Book Pick of the Week: The Big Book of Civil War Sites

What a great book!

The definitive travel reference for America's most famous—and infamous—Civil War battle sites!

With The Big Book of Civil War Sites, history-focused travelers finally have ready access to in-depth and thorough listings of all sites associated with the major battles of a devastating war that transformed the nation. Whether for exploring the Southern states or the Eastern theater, this book provides a full range of historical background information, travel and lodging options, museums, tours, and special events.

Top attractions in the North include the National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Gettysburg National Military Park; and Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. In the Southern states—from the Outer Banks of North Carolina to the Mississippi Delta—readers will discover the fascinating and varied world of Civil War history and read detailed accounts of battles in North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, and Louisiana.


The Big Book of Civil War Sites includes:

Thorough listings of all major sites, including historical background information

Full-color photographs throughout

Special features on military and civic leaders

A glossary of Civil War terminology

Directions to hard-to-find locations

Helpful listings of restaurants, lodgings, shopping, tours, and special events

Here's one place to get it: https://www.target.com/p/the-big-book-of-civil-war-sites-paperback/-/A-87536326

Kindle Pick of the Week: 100 Things to Do in the North Georgia Mountains Before You Die

One of the great parts of our country.

100 Things to Do in the North Georgia Mountains Before You Die published by Reedy Press. Comprised of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Cohutta Mountains, the North Georgia Mountains attract thousands of visitors every year. They come for the abundant opportunities to enjoy outdoor recreation at the area’s Georgia State Parks, explore thriving small mountain communities, and take in scenic mountain views that look almost too perfect to be real.

Karon Warren helps you make the most of your visit with a personal touch that will make planning your trip easy and fun. With so much to choose from, every visit to the North Georgia Mountains will be more memorable than the last.

Karon Warren is a long-time journalist, who became a resident of the North Georgia Mountains more than 20 years ago. Her freelance work has appeared in AAA Carolinas’ GO magazine, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, USA Today 10Best, GEORGIA Magazine, North Georgia Living, Georgia Connector, and other publications. Karon is a member of the American Society of Journalists & Authors and the American Society of Business Publication Editors. Follow her on Instagram at @karonwarren and share your North Georgia Mountains adventures using #100ThingsNGAMtns.

Read this and you'll have to visit North Georgia.

Book Pick of the Week: A Collection of Short Stories & Poems

From the first cool taste of iced tea on a terrace in Italy to sipping martinis outside a motorhome next to a dog named Anne, author and photographer Gary E. Smith immerses readers in a kaleidoscope of senses and emotions in his reflections on the human experience, A Collection of Short Stories & Poems.

Known for his mystery and suspense novels, Smith pivots his creative vision to crafting short stories that share universal truths wrapped in everyday encounters. Employing a breezy, conversational voice, Smith shares compact but complex narratives that most readers can connect with.

A Collection of Short Stories & Poems includes stories of profound loss. Stories of great friendships. Stories of growing old with a dog, of going to war, and of course, stories of deep, romantic love.

“I hope the stories encourage the reader to do some introspection on what it means to be human,” Smith said. “I believe the poems, like all art, will mean more to some than to others.”

The Independent Press Awards recently recognized A Collection of Short Stories & Poems as a Distinguished Favorite in the Short Stories category.

Author Gary E. Smith’s first romance thriller, The Willing, debuted with a 4.8 stars average rating by independent reviewers who asked for a sequel. He has since written five more novels, including Vengeance Can Be Deadly and Undomesticated: She Had No Remorse.

Smith balances life between business and a love of arts. He founded a small electrical contracting business and grew it into a multimillion-dollar national business. He is also an award-winning fine art photographer. Operating within both business and artistic communities introduces him to a wide array of characters and experiences, from which he draws for his writing. When he is not writing, he travels. Most often, he can be spotted in Italy, searching for more characters and experiences for his stories to come.

To learn more, please visit: www.garysmithauthor.com, or follow the author on Twitter (@g_smithauthor) or Facebook (The Willing by Gary Smith@GSmithAuthor).

A Collection of Short Stories & Poems

Publisher: Gatekeepers Press

ISBN-10: ‎ 1662919603

ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1662919602

Available from Amazon.com

Book Pick of the Week: The Change Guidebook

Many of us know we need a change, an overhaul of the way we “do” life. We feel the need to move forward, but we aren’t sure where to place our feet to take those first steps.

The Change Guidebook from Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino, founder of The Best Ever You Network, ends the search for self-help that works, serving as a life-long companion guide and resource to complement your life. It offers 10 points for making a change or adapting to unforeseen circumstances, and allows you to become a change master by using the provided solutions to change, grow and become your bravest and boldest self. These points are a process that you can engage in and turn to in times of need, crisis, or to alter your life’s course.

“The extreme demands of our modern world constantly challenge our alignment. I passionately believe that nearly everything revolves around our ability to manage our time and how we make or deal with change. Our attitude in how we approach each moment provides the insight to cherish them all with gratitude, no matter the happenings," Hamilton-Guarino says. "I wrote this book from my heart, truths and energy to yours to help you feel and be your best. As I share my own obstacles and victories in my life, I also welcome over 20 other contributors, who have also taken the time to share their stories with the world.”

By using the tools provided within this book, readers will experience the joy of living life as someone firmly grounded in values, anchored by a consistent moment-to-moment practice of gratitude. These principles have been widely used to achieve goals from changing careers to weight loss, becoming a college athlete, and more, and have been proven to change many lives.

About the Author

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino is the founder of The Best Ever You Network and co-founder of Compliance4. Through these companies, she has helped individuals and organizations around the world be their best and achieve world-class excellence with gratitude-based behavior and belief systems. She is one of America's foremost personal and corporate development consultants specializing in mindset, strategy, leadership and taking action.

Elizabeth is also the author of the award-winning personal development book Percolate: Let Your Best Self Filter Through (Hay House) and multiple children’s books as a contributor and author. Elizabeth and her husband live in Maine with their four sons, two dogs and three rescued cats. Visit her website at besteveryou.com.

Book Pick of the Week: Athletes Who Rock!

Award-winning author and journalist Motez Bishara is bringing readers straight to the intersection of sports and music with his new book, “ATHLETES WHO ROCK!: Stories of Sacrifice, Setbacks, and Success in Sports, Music and Life,” (Cranthorpe Millner Publishers, February 22, 2022), a collection of in-depth interviews with fifteen extraordinary individuals who have lived out every kid’s fantasy: becoming a rock star and star athlete at the same time.

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Athletes-Who-Rock-Motez-Bishara-ebook/dp/B09NMDZRYK/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
 
ATHLETES WHO ROCK! presents a wide variety of conversations with ethereal athletes like Damian Lillard, Daniela Hantuchova, Rony Seikaly, Bernie Williams, Essence Carson and Yannick Noah who offer insights and stories about their dual careers and reflect over what skills or attributes—if any—link the two worlds. They’ve won World Series titles and tennis Grand Slams, an Olympic gold and a WNBA championship, played in the FA Cup Final and NCAA basketball final, been named to NFL Pro Bowls and NBA All Star games, and captained England in The Ashes. Their successes have been glorious. The hurdles they have crossed are at times hard to believe. Now they’re offering exclusive behind-the-scenes access into their worlds.
 
Whether it’s their impeccable timing and rhythm, their ability to improvise on the go, or their unshakable dedication to be the very best they can be in their chosen fields, these inspiring characters have separated themselves from the masses. No matter what the links are, their spectacular success in two arenas is the ultimate crossover.