paris are indeed romantic, but they have become trite. What about a less-known but beautiful place? India is rich with places of this nature, and you can add quite a lot of charm to your novel by introducing a place that is a hidden gem.

  We’ll be back with further tips on characterization, word count, and creating conflict. In the meantime, tell us: What is your favorite work of romantic fiction?

Make sure to check out the iUniverse site for more advice and blogs, as well as iUniverse Facebook and iUniverse Twitter.

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