First Year - J. O. Salls

First Year

by J. O. Salls

It is Robert Baker’s first year of teaching. It is a school year that jars the tranquility of the fictional town of Blue Lake. It is a year in which escalating enrollment, overwhelmed personnel, and a difficult school board threaten to rip a revered school system apart. In one school year, Robert Baker’s life intertwines with and affects the lives of his students, his colleagues, and even their families. It is a school year in which loyalties are questioned. It is a year in which compassion, hope, and the courage to take action matter more than ever. In one school year, lives can be altered forever.

BIOGRAPHY

Like his parents, J.O. Salls pursued a career in education. He taught English in Wisconsin and Minnesota high schools for 19 years. For another 19 years he taught in Hawaii in classrooms ranging from middle school through community college. His wife taught elementary school for 34 years. They continue to strongly support public education, its teachers and students.

His life-long association with schools brings genuine warmth, affection and a passion for public education to his writing, along with insights into how schools and their inhabitants cope and sometimes prosper between moments of despair and pure exhilaration.

A native of Minnesota, father of two, grandfather of 13, teacher of thousands, John lives with his wife Lila on the shores of Big Stone Lake in Ortonville, MN.

WEBSITE
www.josalls.com
PURCHASE
Amazon.com

PUBLISHER
Birch Grove Publishing

Blameless Mouth - Jessica Fox-Wilson

Blameless Mouth

by Jessica Fox-Wilson

Can we teeter together, on the knife’s edge of having and wanting? In Blameless Mouth, Jessica Fox-Wilson asks this question, by exploring the cycle of hunger, consumption and satiety. The collection traces the poet’s relationship with hunger from childhood to womanhood, uncovering what it means to feel forever wanting. Her work also considers the cultural legacy of hunger, through stories of starving children and hungry women, like Hansel and Gretel, Persephone, Eve, and others. Blameless Mouth illuminates the struggle of living daily with the contradictory pressures to want less but take more and searches for satiety in a culture that encourages insatiability.


Praise for Jessica Fox-Wilson and Blameless Mouth

Using retellings of the familiar stories – Grimm’s fairy tales, Adam and Eve – Fox-Wilson investigates the female body, its appetites and injuries, the relations between fathers and daughters and between a woman and her own image. Obsessed with violence and its repercussions, these poems imagine an alternate creation myth in which a woman struggles to take control of her own destiny. –Jeannine Hall Gailey, author of Becoming the Villainess

Jessica Fox-Wilson’s poetry casts seasons of light on what it means to be human. She elevates plain spoken story to elegance, seamlessly weaving narratives to create a lovely kaleidoscopic image. – Darci Schummer, whose fiction has appeared in Conclave: A Journal of Character, Paper Darts, and Volume One

Jessica Fox-Wilson has written a ferocious, elegant, tough-minded collection of poems. Her exploration of what it means to be hungry, of what the culture asks of its girls and women, compels the reader’s attention and a kind of allegiance with the fierce voice of the narrator. Braiding myths, tales, and sacred texts with her own compelling present-time narratives, we travel with a poet unafraid to speak truth to power, wherever that power resides, however evident or hidden. In the poem where she explores the definition of the word, lacuna, the poet gives us this definition: an empty space, a missing portion, in something which is otherwise continuous. I think of the deep and continuous traditions of poetry, and I think Jessica Fox-Wilson has filled an empty space, a missing portion, with her exceptional, beautifully crafted poems. Buy this book. Consider it food, a full portion which will leave you satisfied and inspired by her gifts as poet. – Deborah Keenan, author, most recently, of Willow Room, Green Door: New and Selected Poems, Milkweed Edition

BIOGRAPHY
Jessica Fox-Wilson is a part-time poet and a full-time educator. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing and Middle-Secondary Education at Beloit College in Beloit, WI and a Master of Fine Arts in Writing at Hamline University, in St. Paul, MN. Throughout her career, she has pursued her twin vocations of unraveling poems and serving college students, with varying degrees of balance, luck and success. She writes about this balancing act at her blog, Everything Feeds Process (http://everythingfeedsprocess.com). Some of her poems have appeared in several journals, including Gin Bender, Blind Man’s Rainbow and qarrtsiluni and her articles about poetry and literature have appeared in Read Write Poem and the Uptown Neighborhood News. She lives in Minneapolis with her husband.

WEBSITE
http://everythingfeedsprocess.com

FACEBOOK
http://www.facebook.com/BlamelessMouth

PURCHASE
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/fox_jessica

BIOGRAPHY - The Dutifiul Son

The Dutiful Son: Louis W. Hill
Life in the Shadow of the Empire Builder, James J. Hill

Biloine (Billie) Whiting Young
Eileen R. McCormack

The Ramsey County Historical Society

When James Norman, eldest son of James J. Hill, departed St. Paul for the brighter lights of New York City, it was second son Louis Warren who took his father’s place managing the portfolio of railroads that became today’s Burlington Northern Santa Fe. When James J. died without signing his will, it was Louis who executed his father’s vast estate, oversaw the welfare of his mother, and distributed their inheritance to his eight surviving siblings. When their mother, Mary Theresa Hill, died in 1921, their long-simmering family disputes broke out into the open and multiple lawsuits fractured the unity of the family.

Louis was a worthy successor to his empire-building father. He looked beyond railroads to the nation’s natural resources and identified the value of the iron ore deposits in northeastern Minnesota and the wealth inherent in the vast tracks of timber in Oregon. Louis’ efforts led to the establishment of Glacier National Park and the Great Northern Railway, under his leadership, became its developer. Louis oversaw the design of the historic hotels, and the location of many of the roads and trails. He was an artist who stole time from a hectic schedule to paint.

Louis rejuvenated St. Paul’s Winter Carnival and led his community in relieving the suffering brought on by the Great Depression. His example of leaving a major portion of his fortune to a foundation, today’s Northwest Area Foundation, inspired two of his sons’ philanthropic efforts—the Jerome and Grotto Foundations.

Author Biloine (Billie) W. Young and researcher Eileen R. McCormack, depended almost entirely on archival sources to produce this first full-length biography of Louis W. Hill. They reveal the complex personal and business influences on Louis as he succeeded his celebrated father in the management of a vast transportation empire and dealt with the dynamics surrounding his parents’ estates and his siblings’ disputes. In The Dutiful Son, Young and McCormack provide an insightful portrait of a conscientious, generous business leader who left a legacy of continued service to communities from the Mississippi to the Pacific along the route of the Great Northern Railway founded by his father.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS
The author, Biloine (Billie) Whiting Young, holds a B.A. degree in English and Journalism from the University of Kansas and an M.A. in Communications and Latin American History from the University of Illinois, Urbana. A resident of St. Paul, she is the author of numerous journal articles and more than a dozen books. Her books include A Dream for Gilberto: Mexican Odyssey; Minnesota Women in Politics with Nancy Ankeny; Grand Ave—The Renaissance of an Urban Street with Prof. David Lanegran; Cahokia: The Great Native American Metropolis with Prof. Melvin Fowler; Obsure Believers:The Mormon Schism of Alpheus Cutler; River of Conflict—River of Dreams: Three Hundred Years on the Upper Mississippi; My Heart, It Is Delicious: The Story of the Center for International Health; and A Noble Task: The Saint Paul Public Library Celebrates 125.

She is the recipient of the 2010 More Award given by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons for excellence in orthopedic reporting. Young agreed to write the Louis W. Hill biography when Eileen R. McCormack signed on to conduct the research in the vast archive of Hill family and Great Northern Railway papers. For fourteen years McCormack was the associate curator of the Hill Manuscript Collections in St. Paul. Her research in the papers, now housed at the Minnesota Historical Society, provided the documentary foundation for their account of Louis W. Hill’s life in the shadow of his celebrated father.

McCormack holds B.A. and M.A. degrees in American History, Museum Studies, Women’s Studies, and Historic Preservation from the University of Minnesota. She has published articles and presented public programs dealing with James J. Hill, Louis W. Hill, and Hill family history. McCormack lives in St. Paul where she operates a business that preserves history through archival services, research, and writing for a variety of national clients.

BOOK LAUNCH PUBLICATION
The Ramsey County Historical Society invites you to celebrate the publication of the book The Dutiful Son: Louis W. Hill, Life in the Shadow of the Empire Builder, James J. Hill on Saturday, November 13, 2010, at 2:00pm at Landmark Center.

Author Biloine (Billie) W. Young and researcher Eileen R. McCormack will present an illustrated talk exploring the extraordinary life and contributions of Louis W. Hill Sr. The new biography of Louis W. Hill will be available for purchase and signing at the event.

The event is free and open to public, but reservations are required call 651-222-0701 or email
info@rchs.com.

Coated With Fur - Kristen Nelson, DVM

Coated With Fur: A Vet’s Life

By Kristen Nelson, DVM

Coated With Fur: A Vet’s Life celebrates the deep bond between humans and animals. Set in a veterinary practice in Burnsville, Minnesota, the book chronicles Kris’ triumphs and trials as a young woman owning her first animal hospital. Experience each day as Kris did, from the joy of saving a dog’s leg to the agony of euthanizing a long-term patient. Marvel at what it took to untangle a snake stuck in a doorway, scaring the society ladies in the waiting room. Through it all, embrace the unconditional love that exists when we open ourselves to the wonders of the human-animal bond.

BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Kristen Nelson grew up on a farm in Watertown, Minnesota where she developed a deep love for animals of all kinds. She received a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Minnesota, College of Veterinary Medicine. Kris then completed a small-animal internship at the prestigious Animal Medical Center in New York City.

In addition to writing and speaking, she cares for small and exotic animals in Scottsdale, Arizona. Dr. Nelson is widely quoted in the media. Her credits include USA TODAY, the Los Angeles Times, DisneyFamily.com and numerous radio and television interviews. Kris and her husband, Steve, share their home with rescued cats, birds and a dog.

WEBSITES
www.coatedwithfur.com
This website contains a guestbook and video book trailer as well as a video clip explaining why I wrote the book.

www.veterinarycreative.com

This website hosts additional information about my speaking, writing and background.

BLOG
http://www.drnelsonsveterinaryblog.com

My blog is dedicated to providing people with information about animals. There are several categories including wildlife, poisonous plants, currents events and ask the vet. Anyone may post questions and I try to answer them as a service to the community. I receive comments and questions from people all over the world. Lastly, the section called “you make the diagnosis” allows people to test their veterinary knowledge. I post a case and follow it with the diagnosis under the picture.

I have written 6 guides to help students apply to professional school. They are sold as digital books through 3 different websites, http://www.vetschoolapp.com/, http://www.dentschoolapp.com/ and http://www.medschoolapp.com/.

PUBLISHER
Veterinary Creative, L.L.C.

PURCHASE INFORMATION
The book is available at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, Common Good Books in St. Paul and several other independent bookstores including Changing Hands in Tempe, Arizona; Tattered Page in Denver, Colorado; and Powell’s of Portland, Oregon.

SPECIAL EVENTS
I will appear via video link to book clubs that read Coated With Fur, free of charge. All the group needs is a high speed internet connection. Also, people may post animal questions on the blog without charge.

Sheila DeChantal - Book Reviewer

I’ve often wondered how book reviewers select what they review, if they’re bombarded with requests, and how they deal with books that don't satisfy.

Sheila DeChantal is a book reviewer from Brainerd, MN, and hosts One Persons Journey Through A World Of Books. The blog site not only features reviews, it offers an author chat, giveaways, awards, guests, kids books and more.

Join Sheila as she tells us about her journey:



I started reviewing for my own enjoyment as an online journal. In June 2009, I discovered blogging for publishers and authors and my blog took off from five visits a day to its current 460+ unique visitors a day. I love to read and I love to talk books and I’ve met so many wonderful people talking about what I love. Book reviewing really feeds my love to write and read. I never dreamed how much I would enjoy doing this.


Ups and downs of reviewing:
I love to talk books and when I love a book it shows in my review. I think a good book review consists of letting you know how a book made the reviewer feel. When the book is described well, and sounds enjoyable, others join in this enthusiasm and want to read it too. I love it when a book I review becomes a "must have" for my readers. The flip side of this is books that really don’t hit home for me. I know the author has put their heart into the book and just because I didn't like it, doesn’t mean others will agree. Yet, as a blogger, my integrity toward my readers is very important and I have to be honest. When a book wasn’t a good fit for me, this is the hard part of reviewing. I want to write an honest review and at the same time be respectful.

Selecting books to review:
I try to be careful on the books I accept for review. When I first started, it was exciting to be offered a book to review, but I learned quickly that I need to be selective. I have turned many books down due to content I know I would not enjoy or time constraints. My review policy on my blog helps to deter some of the requests that would not be a fit for me or my blog. It’s not an exact science, but I rarely receive a book that I do not enjoy. In the rare case I can’t get through a book, I email them to let them know why and that I will not be posting a review.

Quantity of review requests:
Review requests are an amazing thing. Currently I receive about 6 a week from authors and occasionally a publisher. This week was a little busier. When it comes to turning books down, I need to be selective, and yes, it’s hard to decline when it’s a new author and they are excited about their book. If it’s a book I don't think I will have time to read, or isn't a good fit, I try to connect them with other appropriate reviewers. I also have several publishing groups I work with and I let them know which books I want to review.

A truly memorable read:
Ahhhh...great characters! In fiction, if the character is someone I wish I could hang out with or have coffee, that is a great character. There are books that stick with me for years because of the characters. In non-fiction, it is the people. I read a lot of books on homeless children or countries that are extremely poor. When I read Jantsen's Gift in 2009, author Pam Cope spoke of a young boy who was a slave on the river. When they were taking children for a chance for a better life, he was not chosen. She described his eyes as their boat disappeared around the corner, and to this day, I can picture that boy’s eyes, that look of utter despair.

Favorites:
I read so many books it’s hard to have favorites. I can tell you that in 2009 discovering Michelle Moran's books, Cleopatra's Daughter, Nerfetti, and The Heretic Queen, was wonderful. I recently reviewed Michelle at One Persons Journey Through A World Of Books. The Help by Kathryn Stockett was also incredible, as was Dragon House by John Shors... but that is just one year! Hunger Games and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins blew me away. An all time favorite series comes from 2001, The Three Sisters Trilogy by Nora Roberts. Normally I am not a Roberts fan, but these books are different. I read that set about every three years. I love books with strong, independent, women characters. I also have fun conversing with my readers. Because I respond to most comments on my posts, my readers know me well and it’s like chatting with a friend. There are times when comments are so funny I have actually spit coffee on my keyboard.

BIOGRAPHY
I am a forty-two year old Minnesotan born and raised. I have two sons, a nineteen-year old in college and a twenty-two year old in the Navy. I enjoy riding bike and participate in six bike tours a year. Last year I did my first 150 mile bike ride, two days from Blaine, Minnesota to Duluth. It was a blast! I love adventures, exploring, rollerblading, and working out.

I’ve been to Honduras eight times, my last time was in November of 2009. I go with a group of friends and we work with children who live on the streets or who live in the dump.


My husband and I own our own company, DeChantal Excavating, and I help with paper work. I also work twenty hours a week as the Office Manager for The Journey North Community Church.

I volunteer locally for the Homeless Program in our area (IHN), and am a member of the Mid Minnesota Builders Association. Prior to that, I worked as a manager for Wal-Mart for fourteen years before I left to help with our business. I like to stay busy. My husband and I enjoy breaks of spending time at our cabin in Finland, Minnesota.