Archive for the 'Books & Authors' Category

20 Influential Books Worldwide

Friday, May 28th, 2010

Many people read cheap books around the World. The reason some people read is to improve their grammar and knowledge and some feel it makes them intelligent. People want to know what the top influential books in the World are, whether they are beginners or people who have been reading for a while. There are upto 100 of books recommended by various sources but I will only be talking about the top twenty.

People have argued in the past why are so many religious books on the list but you cannot hide the fact that religion has always been influential in human history. The below are the top twenty powerful or influential books suggested by Seymour Smith but not in any particular order.

The I Ching, Chinese classic texts, The Old Testament, The Iliad and The Odysseyby Homer, The Upanishads, Hindu scripture, The Way and Its Power, Lao-tzu, The Avesta, Analects Confucius, History of the Peloponnesian War, Thucydides, Works Hippocrates, Works Aristotle, History Herodotus, The Republic Plato, Elements Euclid, The Dhammapada, Aeneid Virgil, On the Nature of Reality, Lucretius Allegorical Expositions of the Holy Laws, Philo of Alexandria, The New Testament, Lives Plutarch, Annals from the Death of the Divine Augustus Cornelius Tacitus.

Yes most of the books listed above are to do with religions but they do indeed are influential in our lives. Here are some of the books I feel should be in the top 20 if not then top 50 certainly.

Married Love by Marie Stopes, On The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin, Principia Mathematica by Isaac Newton, A vindication of the Rights Of Woman by Mary Wollstonecraft, Book of Rules of Association Football by a group of former English public school men, On the Abolition of the Slave trade by William Wilberforce, The First Folio by William Shakespeare and Magna Carta by members of the English ruling classes.

If you think there are other fiction books or childrens books or books of any other genres then feel free to let me know about it by commenting below.

Few Tips On Learning To Cook

Friday, May 28th, 2010

Many people out there love to cook and there are few who are learning to cook. People have now realised to live a healthy life they cannot depend on takeaways. Many of us started to cook after we moved away from our parents house because we realised our mothers are not going to be there to make us dinner every day. Some read cook books to get them started with cooking and that is a good way to start.

You will be able to buy cheap books on cooking through many websites and local stores. There are some websites and second hand books stores which do books for just £1 so you won’t have to worry about spending a lot of money on books. People who have no idea on how to cook, reading cook book is certainly a way forward for them. Another idea on learning to cook would be to look and learn when someone is cooking. The techniques they use while cooking will give you an idea of how to start cooking.

Cooking the food is easy but preparing is the hardest part. When you read cooking books you will realise even the book will ask you to prepare the food before actually cooking it. A lot of people have said that while cooking the preparation of it is why it takes so long to cook. If you understand how to prepare the food then you will understand how to cook the food. As I mentioned earlier being a shadow or watching someone cook is a great way of understanding cooking.

Beofre I moved away from home for University I watched my mom cook for few months. I learnt her techniques to prepare the food and to cook the food. Then few weeks before to University I cooked few meals for my family and it wasn’t that bad as I thought it would be. I never liked reading but now because of cook books I also read fiction books.

More On Rhyming Books

Sunday, May 16th, 2010

Young children love the sounds of rhythms and rhymes, from Mother Goose and other traditional rhymes to recently written rhymes. When the rhymes are coupled with engaging illustrations, children tend to enjoy hearing (and seeing) them again and again. A nice side benefit is that rhymes, alliteration, and other word play are great ways to begin to prepare children to learn to read. (From About.com:Children’s Books)
1. Good for You

Subtitled Toddler Rhymes for Toddler Times, Stephanie Calmenson’s entertaining book celebrates all that toddlers can do, from playing on the playground to using the potty. Other topics include colors, manners, counting, the alphabet, animals, travel, families, and friends. The two dozen poems feature the bright and lively artwork of Melissa Sweet. (HarperCollins, 2001. ISBN: 0688177379)

2. Four in All

Both the poetry and the artwork in Four in All are unusual and affecting. Written by poet Nina Payne and illustrated by her son, Adam Payne, the text features just 56 common nouns set in verses that are surrounded by dramatic cut-paper collages. The story of a young child’s adventure is told in such verses as “oats wheat corn rye / sun moon stars sky.” (Front Street, 2001. ISBN: 1886910162)

3. Playtime Rhymes for Little People
Clare Beaton’s book features her imaginative fabric and trim collages and 40 well-loved rhymes and finger plays. Many, like “I’m a Little Teapot,” will be familiar to you; others may be new to you. The finger play instructions that accompany each rhyme are particularly helpful and ensure that you and your child will get the maximum enjoyment from the book.(Barefoot Books, 2001. ISBN: 1841484253)

4. Tomie dePaola’s Mother Goose
This delightful book contains 200 rhymes, ranging from such familiar Mother Goose rhymes as “Old Mother Hubbard”, “Simple Simon,” and “Little Miss Muffet” to “Yankee Doodle” and other traditional rhymes. The folkart-style illustrations from the talented dePaola are full of good cheer and include a diverse group of children, adults, and farm animals. (Penguin Putnam, 1985. ISBN: 0399212582)

5. The House That Jack Built
The constant repetition in this traditional rhyme is particularly appealing to young children. Diana Mayo’s large and vivid illustrations cover the pages, bringing life to each verse. There are a lot of details in the pictures that children will have fun identifying. This rhyme is one that three- to five-year-olds will enjoy learning to recite. (Barefoot Books, 2001. ISBN: 9781846860768)

Do you like books that rhyme? We do at Lunchpail Books… I would like to add-
6. Peep Peep Finds a Friend
In this adventure our favorite duckling makes a new friend named Gua Gua . Gua Gua is also a young duckling, but doesn’t look anything like Peep Peep. In spite of their differences they become fast friends and experience an adventure all their own. Lunchpail Books are carefully crafted to encourage successful independent reading with a comforting message of love and acceptance.

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Going Abroad? Read Books To Pass Time

Saturday, May 1st, 2010

People love traveling few times every year. Many people like to pass time by doing various things when traveling via an aeroplane, ferry or train to pass time. Some like to listen to music when traveling. Some watch films and TV programs in an aeroplane. Some just read second hand books as it passes time quickly.

When you are traveling quite far then it can certainly be a boring journey so to make it exciting you have to do something entertaining like taking pictures, videos, listening to music, reading books etc. Reading books and watching films is definitely one of the enjoyable time passes when you are traveling through on a place, train or a ferry. To be honest reading is not just about passing time, you can read books to grow your knowledge, or you can read something that can in handy for you in the near future, like for your work or school. It can be absolutely anything, reading is very good for your brain, you will learn new words and new expressions and emotions. It has always helped people to improve their knowledge so these are the best times to take advantages of the books.

When I travel I take my mystery books and history books of the country or a place I am visiting. It is always good to have knowledge of the place you are visiting, especially if it’s a place where people do not speak English properly then some things you learned on your way getting there can be very useful. this knowledge can also be impressive amongst the women you meet there, hey you never know. So get ready for different kinds of experiences when traveling. She might just be your life partner.

It is also useful to read language book when you are traveling in to a different country, just learn how to have basic conversation. Sentences like “Do you know how to get here?”, “Where is this?”, “please”, “thank you”, “how are you” and others can be very useful to know.

Read Improves Your English

Tuesday, April 20th, 2010

Reading is a dynamic approach to improve any language. Your mind needs to be in a bright mode if you wish to understand the things you read. Its always important to understand the things you read. Reading books in English definitely helps you improve your English reading and writing skills. Don’t worry about which books you need to read. Just purchase any cheap books and keep reading week in and week out and after few months you will notice the improvements in your English.

If you are trying to learn a new language then reading is definitely beneficial. You can use other different techniques to learn a new language such as audio cds and video tutorials but they are not as effective as reading, writing and speaking. Read and then having a group conversation about the topic you just read is a good way of improving any sort of language. Few years ago when I wanted to learn English I started with reading childrens books. I wanted to read simple English childrens books to improve my normal English first and then I moved on to reading fiction books to improve my English even further.

Reading books has helped me improve a lot of my skills. I have found new words, which I haven’t even heard about before. I have now started using those words because I know what it means. It has significantly improved my writing skills at work. When you read you get a good idea on how to write things. You learn to write in a way that you can add emotions and expressions, which is a massive boost because people are more interested in reading interesting articles than boring.

A lot of us love reading. Some like to read magazines, some like reading novels and some read newspapers. If you don’t have time for books. You can just go online and read blogs and articles on your hobbies and the things you like doing. Just read anything.

Thought I will add a video for some entertainment.

Buy Cheap Books To Save Money

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

People are always looking to find cheap second hand things. We have a sale mind is us. Doesn’t matter if it’s a shop or a website, we have to look at the things which are on sale or second hand before we hit the new trendy expensive things. Especially when it comes to buying books why buy a new book which will cost you 80% extra than a second have book which can save you money. For me it doesn’t matter if it’s second hand, as I just read it once and never open the book again.

You will be able to find many websites and shop near you where you can buy second hand books in very bargained price. Purchasing second hand books saves you a lot of money in this economy. Second hands books are readable and usable so you won’t have to worry about it being unusable and unreadable.

Especially for students buying education books for higher level courses can cost a fortune and I have been through it, so buying second hand educational books can save students a lot of money. It’s not just education books you can buy, you can purchase cook books if you are interested in cooking. If you just like reading in general you can also find various romance books and fiction books to add to your collection.

So move forward by saving money – buy second hand books. You will have to spend some time on the Internet to find the best resource who do good quality second hand books. There is always a concern in your mind when purchasing anything from the Internet, and especially for the books as you cannot see it, so make sure you read the reviews, description and the status of the book before purchasing it.

Reading Books Help In Relax Your Mind

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

Book company in UK recently did a survey on why people actually read books and newspapers. The question asked to people was why do they read books and newspapers?? The survey was done online and locally within the area of 50 miles.

The result showed that 30% of people read books, magazine and newspapers for entertainment. 20% said to improve their English and general knowledge. 20% said to learn some facts. 15% said it’s relaxing. 10% said for education and knowledge. 5% said that you don’t get commercials.
Some said they read it for pleasure and entertainment and some for education. For me it make my mental power strong and also relaxes my mind. What I mean is it helps me concentrate for a long period of time. Reading can be very addictive and you will definitely end up buying lots and lots of books. If you do end up being addictive then I recommend you buy second hand books. It servers the same aim and you save a fortune.

By reading books it has helped my language skills. It has helped me recognise words, which I have never seen or heard of before. It has helped me in vocabulary and spelling hence I am getting some real good marks in my coursework these days than last year. Reading has given me more confidences and I feel I can have a conversation with anyone and everyone.

I do spend a quite a bit of time reading romance books which has helped me impress my girlfriends, as they use some really tender loving words. I am learning to cook at the moment, because I live alone and I cannot afford to order takeaway every night, so I have bought few cooking books to help me out in my daily life.
So I suggest reading books to just anyone as it helps in various ways.

Children’s Book Publishers: How To Analyze A Catalog For Submission Opportunities

Saturday, October 31st, 2009

Before sending off your manuscript, it’s essential that you dig deep into children’s book publishers‘ lists to find the best fit for your manuscript. Your first stop is Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market published by Writer’s Digest Books. Note which publishers do the type of book you’ve written (or are planning to write, and are also taking submissions from new writers. Then send for a current catalog.

Let’s examine the picture books from two hypothetical publishers:

Publisher A:

Total picture books: 26.
Picture books by type: 8 talking animal stories; 4 concept books; 2 realistic stories; 2 humorous stories; 2 fantasy; 1 holiday book (Easter); 3 nonfiction (2 animal/nature, 1 religion); 4 poetry collections.
Age range of books: 6 for ages 2-5, 12 for ages 4-7, 6 for ages 6-10.
Types of authors: Established authors (two or more books published)–5; famous authors (significant name recognition/ awards)–11; reissues of classic books–5 (3 poetry collections); new authors–5.
Percent of list from new authors: just over 19%.

Publisher B:

Total picture books:14
By type: 4 talking animals; 1 concept book; 2 realistic stories; 3 humorous stories; 4 nonfiction (history, biography).
Age range of books: 3 for ages 3-6; 11 for ages 4-8 or 4-9.
Types of authors: Established authors– 7; famous authors–3; new authors– 4.
Percent of list from new authors: 28.5%

Suppose you have a picture book starring talking animal characters. Even though Publisher A has fewer new authors, it publishes a greater percentage of talking animal stories. And you really want Publisher A to do your book. Should you submit? First, look at the authors in Publisher A’s stable. More than half are famous or authors of classic books (which means instant sales for the reissued editions). Plus, after checking out the bios of the authors in the catalog, you discover that 3 out of the 5 new authors are either celebrities or renowned illustrators writing their first books. Clearly, this publisher likes their authors to have some name-recognition. Does this mean you shouldn’t submit here?

Not necessarily, but slide it down your list. Publisher B has a higher percentage of new authors (no celebrities and only one known illustrator), a good number of animal stories, and a greater number of humorous books. Since your talking animal story has ironic humor that is likely to appeal to older picture book readers (who make up the majority of this publisher’s audience), Publisher B looks like a good fit.

Other things we’ve learned: Publisher B prefers books about history and real people, as seen by the nonfiction titles and the fact that both realistic fiction books are based on public figures (you’ll learn this by reading the plot descriptions). So your picture book fiction incorporating real events set at the turn of the century might appeal to these editors.

On the other hand, Publisher A has done a holiday book and a religious book, whereas Publisher B has neither. So a religious picture book might work best with Publisher A, unless the book is a biography of a religious leader.

Of course, analyzing publishers’ catalogs isn’t an exact science, but it can help increase your chances of finding a good match with an editor down the road.

Interested in learning how to write a book and send it to children’s book publishers? Come on over to cbiclubhouse.com for audios, videos, insider writing tips and much, much more!

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How To Create An Effective Biography On Your Web Site

Wednesday, October 28th, 2009

Do you have an effective biography on your web site?
Because when people visit your web site, it is vital that you establish your credibility. As quickly and as convincingly as possible.

This can be done through testimonials, before-and-after pictures, seals (Better Business Bureau, Ethical Business Pledge, etc.) – but you can also add to your credibility by writing a short but informative biography books of who you are.

The important thing to remember here is that – just like with all areas of your web site – you should only include information in your short biography books that will help you sell your product or service.

Your biography should include:

1. Specific information about your background. In other words, what makes you qualified to sell your particular product or service?

2. Some information on any relevant education you have. Particularly if you’re in the medical or legal profession. Or one that requires certification, like the accounting profession.

3. Information about your hobbies – but only if it serves to make a connection with your readers. (For instance, I’m a huge fan of the San Francisco 49ers. So if I’m on a sporting goods site and the owner writes about the glory days of the 49ers, I’ll feel a personal connection with him that I wouldn’t feel with, say, a Dallas Cowboys fan.)

4. A pleasant, non-threatening photograph of yourself – so that your customers will know that you’re a real, breathing person. And, more importantly, that you’re a person they can trust.

When you’re done, read your biography out loud and take out any information that a) doesn’t pertain directly to the product or service you’re selling, b) makes you sound arrogant or boastful, or c) sounds like it was written by a second-grader.

Then have somebody neutral – meaning not your spouse, your boy- or girlfriend, or your mother – read your biography and give you their honest opinion.

If more than one person has a problem with a specific section of your biography, consider taking it out.
On Writing & Speaking – Does Bill’s “Passion” Belong in His Biography?

“Most of today’s books are read by women,” I was told by an editor at a mid-sized publishing company.

So, her firm pays special attention to packaging books in ways that will appeal to females. Publications appear in various eye-catching shapes and sizes and the cover art is generally very vivid and romantic.

The majority of authors who write for this company are also women, thus there is solid, financial logic in these marketing and packaging decisions.

If you pay attention to author biographies you’ll see frequent references to the writers’ “passion” for this and that, especially for “sharing” ideas.

These descriptors are also more likely to resonate with women.
Why, therefore would a man, who promotes himself as a professional public speaker and a trainer of other orators, insert these terms, and similar ones, into his biography?

He may have a good reason.

His buyers, the meeting planners and others who select speakers for special occasions, could also be women. In that case, he may be creating a sense of identification and rapport with those that are going to select and compensate him.

There’s nothing wrong with that tack. It’s sensible.
But if his audience is largely composed of tractor and earth moving equipment salesmen, or their manager, I doubt they’re going to be interested in watching Speaker Bill get in touch with his feminine side.

I bring this up because I was reading the biography of a fellow who sprinkled it with terms like “passion” and “sharing” and the like.

If he is hoping to find a receptive audience with men, he’s kidding himself.

We can learn from his example.

Check the biography you’re distributing for gender-bias. It may be unconsciously weighted in one direction or another, resulting in needless alienation of what could be a superior market for your topics, and for you as a writer or speaker.

If your best buyers are men, you don’t want to have a “passion” for seeming inappropriately emotional!

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Children’s Book Fiction: Writers, Keep It Simple!

Monday, October 12th, 2009

A former workshop attendee of mine recently thanked me for reminding her that query letters are best when they’re short and to the point. A published writer, she said she’d gotten away from the KISS method of querying (Keep It Simple, Stupid).

The more I thought about this, the more I realized it applied to all aspects of writing children’s book fiction. When dealing with kids one-on-one, we grownups often give them information on a need-to-know basis. When asked, “Why do I have to change my socks every day?” we could go into detail about germs or proper hygiene, but instead answer, “Because you’re starting to stink.” It gets the point across with minimal verbiage. And that age-old parental reasoning –”Because I said so”–sometimes is the only reason needed.

So why do we get so complex when writing for children? Why do our picture book plots span several weeks and contain characters with large extended families and numerous friends? Why do our magazine articles attempt to cram a subject’s entire life into 800 words? Kids are masters of cutting through the fog and getting right to the point. Here are some ways we can learn from our audience:

* Eliminate adjectives and adverbs. If your nouns and verbs are strong, you won’t need to add extra words to describe them. “He trudged up the hill” says the same thing as “He walked slowly and steadily up the hill, placing his feet heavily with each step”, only more succinctly. Instead of describing a house as huge, grand, or enormous, let your character do it with one word: Jason gazed at Grandma’s house. “It’s a castle,” he thought. A single, well-chosen noun paints a picture in your reader’s mind better than several general adjectives.

* Write your plot direction in one sentence. In our Children’s Authors’ Bootcamp workshops, Linda Arms White and I teach writing a story line as a tool for plotting (This a story about __________, who wants more than anything to ________, but can’t because ____________.) This story line identifies the main character, his/her greatest goal, and what’s preventing the character from achieving that goal. Regardless of the length of your story, the age group, or whether you have subplots and chapters, the story line works to keep the action of your plot on track. The key: Keep it to one sentence (there’s no wiggle room on this one).

What if you’re not writing about your character achieving his greatest goal, or its flip side, your character avoiding facing his greatest fear? A plot about something your character sort of wants isn’t good enough. A conflict involving a minor annoyance isn’t as compelling as a life- changing event. Maybe your character is up against so many obstacles that the reader can’t figure out which one is the most important. As the author, you need to boil your story down to the one aspect of your character’s life that’s going to take center stage for the remainder of the book. Remember, you’re not writing about your character’s entire existence, just the period of time covered by your story. One goal shines above the rest. All subplots and secondary characters are stepping stones toward that goal. Some lead your character in the right direction, some take detours, but all ultimately end up in the same place.

* Give your reader only the information he needs right now. Don’t throw in details about a character unless it’s directly related to the current action of the story. This often happens with secondary characters, who suddenly develop a phobia or acquire an annoying sibling in the middle of a scene. Such dangling attributes feel contrived and only raise distracting questions in the reader’s mind. The same goes for a character’s life before the story began. We generally don’t need to know the past of every person who appears in the book. Reveal as much information as the reader must have to understand what’s happening at each point of the plot, and cut the rest.

* Use the “need-to-know” philosophy with query letters. When composing a query letter or cover letter to an editor, include only the information an editor needs to judge whether he or she may be interested in reading your manuscript. Your motivation for writing the story doesn’t matter; your ability to summarize the plot in a few sentences does. Your experience as a parent or grandparent doesn’t guarantee you’ll write a strong article; your adherence to the magazine’s word limit shows you’ve done your research. Editors are busy people who love short letters with lots of white space. Respect the simplicity of presenting your work with minimal buildup and letting your manuscript speak for itself.

Above all, keep your message clear and age-appropriate. A picture book about poverty is too broad and abstract for a six-year-old to understand, but a story about a child who is embarrassed because she gets free lunch at school is more specific. Whatever age you’re writing for, use one well- defined character to represent the bigger issue. Smaller, intimate stories are more relevant to the reader. Nonfiction that shows the reader how the topic relates to his life, or focuses on one aspect of a subject, makes a greater impact. And remember, if you want your manuscript to sell, start with a KISS.

Interested in learning how to write a book and send it to children’s book publishers? Come on over to The CBI Clubhouse for audios, videos, insider writing tips and much, much more!

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