Book Blog (another Reading on Walden Bookstore blog)

The Barack Obama story: The "book" that was re-launched by the "speech"

2008-07-23T04:11:00.000-05:00

An exceptionally written book that Barack Obama had written in 1996 had "underperformed." I remember walking into Powell's Bookstore in Hyde Park in the spring of 2000 and nearly tripped over the stacks of unsold copies of Obama's book.

The book was re-released after "the speech" in August of 2004 and became not only a bestseller, but is considered a classic in the memoir genre of books. Book Discussion groups across the country have consistently chosen this book as one of their monthly selections. That year Obama sold hundreds of thousands of copies and then was offered a generous book contract.

And if you haven't read Sentaor Barack Obama's classic memoir, Dreams from my Father, now is your chance to order it and read it.

The book traces Barack Obama's life as a child to his emergence into manhood. His life is then transformed and he at last reconciles his divided inheritance. This book will echo far into the future. The universality of its message will resonate with serious readers for many generations to come. John Presta.

Seinfeld Cookbook controversey

2008-07-12T02:39:00.007-05:00

Jessica Seinfeld's cookbook is embroiled in a controversy over Seinfeld's book, Deceptively Delicious that she published about concealing vegetables in foods so children will eat them. Another cookbook author, Missy Chase Lapine, who wrote the The Sneaky Chef, is also a book about hiding veggies so children (and dads) will eat them.

Hey, order them both and you decide.

July 12, 2008

New Bout in Seinfeld Cookbook Battle

By JULIE BOSMAN

Thanks to a rise in Amazon rankings, a revamped lawsuit and an “Oprah” rerun, the debate over “vegetable plagiarism” has entered Round 2.

“Deceptively Delicious,” the cookbook by Jessica Seinfeld whose recipes for concealing puréed vegetables in comfort food for children bore such similarities to another cookbook’s that it inspired a lawsuit from that book’s author, shot to the top of the Amazon best-seller list on Wednesday, nine months after it was published.

The sharp rise in sales caught the eyes of both books’ publishers, who traced it to the rerun on Tuesday of an episode of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” that featured Ms. Seinfeld. The appearance also subsequently lifted sales of “The Sneaky Chef,” by Missy Chase Lapine, the author who is suing Ms. Seinfeld.

Here are the publisher's comment about Seinfeld's book:

It has become common knowledge that childhood obesity rates are increasing every year. But the rates continue to rise. And between busy work schedules and the inconvenient truth that kids simply refuse to eat vegetables and other healthy foods, how can average parents ensure their kids are getting the proper nutrition and avoiding bad eating habits?

As a mother of three, Jessica Seinfeld can speak for all parents who struggle to feed their kids right and deal nightly with dinnertime fiascos. As she wages a personal war against sugars, packaged foods, and other nutritional saboteurs, she offers appetizing alternatives for parents who find themselves succumbing to the fastest and easiest (and least healthy) choices available to them. Her modus operandi? Her book is filled with traditional recipes that kids love, except they're stealthily packed with veggies hidden in them so kids don't even know With the help of a nutritionist and a professional chef, Seinfeld has developed a month's worth of meals for kids of all ages that includes, for example, pureed cauliflower in mac and cheese, and kale in spaghetti and meatballs. She also provides revealing and humorous personal anecdotes, tear-out shopping guides to help parents zoom through the supermarket, and tips on how to deal with the kid that "must have" the latest sugar bomb cereal.

But this book also contains much more than recipes and tips. By solving problems on a practical level for parents, Seinfeld addresses the big picture issues that surround childhood obesity and its long-term (and ruinous) effects on the body. With the help of a prominent nutritionist, her book provides parents with an arsenal of information related tokids' nutrition so parents understand why it's important to throw in a little avocado puree into their quesadillas. She discusses the critical importance of portion size, and the specific elements kids simply must have (as opposed to adults) in order to flourish now and in the future: protein, calcium, vitamins, and Omega 3 and 6 fats.

Jessica Seinfeld's book is practical, easy-to-read, and a godsend for any parent that wants their kids to be healthy for a long time to come.

Here are the publisher's comment about the "Sneaky Chef" book:

The Sneaky Chef now targets the other picky eater in the family For parents of finicky eaters, "The Sneaky Chef" was the answer to their prayers, giving them solutions for hiding healthy food in the meals kids crave. Within a month of publication, it was a "New York Times" bestseller. But author Missy Chase Lapine knew another secret: the kids aren't the only ones in the family not eating their veggies Hundreds of women wrote to tell her how the men in their lives were consistently making poor choices when it came to their diet. Men know they should eat better, but the classic male perception is that fruits and veggies are "rabbit food" and don't seem to satisfy their appetite. Now "The Sneaky Chef" has donned her apron again and developed delicious recipes that are sure to appeal to guys. Recipes include "Macho Meatballs," "Love Me Tenderloin," and "Champion Chili." These hearty meals successfully cloak ingredients that specifically target men's health issues: foods proven to help the heart, lower cholesterol, ensure a healthy prostate, and other concerns. Now everyone in the family (kids and adults alike) can benefit from "The Sneaky Chef"'s bag of tricks.

Reading on Walden Bookstore.

Chicago, Chicago that toddlin' town, there's no place like Chicago

2008-06-11T19:04:00.002-05:00

It seems the stars are lining up just right for the city of Chicago these days. First, there is the meteoric rise of Barack Obama. The story is made of the stuff of legends.

And the White Sox are winning. And the Cubs are winning (although we all know that can't possibly last). And the 2016 Summer Olympic bid is well on its way. And then there is this.

From the entertainment page comes news that "August: Osage County," the hit drama for Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre Company and a 2008 Pulitzer Prize winner, is the odds-on favorite to win the Tony Award for best play.

On the food page is the news that Grant Achatz of Chicago's Alinea restaurant has been named the country's top chef by the James Beard Foundation.

It just goes on. Politics, sports, entertainment and food. Yep, it is all lining up for Chicago. Let us hope it lasts. Reading on Walden Bookstore.

American Booksellers Association introduce "Indie Bound"

2008-06-07T16:38:00.003-05:00

The American Booksellers Association (ABA) announced the dissolution of the "Book Sense program" and repackaged it as "Indie Bound."

The President of the ABA Board of Directors, Gayle Shanks of Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe, Arizona said this.

"Independent booksellers in stores of all sizes will soon proudly be telling their customers and other indie retailers that 'we're IndieBound."

"Locally owned, indie booksellers introduce readers to great new writing, contribute far more to the health of their local economies, and play a crucial role in maintaining the unique character of their communities. I can't wait to begin working together with other indie retailers to spread the IndieBound movement."

We wish our bookselling friends and the staff and Board at ABA luck with this new program. Reading on Walden Bookstore.

Here are some cool book links and why they are cool

2008-06-04T03:12:00.000-05:00

The first link is a book blog, to be more precise, a literary agent book blog. It is authored by Kristin Nelson, an outstanding literary agent. Kristin formed the Kristin Nelson Agency in 2002 and has made her mark on the publishing world having sold more than 80 books. Kristin describes herself as follows:

A nice Midwesterner breaks free of her genteel upbringing and says what's on her mind--politely of course--some habits are really hard to break. And one last thing, Pub Rants is shorthand for Publishing Rants. No Irish Pub involved--unless you want one to be!

I am impressed with the generosity she has shown to unpublished authors, like myself. If you are writing a book, thinking about writing a book or just interested in what it takes to write and publish a book, this is the place to go. Thank you Kristin.

Another cool link is called "Shelf Awareness." Here are a couple of things about them.

Welcome to Shelf Awareness
Welcome to the Web site for Shelf Awareness: Daily Enlightenment for the Book Trade, the free e-mail newsletter dedicated to helping the people in stores, in libraries and on the Web buy, sell and lend books most wisely.

Find knowledge.
Recognize what customers and patrons refer to when they ask for "the book with a red cover that everyone's reading" or "the book Oprah talked about yesterday."

Expand consciousness.
Find out which books are hot, which are warming up, which will break soon--whether because of media exposure, brilliant publicity campaigns, movie and TV tie-ins, or current events.

Have heart.
Know which books have been slow to find an audience and deserve another look.

And as a personal note, I was mentioned in Shelf Awareness a couple of weeks ago and received dozens of phone calls and emails from friends and customers. It is the place to get noticed in the book publishing business. Reading on Walden Bookstore.

Let your mouse do the driving: order your books online from Reading on Walden Bookstore

2008-05-21T05:11:00.003-05:00

Save Gas!
Use Direct to Home.

Because of the increasing price of fuel, many of you are beginning to change your driving habits. We stock most books, even those hard-to-find titles. We encourage you to conserve--and help our bottom line and yours, by buying from the Reading on Walden Direct to Home program.

Reading on Walden Direct to Home program offers virtual access to 1.5 million titles--our warehouse to your house. You can order any title to be shipped directly to you or to a friend or that special someone. And you save time and money. We ship to anywhere in the U.S., including military APO/FPO addresses. Purchases can even be gift-wrapped!

And, get this, you can call us and we answer. 773-233-7633. Reading on Walden Bookstore.

White House Chef Ollie Para featured in a mystery written by Julie Hyzy

2008-05-17T09:54:00.011-05:00

Last Thursday evening, authors Julie Hyzy and Michael Black signed and discussed their mystery novels.

Julie Hyzy wrote State of the Onion, a White House Chef mystery and Michael Black wrote a Chicago-based police mystery, Random Victim.

Julie Hyzy's State of the Onion is the first in the new White House chef mystery series. White House Chef Ollie Paras feeds the First Family and saves the world in her spare time. This exciting culinary mystery includes recipes for a complete Presidential menu! To research this book, Julie visited the White House, spoke with a former White House chef, and took cooking lessons. She just finished working on the manuscript for the second book in the White House chef series. Julie is the President of the Midwest Chapter of Mystery Writers of America.

Michael A. Black's Random Victim, is a stunning novel about a special task force that has been assigned to investigate the high-profile murder of a woman. Sergeant Frank Leal must find the killer while dealing with a dirty cop on the take. Michael is a sergeant on the Matteson Illinois police department and has been on the force for 30 years.

We have signed copies available, so order your copy today.

If you have an interest in writing or "blogging" about books or book reviews, please tell me why by emailing me at readingonwalden@att.net or calling me at 773-233-7633. Reading on Walden Bookstore.

James Frey's latest book, A Bright Shiny Morning, gets rave reviews and so does James Frey

2008-05-14T02:07:00.011-05:00

I got a great response from yesterday's posting about James Frey's new book, Bright Shiny Morning. The author of A Million Little Pieces, has been on tour to redeem himself.

Sara Nelson of the Minneapolis Star gave it a good review. Here's how she ended her review of the book.

Yet the guy has something: an energy, a drive, a relentlessness, maybe, that can pull readers along, past the voice, past the stock characters, past the clichés. "Bright Shiny Morning" is a train wreck of a novel, but it's un-put-downable, a real page-turner -- in what may come to be known as the Frey tradition.
And then there was an interview on the Today Show and here is how MSNBC saw it.
James Frey’s third book, “Bright Shiny Morning,” like his first two books, is a work of fiction. Unlike those first two, he’s admitting he made this one up.

He says so on the first page, with one line of type taking up the entire page: “Nothing in this book should be considered accurate or reliable.”

“It was sort of an acknowledgment of the past, and it was also a way to be really clear — this is fiction. Don’t take anything in it literally or too seriously,” Frey told TODAY’s Meredith Vieira Tuesday in New York. “I hope you read it and enjoy it.”
And then the Washington Post.
But "Bright Shiny Morning" reads quickly, has great dialogue and some expertly paced dramatic moments, teaches you more about L.A. than you ever knew, and makes the case (posited by an artist near the end) that Los Angeles is the new New York, on its way to becoming the cultural capital of the world. Or it could all be a stinging satire of the most violent, corrupt, polluted, pretentious, money-mad place in America. Works either way.
He also granted the USA Today an interview. I urge you to read this interview. It is a great story about overcoming obstacles. Reading on Walden Bookstore.

Author James Frey, he's baaaack and baaaack in a big way

2008-05-13T02:44:00.006-05:00

Author James Frey may have been down, but he is certainly not out. After the controversy with his book, A Million Little Pieces, got up off the canvas and came back with another book: a novel.

It has been my belief that the reaction to what James Frey did in his book A Million Little Pieces was overblown and Frey was the victim of a media feeding frenzy.

The one comment I had heard over the years about James Frey is that the man "can write." His writing is gripping, compelling and authentic. He is an enormous talent. And that memoir should have been a novel, but it wasn't. And the judgment of him was harsh and overblown. But now he has now come back with another piece of great writing.

It is called Bright Shiny Morning. Here is how Publishers Weekly reported it.

How does the (formerly?) most-castigated author in publishing promote his new novel? That's a question that the PR team at Harper, which releases James Frey's Bright Shiny Morning tomorrow, had to confront. Although it seemed as though Frey might only be talking to Vanity Fair for its largely flattering profile--author Evgenia Peretz said in the piece that Frey "fears and loathes" the press and would not be doing any other interviews--the former bad boy memoirist will appear on the Today show tomorrow and also did an interview for USA Today (also running tomorrow). But that, according to Tina Andreadis at Harper, is all the national media currently lined up for Frey.
Andreadis said that at the time of the VF piece, Harper had not scheduled any other interviews. When asked about whether Frey is avoiding the proverbial hot seat, Andreadis said the author is not afraid of the press. She noted that Frey is, as Peretz said in her story, prohibited from discussing the details of what happened with Random House and the publication of A Million Little Pieces by for legal reasons. Nonetheless, Andreadis acknowledged that Frey knows the scandal will come up interviews and is prepared to deal with those questions.
So what's Frey doing outside of those two aforementioned national press appearances? Hitting the road. Andreadis talked up the book tour Frey has planned--he'll be stopping all over the country, sometimes with author/friend Josh Kilmer-Purcell--and noted that he will also be doing some local radio. In addition to traditional signings at stores like Book Passage in Corte Madera, Calif., and Book Court in Brooklyn, Frey will appear with some bands at a May 13 at New York's Blender Theater and May 15 at West Hollywood's Whisky A Go Go.

If you haven't read A Million Little Pieces as yet, order that today. In the original publisher's release of the book they said:

A Million Little Pieces is an uncommonly genuine account of a life destroyed and a life reconstructed. It is also the introduction of a bold and talented literary voice.

How prophetic. "A life destroyed and a life reconstructed." And that is where he is at today. Frey once again had to pick up the pieces from a situation that could have destroyed his writing career. This is a man that overcomes obstacles and doesn't use them as an excuse. James Frey's comeback is an inspiration to anyone that has made a big mistake but managed to redeem himself. Good luck to James Frey. We know something about overcoming obstacles. Reading on Walden Bookstore.

Order the new book about Senator Obama today

2008-05-12T03:14:00.001-05:00

The book, Obama: From Promise to Power, is written by David Mendell, a journalist who has covered Obama since 2003. Mendell paints an intimate portrait of the Senators life, from behind-the-scenes political tactics to his chances of winning the presidency in 2008.

Order it today from Reading on Walden Bookstore.

And if you haven't read Sentaor Barack Obama's classic memoir, Dreams from my Father, now is your chance to order it and read it.

The book traces Barack Obama's life as a child to his emergence into manhood. His life is then transformed and he at last reconciles his divided inheritance. This book will echo far into the future. The universality of its message will resonate with serious readers for many generations to come. John Presta.

Why order your books online? It saves money for fuel

2008-05-08T13:42:00.006-05:00

Save on fuel. Order your books online today.

Because of the increasing price of fuel, many of our customers are beginning to change their driving habits. We want to help our customers conserve on fuel - and help our bottom line and yours - by promoting our Direct to Home book service.

Direct to Home offers virtual access to 1.5 million titles - from our warehouse to your house. You can order any title to be shipped directly to your home or even better - as a gift to that special loved one. We ship to anywhere in the U.S., and that saves you time and money - including military APO/FPO addresses. Purchases can even be gift-wrapped!

Want to Learn More?
For information on Direct to Home, just give us a call at 773-233-7633 or email us at readingonwalden@att.net.

Latest postings from Book Publishing, May 1, 2008

2008-05-01T02:14:00.006-05:00

Publisher's Weekly reports that Fortune magazine writer, Peter Elkind, is publishing an Eliot Spitzer book. The New York Post has more details about the book which will be similar to Elkind's previous book about Enron, The Smartest Guys in the Room.

The proposal that agent Liz Darhansoff has been shopping on the rise and fall of Eliot Spitzer has found a home. After PW reported last week that the book-to-be, by Fortune magazine (and Smartest Guys in the Room) writer Peter Elkind, was starting off at a base price of $350,000, expected winner Portfolio has closed the deal.

A book deal was closed about Jamie Dimon, CEO of JP-MorganChase. Penned by Duff McDonald and based on a piece in New York magazine.

S&S senior editor Colin Fox bested four other houses in an auction for Duff McDonald’s untitled book on Jamie Dimon; David Kuhn sold world rights. Derived from a cover piece McDonald wrote for New York magazine last month, the book will look at the career of the JP-MorganChase CEO—from protégé, then castoff, of Citigroup’s Sandy Weill, to Wall Street legend at age 52—to tell the tumultuous story of Wall Street’s boom and bust over the past 20 years. McDonald is also a contributing editor at Condé Nast’s Portfolio; S&S pub date is September 2009.

Reading on Walden Bookstore.

Jim Lehrer casts satirical eye at America's heartland

2008-04-29T17:49:00.002-05:00

Mack to the Rescue is Jim Lehrer's new book, available now at Reading on Walden Bookstore.

When he’s not anchoring the NewsHour on PBS, Jim Lehrer may be found casting a satirical eye at America’s heartland in such books as Crown Oklahoma and The Sooner Spy. Mack to the Rescue is the latest of his successful One-Eyed Mack novels. Set in Oklahoma and tracing the exploits of a fictional lieutenant governor, the series allows Lehrer to address contemporary national issues with a unique blend of humor and insight. Rife with Oklahoma-isms and brimming with memorable characters, Mack to the Rescue employs ironic twists and sharp dialogue to poke fun at government foibles. Inventive and hilarious, it demonstrates once again that Lehrer knows Middle America and its ways all too well.

Books by political bloggers and other influential writers

2008-04-26T03:12:00.008-05:00

Here are a few "must read" books by some bloggers and other prominent writers. And for those of you who don't know me, they all have a tendency to be left-leaning (that's an understatement).

The first is a new release by the "editor-in-chief" of the Huffington Post, blogger Arianna Huffington, who operates one of the most popular political blogs. Arianna tackles the issues at the heart of the 2008 presidential election with her trademark passion, intelligence, and devastating wit, according to her publisher's press release. The new book is called Right Is Wrong: How the Lunatic Fringe Hijacked America, Shredded the Constitution, and Made Us All Less Safe (and What You Need to Know).

Next is a book by a co-founder of The American Prospect magazine, Robert Kuttner. The book is called The Squandering of America: How the Failure of Our Politics Undermines Our Prosperity. Rober Kuttner has written for BusinessWeek, The Boston Globe and The American Prospect, and Kuttner has established himself as one of the most lucid economic and political critics. Now he delves deeper, illuminating how the elhttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifite domination of American politics makes society less democratic and prosperous, according to his publisher. Reading on Walden Bookstore.

Books are bullish on gold across the board: what could that mean

2008-04-24T14:10:00.017-05:00

In searching for books about gold and gold-related stocks, it has become increasingly difficult to find a contrarian view of gold, that is an assessment that gold will become bearish. The book barometer says gold is going higher, much higher. One book recently released by John Wiley and Sons almost shouts advice.

Buy Gold Now!

Buy Gold Now: How a Real Estate Bust, Our Bulging National Debt, and the Languishing Dollar Will Push Gold to Record Highs by Shane McGuire touts buying gold: lots of it.

Here is what the publisher says about this book:
Masterfully researched, and written in a straightforward style, "Buy Gold Now" makes a case for buying gold as protection against the rising risks of an unprecedented global currency crisis and as a profitable investment vehicle. Divided into five comprehensive parts, this reliable resource examines our country's current financial situation from a historical perspective and addresses some of the alarming issues that many economists are currently pointing to with concern.

Another bullish book on gold is called The Collapse of the Dollar and How to Profit from It: Make a Fortune by Investing in Gold and Other Hard Assets by James Turk and John A. Rubino. Another strong argument of the case of a weak dollar and strong gold.

And then there is a rather expensive book (cover price is 34.95 for the paperback and I won't scare you with the hardcover price) called A Hundred Thousand Dollars in Gold: How to Make It George P. Burnham. I suppose if you are going to make $100,000 profit by taking this book's advice, you can afford $34.95 plus shipping plus tax. The book is about, well, you get the idea. "Buy gold." "Sell the dollar."

Books are great barometer of what is going on in the world. It can also be viewed as a contrarian viewpoint of what will not happen. If you believe in that viewpoint, and I do subscribe to it, then sell gold and buy the dollar. And stay away from commodities too. Reading on Walden Bookstore.

Sweet Reads for Parents and Children to Share

2008-04-22T02:40:00.021-05:00

Here are some great books for mom and dad to share with their children. Order them today.

The Ultimate Guide to Grandmas & Grandpas!
by Sally Lloyd-Jones
illustrated by Michael Emberley
ISBN: 9780060756871
$14.99 Hardcover
HarperCollins
Pub Date: May
Here, at last, is a manual packed with sweet advice, pointers, and helpful hints on how grandchildren can best take care of their grandparents, like giving them lots of hugs and kisses.

T. Rex and the Mother's Day Hug
by Lois G. Grambling
illustrated by Jack E. Davis
ISBN: 9780060531263
$16.99 Hardcover
Katherine Tegen Books
It's Mother's Day, and T. Rex wants to plan something really special for his mama. In this sweet, funny story, Lois G. Grambling and Jack E. Davis demonstrate that sometimes the simple gifts are the best.

Mother, You're the Best!
(But Sister, You're a Pest!)
written & illustrated by Diane deGroat
ISBN: 9780061238994
$16.99 Hardcover
HarperCollins
Gilbert wants to show his mother that she's the best, but his little sister keeps getting in the way. Diane deGroat's heartfelt story and endearing illustrations will resonate with any reader who has ever had to share a parent's attention with a sibling.

Daddy Hug
by Tim Warnes
illustrated by Jane Chapman
ISBN: 9780060589509
$16.99 Hardcover
HarperCollins
Pub Date: May
Regardless of what daddies look like or what noises they make, daddies have one thing in common: They make children feel safe and snug with tender hugs.

Mommy's Best Kisses
by Margaret Anastas
illustrator Susan Winter
ISBN: 9780061241307
$6.99 Board Book
HarperFestival
There are many ways to say I love you to a child, and now way is sweeter than with a kiss. Margaret Anastas's loving rhyme and Susan Winter's gentle illustrations of animal mamas and their adorable babies will make this a family favorite.

Also available this great children's book by actor Billy Crystal:
I Already Know I Love You
ISBN: 9780061450570
$7.99 Board Book

Now available in a board book format--the #1 "New York Times" bestselling debut by comedian Billy Crystal, in which he describes the cavalcade of feelings that comes with becoming a grandfather for the first time. Full color.

Publisher Comments

Grandpa can hardly wait

Starting with the anticipation of a new baby's arrival, this book from Emmy Award-winning comedian Billy Crystal celebrates all the moments, great and small, that a new grandpa is ready to share. Whether it's taking a nap together or attending baseball games, this grandpa just can't wait for his grandchild to be born.

February Bookstore Sales Jump in February, increasing 11.3%

2008-04-21T14:29:00.004-05:00

Book sales in February increased, according to Publishers Weekly magazine, a book publishing trade magazine.

Despite lots of industry talk about a challenging economic environment, bookstore sales are off to a strong start. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, sales in February jumped 11.3%, to $1.13 billion, bringing the two-month total to $3.40 billion, a 6.7% increase over the comparable period in 2007. Total retail sales were up 7.3% in February and ahead 5.9% for the two months.

Reading on Walden Bookstore.

Abigail and John Adams: A Love Story and Dearest of Friends

2008-04-19T01:43:00.015-05:00

Order this book today.
The recent success of the HBO series seven-part mini-series, John Adams, has stirred interest in John Adams and Abigail Adams. Check out this book of letters of these two friends and lovers, John and Abigail. The letters were often addressed to "My Dearest Friend."

THE FOLLOWING ARE THE PUBLISHERS COMMENT:
Separated more often than they were together over a 40-year span, John and Abigail Adams shared their lives through letters that each addressed to "My Dearest Friend." This new collection invites readers to experience the founding of a nation and the partnership of two strong individuals, in their own words.

Part of a short interview with Margaret Hogan Host: Chris Gondek ] Producer: Heron & Crane
In 1762, John Adams penned a flirtatious note to "Miss Adorable," the 17-year-old Abigail Smith. In 1801, Abigail wrote to wish her husband John a safe journey as he headed home to Quincy after serving as president of the nation he helped create. The letters that span these nearly forty years form the most significant correspondence--and reveal one of the most intriguing and inspiring partnerships--in American history.
As a pivotal player in the American Revolution and the early republic, John had a front-row seat at critical moments in the creation of the United States, from the drafting of the Declaration of Independence to negotiating peace with Great Britain to serving as the first vice president and second president under the U.S. Constitution. Separated more often than they were together during this founding era, John and Abigail shared their lives through letters that each addressed to "My Dearest Friend," debating ideas and commenting on current events while attending to the concerns of raising their children (including a future president).
Full of keen observations and articulate commentary on world events, these letters are also remarkably intimate. This new collection--including some letters never before published--invites readers to experience the founding of a nation and the partnership of two strong individuals, in their own words. This is history at its most authentic and most engaging.

So you want to write a book and get it published, well here is another jump start

2008-04-16T13:15:00.005-05:00

The title of the book I am suggesting is very telling when it comes to writing and then publishing your book. It is called 78 Reasons Why Your Book May Never Be Published and 14 Reasons Why It Just Might by Pat Walsh.

Drawing on his experience as founding editor of MacAdam/Cage, Pat Walsh gives writers what they a need-specific, straightforward feedback to help them overcome bad habits and bad luck. He avoids the optimistic sometimes misleading directions often found in publishing how-to books and presents the industry as it is, warts and all. Here is the first guide that tells writers just what the odds against them are and gives them practical tips for evening them.

It is important to remember that the odds of getting your book published are not in your favor, but if you truly believe in your project and believe you have a message that will resonate, don't give up. You probably do have a message.

Pat was recently featured in Publishers Weekly. Reading on Walden Bookstore.

So you want to write a book and have it published too, well here are a few more tips

2008-04-15T03:41:00.007-05:00

Try this book to help you send a winning "book query" and a winning "book proposal."

The book pictured to the left, Write the Perfect Book Proposal by Jeff Herman and Deborah Levine Herman.

Publishers Comments about this book:

Charismatic authors and literary agents Jeff Herman and Deborah Levine Herman have successfully sold hundreds of titles and learned--through trial and error--how to write a flawless book proposal that publishers can't resist. Now you can benefit from their hard work and publishing savvy. In this new edition, they offer guidance and advice that will inspire, educate, and, most importantly, give you the necessary edge to get your book published. They explain:

- How to shape your idea and create a title

- Ways to get to know the market and competition

- Tips on writing an effective outline, query letter, and sample chapter

- The art and science of fiction and nonfiction book proposals

- How ten actual proposals (included were successfully sold to publishers--and why

It is not enough to just write a book. You may have written the next great American novel. While that part is important (and essential), you must also sell your book to a publisher. While it is not essential, having a literary agent represent your work is a plus. Most of the major publishing houses do not accept book queries, proposals or manuscripts from unagented authors. It is no impossible to have a "major" publish your book. you must have a way of getting your foot in the door. A celebrity has a very good chance of picking up the phone and saying for example, "This is Brad Pitt and have I got a story for you."

The bottom line for the major publishers is the bottom line. Will the book sell? Why would I buy the book? Why would I be excited about your book?

My own selling points are compelling. I am a bookstore owner with a wealth of contacts with bookstore owners.

It is just as difficult to get a literary agent to represent you as it is to have a publisher even consider your work. The great majority of cases publishers will either reject your work or ignore your work. If a publisher likes your work, you will hear from them quickly. They will then pass it around the office and make a decision. I had the good fortune of having several agents and a couple publishers take a look at my work. I received a positive response to my "first query," which spoiled me. The book was ultimately rejected and the reason is that it was not well-written or thought out. Upon closer inspection, the book I submitted originally was literary garbage. But the query and the proposal were adequate enough to draw interest. The idea is to induce them to want to read more.

I have since improved my product and have every confidence I will find the right venue for my book. I have since re-read my own work and thoroughly enjoyed reading it. We will be discussing this next time. Reading on Walden Bookstore.

So you want to write a book, well here is a good start

2008-04-14T05:02:00.013-05:00

These are a few of my favorite books, Volume 3
As many of you know, I am writing a book about my bookstore experiences surrounded by such work as our community involvement with CAPS (community policing), neighborhood watch, court watch, garden walks, marches against crime and drugs, political campaign work (with candidates like Barack Obama, Alexi Giannoulias, Debra Shore), book and political discussion groups.

This books has been a challenging and exhilarating experience which I highly recommend. When you write a book, I believe, you write it to please yourself Of course you want to sell it, but you must be pleased with your work. You are the audience.

I am often asked, "I am writing a book too (or at least have an idea about writing a book) and I don't know where to start."

I say start with the Writers Market 2008 Deluxe Edition.

The 2008 Writers Market Deluxe Edition will incorporate all the great information writers have to come to expect for more than 80 years, but this edition will move the book and site to a new level of excellence. From the higher profiles of its author interviews to the five new market sections (newspapers, syndicates, screenwriting, playwriting, greeting cards), the 2008 Writers Market Deluxe Edition will push the title to new limits while providing all the best and most up-to-date market listings available to help readers find success. The book will also include the ever-popular How Much Should I Charge? feature. The Deluxe edition provides the reader with access to the WritersMarket.com online database of over 6,000 listings updated daily. Additionally, in early 2007 the database is receiving a newly redesigned interface and enhanced search features.

We will continue this discussion and please let me know about your experiences. Let's have some great comments and ideas about writing your book. If you have any memories about our store or if you have any questions about your book, no matter how small you might think it would be, I'd love to hear about it. Please call me at 773-233-7633 or email us at readingonwalden@att.net. Reading on Walden Bookstore.

Reading on Walden Bookstore.

These are a few of my favorite books, Volume 2

2008-04-11T03:31:00.010-05:00

To order Dreams from My Father, click here.
This is my second posting in a series about "some of my favorite books," and hopefully about some of yours. I am writing a book about my bookstore years and one of the predominant themes is "books that transform." There is one book that transformed my life, that book is Dreams from my Father by Barack Obama. It was this book that personally connected Michelle and I to Barack Obama back in late 1999, when we got involved in his campaign for Congress.

This book is one of the best memoirs written and established Barack Obama as a "master of prose." As many know, Obama writes most of his own speeches, such the "The Speech" that he delivered at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. While Obama has surprised America, our own community has been the least surprised having gotten to know him during two of his campaigns in 2000 and and in 2004. In campaigns, our community, East Beverly, played a key role.

Here is what Publishers Weekly said in 1995 when the book was first released.

From Publishers Weekly
Elected the first black president of the Harvard Law Review, Obama was offered a book contract, but the intellectual journey he planned to recount became instead this poignant, probing memoir of an unusual life. Born in 1961 to a white American woman and a black Kenyan student, Obama was reared in Hawaii by his mother and her parents, his father having left for further study and a return home to Africa. So Obama's not-unhappy youth is nevertheless a lonely voyage to racial identity, tensions in school, struggling with black literature?with one month-long visit when he was 10 from his commanding father. After college, Obama became a community organizer in Chicago. He slowly found place and purpose among folks of similar hue but different memory, winning enough small victories to commit himself to the work?he's now a civil rights lawyer there. Before going to law school, he finally visited Kenya; with his father dead, he still confronted obligation and loss, and found wellsprings of love and attachment. Obama leaves some lingering questions? Is his mother is virtually absent? And yet he still has written a resonant book.

That is part of the story I will be telling in my upcoming book, yet to-be-published book with the working title of "Reading on Walden Bookstore: How an Ordinary Bookstore Made Extraordinary." Stay tuned.

These are a few of my favorite books, Volume 1

2008-04-08T05:03:00.013-05:00

The next few days I will be taking a break from my usual political writing on this blog, although I will still be posting my political rants on The Political Inquirer, MyDD.com, BooManTribune.com and of course, The Daily Kos. What I will be doing here is talking about books. My favorite books. And I would also like to hear about your favorite books too. I am writing a book about books and discuss books that transform people's lives. You can discuss a book that changed your life or a book that you thoroughly enjoyed for no particular reason except that it made you feel good.

And this space will be available to anyone that wants to talk about their favorite book. Or about a book that you wrote and published. Yes, if you are an author and want to talk about your book for the sole reason than to entice someone to purchase it, then my friend you have absolutely come to the right place. Just send me an email. My email address is readingonwalden@att.net. You can also call me at 773-233-7633.

The first book I want to discuss is a novel by Tom Robbins called Still Life with Woodpecker. The theme of the novel is that it is never too late to have a happy childhood. I had a happy childhood as a youth and today I am still having a happy childhood. The bookstore was just another element that I experienced as a happy child. It was downright giddy at times. Not only did I have a happy childhood, but the main theme of the book is that the novel continuously addresses the question of how to make love “stay.”

If you'd like to order this book, you can click on the book or the title and that will take you to our website. Send me an email at readingonwalden@att.net or call at 773-233-7633. Reading on Walden Bookstore.

The little bookstore that could

2008-04-02T04:08:00.025-06:00

Below is a story that appeared in the March 30 issue of the Southtown/Star. I am thankful to the author, Patti Ahern, for being so gracious. I am writing a book about our years operating Reading on Walden Bookstore, and about the achievements that we made together with you in this community. It was never just about us. It was about all of us together. The book is about telling that story.

I need your help in completing this project. If you have any fond memories of shopping in our store or great experiences there, please share them with us. I prefer to use real names to maintain the authenticity of this project. Any humorous, touching and enlightening stories would be great.

A big part of the book will be chapters concerning our relationship with Barack Obama. As many of you know, Obama will be forever tied to this community. From August of 1999 through March of 2000, Obama was practically camped out in this community. Many of you may remember the candidates forum at Bethany Union Church with the overflow crowd and the media coverage out in force. Or you may have met Obama when he knocked on doors here or when he solicited votes at the Metra train stations.

Whatever memories you may have will enhance this project. And photos you might have would be priceless. But the book isn't only about Obama. Some of the reasons we were approached by the campaign was because we were involved with community policing, court watch, we ran neighborhood watch from the store, the Garden Walk, the 19th Ward remap fight, supporting other winning candidates like Alexi Giannoulias (the current State Treasurer) and Debra Shore (a virtual unknown who got elected countywide to the Water Reclamation District), our Book Discussion Group, our Political Discussion Group and of course the books we sold and recommended. Fitness advise. Financial advise. Great works of fiction.

If you have any memories regardless how small you might think it would be, I'd love to hear about it and work it into the book. Please call me at 773-233-7633 or email us at
readingonwalden@att.net.

March 30, 2008
By Patti Ahern - Reprinted from the March 30, 2008 Southtown/Star When John and Michelle Presta first started their bookstore, Reading on Walden, they might have compared their business to the children's book, "The Little Engine that Could."

If you don't remember the Little Engine story, it describes how a small train has to climb a tall hill, one that other engines have refused to climb. In the end, though, by trying really hard, the Little Engine makes it up and over the hill.
Such is the case with Reading on Walden. This small bookstore had to compete against neighborhood giants Waldenbooks and Borders as well as the online giant Amazon.com.
Not only did the store persevere, but John now stands on the threshold of selling his own book that details their evolution from small businesses owners, to Internet store owners, to becoming integral supporters of Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama.
The book's title, "Reading on Walden Bookstore. How an Ordinary Bookstore Made Extraordinary Achievements," aptly describes that "little engine" effort.
John said Reading on Walden opened in 1991 and was located at 99th and Walden Parkway in Beverly. Unfortunately, in the first couple of months of being open, their business was broken into. That break-in led them to the Beverly Area Planning Association, a neighborhood alliance organization, and as a result, the Prestas became involved with BAPA's safety committee. Little by little, their involvement in the community grew, until one day, a campaign manager for then unknown Obama walked into their store.
"We weren't interested in him," John said. "We threw him out but he kept coming back. He finally ordered 20 copies of Barack's book and later told us he didn't know how many books he was going to have to buy to get our attention."
John said he and his wife finally agreed to sponsor a debate between Obama and Congressman Bobby Rush and when they heard Obama speak, they were "on board" with his campaign.
"Obama was a great guy and we knew he would do something," John said. Later, when Obama sought his Illinois Senate seat, the Prestas were heavily involved with the campaign.
Meanwhile, despite their attention to Obama's political career, the Prestas were still busy with BAPA's safety committee, where they helped usher in the city's "Graffiti Blasters" program, a neighborhood court watch system, and the Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy effort. In addition, they were still building their bookstore business, which was becoming more profitable with each passing year.
By 1999, however, the Prestas decided to close the store and instead, operate their business as an online bookstore.
"I had no idea what that meant," John said. "Hardly anyone looked at our site or ordered from us. Meanwhile, Amazon was going to town, so I went to Amazon to see what the big guys were doing."
What John learned was that those big guys had name recognition, and that recognition resulted in Amazon.com's name coming up at the top of Internet search engines when people used those engines to find books. John decided, then, to get his store's name "out there" by creating an Internet brand name.
To accomplish this goal, he began blogging or keeping a journal on the Internet, writing about the community, books and politics. With time, Reading on Walden's name recognition grew, until they began to successfully compete with the big guys.
John and Michelle both miss in person interaction with customers, but Michelle said they still discuss books with customers via the telephone. Also, having an Internet business has allowed them the chance to pursue other neighborhood activities.
"We are the sponsors of the Reading on Walden Bookstore book discussion group that meets at the Beverly Branch Library on the third Saturday of each month," Michelle said. "And, we sponsor a political discussion group, coordinate political activities in the area, sponsor author events at the Beverly Branch Library, sit on the board of directors of the East Beverly Association, and participate in the neighborhood watch program.
"We do more than sell books," she added.
Grace Kuikman, BAPA's coordinator of communications, spoke highly about the Prestas.
"John and Michelle are simply great neighbors. They are committed to our community, actively supporting issues that make us stronger," she said.
John continues to keep Reading on Walden's name out in the open, by writing not only for his own blog, www.readingonwaldenblog.com, but also for http://politicalinquirer.com, www.mydd.com, www.boomantribune.com and www.dailykos.com.
As for John's book, he has had several publishers and agents express interest in his story. A sale may be imminent and John is hoping Obama will write the forward to his book.
Patti Ahern is a citizen journalist from the Beverly community. She can be contacted at PattiRMA@aol.com.

Thank you to Patti Ahern and the Southtown/Star for the great story

2008-03-31T01:25:00.007-06:00

I want to publicly thank Patti Ahern for the great story she wrote in the Sunday Southtown/Star. Owning and operating an independent bookstore is a high honor. But with that honor comes an obligation to participate in the community, as Michelle and I have done for these many years.

The Southtown/Star article mentioned that I am writing a book about our bookstore experiences and it has been a wonderful experiences reconstructing our years on Walden Parkway.

I will be posting more about my book.

Reading on Walden Bookstore.