It's not too late to get in some summer reading.
Many local authors have published books or have had their work included in collections. Books range from inspirational to mystery, and from sports to poetry.
Chicken Soup for the Soul: A Tribute to Moms
by Stefanie Wass
Chicken Soup for the Soul
$14.95
Stefanie Wass of Hudson wrote an original short story that has been published in the newly released "Chicken Soup for the Soul: A Tribute to Moms," the latest book in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series.
Her story, titled "Instrument of Love," is about the everyday practice sessions she and her daughter share at the piano.
Each story was selected from thousands of other potential stories to be included in "Chicken Soup for the Soul: A Tribute to Moms" because of its unique and special ability to touch your heart with stories of the role, importance and special impact moms have.
Wass lives with her husband and two daughters. Her writing also has appeared in "Chicken Soup For The New Mom's Soul," "Chicken Soup For The Beach Lover's Soul," and area and national newspapers.
The "Chicken Soup for the Soul" books were first published in 1993. With more than 100 million copies sold and 145 titles in 37 languages, "Chicken Soup for the Soul" has made international publishing history and garnered numerous prestigious awards for creators, Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen.
"Chicken Soup for the Soul" books are available at all major bookstores as well as stores such as Wal-Mart, Kmart, Target and Sam's Club. Books also can be ordered online at www.chickensoup.com or Amazon.com.
15 Minutes of Power and 12 Peek Principles for Success
by Dr. Constance J. Longmire
Peek Enterprise Corporate Training and Motivational Living
CD $10/Book $13.99
Dr. Constance J. Longmire of Peek Enterprise Corporate Training and Motivational Living has released of a Motivational CD entitled "15 Minutes of Power" and Book "12 Peek Principles for Success."
"The CD and book was birthed while preparing for a Motivational Speaking and Life Coaching engagement," said Longmire, a Twinsburg resident. "Many clients have asked me to produce motivational material for them that they can take with them and use in their everyday lives."
"The 15 Minutes Of Power" is a power packed CD that is designed to get people up and running, Longmire said.
"Many times we get stuck in the middle of a task, in the middle of a goal and we lose our way and think it will never happen for us," she said. "But that is not so I encourage you to get up again. The CD covers 3 vital areas where our goal gets lost and they our focus, our attitude and our expectation."
The cost of the CD is $ 10.
"12 Peek Principles for Success" is "filled with life changing stories and 12 principles that are obtainable," Longmire said. "Many are looking for success and desirous of a successful life. We define what is success and how do we know we have it and how do we keep it.
The cost of the book is $13.99.
For details, to order or to arrange a speaking engagement, e-mail longmire@roadrunner.com or call 216-389-0134.
Spur of the Moment: A Collection of Short Stories
by Junkyard and R.L. Wolf
PublishAmerica
$11.95
PublishAmerica is proud to present Spur of the Moment: A Collection of Short Stories by Junkyard and R.L. Wolf.
The authors are a mother-daughter duo who reside in Streetsboro.
One of the tales includes "Cassie's Pet," the tale of a young girl who is very lonely and desperately wants a pet. But her father is allergic to animals, so she creates one of her own. In another story, "Manners," a young man who forgets to say thank you gets the reminder of his life. "Angel in a Big Rig" is about a truck driver who witnesses an unbelievable sight and ends up being a hero.
For details or to order, visit www.publishamerica.com.
Dealing: The Cleveland Indians' New Ballgame
by Terry Pluto
Gray and Co. Publishers
$14.95
The book, an updated edition of a previous work by Terry Pluto, gives insight, as Pluto writes, into "How a small-market team reinvented itself as a Major League contender."
It discusses the thinking of Indians General Manager Mark Shapiro and other members of the front office as they tried to continue the team's success following the era of excellence in the 1990s.
For example, in June 2002, the Indians traded star pitcher Bartolo Colon and fading prospect Tim Drew, also a pitcher, to the now-defunct Montreal Expos for journeyman first baseman Lee Stevens and three prospects -- Brandon Phillips, Cliff Lee and Grady Sizemore.
As Pluto wrote, the Tribe's front office took a lot of heat for trading Colon, who went on to win the American League's Cy Young Award with the Anaheim Angels.
Who knew that Sizemore would become a three-time All-Star and a gold glove center fielder for the Indians? Who could tell that Lee, a left-handed pitcher, would start the 2008 All-Star Game for the Indians? Who realized that Phillips would become a standout second baseman -- even if it was for the Cincinnati Reds? Apparently, Shapiro did -- or at least he hoped it would turn out that way.
Pluto wrote: "The Indians did their homework on the Bartolo Colon trade. They'd learned much in the six months since the [ill-fated] Roberto Alomar trade. They had one goal in mind: prospects. They spent months researching the young players, using multiple scouts watching them several times. They had medical records. They had information on attitudes and family backgrounds.
"This was not a trade with a mixed message about rebuilding and contending [like the Alomar deal]. It was a trade about new beginnings, about trying to save the Tribe. It was about a unique opportunity to pick the first fruits from one of baseball's ripest farm systems. It was a trade that had to be made, and made [immediately] for a variety of reasons."
When the trade was announced, it appeared to some that Stevens was the key to the deal. But, as Pluto wrote, adding Stevens to the trade was a way to balance the salaries. What the Indians wanted the most were the three prospects -- who all blossomed into stars.
For details, call 800-915-3609 or visit www.grayco.com online.
by Bedford Times-Register and Maple Heights Press Editor Mike Lesko
Gathering Graces
by Floriana Hall
Cyberwit.net
$14
Former Cuyahoga Falls resident Floriana Hall, the author of several books and poems, recently released her latest book of poetry from several poets, "Gathering Graces."
"I have always loved poetry," She said. "Even though I write both free verse and rhyme, I especially like rhyme. As a young child, I enjoyed repeating nursery rhymes -- they were 'fun for the tongue.' In elementary school, I wrote short verses, but these were lost in the many moves our family made during The Great Depression. I have kept a scrapbook of high school favorite poems with biographies of my favorite poets. My all-time favorite poem is 'TREES' by Joyce Kilmer."
Hall currently lives in Akron. She and her husband have five children, nine grandchildren, and one great granddaughter. She also is the founder and coordinator of The Poet's Nook at Cuyahoga Falls Library, and editor of The Poet's Nook's three books. She has won many poetry prizes. Her poetry and short stories are published in the United States, England, France and India.
For details or to order, visit http://cyberwit.net/floriana.htm online.
Dear Annamelia
by Ed Barmann
CreateSpace
$14.95
Twinsburg resident Ed Barmann had written many stories during his 37-year career in the newspaper field. But Barmann, 84, recently undertook a different sort of writing challenge with the publication of his first novel, "Dear Annamelia."
Barmann said he wrote the book after returning to Kent State University and taking fiction writing for four semesters. He said he took advantage of the senior guest program at Kent, which allows retirees to audit classes with no charge.
"It was a great experience," he said. "I was grateful that the journalism professors, all published authors, gave me as much attention as they did. Though I was four times older than most of my classmates, I made a lot of friends and, hopefully, learned a lot."
The story itself is of Ned and Annamelia Malone, an Irish Catholic couple who lived on a farm in southern Ohio. Ned's peace is shattered after Annamelia dies from the result of a stroke. He meets Myrtle Strich, a widow who helps him move past his grief. Ned details his days in his diary, addressing his correspondence to his late wife.
Barmann and his wife, Margaret Ann, moved to Twinsburg six years ago. They have six children, 12 grandchildren and a great granddaughter.
The novel can be purchased through Amazon.com. For details, visit edbarmann.com online.
Barmann will sign copies of his book Aug. 13 at the Twinsburg Senior Center, starting at 9 a.m.
By Special Products
Editor April Helms
King of the Holly Hop
by Les Roberts
Gray and Co. Publishers
$24.95
After a long dry spell (six years, in fact), Cleveland Heights author Les Roberts brings Milan Jacovich back to the scene in "King of the Holly Hop." In this 14th installment, Jacovich's 40th class reunion, already filled with unpleasantries, turns ugly when a classmate is found shot dead, and another becomes the main suspect. Milan is hired by the chief suspect to clear his name. Milan is put into the position of investigating his friends and former classmates, and he digs up secrets and truths that change his life.
The previous book in the series, "The Irish Sports Pages," was published in 2002. At the time, Roberts believed that book would be the last to feature his popular character Milan Jacovich (pronounced MY-lan YOCK-ovich).
"I thought I had put Milan to sleep for good in 2002, and I was doing other things," Roberts said. "But I kept getting three, four, eight e-mails a week from perfect strangers saying 'We miss your Jacovich books, when's the next one going to be?'"
Roberts was also encouraged by the response from bookstores and readers when the first thirteen Milan Jacovich books, some of which had long been unavailable, were reissued in a new paperback edition in 2005.
"Having all the books back in print helped revive interest in the series," Roberts said. "And I had a good idea about a high school reunion that would fit Milan. So I sat down and started writing."
Cleveland readers will recognize a lot of the locales in the story, which is set in Cleveland and area suburbs.
For details or to purchase a copy, visit www.grayco.com; Amazon.com or call 800-915-3609. "King of the Holly Hop" also is available at area bookstores.
By Special Products
Editor April Helms
The Beatles in Cleveland
by Dave Schwenson
North Shore Publishing
$19.95
After the Beatles appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1964, everything seemed to change within popular culture across America -- seemingly overnight. Northeast Ohio was no exception.
In the new book "The Beatles in Cleveland," Dave Schwenson highlights the Beatlemania in Cleveland during those artistically groundbreaking years.
Schwenson begins the recollection of stories with a brief history lesson, comparing the Beatles' blue collar home in Liverpool, England to Cleveland. He then sets the stage for Beatles hysteria in Cuyahoga County -- Cleveland Municipal Stadium.
The Beatles' historic tour across America was matched in attendance usually only with football and baseball games. By the time the Beatles reached Cleveland, that hysteria had culminated into madness.
The book, published by North Shore Publishing, is sprinkled with Schwensen's memories, such as a 10-year-old Schwensen putting his homework on hold to watch the Beatles on The Jack Parr Show.
The Beatles first played in Cleveland at Public Hall, Sept. 15, 1964.
Divided into two acts, the book's Act One closes with the John Lennon proclaiming that his rock-and-roll band was more popular than Jesus and the controversy that statement brought to the group -- particularly felt in the Heartland.
The band did play in Cleveland for the second and last time Aug. 14, 1966.
By Record-Courier staff writer Colin McEwen