Linda F. Radke, owner of Five Star Publishing, has written a book that will enlighten and assist authors on a journey down the road to publication with ease and understanding. I was so surprised to open this book and find so many secrets revealed. Not only will readers get helpful tips on formatting, typesetting, grammar and working with an independent contractor but they will also get examples and first hand experiences laid out to help the reader better understand the process. With the help of other writers Radke provides detailed insight on the parts of the book, which if you are planning to do any sort of Print On Demand the order of these pages are key.

Not only does Radke give a step-by-step instruction on the process of self-publication you get insight on what it means to be short run, typesetting, scanning and formatting. She lists examples of all the publishing options such as standard, self and partnership publication opportunities. She even talks about how you can start your own self-publishing company like she did. You will learn about which pieces of office equipment will beneeded and why it is important in regards to starting a business. She also offers help with filing, shipping and freight information. These are also very important factors in getting your book to the public and being easily accessible by interested parties.

Every aspect of the publishing process is in this book. Readers learn how to market and promote as well as how to utilize media kits. The thing that impressed me the most is the information here can be used for writers who aren’t considering self-publication. Radke gives tips on how to get your book on the radio, and television. Anywhere else this information would be sold. Each bit of information Each bit of information offered in this book is priceless.

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All You Can Eat: How Hungry is America?, Joel Berg, 2008, ISBN 9781583228548

This book looks at the current state of hunger in America. Written by an anti-hunger activist, and former government official, it is not a pretty picture.

If food insecurity (the new euphemism for “hunger”) is such a huge problem, then why are there so many obese African-Americans? Doesn’t it show that they are getting more than enough food? What it really shows is that those whose food insecurity situation is bad, but not totally desperate, have to rely on cheaper high-calorie food that is full of chemicals and preservatives.

Why don’t inner-city residents buy more vegetables, even organic vegetables? Most inner-city neighborhoods don’t have a supermarket, so the people have to rely on convenience stores, that will carry cheaper pre-processed foods, instead of organic vegetables. Also, if you are given a certain amount of money, and have to make it last an entire week, vegetables are rare, and expensive organic vegetables are simply not a possibility. Find out what your state gives food stamp recipients each week to live on, and see if you can do it.

Another problem for inner-city residents is that the various government programs are administered by different agencies, which physically are nowhere near each other. It requires taking time off work, or finding child care, and getting on several buses, in order to go through several different sets of bureaucratic nonsense.

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