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Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Feeding a family on a budget

Darla P. Jaros Food Skills Workshops

Darla Jaros of Waterford Township will be teaching recipes from and will be available to sign copies of her Cookbook, The Kitchen Assistant: Time and Money Saving Tips in the Kitchen.

As a single mom supporting three children, Jaros learned the importance of fulfilling her children's preferential tastes with presentation as well as nutrition.

After collecting recipes and helpful kitchen tips for more than 30 years, Darla combined her knowledgeable and tried-and-true basic principles of cooking into this helpful and unique cookbook.

Darla utilizes fresh ingredients and a handful of useful guidelines to cook quick-and-easy meals on a tight budget. She is well versed in providing delicious, wholesome, and inexpensive meals while saving time and cleanup in the kitchen.

Darla will teach you which staple items to always keep handy, how to make a meal for the entire family when the cupboards seem bare, and the multiple uses of spices, as well as a weight-management plan.

Her useful and unique tips will help you successfully prepare for a healthy dining experience while stretching your grocery dollars. The Kitchen Assistant is sure to become your daily reference guide and a permanent fixture in your family kitchen.

Signings: 7 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 1 at the Royal Oak Library, 222 E. 11 Mile Rd.

AND

at 7 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 2., at the Salem-South Lyon District Library Main Branch, 9800 Pontiac Trail, South Lyon.

 For more information, contact James Branscum at 888-361-9473 or james@tatepublishing.com


Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Christmas books in Birmingham

The Baldwin Public Library and Book Beat are pleased to present three Michigan authors and the Christmas books they have created.  Matt Faulkner,Jane Monroe Donovan and Susan Collins Thomswill be at Baldwin Library (300 West Merrill Street Birmingham, MI 48009) on Sunday, December 5 from 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm to sign and read from their latest Christmas releases.

These homegrown authors are well-known around the country, and their  Christmas titles are wonderful additions for anyone who appreciates the beauty of a Michigan winter.  This event is free and open to the public.  Books will be available for purchase at the event.  If you have any questions, call Book Beat at (248) 968-1190.

Susan Collins Thoms is the author of The Twelve Days of Michigan Christmas and Cesar Takes a Break.

Jane Monroe Donovan is the author of Small Medium & LargeWinter's Gift, and Black Beauty's Early Days in the Meadow.

Matt Faulkner is the author of The Night Henry Ford Met SantaA Taste of Colored Water, and The Monster Who Ate My Peas, among some 30 other children's books.

 



Thursday, November 11, 2010

Former Birmingham resident writes book

Former Birmingham Resident Writes Book

Byron, Illinois - Judi Coltman was raised in a quiet neighborhood located along Adams Rd. between Wattles Rd. and Big Beaver.  A perfectly normal suburban Michigan upbringing coupled with a move to rural Illinois became the impetus for her recently released  book, "Is it Just me? Or is Everyone a Little Nuts!", a humorous look at parenting, marriage, aging and small town living from an suburban point of view. Coltman takes her suburban upbringing and applies it to her small town life resulting in some near to tears moments of laughter. Imbedded in the light moments are some reflective, even soul wrenching, observations reminding us that we are really only human.

Crediting teachers from as far back as fourth grade at Harlan Elementary School, Coltman can pinpoint her love of storytelliing through words to the strong writing programs offered in school when she was in attendance.  "Winning an award  in the Detroit News Writing Contest in high school opened my eyes to the possibilities of writing as a profession," says Coltman, a 1979 graduate of Seaholm, High School.  Prior to writing this book, Coltman wrote for both local and national publications as well as creating a children's newsletter that was distributed in the school district locally.  "I had to work extremely hard to keep my sense of humor in check when writing the serious editorial pieces.  It is a relief to write something that allows me to say what I am really thinking."

Coltman's writing style is a fresh take on humor with influences from the late Erma Bombeck with whom she communicated shortly before Bombeck's death.  Most meaningful was a letter she received from Bombeck's secretary after her death.  It contained words of encouragement that have always stayed with Coltman and became the final kick in the proverbial backside  for "Is it Just Me?  Or is Everyone a Little Nuts!"

"Is It Just Me? Or Is Everyone a Little Nuts!"  has been listed in Amazon's Hot New Releases  and is available online through Amazon and Barnes & Noble as well as through her own website www.judicoltman.com.

Monday, November 8, 2010

Walled Lake author coming Nov. 21

Walled Lake  - Harpist Diane Dunn of Heart & Harp, LLC, has released her third children's book entitled Harp Mouse Adventures - Book II.  The book is the sequel to her book entitled The Harp Mouse Chooses Her Home - The Adventure Begins.  The book was such a success, selling 5,300 copies through her own sales and marketing efforts, that she decided the next book was an absolute necessity!

 

The official description of Harp Mouse Adventures - Book II is: "The harp mouse stowed away inside the harp when it left the harpmaker's workshop, and now she lives in a cozy warm home. When she sees the harp leaving to be played for special occasions, she scampers into the harp and goes along for the ride. Find out where her adventures will take her!"

Every part of the book is Michigan made - from the story to the illustrations to the printing!  The book is just $6.95 and is available online at http://www.heartandharp.net/.

 

Dunn's first official event with her new book will be Sunday, November 21, at Arts & Greens Holiday Market at Bogie Lake Greenhouse in White Lake.  She is available for other book signing events immediately.  She has made many appearances at coffee shops, children's stores, sandwich shops, pet stores and more!  Her book signings always bring increased traffic to the venues she visits. 

 

Promotional copies of the book are available upon request.  Contact Lindsay Warren to request a copy of the new book.

 

Dunn is also available for interviews. To contact Dunn about booking an event or to interview her, contact her at heartandharp@comcast.net or 313-938-9847.

 

Friday, November 5, 2010

Twelve Oaks Mall bookstore raises funds for children

In celebration of National Pretzel Month and National Book Month, Auntie Anne's at Twelve Oaks Mall in Novi, Mich. and First Book have been raising money to provide new books to children in the community. The effort, now in its final week, illustrates Auntie Anne's commitment to community giving and improving literacy. It also offers Auntie Anne's customers the opportunity to donate $1 to First Book in exchange for a keepsake bookmark. The bookmark also includes a coupon for $1 off the next purchase of a drink and pretzel at Auntie Anne's.

  

The proceeds raised through the bookmark campaign will make a local impact and benefit the communities of participating stores.  Auntie Anne's locations throughout the country have been matched up with low-income schools and programs registered with First Book, and proceeds will enable these schools and programs to purchase new books on the First Book Marketplace.

 

First Book is a nonprofit organization that provides new books to children who live in poverty in thousands of communities throughout the U.S. and Canada. Children in low-income families have few, if any, new books of their own at home, and their schools and programs have woefully inadequate resources. First Book addresses one of the simplest, yet most critical factors affecting literacy- access to books. 

  

Auntie Anne's Inc. is the world's largest franchisor of hand-rolled soft pretzels, supporting more than 1,090 across 23 countries. The concept mixes, twists and bakes pretzels to golden brown perfection in full view of customers. Auntie Anne's corporate philanthropy also extends inward, as the company offers educational scholarship and home down payment gift programs for crewmembers, store managers, franchisees, and corporate employees.  For more information about Auntie Anne's Inc., visit www.auntieannes.com,  www.facebook.com/auntieannespretzels, or www.twitter.com/auntieannes.


Thursday, November 4, 2010

Oxford author wins Best Book Award

MARK TERRY'S THE FALLEN WINS THE "BEST BOOKS 2010" AWARD

Oxford Author Wins Best Book Award

Mainstream & Independent Titles Score Top Honors in the 7th Annual "Best Books" Awards


The Fallen by Mark Terry (Oceanview Publishing) was awarded hottest new "Thriller/Adventure" in the USABookNews.com THE "BEST BOOKS 2010" AWARDS.


About THE FALLEN: Twenty of the world's leaders will meet in Colorado Springs for the G8 Summit.
A terrorist group, The Fallen Angels, will break through security and hold the world's leaders hostages.
Their first demand: release our fellow Fallen from Guantanamo Bay. Or we start killing world leaders, one every hour.
Only one man can stop them.
Dr. Derek Stillwater, troubleshooter for the Department of Homeland Security, undercover at the Summit, is that man.
The clock is ticking….

LOS ANGELES – USABookNews.com, the premiere online magazine and review website for mainstream and independent publishing houses, announced the winners and finalists of THE "BEST BOOKS 2010" AWARDS (BBA) on October 26, 2010. Over 500 winners and finalists were announced in over 140 categories covering print and audio books. Awards were presented for titles published in 2010 and late 2009.

Jeffrey Keen, President and CEO of USABookNews.com, said this year's contest yielded an unprecedented number of entries, which were then narrowed down to over 500 winners and finalists.

Mark Terry is the author of two previous Derek Stillwater novels, The Devil's Pitchfork and The Serpent's Kiss, both of which were translated into French, German, and Slovak. In addition, he has published standalone novels, Dirty Deeds, Edge, Hot Money, and a collection of mystery novellas called Catfish Guru. His website is www.markterrybooks.com. He lives in Oxford, Michigan.

  


Monday, November 1, 2010

New book encourages women to find purpose


CLARKSTON – Michigan author Tonia Harrison not only believes that God has created a unique purpose for every woman but that every woman can know and live out this purpose. 

In her new book, "Designed with Your Purpose in Mind," an eight-week study, she uses personal prayer time, Scripture readings, and application questions to reveal to each woman the purpose she was designed for and how to live a life that fulfills God's plans.

Published by Tate Publishing and Enterprises, the book is available through bookstores nationwide, from the publisher at www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore, or by visiting barnesandnoble.com or amazon.com.

Harrison is a certified Life Purpose Coach® and the founder of PathFinder Ministries. She has a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's degree in counseling from Liberty University. She lives in Clarkston, Michigan, with her husband and two daughters.