Do you have a book you would like to have promoted? Send all your information (links, synopsis, photo to janiewrites1@gmail.com and I will post it all here. As writers, we need to support each other and promoting each other’s work is a good way to do that. All the books listed below were written by friends of the Center for Writing Excellence — add yours to the list! Click on the book title to go to the book’s page.
Word Trippers – A Quick Guide To Clarify Words That Can Trip You up
by Barbara McNichol
Do you get tripped up by further vs. farther, accept vs. except, less vs. fewer? How can you prevent these naughty gremlins—mixed-up spellings and confused meanings—from affecting (or is it effecting?) your writing?
And if you don’t, what’s at stake?
- Your ability to clearly and precisely convey your message.
- Your credibility and reputation in your marketplace.
- Even your valued image as a professional in your field.
You see, you’re risking a lot!
That’s why you need a quick word choice quide to get these pesky trippers right.
A newly revised Word Trippers e-book does that and even more. It gives you an easy-to-search tripper-tracking resource for selecting the perfect word when it matters most.
by Margo L. Dill
Thirteen-year-old Anna Green can hardly remember life before the War Between the States touched her hometown of Vicksburg, Mississippi. For 47 days in May, June, and July 1863, the Union army bombs Vicksburg day and night, attempting to overtake the city. Anna longs for the days before Yankee bombs screeched above her, before her family was torn apart, and before they moved to a dark, damp cave to protect themselves from falling shells. During one terrible bombing, a tragedy strikes Anna and her siblings and changes their lives forever. Can Anna find the strength to keep her family together in the midst of war?
Finding My Place recounts the destitute living conditions and the horror of a city under siege, the strength of the citizens who would not surrender, and the courage of an intelligent young girl.
by Cindy Sloan Butts
If a “preferred” memoir format exists, The Three-Legged Milking Stool probably doesn’t conform to that prototype. This is a fast moving, insightful and often irreverent tale of a woman whose journey and escapades transported her from Chicago to San Diego to a resting place in Colorado. The author traces her heritage from a comfortable if not affluent childhood to an adolescence coupling challenges with limited family, no cash resources and the various hazards of big cities. She manages to overcome the frustrations that she faced, establishing herself in business and publishing worlds while working to find some truth and peace in her private life. This is no chronological “I did this, and then I did that.” Instead, the author takes occasional enjoyable digressions to the present as they illuminate and define the events in the past. These journeys take numerous directions, causing her to reflect on the value of many stops along the way. Cindy Sloan Butts is an author who publishes The Three-Legged Milking Stool as her first book. She has previously distinguished herself as the winner of numerous writing contests with a rewarding career in freelance writing and editing. Her clients are as diverse as her experience, covering the globe and with clients ranging from managing directors to denturists to coaches. Other books are in the works and we look forward to her exercising verbal skills, wit and an engaging look at reality in her future works.
Various Authors
“Pieces of Her Mind: Women Find Their Voice in Centuries-Old Forms” is the first anthology published exclusively by contemporary English Language women poets of three types of short Japanese poetic forms (senryu, kyoka and haiga). While readers who appreciate this genre of poetry will be particularly interested in this book, the book will also appeal to men and women who love satiric and ironic “one-liners” (in the case of this book, three to five) that provide insight into how women think. “Pieces of Her Mind” is the result of a year-long collaboration of 18 diverse women poets who live throughout the world. These women studied the poetic forms and shared their unique voices through online classes, group study sessions, interactive conference calls and online research. The book evolved over time due to the special talents and contributions of the various authors. The result is a merging of individual voices into one common voice, a voice which will be enjoyed by readers whether they like to read from front page to back or randomly skip to pages while on an airplane ride. “Pieces of Her Mind” will also be enjoyed and appreciated by book clubs, classes and writing and reading groups as a vehicle to study and reflect upon not only how women think about their worlds but also about these centuries old forms of Japanese poetry. Throughout the book are instructive and personal reflective essays. In addition, an extensive, selected annotated bibliography and free online website resource (Q&A’s to facilitate and prompt discussions) are provided by the authors.
The book is available in multiple versions on Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.com as well as at
omegapublications.net . Enjoy!
by Ben Sharpton
7 Sanctuaries is a story told in a series of seven vignettes about life in a small town in the South during the 1960s. The first is from a loving mother’s perspective. Another approaches the time from the view of the “Radical Preach.” A third is from a local basketball coach. They all swirl together in the final vignette in a night of possibility and sacrifice.
7 Sanctuaries will introduce you to characters like George Roberts, the businessman, Rev. Stephen Phillips, the ‘Radical Preach”, Rob, a student and his mother, Katie as they experience the 60s from the perspectives of their own sanctuaries. They will be joined by the gentle giant stoner, Dave and his flowerchild girlfriend, Missy, Mayor El Rawlings and Larry Watson who sported the first Afro in Springlake, Florida. Their lives intertwine through the decade and come together in one night of fear, tragedy and hope.
Some sanctuaries stood the test of time.
Others did not.
The Three Legged Milking Stool: Old Country Wisdom from a City Girl
Pieces of Her Mind
7 Sanctuaries
Guardian Soldier
Center for Writing Excellence 
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