Monday, December 24, 2018

Frosty the Soulman

FROSTY THE SOULMAN
By Don Lubov
Self-Published: October 4, 2013
32 color pages
Children's / All Ages / Spirituality

ABOUT THE BOOK: As a picture book, Frosty introduces important concepts to the young reader. His story of life is inspirational in a generic sense that appeals to both secular and religious audiences. In 612 words, Frosty the Soulman experiences love, death, the wonder of creation, the joy of popularity, the pain of abandonment, a cruel death, transcendence, and enlightenment.



☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃
The book's spine is across the top!

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HALL WAYS REVIEW: If I had to sum-up Frosty the Soulman in one word, it would be "unique." From the unique format (the spine is on top, so you flip the pages up) to the unique concept, there is nothing cookie-cutter about this story. Don't let the book's title fool you -- this is no knock-off story about Christmas magic; rather, it's a metaphor for the cycle of life and death and afterlife.

 “Fortune shines on me. I am truly complete.”

Lubov’s writing style is also unique. The majority of the story is told from Frosty’s point-of-view in a somewhat stream-of-consciousness approach. Readers share as Frosty becomes sentient and grateful, then proud and haughty, then alone and scared and dying. The sentences vary from simple and straightforward to poetic and rhythmic, with a nice play on words to end the story.

Author Don Lubov is also the illustrator, and he credits his wife with painting the sketches. The pops of color really add dimension to the book, and the sketches are quite expressive and complement the text so that Frosty has real personality and human characteristics.

As for the format, I’m not a huge fan of the book being arranged with the spine at the top. That switch from the standard combined with the size of the book will make it cumbersome for little hands to hold it and flip the pages.  However, the text size and font are appropriate, and there is lots of white space, so young readers won’t feel overwhelmed with words. My copy had some ghost-text that showed on many of the pages (and not bleed-through text). Overall, the format detracted and distracted from the story for me, but it didn’t ruin it. Hopefully there will be a reprint at some point.

“This book is dedicated to adults who read to children.”

In keeping with the author’s dedication, I recommend Frosty the Soulman as a read-along for parents and their children. A snowman is brought to life, briefly fĂȘted and quickly abandoned, suffers a painful (and somewhat gruesomely illustrated) death – and then, he lives! Given the emotional extremes that happen in just thirty-two pages, a child needs an adult – but not just any adult -- to comfort and counsel.  And that’s my warning: The themes are heavy and open to a variety of very personal interpretations. Kids are going to ask questions; as such, educators and those who aren’t personally related to a child could get stuck in a tough spot trying to explain the story to a little one.  

For something completely different from the norm, give Frosty the Soulman a try and challenge your children -- and yourself -- to think at a deeper level.

Thank you to the author for providing me a print copy in exchange for my honest review – the only kind I give.

☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Don Lubov has written about spirituality and stress relief since 1971. He is the author of 9 books. 10 years successfully teaching his “Six-Step Path” at College of Central Florida Sr. Center, MTP College, and The Lifelong Learning College in The Villages, FL. He has taught his unique brand of meditation to over 2,000 people, who subsequently achieved a level of inner peace. Don has been happily married since 1976. 


Thursday, December 20, 2018

Fierce, Funny, and Female ~ Lone Star Book Blog Tours Promo, Review, & Giveaway!

FIERCE, FUNNY,
AND FEMALE
A Journey Through Middle America,
the Texas Oil Field, and Standup Comedy
by
MARTI MacGIBBON
Genre: Memoir / Drama / Humor
Publisher: Stay Strong Publishing
Publication Date: March 20, 2017
Number of Pages: 412 pages

SCROLL DOWN FOR THE GIVEAWAY! 


This book is the celebrated prequel to the critically acclaimed, nationally award-winning and bestselling memoir, Never Give in to Fear. In her raw, vivid, and unabashed style, author Marti MacGibbon delivers a sometimes heartbreaking, often hilarious, always engaging account of her passage through trauma, betrayal, and loss in adolescence and young adulthood to discover her inner badass self. As one of the first women to work as a laborer in the Texas oil field, she set off explosives and staked oil wells before realizing her childhood dream of becoming a successful standup comic. Marti introduces readers to a wide range of characters in her life: from sleazy authority figures, wannabe Sixties musicians and crazed Corn Belt cult leaders, to Texas oil billionaires and wildcatters, to wild-eyed redneck coworkers who robbed banks on their lunch hour―in the company truck. The book includes scenes with iconic comedians, Hollywood entertainment industry moguls, and a legendary bluesman, and offers insights into resiliency, courage, and self-empowerment.
WINNER, 2017 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards in Humor
WINNER, 2017 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards in Women’s Studies 
WINNER, 2017 National Indie Excellence Awards in Women’s Health
WINNER, 2017 Beverly Hills Book Awards in Women’s Issues 
WINNER, 2018 Independent Press Award in Humor
WINNER, 2018 Independent Press Award in Women’s Studies 
WINNER, 2018 New York City Book Book Award, Women’s Studies
FINALIST, 2018 Next Generation Indie Book Awards, Memoir (Overcoming Adversity)


PURCHASE THE BOOK
┃ Amazon    Baker and Taylor 

PRAISE FOR FIERCE, FUNNY, AND FEMALE:

“Being funny is a survival skill. Fierce, Funny, and Female is not only a survivor’s tale but an inspirational story of overcoming the unthinkable, again and again…Her courage and comedy make Fierce, Funny, and Female a winner.” — Foreword Clarion Reviews

“An effervescently witty…chronicle of perseverance and the power to overcome the darkest of days…Perhaps the most rewarding chapter in this chatty, affecting book is the concluding one, where MacGibbon lists the tried-and-true pearls of wisdom that continue to sustain her…” — Kirkus Reviews

Fierce, Funny, and Female is a thoroughly engaging memoir packed with witty observations, high adventure, and a glimpse of behind-the-scenes Hollywood. Highly recommended!” — Midwest Book Review

“MacGibbon is a natural storyteller, and her life story is a most interesting one. The characters she has run across during her life journey are well-drawn and absolutely fascinating, particularly the good ol’ boys in the Texas oilfields.” — San Francisco Book Review



A compelling speaker and storyteller, Marti MacGibbon delivers high-energy presentations and writes books on overcoming adversity, addiction and recovery, and inspiration, with humor and a genuine, down-to-earth style. She’s experienced critical situations that no human being should have to face. In the past, she hit rock bottom in every possible way as a hard-core drug addict, was homeless, and was trafficked to Tokyo and held prisoner by Japanese organized crime. Her story of triumph is testimony to the power of the human spirit. Marti lives her message. She reveals simple, effective strategies that anyone can use to get back on track, build resiliency, reduce stress, and cultivate a sense of humor.
Marti is a bestselling author, inspirational speaker, certified addiction treatment professional, Gorski certified relapse-prevention specialist, and member of the National Speakers Association. She’s been interviewed in Entrepreneur, Investor’s Business Daily, on ABC-TV, CBS-TV, and numerous radio shows. And she’s funny: Marti traveled all over the U.S. as a professional standup comic and performed at the Hollywood Improv and Comedy Store. She is founder, producer and host of Laff-aholics Comedy Benefit for Recovery, an annual charity fundraiser in Indianapolis featuring nationally headlining comedians. She also serves on the outreach committee of IPATH, Indiana Protection for Abused and Trafficked Humans Task Force.
║ Website ║ Facebook ║ Twitter ║ Instagram  
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DECEMBER 12-21, 2018
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VISIT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:

12/12/18
Excerpt
12/12/18
Author Interview
12/13/18
Review
12/14/18
Playlist
12/14/18
Guest Post
12/15/18
Review
12/15/18
Excerpt
12/16/18
Review
12/17/18
Guest Post
12/17/18
Scrapbook Page
12/18/18
Review
12/19/18
Excerpt
12/19/18
Guest Post
12/20/18
Review
12/20/18
BONUS Post
12/21/18
Review


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Thursday, December 13, 2018

The Janus Witch ~ Lone Star Book Blog Tours Promo, Review, & Giveaway!

THE JANUS WITCH
by
MICHAEL SCOTT CLIFTON
Genre: Paranormal Urban Fantasy / Romance
Publisher: Book Liftoff
Publication Date: September 1, 2018
Number of Pages: 372 pages

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Malice vs Love
A beautiful witch, a member of a murderous coven, is torn from her medieval world and transported to East Texas. The passage leaves her with no memory of her previous life. She falls in love with a young pediatrician, but her dark past threatens to reassert itself…and make her a threat. 









CLICK FOR PURCHASE OPTIONS:
https://books2read.com/The-Janus-Witch


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HALL WAYS REVIEW: Admittedly, what first attracted me to The Janus Witch was the gorgeous cover (yeah, I’m one of *those* people) and the word “witch” in the title. I didn’t know much more than that, but I knew I had to have a real print copy. As luck would have it, the author, Michael Scott Clifton, attended the Fort Worth Book Fest, so I did my fangirling and got my signed copy and obligatory photo with book and author. Oh, happy day! Oh, unhappy torture ever since as my (gorgeous) copy sat unread and the rave reviews began to pour in. Sometimes, a girl’s just gotta shirk her responsibilities and read, and that’s what I did. No apologies. Like a moth to a flame, I was drawn in and held captive by The Janus Witch, from start to finish.

“Truth isn’t always what we think it is.”

From the very first sentences of The Janus Witch, the mood is set and a dark scene emerges. Three witches are introduced, and they are brutal and bad to the bone. Evil oozes from the pages and Clifton’s world building is incredible. Readers are onlookers, and it is uncomfortable and feels unsafe, even, to watch the horrible events unfold. Be warned: the descriptions are vivid and not for the squeamish or faint of heart; I couldn’t stop reading.

“Although in a different world, some things,
it would seem, were universal.”

If you’re one of *those* people who actually reads book jackets and descriptions, then you might wonder how this particular premise could work. The answer is this: seamlessly. Clifton manages to take characters and readers from medieval times to modern times, and it works fabulously. He creatively approaches and resolves any issues that might be encountered with such a massive setting change. Even better, he shows how despite the differences that set the worlds apart, human nature, at its core, was, is, and will always be the same.   

The characters of The Janus Witch are complex, and none fits neatly into any box. Did I mention that there is pure EVIL in this story? No spoilers here, but evil comes in a variety of shapes and colors and degrees, as do the much-needed doses of good sprinkled about.  Prepare yourself to go through a wide range of feels and to have sore fingertips from the rapid page-turning that you will go through by the book’s spectacular finale (followed by an additional twist in the Epilogue).

Michael Clifton is a gifted and imaginative storyteller, and I was thoroughly transported to another place while reading The Janus Witch. However, the Grammar Policewoman is always on duty, and what would take this book to the highest level is a thorough copy edit to correct the numerous typos and errors. That I can fully recommend the book and honestly award it a full five stars is a real testament to Clifton’s ability to spin a captivating tale. I didn’t want the story to end. As Oliver Twist would say, "Please sir, I want some more."



Michael Scott Clifton, public educator for over 38 years as a teacher, coach, and administrator, currently lives in Mount Pleasant, Texas with his wife, Melanie, and family cat, Sadie. An avid gardener, he enjoys all kinds of book and movie genres. His books contain aspects of all the genres he enjoys...adventure, magic, fantasy, romance, and relationships. He has been a finalist in a number of short story contests. Clifton’s fantasy novel, The Conquest of the Veil, won a First Chapter Finalist award. Professional credits include articles published in the Texas Study of Secondary Education Magazine. Clifton’s latest book, The Janus Witch, the July Book Cover of the Month, is a featured book on the We Love Indie Books website. Currently, Clifton is completing Book I of The Conquest of the Veil, which will be released in March 2019. He can be reached at mike@michaelscottclifton.com.

║ Website ║ Facebook ║ Twitter ║ Instagram  
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-------------------------------------
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THREE WINNERS!
One Winner: One Signed Copy + $10 Amazon Gift Card + Bookmark
Two Winners: eBook Copies
DECEMBER 4-14, 2018
(U.S. Only)

VISIT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:

12/4/18
Excerpt
12/4/18
Book Trailer
12/5/18
Review
12/6/18
Author Interview
12/6/18
Top 5 List
12/7/18
Review
12/8/18
Excerpt
12/8/18
BONUS Review?
12/9/18
Review
12/10/18
Author Interview
12/10/18
Excerpt
12/11/18
Review
12/12/18
Guest Post
12/13/18
Review
12/13/18
Review
12/13/18
BONUS Review

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