Interview with Anne Newton Walther, Author of "Loss of Innocence"

Anne Newton Walther is a published author and lecturer who has a background in history and psychology and heads a divorce and career-counseling firm.She was raised in Virginia and now lives in San Francisco where she and her husband raised their five children. She has made frequent appearances on "Oprah Winfrey," CNN's "Sonja Live," Cable Network's "Attitudes," NBC's "Jenny Jones" and countless other local television and radio interview shows in the U.S. and Canada as one of the leading authorities on the subject of divorce. Her book, "Divorce Hangover," deals successfully with the emotional aftereffects of divorce. Today, however, she is here to talk to us about her historical fiction.Tyler: Thank you, Anne, for joining me today. To begin, would you tell our readers a little bit about your new novel "Loss of Innocence" and its historical setting and plot?Anne: Thank you, Tyler. "LOSS OF INNOCENCE" is a historical novel about the French Revolution. Its time frame begins with the fall of the Bastille and ends with the execution of Marie Antoinette. It's a story packed full of intrigue, betrayal and romance. The action takes place in the picturesque Bordeaux valley, the lavish court of Versailles and the dark, dangerous streets of Paris. The Revolution is not a backdrop to the story. It IS the story and the historical and fictitious characters play out the events that lead the revolution from the high road of lofty principles down into chaos and violence.Tyler: I understand "Loss of Innocence" is a sequel to your earlier book "A Time of Treason" where you first introduced the main character, the French Countess Eugenie Devereaux. How is this second book different from the first, and do you recommend people first read "A Time of Treason"?Anne: Yes, Tyler, "LOSS OF INNOCENCE" is the sequel to "A TIME FOR TREASON." Each book stands magnificently on its own. Both deal with revolution: "A TIME FOR TREASON": The American Revolution; "LOSS OF INNOCENCE": The French Revolution. "Treason" takes place at the brink of our revolution. "Innocence" plunges into the midst of the revolution. Several characters (Eugenie Devereux is the French spy in the first and a revolutionary in the second) are in both stories. Both books are driven by a little known historical event. Interesting, in both cases, it's a conspiracy, a PLOT. I always think it's best to read things in order, but in this case, it's not necessary, more fun, but not necessary.Tyler: Anne, what made you decide to write about this time period?Anne: I grew up loving history. History is a story of different places, times and people. And who doesn't love a story? "A TIME FOR TREASON" was triggered by my love for the island of Bermuda. When I discovered that a group of Bermudians conspired with American patriots to affect the successful outcome of our revolution, I snapped it up and ran with it. As I put the period at the end of the last sentence of "Treason," I knew Eugenie was not finished. She had more adventures to go. Serendipity struck again. I stumbled on the plot between the Americans and the French in one of my historical periodicals and "LOSS OF INNOCENCE" was born. It was not so much the time period, as it was another revolution for Eugenie. The French Revolution is abundantly fascinating, though; look at all the works that have recently come out about it.Tyler: Many famous novels, including "A Tale of Two Cities" and "The Scarlet Pimpernel" have been set during the French Revolution. Were you influenced by any specific books or films while writing "Loss of Innocence"?Anne: I loved reading both of those books as a child. I'm delighted that the recent books, films and programs, set in that period, are abounding which shows that there's a strong audience for this period of history, but, no, they didn't influence the writing of my book. In the case of each one of them, they emphasized a specific and different angle of that period as does "LOSS OF INNOCENCE."Tyler: Anne, would you expand on what you mean by "a different angle" of the period? Both of the novels I mentioned were written by English writers. Is your novel seen for example from the French perspective or some other perspective?Anne: In "LOSS OF INNOCENCE", the central character, Eugenie Devereux, a French countess, is the lightening rod of the plot. The story is told from her perspective. She is a revolutionary and believes devoutly in the principles of liberty, equality and brotherhood and continues to do so even as she watches the course of the revolution deteriorate into a power grab, violence, anarchy and ultimately a full-fledged blood bath. She realizes that it would be political suicide for France if Marie Antoinette were executed because the European coalition, led by the queen's Austrian royal family, would invade France and tear it apart. To avoid this disaster, Eugenie joins the conspiracy to rescue the queen, and spirit her across the Atlantic to the Pennsylvania town being built expressly as a sanctuary for her.Tyler: Am I right in guessing the novel is sympathetic toward the French royalty and nobility? Obviously, the Countess Devereux was chosen because she was a character in your previous book, but why did you decide to write the book as a sequel and not leave her out and write it from the perspective of a French peasant or a clergyman or someone from one of the other French estates?Anne: No, the book is not sympathetic toward the French royalty or the nobility. Eugenie represents the many members of the aristocracy that favored and supported a revolution in France that set out to establish a new social order that espoused equality for all the French citizens not the overthrow of the Monarchy or a "reign of terror" that, in the end, massacred peasants, clergymen, bourgeoisie, royals and aristocrats, alike. Eugenie is the thread that connects the two revolutions. She is one of the "haves" who has the most to lose in the new world order she so deeply believes in. It is this very duality that creates the tension in the book and makes the story so powerful, unique and very human.Tyler: I'm always interested, Anne, in whether a story is told in first or third person. Which did you choose for "Loss of Innocence" and why?Anne: "LOSS OF INNOCENCE" is told in the third person because the action takes place in different locations following different members of the cast. If it were in the first person, the action could only occur where that person was and the depth, breadth and richness of the story would not be possible.Tyler: You said earlier the book is based on an actual historical plot to help the French Royal family escape to the United States, possibly to set up its own court there. Would you tell us a little more about this historical basis?Anne: Yes, this is an actual historical plot. I mentioned it earlier, but it can't be emphasized enough. It's one of the things that makes this book and story unique. The plot involves Americans led by Robert Morris and French nobles, themselves revolutionaries, who believe it's a political necessity to save the French monarchy and are willing to risk their lives to do it. There are still ruins of the town named "Azilum" that this group built for Marie Antoinette on the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania.Tyler: Most people, of course, will know that Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette both went to their deaths at the guillotine, so I'm assuming no one will read the book without having some idea of how it will end. What still makes the book interesting even if the plot is sort of given away?Anne: Excellent question! What makes this book unique and a fascinating read is that the reader gets the inside scoop. The reader becomes intimately acquainted with the players in the drama: Marie Antoinette, Louis XVI, Lafayette, Robespierre, just to name a few. The reader witnesses the brutal, shocking events that hurl this people, this society, this revolution away from the dreams and lofty principles of The American Revolution into a cataclysmic, all out power grab and blood bath of monstrous proportions. Yes, we know that Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI do not escape the guillotine, but we're mesmerized by the who's, the what's, the how's, and the why's that brought them to their bitter end. And we're touched by the glimpses of humanity that still manage to exist in that incomprehensible violence.Tyler: Anne, what do you most enjoy about writing historical fiction?Anne: I do have a passion for history which, let me add, came not from the schoolroom but from my parents' library, loaded as it was with biographies and history. Historical fiction is a wonderful vehicle for readers to learn the hard facts of history amplified or softened by the antics of the fictional characters. The fiction element sugarcoats the pill, so to speak. It allows me to bring history to an audience that otherwise would miss out on the tremendous entertainment and information that history offers.Tyler: That's very true, Anne, and I think even when historical fiction deviates a bit from the truth, it makes people interested in finding out the truth and becoming more interested in history. What advice would you give to others who want to write historical fiction? What difficulties might they encounter?Anne: Pick a period, person or event that you're fascinated with and passionate about. You're going to spend a lot of time there, so you'd better pick something that keeps you excited. I recommend you pick someone or something that's fairly familiar, but come at it from a new angle, not the same old, same old. There are usually difficulties in any project. It's my nature not to look for them. What's a difficulty for one isn't for another. Plus, you could be looking in one direction for some difficulty someone told you about and be blind-sided from an entirely different direction. I say, plunge into your project and go for it.Tyler: I mentioned that you are well known as an expert on divorce and have published a highly successful book, "Divorce Hangover," on the subject. Do you feel your interests in divorce and fiction have anything in common--does one fuel or release the tension from the other?Anne: It seems I have a fascination for "change." Divorce is a change, a revolution, if you will, a pervasive change on a personal level. That's not to say that national revolutions don't affect the individual person on a personal level or that divorce doesn't impact the friends, family and other elements outside of the divorcing parties. They do. The ripple effect is there. It's a matter of degree. I have a lot of leeway with my fictitious characters, I have a lot of fun creating them and pushing them around. This certainly is not the case with the facts of history or the clients in my practice.Tyler: Anne, do you have any plans for us to meet Countess Devereux again?Anne: I imagine Eugenie will let me know. She's always up to something. I can't let that cat out of the bag just quite yet.Tyler: Thank you again for joining me today, Anne. Before we go, would you give our readers your website address and tell them what other information they can find there about your books?Anne: Thank you, Tyler, for the great interview. You really managed to cover a lot of territory and at the same time get to the important specifics. My website is www. annewalther.com. It's loaded with information about all my books and growing all the time. Marie Antoinette even has her own blog. I love visitors to my site and love to hear suggestions of what I should add. So, come aboard.Tyler: Marie Antoinette has a blog? That's something I'll definitely have to check out. Thank you again, Anne, for joining me today. I hope you and the Countess Devereux have many more adventures together. dr seuss book collection

The Truth About Sal The Site Stealer

Does 'Sal The Site Stealer' have anything to offer?I would say to anyone who is marketing on the internet that at the very least reading the sales letter can be informative. Sal has found a way to make his sales copy eye catching, something that anyone using sales letters to market on the internet should want to emulate.You may not like his style, which is a rung or two lower profile than the copy used by the Rich Jerk, but like the Rich Jerk he has found a way to draw attention to his sales copy. Taking the same concept and tweaking it to fit your own particular style could be very helpful.Of course, Sal isn't his real name, and he is upfront about that, and admits Sal is just a character created to add zip to the sales presentation.Who can benefit from Sal The Site Stealer?Experienced internet marketers are not going to be flocking to purchase this book. This is not new material for them, since the methods they have been using to be successful are what he 'stole' to create this book.However, if you are new or fairly inexperienced in internet marketing, then there is some good information in this book. The methods he discusses are not a secret, but this way they are organized, explained and readily available in one place.I found his book refreshing because, unlike many marketing books, he does give good explanations of how to. The book has some good charts that make the methods much clearer, and there are also videos which walk the reader through more of the material and make it much more clear and understandable.Who will get limited value from Sal The Site Stealer?For marketers whose venue is niche sites such as pet sites, health sites etc. there is not as much to be gained from this ebook. That is not to say, that it has no value, there are still some things to be learned, but it will be of much less value than if you are in the field of internet marketing, creating products to sell with resell rights, or using resell rights products.This ebook is a generous size, with added videos, and unadvertised bonuses. For the price, Sal The Site Stealer is a good value. seuss book collection sets cat hat

Courageous Souls by Robert Schwartz - Book Review

Courageous SoulsDo We Plan Our Life Challenges Before Birth?By Robert SchwartzISBN-10: 0977679454Why me? It is a question so often thought, cried, moaned, or screamed. Blame is placed on higher powers as surely as emotion is felt. Isn't it possible though, that our trials and tribulations, our painful experiences, are full of purpose? What if an author would share with you that your own soul actually planned for these things to happen? That there is indeed a reason for it all? Robert Schwartz, author of "Courageous Souls," shares his view that we plan our life challenges before birth. This is a must read book with my highest recommendation.Robert begins by explaining his research of his own, very personal experiences with his spirit guides, and then the research he did with the help of four gifted mediums and channels. Through the life experiences of ten people, with the help of his team, Robert relays how those interviewed went through various life challenges, including drug addiction, accidents, physical illness, and the death of loved ones, and why. He interviews these people, shares their stories, then has the medium or channel delve into the pre-birth planning done by the soul. Here, the reader comes to understand the soul groups, soul mates, akashic records, spirit guides, and planning of the challenges and lessons we are on earth to face. Discussed in great detail is the fact that we are here on earth as personalities and that when the body dies, the soul goes on, and on, and on. We may have lived in a completely different part of the world before, with other souls who are now our husbands, parents, or children, and were then our friends, business partners, or even tormentors. As a soul group, the life is planned, with tremendous challenges that provide opportunity for growth.I've always loved that quote, ""We are not human beings on a spiritual journey. We are spiritual beings on a human journey." - Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. How very true that is, and I believe it is the main point of Robert Schwartz's book, "Courageous Souls." Eloquently and purposefully delivered, the book is one that will help readers to understand these concepts, begin to understand why events in our lives take place, consider that things that happen to us are part of our lesson plan, replace the anger or guilt felt over situations with forgiveness and peace, and begin to recognize the patterns that are in your life that revolve around your own soul's goal for you.For anyone who has ever asked, "Why me?" and anyone who has ever felt that there had to be a reason for this life, I recommend "Courageous Souls." For anyone and everyone, I say, please read this book; you'll be absolutely enlightened. dr seuss cat in hat quotes

Affiliate Rockstar Status - How To Build A Successful Affiliate Marketing Business?

Affiliate Rockstar Status is from the same stable that produced the recent phenomenon Day Job Killer. So what's so special about this new e-book? Is it just more of the same old stuff? Or is there something that you absolutely need to know if you're going to be a successful affiliate?...The answer is a resounding YES!!Eric Rockerfeller, the author of Affiliate Rockstar Status has worked with the Day Job Killer team for some time now, learning all the stuff that they do and then some more. This e-book is built on the same foundations, but it adds a whole load of new ideas. Even better than that, it fills in some of the gaps in other e-books, showing you some really detailed techniques that can help you to make your affiliate marketing efforts much more effective.It certainly helps to have read its predecessor, but Affiliate Rockstar Status gives you all the information you need to apply everything that it tells you about.Some of the things you'll learn about in Affiliate Rockstar Status are:*A whole set of techniques that you could be using right now to boost your affiliate marketing*A complete system that has been proven to work*How to create high converting sales copy and ads to increase your profitability*A systematic approach to finding, developing and succeeding in niches*A new way to minimise your pay per click costs using a resource that is being wasted by most players in the marketAnd on top of that there are excellent guides to keyword research, pay per click, article marketing and all the other things you need to build a complete business.The only downside I could see with the book is that it's sometimes a little hard to follow. You'll need to read some sections a couple of times to understand what's being said, but I found that's a small price to pay for the quality of information in this book.I have to confess when I first heard about Affiliate Rockstar Status it sounded like just another over-hyped product to spend my money on. However now that I've had a chance to look at it, I've found that it has a lot to offer. If you haven't got any of the recent publications on affiliate marketing, pay per click etc. then you should definitely take a look at Affiliate Rockstar Status.Even if you already have several of the recent publications, there's still a lot of new and very potent ideas that you can use to enhance your affiliate marketing results. dr seuss cat in hat history

Prior Bad Acts By Tami Hoag

Judge Carey Moore is a stickler for fairness, sometimes going beyond the point where she should. When a drifter, Karl Dahl, goes on trial for a heinous triple murder, Judge Moore makes a very un-popular decision. A decision that would change and shape the future of Judge Moore, Karl Dahl, the prosecuting attorney Chris Logan, and the defense attorney Kenny Scott. Judge Moore's husband David did not help much either since he always had a case of what I call me-ite-us! when everything is turned around for him to be in the forefront.Detective Sam Kovac got into the act when Judge Moore was attacked in the parking garage where she was knocked down, battered, and finally lost consciousness when her head was banged into the concrete. Regardless of how Sam felt about the judicial decision the judge had made, this attack was not right. Kovac's partner, Nikki Liska, is a rough, tough woman who will tackle anyone or anything. They got along very well, but had their disagreements as any normal people do. But they worked terrifically together, sometimes thinking as one. Kovac took Judge Moore home from the hospital knowing that she was in danger and needed protection, even if she would not give in to that thought. The judge's husband was useless; this was not about HIM!Any of the authorities and attorneys that visited the scene of the original murders felt so strange knowing what had occurred where they now stood. Two small children and their mother were brutally killed in this house. How could anyone do this? This Karl Dahl must be a terribly brutal man who is not human. Naturally everyone made him guilty before a trial. In prison Dahl had to be kept separate from other inmates since they all knew what he was charged with.As time went on, Detective Kovac was never very far from Judge Moore. She was supposed to stay home due to her injuries and the threat against her but she sometimes snuck out, driving the police crazy. Another cop, Stan Dempsey was a sort of a rogue cop whose actions were not always trusted by his fellow officers. But he had to delve into the murders also despite Kovac and Liska's concern. When Karl Dahl escaped things got even dicier. Kovac kept a closer eye on the judge, and the reader can sense he is becoming closer to her in other ways too.Prior Bad Acts continues to pick up steam and roars along at a fast and furious pace. Naturally the reader guesses what will occur next and usually is wrong. Tami Hoag does not disappoint her faithful readers with this book. I enjoyed it thoroughly from cover to cover. It is a "do not put down" book that I loved. Tami Hoag can bring these detectives back easily in any future books. She has bred a good duo. dr seuss cat in hat book

New Online Children's Book - Old Narmaah-Cat's Secret Toy

If you are interested in new Children's Books on the scene – or you know somebody who is – then take a moment of your time to have a look at this charming little story: Old Narmaah-Cat's Secret Toy. It involves two characters, the Tiny Girl and Old Narmaah-Cat, who just can't seem to make a connection with each other... The Old Cat simply refuses to come out from his hiding place to play with her, while the Tiny Girl just can't figure out which toy Narmaah-Cat would be enticed with. She tries just about everything that a cat-afficianado could think of, and just about gives up on the idea. But then with a stroke of luck, something happens...This story is full of large, colorful illustrations and is written in rhyming verse similar to the Dr. Seuss publications. The story font is in a large 'Times New Roman' and is very easy to read. Potential readership is geared towards children who are learning to read, and intermediate readers (3 to 9 years old) – plus, of course, their parents who are guaranteed a good laugh as well!In addition to downloading the Children's eBook for a reasonable price, the package also includes a free Coloring Book download. The coloring book is based directly upon the story itself, and uses the same illustrations included in “Old Narmaah-Cat's Secret Toy”. Also, the coloring book uses captions beneath each image that offer both questions and suggestions as to what to draw, or how to color them, using the children's own imagination.Fun for everybody, to say the least. You can find the main page here: [http://www.storytimetanis.com] dr seuss book collection

Children's Math Book Review - The Number Devil by Hans M Enzensberger

The Number Devil by Hans M. Enzensberger is an attractive and imaginative book for children that teaches math wonderfully and redefines the concept of "showing your work." In fact, throughout the bulk of the book, children are led by Robert and his devilish guide--into some of the most beautiful sites of mathematical discovery.Robert has a lot of common sense and gradually over the course of the book he becomes more and more "ready" for his encounters with his crazy mentor: The Number Devil. The design of the book is appealing to the eye, contains excellent illustrations, and the clear and colorful lines and fonts attract students all the more to a greater attraction to the positive world of mathematics."How Children Can See Math in Different Perspectives," would be an excellent alternate title for the book. For example, looking at math today as a teacher, a big majority of students see math as impossible to accomplish.After reading The Number Devil, I can conclude that the book gives the average math student options in how to look at a problem in many ways. rather than in one way. The author makes it quite clear that Robert hates math: "And besides, I hate everything that has to do with numbers" (Enzensberger 11).Many people can relate to Robert and how he learns to enjoy math. Thus, by reading this book, a student can gain hope that math is not just learning one concept, but also by learning multiple ways to solve a mathematical problem.The first mathematical concept recognized in the book was prima donnas. This idea reminds students of the concept of prime numbers. The recollection of prime numbers from students can be difficult. The way that The Number Devil explains this concept is by painting a picture that includes the numbers from two to fifty. The process of elimination includes deleting the odd numbers by way of seeing the prime numbers.By giving a student a picture of what needs to be done, you have successfully led him through steps that need to take place, rather than rote memorization or doing it in their "head."A second mathematical concept explained in The Number Devil is Bonacci Numbers. These are not just your everyday ordinary numbers. They are special numbers that are everlasting. These numbers are irrational numbers too, in that they divide certain numbers by their neighbor, and the result is a pile of numbers that do not stop. For example: one, two, three, five, eight, thirteen, twenty one, and thirty four are a prime example of how the added number added to the second number equals the third number.A third mathematical concept in The Number Devil is the idea to simplify a number by multiplying it by itself. For example, ten times ten equals a hundred. In this situation The Number Devil shows that this can be so with the number twenty. Twenty to the fifth power is twenty thousand. This explanation can be illustrated by hopping the zero eight times to the left.A fourth mathematical concept illustrated in The Number Devil explains irrational numbers. He says that these "unreasonable" numbers refuse to play by the "rules." By way of encouragement he recalls the "hopping" numbers-two, four, eight, sixteen, thirty two, etc.--and he explains the problem of hopping "backwards" which he calls "taking the rutabaga" square root.This leads to the square root of two, which the number devil says is unreasonable. He then gives a rare and gorgeous geometric proof about why the diagonal of the unit square has length of square root of two. On the diagonal the number devil draws another square, which he illustrates four triangles, two of which can form the unit square. Then the larger square has twice the area of the unit square, which makes the problem make sense to the student!The Number Devil shows many number concepts that will be more appealing to young minds. For example, math students learn math easier by using objects they can manipulate--like sticks, building blocks, cubes, or play money. Using these visual objects can enhance student learning by helping them learn basic number operations like the ordinary numbers two, three, and four, and hopping numbers 2-2, 3-2, 4-2, and 5-2.I would teach a class of elementary students their hopping numbers much like the number devil did, by using visual and tactile objects. A lesson on hopping numbers would be as follows. I would use three numbers per day. I would line up the object discussed, such as building blocks. I would say one times one square equals one--modeling this for them visually. Then I would hold up two blocks and show them two times two equals four with four blocks.Whatever number I was covering would correlate with the number of blocks or sticks utilized. For the students that didn't understand, I would pair up with someone who does understand, and instead of making them work with groups of three or four, I would allow them to start with groups of two or thereabouts. This will enable the student to learn and not feel left out or emotionally distressed by not understanding.Another concept that is of utmost importance to our students from The Number Devil is multiplication. Introducing multiplication to students is of vital importance. Multiplication is something that can be totally misunderstood if it is not explained properly the first time. I would use bold as well as multi-colored numbers for the answers.A variety of colors in multiplication are vital because the students can visually see that four times four (red) equals (green) sixteen (purple). A variety of colors can be utilized to explain the products and factors involved. In this case the factors of four times four equal the product of sixteen.The use of colors will enhance the definitions for students by enabling them to remember them more accurately. I would also allow them to use colors on their papers if it helps in their memorization of facts, terms, and problem solving. I have a colleague at another school district that used to teach third grade and is now a vice principal. He taught for fifteen years and has had great success using a variety of colors in multiplication.In conclusion, The Number Devil, by H. M. Enzensberger, is a book that I would have my students read. I found it appropriate for all levels of math students. Math should never be taught in just one way, but with a variety of methods. This book amplifies and explains how to problem solve in an exciting way and gives examples for students that they can identify with in their everyday world.I would recommend the book for all teachers and especially teacher mentors because I believe that math is a subject that requires thinking beyond the problem and this book makes math fun, exciting, and a collaborative adventure for all students. seuss book collection sets cat hat