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

Kindle Pick of the Week: Zen Rohatsu

How does a society – or an entire civilization, for that matter – cope with the stressors that have been building up during the last few years? Frustration, anger, pain and even hatred seem to be running rampant worldwide. Author Nora D’Ecclesis explores a path that could offer an effective coping strategy for readers in her new book, Zen Rohatsu, which became the Amazon No. 1 bestseller in its category 24 hours after it was released.

“Zen Rohatsu is a microcosm of Zen meditation which best explains why we meditate and why most should consider this spiritual practice,” she said. “I sat to outline a story about my spiritual practice, which I wrote from the memory of my own experiences as a lay meditator. The result is this book.”

Rohatsu is Japanese for "eighth day of the twelfth month." December 8 has come to be the day that Japanese Zen Buddhists observe the enlightenment of the historical Buddha. While Zen Rohatsu isn’t exactly a “how-to” guide, it does lead readers down a path that will help them understand this type of meditation and how it might help them in so many ways.

D’Ecclesis summarizes it thus: “Zazen, a Japanese style dating back to the Buddha, is a meditation that keeps us in the present with focus, equanimity and stress management by clearing our thoughts from the various anxieties that permeate them. We turn off the chatter in our own heads and establish a place of compassion. We all experience interoceptive responses to the stressors and suffering and even the great joys in life, as all sentient beings do, so the balance of meditation and concept of equanimity are a welcome alternative.”

Nora D’Ecclesis is an American bestselling non-fiction author and Haiku poet. Her international No.1 bestseller The Retro Budget Prescription held the top spot in Kindle book downloads for the business/self-help category for over a year. She is a graduate of Kean University of New Jersey with post graduate degrees in administration and education. Her other published non-fiction includes Amazon No. 1 bestseller Haiku: Natures Meditation and paperbacks/eBooks on such topics as time management, guided visualizations, gratitude/equanimity, journaling and Zen meditation.

For more information about the author, visit:

www.noradecclesis.com

or follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DECCLESIShttps:// or https://www.facebook.com/NoraDEcclesis/


Zen Rohatsu

Publisher: Renaissance Presentations, LLC

ASIN ‏ B0B2XYGDKD: ‎

Available from Amazon.com and anywhere books are sold

Book Pick of the Week: Don't Worry, Be Ha-PEA: 101 Deliciously Clever Food Puns

A fun book for foodies or anyone.

Ever heard of Céline dijon? How about Robert brownie Jr.? OMghee, you’re going to love Don't Worry, Be Ha-PEA!

Test your knowledge of pop culture, tourist attractions, social media slang, and more with this delicious collection of visual food puns. Fresh food and beautiful photography make the perfect pear in this clever gift book. Some puns are trickier than others, but donut give up! Just keep calm and curry on. Creator Marie Saba and her playful creations have been featured in Bon Appetit and Food & Wine magazine, as well as on The Rachael Ray Show and The Martha Stewart Show.

Order your copy:

https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Worry-Be-Ha-PEA-Deliciously-ebook/dp/B08GFNTRW4/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Kindle Pick of the Week: The Real Hank Aaron: An Intimate Look at the Life and Legacy of the Home Run King

A heartfelt portrait of Hank Aaron, featuring nearly 40 years of stories plus never-before-told insights from the home run king

When journalist Terence Moore was 12 years old, he treasured his poster of Henry Aaron. Years later, Aaron would sign it for him: "Best wishes to Terry." Later still, Moore would be named an honorary pall bearer at the home run king's funeral, staying up late into the night with Aaron's widow, Billye, to get the obituary just right for the program.

Friends and family knew Aaron as quick-witted, hilarious, and fiercely opinionated beyond what was shown in public. With the encouragement of Aaron's family, Moore now shares this intimate perspective on the baseball legend, the culmination of decades of friendship and correspondence. The Real Hank Aaron captures the icon's contagious laugh and pointed views, from the depth of his admiration for Jackie Robinson to his true thoughts on Barry Bonds and the steroid era.

Also featuring Aaron's views on race, politics, media, and sports fandom, this is a charming and illuminating glimpse at the man outside the spotlight.

Book Pick of the Week: The Horse Lover's Quotation Book

Full of wonderful quotes about horses, riding horses, owning horses, loving horses, and everything in between, The Horse Lover's Quotation Book brings readers into a deeper connection with these majestic creatures, highlighting on all the joy and surprises that come from loving these animals.

Simply, this book is made for the horse lover in everyone.


The Horse Lover's Quotation Book
Written by Jackie Corley
978-1-57826-877-1, $12.50 hardcover

Published by Hatherleigh Press.
Distributed through Penguin Random House.
Available wherever books are sold.
www.hatherleighpress.com