Xlibris Book Review: Journey to the Roof of the World

Janet L. Herrick. Journey to the Roof of the World.  Bloomington: Xlibris Publishing, ISBN 978-1-42575-757-1. 2008. Casebound Hardcover.

Review:

“Journey to the Roof of the World: Tibet” is not simply a collection of beautifully executed travel photos. It is also a poignant view into a shared journey of discovery for a mother and son, two seekers of understanding, wisdom and adventure. Through her photography, descriptions and poetic verse, Janet Herrick expresses the depth of emotion and spiritual insight that comes from truly opening oneself to the experience and exploration of the world around us.

Book Teaser:

Kathmandu Street

I could only stand and stare from my third story vantage point on the balcony of a hidden cafe. The throng of humanity in the busy street of the Theme] District below sent up the sights and sounds of a world totally foreign to me. Only hours before we were in the West, and Orlando, Florida was as far from Kathmandu as one can imagine. Yet I wondered. .. are we not all the same, brothers and sisters in our fragile humanity?

Streets

Teeming with life
Humanity abounding
Tussled
Mingling
Senses filled
Sights
Sounds
Smells
Another world
Another time
So strange
So the same
A stranger blending in the throng
All melt into the street and belong

Tibetan Rug Weavers

Nepal is one of the countries where fleeing Tibetans have settled making new homes outside of Tibet. Using the trades and skills brought from their homeland, they banded together to aid and assist one another. We visited places like this Refugee Camp which was established in the 1960’s. Traditional Tibetan rugs are made here by refugees, sold in their own display area and even exported abroad. The proceeds give the families a livelihood and allow them to assist other
refugees.

Weavers

Wool to yarn
Yarn woven on a loom
In skilled hands
Patterns take shape

Learned from the elders
Passed down to the young
Weaving traditions
Patterns born out of love

Each life formed like wool into yarn
Many colors and shapes
Many choices forming patterns
Lives intertwining on the loom

Can we learn from the past?
Will the young learn from us?
Can we form a common vision
Of a future born of peace?

Click here to order this book available at Xlibris Bookstore, or contact:

Xlibris Corporation

0800-891-366

www.xlibris.co.nz

orders@xlibris.co.nz

Read More

Xlibris Book Review: Blood and Silver

Colin Webster. Blood and Silver. Bloomington: Xlibris Publishing, ISBN 978-1-47712-689-9. 2012. Casebound Hardcover.

Overview:

Thorn Carlson is a bounty hunter at the end of his rope, and perhaps his life. He drifts into the wrong town injured and broke, with a target on his back a mile wide. But this isn't just any old west town, where if the gamblers and cowpokes don't kill you, the liquor will. This town has a secret, and Thorn must uncover it if he is to make it out alive!

Book Teaser:

CHAPTER ONE

I looked over the sights of my rifle at the man was about to kill. I

hesitated, just for a moment. I won't tell you I felt any kind of pity for him.

I didn't have that kind of emotional investment in anything anymore, and

hadn't for a long time. Most likely, I never would again. He just didn't

look like the type, that's all. He stood tall and erect, unshaven but with

a strong, open sort of face and clear, intelligent eyes. The paper in my

breast pocket said he was the one responsible for the fact that a woman

and her three children were dead, but I had my doubts. He didn't look

like the sort of man to do such a thing, but you never could tell with a

body, and if I were to let misgivings get in the way of doing my job, well,

I wouldn't be eating much.

Rick Crange was the name on the paper, and he'd manage to escape

the county jail down south, mere hours before becoming the guest of honor

at a gallows affair. He'd protested his innocence all the way through the

trial, but he'd been covered in the victims' blood when they found him,

and that was enough for the court. Still, he'd already been found guilty,

and like I said, it didn't make much difference to me anyway. The paper

I had in my hand promised a reward of a thousand dollais, dead or alive.

Since the result was to be the same., I decided the former option would

save me time and trouble.

I took a deep breath and let it out again, watching the sights settle back

down onto his torso. I'd guessed the range at no more than two hundred

and fifty yards,which with this rifle, lying down behind a log, was an easy

shot. I'd had plenty of time to prepare and could take my time choosing

when to fire.

I'd gotten into position that night, gone without my fire while he'd

cooked and ate his supper over a big one, either not wiring or not having

---------------------------

[8]

the sense to figure someone might just be chasin' after him. I loaded a

long .45-70 cartridge into the Sharps and settled down for a long night,

watching and waiting. I'd already taken the leather strap, which I'd hung

from the barrel, and tied it snugly to my left upper arm, allowing me to

hold the rifle steady as a rock even if I had to make a standing shot at that

distance.

I was amazed at his nonchalance when he rose up without even

looking around, rebuilt his fire, and started making coffee. He'd probably

long since figured he'd given the good folks of Idaho Tertitory the slip,

and indeed he had. I'd rode his trail for the last week, but I'd hung back,

thinking the easy way he'd been riding was surely an attempt to set me up

foran ambush. But the whole time I'd been studying his trail, I noticed he

didn't veer off once to double back or even give much of an effort to hiding

his trakcs. It was almost too easy, and that's what had me worried.

After a week of this, I'd finally figured he really just wasn't given to

carefulness and probably lacked the skills to do much at all to obscure

his passing. His last job had been as some kind of hotel tmnager, but out

west that didn't mean much. Folks out here held all kinds of jobs during

their lifetimes, and this one could well have been riding the cow trails for

years before deciding to settle down to a quiet town life.

Many men would have looked down on what I was about to do,

backshootin' a critter like this, but that didn't bother me none. In fact, my

methods already tended to eatn me the disdain of more than a few lawmen

I'd dealt with. I looked at it as a business. Giving some reprobate a fair

chance or an even draw was a sure way to go out of business first. In short,

the much-vaunted code of honor dime novelists attributed to western men

didn't apply to me one bit.

I didn't shoot because he was moving around the little camp, making

cofiee and a side ofbacon. It smelled pretty good, and I resolved to

take the shot before he ate all of it. I'd been mighty low on funds when I'd

started after him, and I'd run low on chow. I waited for him to set down on

the fallen log he was using for a bench and took aim again. I had a good

shot at his side, and I lined it up to send a four-hundred-grain chunk of

hot lead through both lungs and hopefully, the heart. One good shot will

put down a buffalo,so as long as my aim was true, I didn't plan on having

to take another.

Just an my finger tightened on the trigger, I let up again. Damn it all,

his horse walked right behind him. The heavy bullet would surely pass

through my man and hit the animal if I shot now. And he was already

leading the sizzling meat onto a tin plate, licking his lips with relish. If I

didn't shoot him soon, I'd be out of my chance for a hot breakfast. The horse

stayed where he was, cropping grass.

Click here to order this book available at Xlibris Bookstore, or contact:

Xlibris Corporation
www.xlibris.co.nz
0800-443-678
orders@xlibris.co.nz

Read More

Xlibris Book Trailer: A Healing Place

Joyce Shaughnessy. A Healing Place. Bloomington: Xlibris Publishing, ISBN 978-1-45352-445-9. 2010. Perfect Bound Softcover.

Original video via Youtube http://youtu.be/bKBteLBlLP8

Read More

Xlibris Success Tips from Indie Superstars

Image source: Writer's Digest

Self-made individuals seem to enjoy success more, having had to endure blows before achieving success. Today’s Xlibris Blog Author Advice touches on old and contemporary writers who got rejected by traditional publishers, started out as self-published authors to express their flair for writing, and later achieved fame, as well as financial success. We hope this would provide you with fresh insights about self-publishing to realize your writing success.

Notable self-published authors in history include Alexandre Dumas ....click here to find more about Xlibris Success Tips from Indie Superstars.

Read More

Xlibris Book Review: Flying Above My Dream

Shadeera Allen. Flying Above My Dream. Bloomington: Xlibris Publishing, ISBN 978-1-45006-555-9. 2011. Casebound Hardcover.

Overview:

What is poetry? Poetry can be brief words that are characterized to inspire, encourage happiness and the understanding of the rhythm of life. The differentiations of my poems are to give the clear vision of relationships, democracy, brokenhearted, and to all kinds of people who read this book. In it you will find the thick lines of love, blessings, encouragement, and the reality of life. The poems are very descriptive in helping you to get intact with yourself and company, to developing the strength of life. Remember, you will continue to live, love, and learn. 

Book Teaser:

Gossip

This Vine... This Vibe l just can't understand
It runs through your head like a tri-rail
Rolling like an electric sparkle,
You hear the words of violent tastes of the world democracy.
Why, I just don't understand...
You see the lips of minors flipping their
Motors like an engine of a washing machine,
You taste the urge of someone's rudeness,
You feel the suffering of the languages
That's put out, of what not to he told.
I just don't understand
Oh... It's not over yet!
And you acknowledge that one to keep their mouth shut
But instead the person was neglected and denied.
Gossip... Gossip...
It will never stop,
It will never end.
An invisible air of mannish breath that cannot be seen.
You try to puzzle out what their saying and feeling so hurt and low.

Click here to order this book available at Xlibris Bookstore.

Read More