Review of Umbrian Twilight

A slow stroll through the Italian countryside during harvest time is exactly what the reader will take while reading “Umbrian Twilight” by Giovanna Piccozzi. Meeting an air marshal, Mike, on her flight to her farm in Italy, the story of her ancestry, her tragedy and her search for restoration unravel in a gentle story which is full of images of the Italian olive harvest as well as the warmth and generosity of an Umbrian village and the care of the neighbors. The memories of family gardens and slow, lazy Sunday afternoons among family and friends blends to create a rich portrait in the soft tones of a soothing picture in Giovanna’s mind as she works to reconstruct a soul which has been grieving at the loss of one of her children. How can she count the losses in her life when there have been so many gains? One of those gains is found in the gentle Umbrian breezes as the sun begins to set.

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Giovanna Piccozzi has painted a masterpiece with words in “Umbrian Twilight” which rivals the great masterpieces of the great Italian painters. The soft tones and gentle touch of her words not only ease the mind and sooth the soul of the heroine in the story, but they speak with a soft, gentle voice to the reader as well. The reader will take a quiet stroll through the gardens and village markets of the Italian countryside, feeling the cool breezes, smelling the delights from the kitchens, hear the gentle laughter and watch the setting sun through the olive trees. Gentle, soothing and homey; “Umbrian Twilight” will take the reader on an unforgettable journey of the soul.

Review of "Self Publishing a Book" by Hank Quense

With the revolutionary strides made in ebook publishing by Amazon, Nook Press, Smashwords and dozens of others on the rise, the ability to self-publish an ebook has become very easy, however, there are some keys to preparing your manuscript that will help set your book apart among the millions that are being offered. Hank Quense guides the reader through the publishing process in easy steps in “Self Publishing a Book.” Hank helps the reader determine which type of publishing house to go with or to go with self-publishing and the pros and cons of each. The book also helps you to understand the formatting involved in both ebook publishing and print book publishing. Hank discusses the ins and outs of ebook and print packagers and provides a list of questions that you need to ask before making a deal with one. “Self Publishing a Book” also helps you set up a budget so that you won’t be hit by surprises when it comes time to use the particular services necessary to publish your book. Hank also provides links to service providers and services that you might need throughout the process.

Having this guide would have been quite handy when I learned this process for myself. After publishing three books, however, I still didn’t know it all and “Self Publishing a Book” was still a great guide to help me see my own short comings and provided plenty of new ideas that I had considered before. Hank Quense has developed a valuable resource for the self publisher which is a must read, before you publish your book.

Our Field of Dreams "Cowboy Memorial Stadium"

I was just a punk kid watching the Gunnison Cowboys at Mountaineer Bowl when Mike Dickenson was playing football for the Gunnison Cowboys. Mike shined pretty brightly as a star in my eyes, though he was just a high school football player. Lots of other names stick out in my mind, but I’m just focusing on Mike for the moment, because it was getting to know Mike later as an adult that inspired the creation of this page.

When we were putting the finishing touches on the stadium preparing for the inaugural game, Mike, in spite of having some difficulty with his balance at times, was right out there working along with us. On one occasion, he and I had to go get some boards to help support the flag pole while the concrete was drying. It was an opportunity to get to know one of the Cowboys from the past as an adult. I am certainly glad that I had the opportunity, because we lost Mike not long after.

After one of those work sessions, I was standing atop the new bleachers looking across the field and the freshly painted G and realized that this field had memories for everyone who ever played football as a Gunnison Cowboy since the school was first occupied in 1965. What is now Gunnison Cowboy Memorial Stadium was the practice field and JV football field.

This is significant for two reasons. The football players that are honored by the naming of the field would have played their home football games on that very field and it seems fitting somehow that it will forever be memorialized that way. The second reason is that the practice field is christened with blood, sweat and Jim Bohnsack and Russell Dick’s favorite “beanie weenies” or as we called it “planting flowers.” It was on that field that we actually turned each other into Cowboys.

I can’t even begin to tell you the thrill that went through me when we turned on the lights at Cowboy Memorial Stadium for the first time and the first team of Cowboys to play on the field ran out onto the field to play. Even as we wrapped up the last game of the season with temperatures hovering just barely above the freezing mark as the game ended, I knew that we finally had a home of our own to be proud of.

Keep it going Cowboys; young and old alike, this is your page for remembering the past and making new memories, “memories so thick that (you’ll) have to brush them away from (your) faces (James Earl Jones, Field of Dreams).”

Hot Dog Condoms, the Arepa Police and Hot Chocolate

Most people associate coffee with Colombia, as well as some other not so pleasant, though completely archaic, ideas about cocaine cartels, bombings and kidnappings. I've been in Medellin just shy of a year now and the only things that have really been a huge surprise to me are the hot dog condoms, the arepa police and the hot chocolate.

They didn't make individually wrapped sliced cheese when I was a child. I don't know if it didn't exist or if I had never been exposed to it, regardless of which case is true, I have certainly just defined my age and socioeconomic upbringing. I eventually got used to the idea of individually wrapped cheese slices, but I am having a little bit more difficulty with the idea of hot dog condoms. Each of the "salchichas" (hot dogs) in a package are individually wrapped here. The little wrapper, when removed looks like a little condom and would make my neighbors, who happened to dig in the trash back home, raise their eyebrows, wondering what went on all of the time in my house and raising some questions about endowment. Lucky for me, I only forgot to remove the "hot dog condom" one time. The results made a lasting impression when I took the first bite.

Moving on to another thing that I am still getting used to is the necessity; no the requirement to eat arepas every morning for breakfast. An arepa is a cross between a corn tortilla and a pancake. Their taste leans a little bit more toward a corn tortilla. Every household in Colombia is required by law to toast an arepa of some variety: white corn, yellow corn, chocolo, cheese filled or even whole wheat (this is for those Colombians watching their figure). Because I find this rather strange, there is a running joke in my house that if you don't eat an arepa for breakfast, the arepa police can arrest you and charge you. There is little leniency for non-arepa eating criminals and therefore, I assume that the punishment is stiff. I have been able to sneak past breakfast without an arepa a few times and thus far have not been caught, but I looked over my shoulder the entire day wondering when they would be coming to get me.

Though the other two seem a little bit crazy, I will have to admit that the hot chocolate is actually a special thrill. They don't use Swiss Miss in Colombia. Occasionally, the few who can afford it will mix Milo in milk and heat it up or drink it cold. It is very tasty, but to me, the traditional method for making hot chocolate is still the best. My wife claims that I have mastered this art and therefore, I must brag about my ability to melt the squares of chocolate perfectly, add the hot agua-panela (hardened sugar with the molasses still in it) in exactly the right amount and then pour in the milk to the precise level. Those of you who are still drinking Swiss Miss or some other gourmet brand of hot chocolate mix have no clue what real hot chocolate is supposed to taste like. Trust me, my wife says that I'm an expert.

So, if you happen to be interested in finding out exactly how this gringo from the backwoods of Colorado's mountains is getting along in his new home in Medellin. I'm tolerating hot dog condoms, avoiding the arepa police and have become an expert at making hot chocolate. What more could anyone ask for?

"The Fight for Immortality" will raise the hair on the back of your neck!

Appealing to the masses and especially to the youth of the world, through the promise of adventure, education and a future with endless possibilities, an alien force has easily began to overtake earth without shedding a drop of blood in “The Fight for Immortality” by Peter Arthur. Though the aliens have taken on a human form and have easily drawn in the vast majority of youth with their extraordinary ability to fulfill the basic and seemingly on-track desire for the proper lifestyle, career and family goals, there is one youth, Jack Cousins, who isn't fooled by any or it. With the leaders of the numerous branches of the United States government scrambling to get a hold on what is going on and attempt to stop it, the ordinary teen, Jack, not only has the proper amount of skepticism about the true motivation of DE corporation, but has an extraordinary skill of his own that will help him to fight back against overwhelming forces. He is forced to accept a challenge which borders on the impossible and win the fight for immortality or die in the process. “The Fight for Immortality” is a brilliantly thought out novel with enough realism to make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. Peter Arthur expertly shows how an alien force, understanding the common thinking of humans and the things that it is correct and morally right to pursue can become not only the stumbling block, but the means of eliminating us. Packed full of suspense, intrigue and realism, it is an enormous comfort that “The Fight for Immortality” is a work of fiction. I hope.

Charles A. Salter Hits a Home Run with "Borrowed Bones"

An odd green glow high up on one of the peaks on the island of Puerto Rico has government scientists confused and questioning its origin. Brad Stout is tasked to make sense of this URP (Unexplained Radiation Phenomenon) in “Borrowed Bones” by Charles A. Salter. With orders straight from the White House, Brad is put in charge of a secure lab which is bound to secrecy in order to come up with an answer to the mystery before it threatens to destroy the entire earth in something resembling a reversal of the Big Bang Theory. However, someone is trying to stop him and making it a permanent end seems to be their ultimate goal. The next twist of fate is that they are located on the inside of the lab. Is that why the beautiful Lindsey Cowell is so eagerly by Brad’s side or is she simply trying to seduce him for her own personal reasons? Brad has an overwhelming puzzle to solve and only a short period of time to solve it before the entire earth goes BANG! Charles A. Salter has done it again in “Borrowed Bones”. This thrilling mystery takes a firm grip on the reader from the beginning and tightens it throughout. The twists and turns of the plot continue to deepen the mystery as Brad Stout comes closer and closer to the truth. Having a saboteur on the inside makes it even more challenging and places the light of suspicion on those who are nearest to him. The hair-raising, intense and brilliantly woven mystery of “Borrowed Bones” will have the reader on the edge of their seat with their heart pounding.

Review of Golf Made Easy! A Backward Approach... or is it?

If you are ready to take up a new and relaxing pastime, it is best to have some basic instruction and direction before spending a large amount of money on all of the necessary equipment and greens fees that go along with the great game of golf. “Golf Made Easy! A Backward Approach to Learning Golf… or is it?” by Jeffrey W Kern is the perfect instructional book for beginning golfers. Though Jeffrey describes his method as being backward to the traditional way of learning and teaching the game, it seems to make perfect sense as the student moves from putting, to chipping and pitching and finally to driving. Learning to crawl before walking, before running is a sensible way of teaching and learning and Jeffrey makes it very easy with “Golf Made Easy!” Jeffrey’s guide not only teaches the basics of the game with simple instructions, photos and graphics, but he also gives plenty of reference material regarding club distance, making certain that your balls are balanced, club fitting and playing the fame in general. It teaches success from the beginning and builds on that success in order to keep the student coming back and learning the entire game. “Golf Made Easy!” by Jeffrey W Kern is exactly the book that I wish that I had been introduced to when I took my first gold lessons in college. The method may seem backward and it isn’t as dramatic as learning to drive first, but the concept makes plenty of sense. Learning the short game first allows the student to get the feel of aligning the shot, gripping the club, swinging and addressing the ball at lower speed first and then moves toward the more difficult aspects of the short game before moving to the more dramatic game of driving. Instructional, informative and common sense combine to make “Golf Made Easy!” an excellent instructional guide for beginning golfers.