Before Terror Strikes

"Evil...prevails when good people do nothing." ~ Edmund Burke

In today's world more than ever the need to be observant and diligent wherever we go is something we all need to take seriously. In light of the recent mass shootings, being more diligent in what is normal and what isn't could be the best line of defense we can apply to any situation. I think far too many people think what happens around them is strictly none of their business, but when these same people are interviewed after the event, they all say the same thing. "I knew there was just something about that person that didn't feel right."

In the book, Before Terror Strikes: Learn The Tactical Mindsets and Skillsets Necessary To Survive A Terrorist Event Before It Occurs, author William Michael Seddon Sr. takes readers into some simple things we can do to get us out of our day to day routines and become more hyper aware of our surroundings. It's these simple strategies that may in fact save our lives the next time something like this should happen.

In the beginning of the book, the author asks some very powerful questions to see what your initial response would be to any of these situations: What would you do if you found yourself taking sniper fire in a parking lot? Or shopping in a crowded mall when someone begins spraying automatic weapons fire? What if you were picking up your luggage at the airport, and someone started throwing hand grenades? What would you do?

This short but concise book details the inner workings of such terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda and how they have changed strategy's in looking for smaller attacks around the world to accomplish their intents and purposes. He showcases what some safe options might be if you find yourself in any of the situations above and some simple things we can do when traveling to make ourselves a less likely threat and target. He instructs readers to be more vigilant on anniversaries of other attacks such as the one that occurred in Benghazi, Libya on September 11, 2012.

I received Before Terror Strikes by William Michael Seddon Sr compliments of Outskirts Press and Bostick Communications for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for a favorable review. In light of all the recent attacks in malls, schools and even abroad, I have found myself paying attention to things a lot more than I would have in the past. In the movie theaters, I watch who comes in and out, and if anyone uses the emergency exits. No longer can we afford to simply be complacent any longer hoping someone else will pay attention for us. While this book is geared to inform, it does not cause you to take up arms and prepare for these events to occur but merely to get you to think a little differently than you may have in the past. For those of you that love books that help you prepare for these types of threats or those who love survival training than this is the perfect book for you. I'd rate this one a 4 out of 5 stars just simply based on the fact I was looking for more meat in the content of this book and it was short, concise and simple at 166 pages.

About the Author William Michael Seddon Sr.
William Michael Seddon Sr., M.S., Certified Anti-Terrorism Specialist, served in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps for over 13 years. He was a Marine Training Instructor and is the found of 7th Stratagem, an anti/counterterrorism consulting company.

For more information about Before Terror Strikes, William Michael Seddon Sr, or where you can pick up a copy of this book today please click on the links below:

Before Terror Strikes by William Michael Seddon Sr. 

You can also find more information from the Before Terror Strikes Facebook page.

• Hardcover: 166 pages
• Publisher: Outskirts Press (April 3, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1478717203
• ISBN-13: 978-1478717201
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.4 inches 

You can find this book at your favorite book retailer in hardcover and eBook formats. 

Tom T's Hat Rack

Rarely do you find a children's book that truly emphasizes the need to give back in a simple way for kid's to understand the meaning, until now! Tom T's Hat Rack from author Michele Spry was born out of the inspiration of watching her good friend, Tom Trabue, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma in May of 2012. Watching how positive and upbeat he was during his treatment was incredible. She is also living her life paying it forwards towards others as often as she can and enjoys the feeling of making others happy. She took those two pieces and began writing "Tom T's Hat Rack."

Michele's goal was to help the reader understand how important each of the characters are to the story. Shelby's parents and Mrs. T are active throughout the story, which was something she felt was also important. This is the perfect book to teach the value of paying it forward to others.

In this story, Shelby Summers, a 4th grader at Eagle Ridge Elementary School who has grown up as an only child. Having no brothers or sisters, she spends her afternoons and summer with an elderly couple, Tom and Kim Tucker, a retired couple that lives only four houses away while her mom, Karen, a nurse for Sunnyvale Children's Hospital and her dad, John, is a doctor at Clarkson's Cancer Hospital are working.

Shelby was as fond of Mr. and Mrs. T, as she loving refers to them throughout the story, as her grandparents. They have a long standard tradition of hanging out together as a family three nights a week, sharing dinner and the T's take care of Shelby while her parents are working. While her other friends looked forward to summer vacations spent with family and friends, Shelby looked forward to her time spending the summer with the T's. The rest of her family lived far away, but to Shelby, Mr. and Mrs. T, were her world. She had spent the last ten years coming to their house nearly every single day.

Last summer, Mr. T was diagnosed with cancer and had undergone six months of chemotherapy. Shelby understood that Mr. T had good days and bad and was looking forward to spending lots of time with him this summer. Shelby's dad was Mr. T's doctor and they all worked together to ensure that Mr. T got the best possible care in dealing with his cancer. Mr. T wanted to do something special with Shelby this summer and had agreed to keep it a secret. He knew after all these tough issues with cancer, he wanted to do something positive to benefit others and with Shelby's caring spirit and her enjoyment for doing things for others, she would make the perfect partner.

I won't ruin the surprise for you in what both Mr. T and Shelby are able to accomplish but it will be life changing not only for them but for those that benefit from their summer project. I received Tom T's Hat Rack by Michele Spry, compliments of Bostick Communications and Spry Publishing for my honest review and did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable one. This is such an important book to share with young children because the message in itself is powerful. It shows what compassion and servitude really look like when you're willing to extend yourself and really take the needs of others into consideration. I highly recommend this one and rate it a 5 out of 5 stars. Beautifully illustrated throughout, it challenges our kids to take own their own projects at the conclusion.

For more information about Tom T's Hat Rack, Michele Spry or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Tom T's Hat Rack by Michele Spry

You can also follow Spry Publishing on Facebook to learn about some great ideas that others are working on with their own special projects and where you can add your own to as well.

The Captains' Airline: Pushing Back From The Brink

As someone who has a great fear of flying when I saw the request to review Art Samson's book, The Captains' Airline:Pushing Back From The Brink I knew I would immediately enjoy this one. Art writes a fictional story based on actual events that really happened. He immediately takes you into the cockpit to see what it's like from both a pilot's perspective from also from the flight crew and even passengers. The best part of this book for me is that I didn't have to leave the ground to enjoy it. Now I have a completely different perspective into what really goes on during commercial airline flights and hopefully will provide a sense of peace whenever I chance a trip on a plane in my near future.

As Art opens the novel with a perspective in what can happen whenever human error is involved in some of the greatest tragedies to occur with the sinking of the Titanic along with the latest plane crash involving Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger with United Airways Flight 1549 that landed safely in the Hudson River mostly in part to the experience of the flight team working together. "In fact if you consider the statistics lately, as of November 2011 there have been no loss of life on a major U.S. carrier in nearly ten years because of the basic principles of effective human interaction and team dynamics - known in the industry as crew resource management or CRM. These are the key ingredients in maneuvering our technological marvels safely through the skies. Effective problem solving occurs when leaders elicit information and expertise from every team member. Greater success does not result from a new technological gadget, a more detailed operating manual, or an arbitrary government mandate, as previously imagined. It is all about the team." (pg 3). Art does an exceptional job at articulating this perfectly as he combines the historically accurate accounts of many accidents and hair-raising incidents with a tale of transformation within one fictional airline.

Through the fictional account involving an airline company called Omega who is undergoing some accidents and near misses that are making the airline less than profitable, Art walks us through the typical flight of what happens when weather plays a factor in trying to land a large commercial plane. Using all the typical dialogue that would be found between the flight crew, he offers readers a chance to get a true bird's eye view of what goes on. How some pilots think that they are the final word in the cockpit and how simple mistakes can be avoid by better communication with not only the cockpit crew, flight crew and even ground operations. He also shows how persuasive some of the aircraft companies can be in making sure that no matter what happens resulting in failure of the planes, that they are kept looking like the good guys even when it comes to mechanical failure at times.

I received The Captains' Airline: Pushing Back From The Brink by Art Samson compliments of the author himself and Bostick Communications for my honest review. I was cringing at times even though this was a fictional based story involving some historical incidents from 1988 to current and often found myself remembering similar stories involving airlines in regards to the facts. In one particular incident the airlines is having issues with the rudder issues sticking and immediately I remembered that hitting the news until the airline recalled all their planes to check for the issue. Makes you wonder how long they knew about these things before the manufacturer and airline got involved to help protect passenger safety. If you love books about airline travel and what really goes on behind the scenes, then like me, I know you'll really enjoy this one. In my opinion, I would rate this one a 4 out of 5 stars.

For more information about The Captains' Airline, Art Samson and where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the link below:

The Captains' Airline by Art Samson

• Paperback: 428 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (October 22, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1479342823
• ISBN-13: 978-1479342822
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.1 inches

Tears for Nanertak

I was more than delighted to have the opportunity to review a children's book on the effects of Global Warming in relation to the habitat that is affecting the polar bears and their survival. It is a beautifully illustrated by watercolor art by both the author and artist, Skip Hofstrand. The message is easy for children to understand and hope will affect the next generation of children to help us win the battle to save habitats that are slowly disappearing. We often times fail to understand just what is really happening around the world in respects to global warming until it impacts us on a personal level.

In this beautiful book, we meet Nanertak, a polar bear cub who lives in the Arctic with his mother, Nanuck. They soon realize that the home they have come to love and enjoy is rapidly disappearing. They either have to find a way to adapt or risk dying. They work with the other animals in the Arctic to figure out a way to deal with the losing of their home and part ways on a polar iceberg, while other animals leave on a different path. Soon however, Nanertak and his mother find themselves on an ever shrinking iceberg and soon realize that danger is just days away if they can't find land. You'll have to read this one if you want to know how it ends but I can honestly say it is very impactful in it's simple message of conservation and it's importance.

I received Tears for Nanertak compliments of the author Skip Hofstrand, Outskirts Press and Bostick Communications for my honest review. Since my family completely supports the efforts of groups like the World Wildlife Federation and we are a strong Christian family as well, we believe it's our responsibility to care for Earth as God commands for us to be good stewards. I think this book is a wonderful addition to help children understand the impacts of what consequences some of our actions have not only on the world but on the living things around us. I personally recommend this one and rate it a 5 out of 5 stars.

The author Skip Hofstrand has been a professional watercolor artist for 26 years. This is his first children's picture book. The illustrations were painted using water from the melting Greenland Ice Cap, collected by Will Steger, polar explorer and winner of National Geographic's prestigious John Oliver LaGorce award for exploration, science, and public service. Skip has served as medical director for all of Steger's polar expeditions. A percentage of the royalties from the sale of this book will be donated to the Will Steger Foundation, which educates our children about global warming.

For more information about Tears for Nanertak, Skip Hofstrand or where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Tears for Nanertak by Skip Hofstrand

You can also find further information on Skip's watercolor style and biography by clicking here. 

Simply Christmas by Robin Harper - CD Review

Christmas is a-coming and the goose is getting fat, and with it Christmas music, drummer boys, choirs, bells and other assorted accompaniment abound, from string quartets and French horns to orchestras and brass bands. All except for the sparkling new addition to the holiday music catalogue, simply called Simply Christmas, featuring simply piano and one voice - Robin Harper's.

Teaming up with pianist Marvin Goldstein, talented vocalist Robin Harper is celebrating the intimacy and simplicity of the holidays by putting a new twist on the Christmas standards we'll all start whistling right after Thanksgiving, including "The Christmas Song," "White Christmas," "Santa Baby," and " Silent Night."

"This is the time of year when music helps us renew our faith as well as our sense of fun," Robin said. " I wanted to combine the two by choosing songs close to our hearts, jazz them up a little and have a good time with them. And with just us - Marvin's marvelous piano accompaniment and me - it's like we're in your living room, sharing an intimate holiday gathering with your family," she said.

Sometimes, they say, less is more... and with Simply Christmas, no truer words were ever spoken ... or sung.

I received Simply Christmas by Robin Harper compliments of Bostick Communications and The Sayles Organization for my honest review and I have to say, I really LOVED the different blends on some of my favorite classic songs, from a 1940's rendition of (Everybody's Waitin' For) The Man with The Bag and even Santa Baby. There are 11 songs on this CD and each one is offers just a classic clean take with piano and vocals blended together in perfect harmony. I even loved the newer songs of Mary, Did You Know and Grown-Up Christmas List which I have been missing on my of my other Christmas CD's. This is a perfect collection with truly something for everyone and I would rate this one a 4 out of 5 stars.

For more information on Simply Christmas, Robin Harper or where you can pick up this Christmas CD today to add to your personal collection of holiday favorites, please click on the links below:

Simply Christmas from Robin Harper

You can also find Robin Harper on Facebook by clicking here.