A fantastic blend of science-fiction, time travel and history!
I have been a fan of the Bad Love Gang since the first book Bad Love Strikes. This is author, Kevin L. Schewe MD, FACRO’s fourth book in the series, and the cleverly written novels span decades and indeed take his readers to other worlds. I have to say straight away that the stories are all connected as a series, however they stand-alone very successfully.
The Bad Love Gang’s original story was set in 1974 and tells of their discovery of the “White Hole Project” a time machine made by Einstein on the orders of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. However, this, as they say is only the beginning…
The following two books take the gang on various adventures back in time, and indeed to another world, Planet Azur. And, it is the link to this planet, a “sister” to Earth, which is the reason for the Azurians mining the exotic matter, essential to their planet, in The Black Forest, southwest Germany, in November 1941. Where their presence was discovered by sergeant major Klaus Richter, a rising star in the Waffen-SS, who was tasked with leading a small squad of Nazi Waffen-SS soldiers to investigate “strange lights” in the Black Forest.
Klaus Richter’s discovery of the Azurian spaceship, and the exotic matter, led to Adolph Hitler instructing Gunther Brandt, the brilliant theoretical and quantum mechanics physicist work to build his own time machine, named the ”Black Hole Project.” This of course could not be allowed to happen!
This book, has a really clever playlist of music for the stories, each perfect for the time and events which are taking place. The adventures are so exciting! From the gangs continuing battle in 1975, with the Russian spy Borya Krovopuskov, and his wife, as they desperately attempt to get their children back at any costs, to the gang going over to England during WWII. There in London, half the gang go to Churchill’s office as they plan to stop Hitler, whilst the others leave for Liverpool in desperate search to find Meatball’s (one of the gang’s nickname) love, Hannah Lieb.
This award winning author can really tell a wonderful tale, taking his readers on unbelievable adventures with The Bad Love Gang. “Live dangerously, have fun, don’t die!” is their motto, in this book we are to discover, this is a close call. Their missions are wide and varied, all with the best intentions, yet in this story the question is asked. Is it truly possible to go back into the past without changing the future?
I highly recommend this book for lovers of time travel, science fiction, and history.
About the Author:
KEVIN L. SCHEWE, MD, FACRO, a resident of Denver, Colorado, is a board-certified cancer specialist who has been in the private practice of radiation oncology for 32+ years. He is an entrepreneur, having founded Elite Therapeutics and Bad Love Cosmetics Company, LLC. He also serves as Chairman of the Board of a small, publicly-traded, renewable, green energy and animal feed company called VIASPACE, Inc. Bad Love Strikes is his debut novel. Bad Love Tigers, Book 2 of the Bad Love Series, released in July, 2020. Bad Love Beyond, Book 3 released in November 2020.
Getting the best The Healthcare Post Covid-19, all you need to know.
The author of this very informative book, Dr Sanjay Prasad has been a highly qualified, successful, and respected surgeon for nearly 30 years. He specialises in otology, neurotology and skull-based surgery, with a sub-speciality in otolaryngology. Dr Prasad lives and practices in Washington DC, with his wife Deepika and they have four adult children of whom they are very proud. He is the founder of SurgiPrice, Inc., which has two subsidiaries SurgiQuality and SurgiConnect, which have missions to connect patients with the best surgeons who operate in a cost effective environment.
Dr Prasad begins this book by looking back at how our world has changed since the emergence of COVID-19. The speed of its spread and the loss of lives during this pandemic has been unprecedented. It is thanks to the united work of healthcare systems around the world in their efforts to find a vaccines, and then efficiently arranging mass vaccinations for the people very quickly – Operation Warp Speed (OWS,) that many people are a lot safer now. These vaccinations along with wearing masks, social distancing, and scrupulous hygiene, are working effectively in the fight against Covid-19, although recurrences are a high possibility, and may be so for some time.
Fear of the pandemic, and government guidelines have meant that the healthcare system has changed beyond belief. No longer do we sit in crowded waiting rooms passing and receiving germs whilst waiting to see a doctor. This previous ‘normal’ way of life is now too dangerous. Instead technology has risen as our saviour. We can have telephone, Facetime, Skype or other types of consultations, safe in our own home. The internet and emails have been utilised in revolutionary ways and these giant leaps forward keep everyone as safe as possible.
However, another victim of the pandemic are those people who need elective surgery, and here we are not talking about cosmetic surgery, but rather those surgeries for life threatening illnesses like cancer, and heart problems, where the patient is not admitted through Emergency but rather has their surgeries arranged by their practitioner or the hospital. The pandemic has, through necessity postponed countless of these surgeries, with sometimes tragic results.
As a doctor, the author knows that patients, when being informed of a medical diagnosis, through worry, fear, or for many other reasons don’t always take in everything the doctor or surgeon tells them. At times like these the mind goes blank, you don’t think to ask questions, query options available, ask if the person who will do your surgery is the best surgeon, or a million other things. He acknowledges that the patient slips into ‘The Patient Trap’ and decisions are often taken with the patient being swept along the system. This is where SurgiQuality comes in to play, looking after the patient and assuring they get the best care, at the lowest price.
Dr Pasad empowers his readers with important information, such as, and this one surprised me, that Centres of Excellence (COE) are self-proclaiming, any centre can give themselves this label! He looks at how advertising, TV, magazines and billboards are used to entice clients, and points out that it is the surgeon who does the operation and arranges the post-op care, not the hospital!
This is where the author’s company SurgiQuality comes in. It offers security of expertise, and an easy to understand star-graded system. The patient are provided with a hand holding service, and can rest assured they are being evaluated by the best medical professionals. These professionals ensure that all the options which are available are being considered, whilst lowering the clients out of pocket expenses.
How to enrol in SurgiQuality, and how it works is clearly explained, and there are plenty of case studies for the reader to examine.
This world is changing so fast. Isn’t it nice to know that, whatever health problem arises, there’s someone you can trust to hold your hand, and guide your decisions, with YOUR best interests at heart?
About the Author:
Sanjay Prasad, MD, FACS, has been a practicing surgeon for nearly thirty years in the super-specialized field of otology, neurotology, and skull base surgery, a subspecialty within otolaryngology head and neck surgery (ENT). Prasad is one of the few surgeons in his specialty to complete three fellowships in neurotology, advanced head and neck oncologic surgery, and cranial base surgery. He is an assistant professor at George Washington University.
As a medical director for an ambulatory surgery center, he was one of the first to start bundling surgical services for all-inclusive prices in 2014. In the same year, Prasad founded SurgiPrice, Inc. with subsidiaries SurgiQuality and SurgiConnect, with a mission to help surgical patients connect to best-in-class surgeons who operate in a cost-efficient environment.
He is the author of Resetting Healthcare, which examines the lack of transparency in surgical care and offers SurgiQuality as a solution.
Prasad practices and lives in the Washington, DC, area with his amazing wife, Deepika, and their four very accomplished adult children, Meghna, Kiran, Neha, and Dilan.
A revealing and eye-openingexposé of how racial prejudice still exists in the workplace.
Well readers, the author of this incredible work of fiction
reveals that despite the years of campaigning against racial discrimination, racial
prejudice sadly still exists in the workplace. The story which follows is inspirational,
a tale of strength, integrity and determination.
The protagonist, Ebony, had a lot on her plate, going
through a divorce, and a mother, she is living with her adopted mother, Babette,and battling against the odds, when
her luck changes. A career opportunity arises, and although temporary at first,
the true skills of this young woman of colour are very soon appreciated, and
she becomes a rising star at the Daebrun Career Institute. However, as we are
to discover soon things change, along with jealousy, the ugly head of systemic
racial prejudice arises…
The story which follows tells of the horrific and cruel
racial discrimination which the protagonist endures in the various jobs she
undertook at the Daebrun Career Institute. These injustices were carried out by
work colleagues, and her superiors. She endured terrible treatment which left
her feeling worthless and degraded. However, whilst her eyes shed tears, and
her heart broke, she, with the guidance of her mother found strength through
God and Jesus, learning not to fight evil with evil, but to trust in her faith.
Yet, this clever woman who gave so much to her career also
documented every indiscretion and false accusation, giving her solid
references, something she needed countless times.
Despite the discrimination against her she used her wit and
intelligence to reveal the perpetrators, and false accusations, and despite
everything rose through the company to dizzy heights. However, she needed her
strength for her personal life too, as whilst her career was sometimes in
turmoil, she also had heart-breaking personal tragedy to deal with,
This work of fiction is truly one of fortitude,
determination, and courage, from which we can learn that anything is possible,
with faith. It sends a clear message to rise against racial discrimination, and
reveals that with honour, and detailed notations, justice can prevail.
In the character Ebony, the author Jacquie Abram reveals some of her struggles as a single mother, facing prejudice, and it is just this element of reality which makes “Hush Money” such an unforgettable, and inspirational story!
About the Author:
Jacquie Abram is an author, a single mother of two, a victim of racial discrimination, and an antiracism consultant who draws upon her experiences, and the experiences of her daughters and others, to add depth to her writing. She began her journey as a writer after her own experiences with racism in the workplace nearly broke her, she watched her daughters suffering the same fate, and the brutal murder of George Floyd left her traumatized. As conversations about systemic racism and anti-Blackness swept the nation, Abram picked up her pen to add to the conversation in a positive, creative way.
Your mind’s your limit, when you shop at the Allmart store!
This incredible comedy satire is definitely the product of a
whacky mind! The author’s style of writing immediately made me think of the
late Douglas Adams, and his ‘Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.’
Phil Granchi’s protagonist, Ted Kojwaclczsziziek, is
literally taken on a rollercoaster ride through AllMart, the brainchild of genius
entrepreneur McAlsteinetti. Ted’s job is to infiltrate AllMart with a team of
special-forces operatives who fear the CEO has become unhinged, but what they
discover inside transcends belief.
What an experience this book is, yes an experience, because
a ‘read’ somehow doesn’t do it justice. Right from the first page we are thrown
into a zany world, wacky, and at first, it seems unreal, science-fiction and
fantasy. Indeed a lot of it is, however, for those who hang on for grim death,
and stay the course, it is so much more. Because weaved into this incredible
comedy satire, if we look carefully, there’s the history of the superstore, the
hypermarket, and dare I say, those enormous corporations who seem at times to
be taking over the world.
Oh yes, Allmart, like those mega giants we all know are out
there, it started small, a humble store servicing the community, offering homes
and work for the locals. It was popular, supported – but then somehow it just
grew, and grew, and grew, until it took over the whole area. In time it became
the world’s largest chain of discount stores.
The reader can see for themselves the amazing bargains, the
sales gimmicks, clever marketing, those offers you just can’t resist, so much
so that you forget about the credit card maxing out, you just get another one! Lost
in the fantasy world of having what you want, when you want, everything is
possible, doesn’t that sound magical? However, the possibilities don’t stop
there, what happens when the world is not enough, well…
Join the author for the experience of a life time, meet
people whose lifestyles may ring a bell, see for yourself the wonderful offers
available in this unique book. If you don’t believe me why not take a look at
the Allmartstores website, yes it’s there, put the name in your search engine,
you’ll see what I mean.
To say that this book is cleverly written is an understatement, it is truly a work of art, a comedy satire, blended with science-fiction and fantasy, guaranteed to take you on the adventure of a lifetime. Highly recommended!
About the Author:
Phil Granchi has spent most of his life avoiding novel writing. His many distractions have included collecting fossils in Antarctica, performing a completely improvised university lecture at comedy festivals around the world, working as a freelance graphic artist in direct marketing agencies and producing online educational games for a now-defunct dotcom startup. He’s now a practicing radiologist in rural northern California. He enjoys spending time in the wilderness with his wife, Melissa Granchi, his favorite travel companion.
About the Book:
The CEO of AllMart, the world’s largest chain of discount stores, has become unhinged and the feds send a team of ultra-deep special forces to stop him. This gritty, genre-bashing, darkly-comic dystopian/sci-fi/thriller mashup takes you on a hallucinogenic carnival ride through the company’s flagship store that covers an ever-expanding swath of southern Ohio. Told through the horrified eyes of K, an office temp who has accidentally been recruited for his “special skills,” Mart of Darkness pits the team against feral live-in shoppers, morality-free executives and quantum technology that threatens to collapse the global economy. K is in way over his head and can’t find a way out. Join him as he crosses the Videocean, passes through the Great Gates of Giardiniera and gains a lasting appreciation for early Native American hunting practices. Chug an energy drink, don’t expect cell phone service inside, and climb on for the ride!
Naughty Hank learns an important lesson from Harry the Honest Horse.
Harry the horse lives in Horseville, a beautiful place with a
lovely meadow and lake. He is worried though, his best friend Hank just can’t
resist fibbing, even though he knows it’s not right. Then, when Harry
challenges him, his answer is always that life would be boring without fibs.
Poor Harry is not happy, deep down he knows Hank is being
naughty, and yet he’s his best friend, what can he do?
One day Hank managed to persuade Harry to play a prank on an
old couple, Mr. and Mrs. Neigh. Together the horses take Mr. and Mrs. Neigh’s
hay, and the next morning when asked if they know where it is, before Harry can
answer, Hank says that a big wind blew it away!
This is bad enough, but when Hank goes a little further with
his pranks on the old couple, Harry just has to confide in his dad, who tells
him of a wise saying, which Harry takes in.
You see, Harry is not a bad horse, he is just being led into
mischief by his friend. Empowered by his dad’s words, Harry when asked by the
old couple if he knew what happened, chooses the path of honesty, and is
wonderfully rewarded for it.
When his friend Hank sees what has happened, it makes him
think, and he realises that he is wrong, it is not good to be a fibber, honest
is really the best way to be. Harry has taught his best friend a valuable
lesson.
In this lovely story the author teaches children, through a simple, yet effective story, beautifully illustrated, that being honest is really very important. Even if your friends are being naughty and telling lies, it is better not to follow them, but instead tell the truth, and set a good example!
About the Author:
My name is Kalenga Augustine Mulenga aka K.A. Mulenga. My passion is writing. I started writing when I was 10 years old and my passion was reignited by my 11 year old son. Writing runs in my blood as my late father was a journalist and the first black editor of the Zambia Daily Mail and my late brother was a poet. To date, I have published 10 children’s books . They are available on Amazon and also from my website. I love writing children’s books with a positive message and also to make them laugh and entertained. I am a prolific writer and currently have 9 edited and completed manuscripts. I am busy with a memoir and after that I would like to write some fiction and non-fiction in the near future. One of my books, Donk and the Stubborn Donkeys was #1 Bestseller Juvenile Fiction > Animals > Farm Animals.
Harry the horse seems to have it all. He lives in a beautiful place, is good-looking and his cheerful nature means he is loved by every one of his many friends. Harry’s life is simple, joyful and trouble-free. Well, most of the time, anyway! Harry’s best friend, Hank, has a bad habit of getting up to no good. He is a terrible prankster, always thinking up new ways to play jokes on others. Now, although Hank is great fun to be around, Harry notices that sometimes his pranks go too far and, instead of causing laughter, they cause hurt. The worst part about Hank’s pranks for Harry is that Hank also tells great big fibs to get himself out of trouble. Because Harry spends so much time with Hank, he finds himself getting involved in Hank’s pranks. He knows that what Hank is doing is wrong…but he doesn’t know what to do about it. When he tries talking to Hank about what he believes, his advice falls on deaf ears. Not only does Hank not seem to take life seriously at all, but he also doesn’t seem to understand that what he sees as harmless fun is no fun at all for others! Oh, and then there’s the fibbing part. Harry is at a loss of what to do and asks his father for help. His dad gives him some valuable advice on how to handle his wayward friend. The next time Hank does something naughty, Harry does something he’s never done before. Instead of keeping quiet and just wishing his friend could change his wicked ways, he finds his voice and speaks up! What will happen next? Will Hank still want to be Harry’s friend? Will he ever learn the difference between harmless fun and harmful pranks? And most importantly, will he ever start telling the truth? Read on to find out… Most of us have that “fun friend” who regularly gets us into trouble, right? Harry the Honest Horse is a delightful story which addresses important concepts such as not letting a joke go too far, and the value of being a champion for the truth, no matter how hard it may be sometimes. The fun-loving friends in the story are relatable to young readers, who will no doubt empathise with Harry when faced with the difficult decision of keeping his loyalty to a good friend versus standing up for what he knows is right. An all-round happy ending confirms to the young reader that honesty is always the best policy!
I’m a long-time fan of The Starlight Club series of books by
Joe Corso. Each story is a stand-alone, however it is fascinating to watch the
characters’ lives evolve over the series. The stories are told through the eyes
of Bobby, someone who observed the events of that time, and he narrates them to
his daughter Lynn, in the little room built for him. at her home in Darien, Connecticut.
Joe Corso is an award-winning author, who was born in
Queens, New York, and attended the Manhattan HS of Aviation trades, and the
Academy of Aeronautics. He is a Korean veteran. As well as writing this
excellent series, he has also written amazing stories from his years as a firefighter
working for the FDNY. He has also written adventure, science fiction, and
westerns. He has four children, thirteen grandchildren, and five great
grandchildren.
In this exciting story, Bobby takes us right back to the 1960’s,
at The Starlight Club, with its owner Red, and right hand man Trenchie. Through
their dealings both with the gangsters, cops, their ‘family’ and others,
readers are able to get a real feel for life in Queens at that time. Plus, in
this story, Bobby reveals a terrible mistake he made as a youngster, and one he
has never forgotten…
At this time, as well as the continuing underground power
struggles with gangland bosses, it is the time of horrendous riots which raged
in New York, causing terrible loss of lives, and the storyline gives a glimpse
into how these were instigated, and by whom.
However, it was a potential hit on Joey-Boy, one of Red’s
men which brought about the meeting of Red with the ‘Old Doll,’ Betsy Nagel, a
now reclusive former Ziegfeld Follies, girl. Captivated by this star of
legendary grandeur, Red’s mission becomes to reintroduce her to the modern
world. With the help of his famous movie star wife, Iris Lang, and his company,
Starlight Productions in California, Red is determined the world will yet again
wonder at Betsy Nagel’s timeless talent, and beauty.
In this book, through the talented writing of this award-winning author, we are able to enter the underground world of gang life in New York. We learn of the camaraderie, code of honour, and unswerving code of ethics that the members of the families live by. Life is ruthless, death can happen at any time, yet the families and those they care about are protected and looked after at any cost.
I highly recommend this book, and indeed the whole series as wonderfully written gangland crime thrillers, with dashes of romance, and compassion included.
About the Author:
Joe Corso (1935 – ) Born in Queens, New York. Attended Manhattan HS of Aviation trades, and the Academy of Aeronautics. He is a Koren Veteran and retired from the FDNY. He has 4 children and 13 Grandchildren and . . . 5 great grandchildren. Corso is the author of ‘The Starlight Club’ novels. His novel, ‘The Revenge of John W’ will be available shortly on Amazon.
Be the best you, you can, ethically, morally, truthfully and honestly.
This is such a fascinating and thought-provoking book. We
all like to think we are honest, and would do the ‘right’ thing, however, would
we? What about the niggling little voices in our heads which influence what we
actually do? Do we really do what is ethically and morally right, or what’s
right for us?
Dr Christopher Gilbert, was once one of the owners of a
successful food delivery service called Cravings. The company was established
on a strong foundation, and grew well. Unfortunately its downfall came about solely
through the unethical behaviour of another company. However, it was this
experience which made the author decide to follow his passion and studying
ethics and human morality.
He embraced these interests and earned a PhD specializing in
ethics, a Bachelor’s degree in geology, and a MBA in marketing. His passion has
led over the past 25 years, to him traveling, and working, on four different
continents.
What I absolutely love about this book is that it takes his
reader on a moral and ethical journey, engaging them through the experiences of
the author, and others, as well as through the role play of his virtual character
Grace. Through her, a scenario is played out at the end of each chapter. These
help the reader to fully understand the ethicality of each of the decisions she
could make in that situation, and the differing repercussions of each.
The research, and personal experiences which have shaped
this book are evident. Through reading it we discover how to live our life with
integrity, honesty, and truthfulness. The author provides us with a well
thought out blue print, which evolves as we read, revealing the three steps and
nine crucial principals we can use to live a more honest, ethical, and truthful
life.
There are many really good quotes in the book but this one by
Ghandi is my favourite “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” For this,
quintessentially, is what this book is all about. As the author says, “In the
broadest context, an ethical choice is any decision or action that has an
impact on others now, or in the future.” Isn’t it our duty to do just that, not
only for the people on this planet, but for the Earth itself?
Many books are written about changing your life, being the better you. This book goes one step further, it invites you to go beyond yourself, to be a beacon of trust and honesty, set the right example, and do the right thing. The years of work in this field have really paid off for Dr Christopher Gilbert, because this book holds secrets everyone can learn and benefit by. Highly recommended!
About the Author:
Dr. Christopher Gilbert, author of the best-selling book There’s No Right Way to Do the Wrong Thing, is a senior international ethics consultant and popular keynote speaker. As co-founder of NobleEdge Consulting (www.nobleedgeconsulting.com), he has worked with Fortune 500, government, and non-profit organizations, including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, traveling the globe to spearhead trust building and business sustainability programs. Christopher has been a contributing author to CNBC, Fox News, Entrepreneur, Quartz, Hitched, Yahoo Finance, Retail Dive, Young Upstarts, and Successful Business News. He has also been a featured guest on worldwide Podcasts and nationally syndicated radio shows. He and his family live outside Seattle, Washington.
Being trusted is the foundation of our greatest personal freedoms.
But how can we make trustworthy choices in a world where there are constant personal, social and workplace pressures to ignore what is right in favor of ‘success’.
How can we rid ourselves of the distracting belief that ‘good’ people
make the good decisions, and ‘bad’ people make the unethical ones,
while we all climb up and down the moral ladder every day?
The Noble Edge answers these and many other crucial questions about living a life of integrity and honest success. The book invites readers into an inspirational conversation about truth and trust spiced with an abundance of personal stories, humor, and invaluable guidance about making consistently right choices. Far from the usual academic fog, Dr. Christopher Gilbert makes ethics enjoyable, meaningful, and accessible to everyone. In the end, readers are empowered by three well-researched steps and nine vital principles to make their relationships more authentic, their workplaces more transparent and their lives more meaningful. The Noble Edge provides a clear pathway for leading an ethically driven life.
Rib-achingly funny, and overflowing with eye-opening snippets of hindsight guaranteed to shock and awe!
Fast paced, funny, and extremely educational, everything
about this book makes you smile. Not only does it keep you glued to the page,
but ir grabs your attention, all the time, whilst delivering fascinating
information.
From the historical truth about Columbus’ discovery of
America, to the terrible blunders which could have avoided the tragic events of
September 11th. History, the world of entertainments and politics, indeed the
world as we know it has its flip side is exposed. And what about those ‘couldn’t
be without’ products which have a place in very household, like WD40? How were
they discovered, and what’s their story… You will be amazed when you find out!
The author’s, Michael N. Smith, and Eric Kasum, are both
successful business men. Michael has his own advertising production company,
and has written and produced hundreds of TV commercials, radio spots and
corporate videos, and Eric has written speeches for presidents, is a well-known
journalist and reporter. These men know their stuff!
This book is one which you will pick up time and time again.
There’s just so much in it that it’s impossible to take it all in at one
sitting, and this makes it excellent value for money.
This book is not only extremely entertaining, but rib achingly funny, shocking, enlightening, and incredibly insightful. I highly recommend this book as an excellent way to brighten your day!
How Chuck the Cheetah learned a very important lesson.
Everyone knows that cheetahs are the fastest animals on
earth, and Chuck is the fastest of them all. He knows that whether he is
competing in the Daily Friendly Races, Weekly Fun Races, or the Monthly
Championship Races, he will always win.
This knowledge has made Chuck into a very arrogant cheetah,
failure is something he just doesn’t consider, it’s not an option, and he is
always boasting that he win, win, wins. This attitude means that he is becoming
more and more unpopular with his friends, Chip, Chum and Chester. They even go
as far as to ask him what he would do if he didn’t win, he just laughs them
off, until… during a race he stands on a thorn, this slows him down, and the
race is won by Chip.
Humiliated, Chuck slinks away, unwilling and unable to be
pleased for Chip. This is a very sad way to be, he is a very bad loser, which
is not nice.
Then one night he is visited by a wise old cheetah who tells
him that his attitude is not good. He shouldn’t be such a bad loser, and for
his own good he should learn to accept defeat gracefully. Chuck decides to
follow the wise cheetah’s advice and in this heart-warming story young readers
will discover the advantages of being nice, and happy for others.
Not everyone can be a winner, or a leader, but everyone
deserves to be loved and respected. Life isn’t about being the best at
everything, not everyone can do this, but everyone deserves to be loved for
themselves and who they are.
The message of kindness and love towards your friends,
neighbours, and people you meet, is clearly explained in an easy to understand
way. My granddaughters understood well that Chuck, his attitude, and what he
learned from the wise old cheetah are lessons for us all.
I highly recommend this nicely written and beautifully illustrated little children’s book.
About the Author:
My name is Kalenga Augustine Mulenga aka K.A. Mulenga. My passion is writing. I started writing when I was 10 years old and my passion was reignited by my 11 year old son. Writing runs in my blood as my late father was a journalist and the first black editor of the Zambia Daily Mail and my late brother was a poet. To date, I have published 10 children’s books . They are available on Amazon and also from my website. I love writing children’s books with a positive message and also to make them laugh and entertained. I am a prolific writer and currently have 9 edited and completed manuscripts. I am busy with a memoir and after that I would like to write some fiction and non-fiction in the near future. One of my books, Donk and the Stubborn Donkeys was #1 Bestseller Juvenile Fiction > Animals > Farm Animals
Chuck the cheetah is the fastest runner in the land and loves to race his cheetah friends, Chip, Chum and Chester. Chuck especially loves racing because, whether he is competing at the Daily Friendly Races, the Weekly Fun Races or the Monthly Championship Races, he is always the first one over the finish line. Because he is always the winner and has never experienced failure, Chuck starts thinking he is better than everyone else. He cannot imagine ever losing a race and ever being anything less than number one. But Chuck’s cheetah friends also want a chance to be the ones to run through the ribbon. They gather together and try and come up with ways to beat Chuck in the races. They decide to approach Chuck and ask him how he would feel if, for once in his life, he wasn’t the winner. Chuck haughtily dismisses their suggestion as ridiculous and says it would never happen. At the next daily race, something out of the ordinary happens. Chuck experiences a setback while he is racing. Before he knows it, Chuck has lost his first ever race in the whole history of cheetah races. Well, he certainly didn’t see that coming! Feeling devastated and highly embarrassed, Chuck worries that his cheetah friends won’t like him anymore. He behaves like a sore loser and finds himself unable to be happy for the friend who beat him. While all the other cheetah friends are congratulating the new winner on his achievement, Chuck sulks and can’t even bring himself to say, “Well done!” to his speedy friend. Chuck has never felt worse in his life and everything seems to have gone wrong for him. That night, Chuck is visited in a dream by a wise old cheetah. The sage cat gently explains the true meaning of winning to Chuck and offers him some valuable advice about how to deal with failure. Will Chuck take heed of the cheetah’s wise words? Is it too late to save his friendship with Chip, Chum and Chester? Will they forgive him for his big-headedness and will they still like him, even though he is no longer the undefeated champion of the cheetah races? Read on to find out… Chuck the Cheetah is a delightful story which explains the well-known adage, “Pride comes before a fall” in a refreshing way that is relatable and enjoyable for young readers. Chuck’s experience warns children of the danger of smugness and arrogance, teaches them about the nature of true friendship, and offers valuable lessons about the art of winning and losing graciously. Children will recognise the sense of competition amongst the cheetah friends and will be able to identify with the characters – whether they see themselves as Chuck, or as any of his cheetah friends. The story contains many important messages for children. It teaches them that just because you are not the best, you are not any less lovable; it teaches them that life is not always about coming first; and it teaches them about true friendship – where we celebrate each other’s successes, stay humble and always congratulate each other for trying our best.
For me, there can be no better book to read than a gourmet travelogue. As a great fan of Carole Bumpus’ “Savoring the Olde Ways series” which have, until this book, been based in France, I was very happy to join Carole and her husband Win (Winston) as they, at his suggestion, started their new culinary tour of Italy in September 1998.
The intrepid American pair had not prepared themselves with
Italian lessons, but with guidebooks in hand, had thrown off the shackles of
work, and arrived at the Milano Malpensa Terminal full of excitement.
Undaunted by Carole’s lost luggage they carried on to their
hotel, and after an ‘interesting’ clothes shopping trip which will make us
ladies of, should I say ‘non-model size’ simultaneously giggle and cringe in
sympathy with the author, they started their adventure by visiting the Duomo.
This incredible building was “Like a giant birthday cake with delicate
filigreed spires reaching up toward the heavens and dancing along the flying
buttresses, it was a sight to behold.” I was hooked!
From there they headed to Tuscany and stayed in the hillside
village of Poderi di Montemerano with their new friend Lisa, who they had met in
San Francisco. “After all, who can resist the chance not just to visit Tuscany,
but to ‘experience her?’” she had told them.
Arriving on a fiesta (or festival) day, they were treated as
part of the family and experience real life in southern Tuscany, where in
villages and towns the local produce of the area is celebrated every year, on
the same day. They found themselves eating the day and night away, sampling
traditional delicacies made, that very day by the villagers. Carole soon
discovered that here the world seems to spin at a different speed, the people
live in a world connected to nature and the seasons, the gods are everywhere,
and your very life depends on these forces working in harmony. This ethos has
worked for generations, and will do so for generations to come. They explored
this beautiful region, including the Etruscan Tombs of Sovana, which have a beautifully
carved temple, and burial chambers in the necropolis or “city of the dead.” Then
enjoyed wonderful meals, including Aquacotta, a simple peasant dish the author
enjoys cooking today, the name literally means “boiled water” and it is a thick
vegetable stew with a lovely poached egg placed on top. The recipe, like many
others, can be found at the back of this wonderful book, so you can try them
too.
Carole and Win’s adventure continued, with them catching the
train to Pisa, then on to Florence, marvelling at the beautiful scenery, with
the crystalline Tyrrhenian Sea on one side and the incredible medieval castles,
quaint hillside villages. Vineyards and sunflower fields on the other.
Florence was a busy city with amazing shops, and
architecture. On their return to Poderi their time included visiting the
thermal baths (terme) in Saturnia with its greenish-black moss, now there’s a
place with a tale to tell…
Then it was time to visit the Amalfi Coast, staying in
Amalfi where they visited the spectacular Piazza Duomo. The author’s
description of this place, Pompeii and the Isle of Love, Capri, had me looking
it up as a holiday destination. All I can say is WOW I want to go!
However all vacations must come to an end and after a jaunt
across country to Apulia, they were off to their final destination, Rome. The
Colosseum, Arch of Constantine, the Forum, the Vatican and Sistine Chapel, the
author vividly describes them all. Through her penmanship you can almost see
the gold radiating from the Basilica, from both Renaissance and Baroque art.
And here, as in other places, she also sends us on a sensory tour with her descriptions
of the marvellous meals they enjoyed, of course all handmade, regional, and
accompanied by superb wine. A true celebration of Italy.
I believe that Carole Bumpus is such a successful author because of the love and passion she puts into her books, through her writing the landscapes, architecture, and gastronomy of Italy are brought wonderfully to life. Highly recommended!
About the Author:
A retired family therapist, Carole Bumpus began writing a culinary travel series when she stumbled upon the amazing stories of women, recipes and war in France. Her historical novel, A Cup of Redemption, was based on the poignant story of a French woman she had met and interviewed. It was published October 2014. Her unique companion cookbook, Recipes for Redemption: A Companion Cookbook to A Cup of Redemption was released August 2015 with the recipes from all the foods savored in the novel.
In addition to the cookbook, she is completing her original series of culinary travel books, Savoring the Olde Ways. The first of this series, Searching for Family and Traditions at the French Table, Book One, is to be published August 27, 2019. The second of the series will follow in one year completing the original French tour. The third book, Searching for Family and Traditions at the Italian Table is scheduled for April 2021.
She has also had three short stories published in the California Writers Club – Fault Zone anthologies: Words from the Edge; Stepping up to the Edge and Over the Edge. She has received numerous writing awards including: Honorable Mention in fiction and also Runner-Up in cookbooks in the London Book Festival – 2015; Honorable Mention in fiction for A Cup of Redemption – Paris Book Festival – 2016; Bronze Medal – IPPY Award – Cover Design of A Cup of Redemption – 2016; Finalist – International Book Awards – A Cup of Redemption – Historical Fiction – 2016; Finalist – International Cookbook Awards – Recipe for Redemption – 2016 – www.carolebumpus.com
About the Book:
Join Carole Bumpus and her husband in Book Three of the Savoring the Olde Ways series as they take you on their first culinary trek through Italy, including regions of Lombardy, Tuscany, Compania, Apulia, and Lazio. Embrace unforgettable characters such as lovely guides Lisa and Margarita, who introduce you to the “true Italian experience.” Sup on traditional foods (cucina povera) including local tortelli, pappardelle al cinghiale (wild boar), bistecca all Fiorentina, pasta alla vongole (clams), or saltimbocca alla Romana. Sip regional wines, along with memorable digestivos like limoncello and grappa. Find yourself dancing at harvest festivals, climbing through Etruscan tombs, traipsing among Roman ruins, or bathing in ancient Roman termés (hot springs). Climb to the heights in elegant Capri on the gorgeous Amalfi Coast, or to the top of the “holiest of holies” at St. Peter’s Basilica. Soak up ancient and cultural history in Milan, Firenze (Florence), Amalfi, Pompeii, Lecce, and Rome. Bask in the sun and opalescent waters along the rugged coasts of the Tyrrhenian and Adriatic Seas. And, best of all, capture a rare glimpse into the secrets of the Mediterranean psyche while sharing a good meal with new friends. It is truly the trip of a lifetime.
