A Vanishing of Divas

In his novel, ‘A Vanishing of Divas,’ Larry Long tells a mystery and suspense story about Kurt McBride, a lawyer who becomes more of a detective when he is hired by a wealthy socialite to protect her from an ominous person who is abducting her sorority sisters from North Western University of which she attended in the 1960s. For Kurt McBride, the events that unfold involve a suspenseful plot consisting of murder, black mail, kidnapping, and the sex slave trade.

In ‘Vanishing of Divas,’ the protagonist Kurt McBride is hired by socialite Carolie Safford from Tucson Arizona to protect her and find the person who is abducting her former sorority sisters. She feels threatened from a letter she received expressing intent on revenge. For McBride, the case becomes personal when he learns of his girlfriend’s death resulting from a car explosion.  Kurt McBride is a man who once dreamed of being a famous world class lawyer and become a member of the upper class of society. He wanted fame, wealth, and recognition. His journey to uncover the case of the missing divas causes him to reflect on his past ambitions, losses in life, his values, and what is important in life. He is a character with unresolved demons in his own past and undergoes a personal transformation as he faces the many dangers when searching for the person responsible for his girlfriend Clem’s death.

The plot of the story can be described as a “Who Dunnit?” It is filled with many twists and turns with diverse characters that range from divas with deep secrets, ominous characters, and ruthless characters. The result is a cast of colorful characters that make uncovering the truth a challenge for McBride and the reader. ‘Vanishing of Divas’ is an engaging page turner with unexpected events that will keep readers asking, who dunnit? It is a fun read with a surprising climatic conclusion. The book is highly recommended to readers who enjoy a good ‘who dunnit’ mystery.

Tracy Roberts, Write Field Services

Second Chance

‘Second Chance’ is a collaboration effort between Professor Daryl Green and his student Noriko Chapman during their time together in Lincoln Memorial University’s Master of Business Administration program. The book details an in-depth case study on a specific non profit organization’s resource allocation and operational optimization. It is written to provide non profit organizations with essential operational tools to make them more efficient and equipped to assist their clients in meeting their needs.

The case study featured in ‘Second Chance’ arose from Professor’s Green’s MBA operational analysis class and a project called the Real World Applications (RWA). The subject of the study involved the Tennessee Vocational Rehabilitation Maryville Centre which took place from October 10th to November 30th 2010. The Maryville Centre supports area businesses by providing quality, timely, and cost-effective services by a dedicated work force.

The key issue of the study was how to establish high quality and stable production to maintain and grow business for the centre while providing recommendations to enhance the center’s operational efficiency in order to better serve clients and control effectiveness over the long term.  An emphasis is placed on the production capacity, client allocation, productivity improvements, and quality control. Various operational challenges, operational constraints, and opportunities found in problems are addressed. In addition, there is a focus on leadership, how to gain the confidence to navigate operations management, and how to apply concepts put forth in the book to resolve non profit problems and issues. 

‘Second Chance’ provides a comprehensive examination of the process of implementing a case study, how issues and problems were identified, and the benefits of applying operations management techniques to assist a non profit organization with becoming more efficient and effective. The case study itself is more than structural step-by-step process of business analysis because within the study, there are messages about the importance of non profits in our society, and it was also a personally meaningful project for Noriko who describes her experience when she was diagnosed with cancer. There is a spiritual message of gaining self confidence, overcoming adversity, and helping those in distress. The parallels of non profit work and personal self awareness are apparent - “…finding the true meaning of life for those who have suffered a traumatic event is a ‘Second Chance.’”

I highly recommend ‘Second Chance’ for anyone running a non profit as well as for business students. The book not only provides a comprehensive analysis of making a non profit more efficient and effective, but readers will be provided with compelling life affirming messages.

Tracy Roberts, Write Field Services

Nine Insights for a Happy and Successful Life

In his book, ‘Nine Insights for a Happy and Successful Life,’ Mitchell Gibson provides a self-help guide that consists of nine insights on how a person can change a life of sadness, emotional suffering and unhappiness, to a life that is filled with happiness, contentment, and fulfillment. He notes that the nine insights for a happy and successful life were inspired by his personal experiences and insights he acquired treating patients and stored in a journal. Gibson states in his book that he “hopes to provide a little light in a world in which millions feel isolated, empty, and without hope.” and “the nine insights come from the Creator and he believes they are His way of reminding each of us that we are unique and special to Him in ways that we cannot imagine.”

In ‘Nine Insights for a Happy and Successful Life,’ Gibson addresses such issues as our belief that money is the key to happiness, how events outside of our control will cause chaos in our lives if we allow it, how we have a tendency to not recognize the possibilities, and how our thoughts affect our outlook on life. He shows readers the path to a happy and fulfilled life through an analysis of techniques that focus on channeling positive energy internally and how to keep positive energy in our environment. This includes adjusting our attitude, how to assess, develop, and exploit the necessary skills to improve our lives, how our dreams can be a source of inspiration, and understanding that failure is about applying what we learned to make better decisions in the future. He shows readers the power of the open mind and how rejecting negative thoughts and accepting positive thoughts are essential to achieving happiness. A fundamental message of the book is learning to understand how our energies, whether positive or negative, influence our state of emotional well being.

For those who have been living in a cycle of negativity that has resulted in sadness, despair, and depression, ‘Nine Insights for a Happy and Successful Life is a must-read.’ It is presented in a thoughtful, reflective, and organized way so that readers will be able to gain an understanding about how thoughts affect our well being and that we have the power to gain control of our thoughts to break free of the unconscious conditioning of always focusing on the negative. The book is very insightful and readers will learn how develop important skills on how to get in touch with their true inner selves to make important changes both internally and externally so that they can live a happier and more fulfilled life.

Tracy Roberts, Write Field Services

Media Planning and Buying For the 21st Century

Because new technologies are creating better ways to communicate, marketing and media are rapidly changing. Now, there are an immense number of media choices available to media planners, particularly in digital form. In his book, ‘Media Planning and Buying For the 21st Century,’ Ron Geskey provides a comprehensive guide for students and professionals on how to implement a strategic media planning and buying strategy in this new age of digital medium and how to best execute an integrated marketing campaign.

The book covers three key media planning areas that media planners need to embrace. The first part of book focuses on the mega-trends which are reshaping the marketplace-- population & demographic trends, client needs and demands, new media and technology, media convergence, and consumers taking control. The second part of book discusses the specific factors which must be analyzed and considered before a strategic media plan can be developed. The third part discusses the step by step process of actually developing a professional media strategy and plan.

Geskey explains that the role of the media planner has shifted from media to marketing communications planning that requires engagement, accountability, ROI, and optimization. He proclaims the internet as the great equalizer which basically levels the marketing field for all businesses. As well, he emphasizes the need to experiment with new media to increase effectiveness. He says that media planners must focus on learning by doing and by actually engaging the material. He says “media planning is a blend of art and science so the media and the creative must work together.”

Geskey provides a road map for accomplishing a professional media plan so that the reader can learn to incorporate media planning and buying to 21st century trends. This includes learning about media negotiation and buying. He addresses the strategies and challenges of effective media buying and the nature of media negotiations. He explains the importance of metrics and analytics in creating a media plan. He goes into great detail about creating an effective media plan using data from key sources that require calculating metrics for analyses and the various analytic tools and mathematical formulas that data marketing planners have at their disposal to expose the target audience to the campaign. The ultimate goal is to influence consumer purchasing decisions. He notes, “medium effectiveness is perhaps the most important variable when selecting the right media set of data.” 

‘Media Planning and Buying For the 21st Century’ delivers the important message that consumers are gaining more control over their access to product information and media consumption and media planners must respond using marketing communication methods that are both proactive and adaptive. Geskey effectively and in great detail shows readers how to get a high ROI from their marketing investments. Essential to success is leveraging the power of the internet and how to best influence consumer generated content on purchasing decisions. When used properly, social media becomes a powerful marketing communications tool.

‘Media Planning and Buying For the 21st Century’ is a highly recommended media planning and buying guide that will provide students and business professionals with the knowledge and tools to grow and adapt to the changing consumer landscape, particularly the digital landscape.  Readers will not only gain critical insight into the various marketing media available, but how and where to best invest their media buying dollars to gain a higher ROI. The book is a must read for anyone currently in the marketing business and for those who are planning a career in media planning.

Tracy Roberts, Write Field Services

Book Publishing for Professionals: Nine Proven Steps for Gaining More Influence

With the rapid growth of the internet, there are now many opportunities for people who have the knowledge and expertise to write, particularly writing and publishing books. However, Dr. Daryl D. Green points out in his workbook, ‘Book Publishing for Professionals: Nine proven Steps for Gaining More Influence,’ many do not know how to do it.” Dr. Green provides a manual for professionals and those interested in becoming published authors on how to gain influence though book publishing. Green presents easy-to-implement strategies as well as practical guidelines, and resources to help readers gain more influence and help them achieve their publishing goals.

In his workbook, a comprehensive entrepreneurial publishing model is presented that emphasizes not only the importance of gaining influence to become a successful published author, but he also emphasizes that “gaining influence is critical to achieving any substantial success in life.” He provides helpful tips on writing a book and the various ways to get published other than the major book publishers. He provides a comparison of the different publishing options, including the characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages of self publishing and using publishing portals. As well, he dispels myths about self publishing such as the “false stigma - a self published author's book is not good enough to be published”

In his workbook, readers will gain a critical insight into the publishing process. The author provides essential information to help readers create an effective book publishing plan that includes coming up with topics for a book, writing tips, choosing a publishing option, and how to build an author platform that will enable people to sell their book, and key book promoting tips. The book is not filled with ‘fluff’ as Green writes with clarity and preciseness to ensure his points are well understood by the reader. As well, readers will benefit from the helpful publishing sources provided and the work space provided to make their own notes and even create their own publishing model for their book publishing endeavors. Dr. Green shares over 20 years experience in a well written and organized manual that will make the process of publishing a book much easier and help increase the likelihood of publishing success. ‘Book Publishing for Professionals: Nine proven Steps for Gaining More Influence’ is highly recommended to readers who are want learn how to properly write a book, publish it, and promote it successfully.

Tracy Roberts, Write Field Services

The Christian Health Manual

In Dr. Robert Peprah-Gyamfi's 'The Christian Health Manual,' a comprehensive guide on common health conditions is presented which is, as he states, “largely for the Christian reader.” Told from a Christian perspective, Dr. Peprah-Gyamfi advocates a lifestyle that prevents disease which includes practicing a Christian lifestyle. Although Christian teachings are emphasized, he also focuses on medical science for treating diseases and other health conditions.

The purpose of the book is to “educate Christians and public at large to prevent and treat some of the common diseases while providing readers with a broad knowledge about the causes and treatment of the common diseases that affect humanity.” In the manual, Dr. Peprah-Gyamfi emphasizes the power of prayer as an important part of preventing disease as much as living a healthy lifestyle and having the right mental attitude. He contends, “uncontrollable human illness equates with uncontrollable human behavior that is good for nothing.” He provides passages from the bible to support adopting a healthy mind and body.

Dr. Peprah-Gyamfi talks about ‘Divine Replacement Therapy' and states that “prayer and conventional medical science do not contravene each other.” As well, he traces the root cause of disorders back to the fall of mankind in Eden.  That is, “disease, suffering, and death came into the world as a result of the curse pronounced on Adam and Eve after disobeying God.” When discussing prevention through godly living, he emphasizes the negative effects of drugs, alcohol, smoking, and promiscuity. For instance, he says “we must, indeed, guard against sinful tendencies, for, like cancer cells, sin can spread in an uncontrollable fashion.” Not only does he discuss the importance of living a Christian life, but he also focuses the medical aspects of many common medical conditions and outlines their cause, symptoms, risk factors, diagnosis, and how to avoid the triggers that cause the conditions.

For readers who are devout Christians, 'The Christian Health Manual,' is practical health guide that teaches readers how to employ their faith to promote a healthy mind and body. Readers will enjoy reading his anecdotes about his life in a rural Ghanaian village. It is an easy to read health manual that is both practical and informative. When he talks about disease, he talks about how it is essential that one maintains a pure mind and body and how such social factors as family break down, conflict, poverty, and underdevelopment, can cause disease. 'The Christian Health Manual' will be appreciated and enjoyed by Christians who are seeking a healthier spiritual, physical, and mental life.

Tracy Roberts, Write Field Services

The Chants of the Praying Mantises through the Barks

‘The Chants of the Praying Mantises through the Barks’, a new educational book for children, written by May Green, tells about two young praying mantises, Orwell and Ruben, who attend the acclaimed Tulip School. At the school, they study under Oscar, who is also a praying mantis, but he is also a Professor. While at school, the two brothers realize they are students. They learn about their function and their position and the positions of other related species in the natural world, how their traits are the product of evolution and how their character in the world has interesting similarities to that of human evolution and progress.

Humans have the ability to be constructive and reconstruct, if necessary, in order to survive, while remaining in touch with their own instincts. Another key message of the book is that survival skills are of the utmost importance, whereby civil and constructive means are, always at hand, if chosen to implement. Furthermore, one point made clear, is that humans seek out goodness, in spite of threats, and they attempt ‘reconciliation’ if foreseeable. However, humans appear to resort to sadism when diplomatic ties fall short, which they must learn to adjust or they will fall behind in the very progress they attempt to make. As the story proceeds to unfold, how our very maintenance structures play a vital role is illustrated in this process and what we choose to do pertaining, matters to the paramount.

The term ‘praying mantis’ originates from the Greek word ‘prophecy or soothsayer’, which accentuates the essence of the story. The story centers on constructive and evolutionary development; where the following concept surfaces: we all have the ability to guide and lead ourselves in spite of any and whatever impositions we encounter. This serves as the fundamental theme of the story.

The praying mantises learn their vital skills in order to ensure their survival. Instincts and traits are linked to their species survival in tandem with two human children, Olive and Oliver. The story focuses on themes of science, human thought, cognition, intellectual reasoning, and societal conditioning which often hinder the ability to grow intellectually and autonomously. For instance, Olive and Oliver were told they must train in something in order to survive in hope to nourish and live a long life. Oliver challenges that thought and chooses not to train in important and vital ways for himself. Whereas, and on the other hand, Olive definitely realized through training, she needed to determine her own self, rather than, lend herself to another's disposal, and develops from an inquisitive child with great aspirations to a more self-aware adult, which emphasizes a type of evolutionary growth that we all can have.

‘The Chants of the Praying Mantises through the Barks,’ is a learning story presented as a children's story which has allowed for a presentation of a unique look at humanity that is easy to understand. As well, the story is entertaining with unique praying mantis students who have a strong desire to learn about the world and all the species that inhabit it. Moreover, it is a book that imparts an interesting insight into our own natural instincts and how these instincts are not just to ensure survival of each species, but also allows us to grow intellectually and make better life choices without feeling the pressure of external influences who want to define our place and purpose in the world. It is filled with symbolism and dialogue that children of about the ages of nine to twelve will be able to follow and understand.

‘The Chants of the Praying Mantises through the Barks,’ is highly recommended as a very thought provoking story with colorful characters. It is a story that children will enjoy reading.

Tracy Roberts, Write Field Services