Book Blog

The Science Fiction Writers of America (SFWA) are coming to San Jose to give out the Nebula Award this weekend, May 16th - 19th. Since 1965 the SFWA have been distributing the only science fiction Award decided by the writers themselves. The winner of Nebula Award for Best Novel will be announced this weekend however we can check out past winners as well as the . . . more »

Courage and compassion can redeem damaged souls and transform lives. In The Orchardist, Amanda Coplin demonstrates this truth in a superb novel, set in the Pacific Northwest in the early 20th century, about a reclusive, middle-aged fruit grower, whose insular and regimented life is disrupted by the inexplicable arrival of two pregnant girls in their early teens. The girls have been exploited and abused, and . . . more »

Men eat differently from women. They eat more, they eat constantly, and they eat passionately. They are all appetite and no pretense. If they are "mad hungry" with no food in sight, life can be a living hell. This is reality for author of Mad Hungry, Lucinda Scala Quinn. Although feeding boys constantly sounds like a daunting job, it must be very rewarding and pleasurable . . . more »

Parents, grandparents, caregivers and anyone else involved in the life of a baby can tell you: feeding the little bundle of joy can get expensive! Breastfeeding is, naturally, one low cost way to make sure your baby gets the proper nutrition, but what happens once the little one begins eating solid foods? Just a quick glance at popular places to purchase premade baby foods like . . . more »

Want to liven up your snacks, lunch or just create a special treat? Have you ever thought of drying or dehydrating food at home? Many of us love the taste of a chewy piece of dried fruit, a savory bite of beef jerky, or the added crunch of dried seeds in a salad. Oftentimes, however, these types of goodies are expensive or loaded with added . . . more »

Anyone who spends time looking into popular trends in health and nutrition has probably heard about juicing. From promising to help you lose loads of weight, to cleansing your body to lowering cholesterol, juicing is a craze that often seems to travel into “cure-all” territory. While many of the claims about juicing have not been scientifically proven to be true, there are some benefits to . . . more »

1. Snæfellsjökull, Iceland This 700,000-year-old volcano was made famous by the popular Jules Verne novel, A Journey to the Center of the Earth. (Photo courtesy of Landvarðablog) 2. Tintern Abbey Tintern, Gwent NP16 6SQ United Kingdom Tintern Abbey has inspired many famous works, most notably William Wordsworth's poem "Lines written a few miles above Tintern Abbey," Lord Alfred Tennyson's poem "Tears, Idle Tears," and Allen . . . more »

As someone who is expecting their first child in June, I can tell you that worrying about fitness during pregnancy can be very stressful. How do I stay fit as my body expands at an incredibly fast pace? What exercises are safe? How much is too much? These are all questions that every expecting mother asks, and the answers aren’t always clear. According to the . . . more »

When I first saw this video, I could hardly believe what I was seeing and hearing! Alice Herz-Sommer is the oldest known Holocaust survivor. At 109 years old, she lives in London and still plays the piano daily. She is a trained classical pianist and had begun giving concerts in her hometown of Prague, when the Germans took over the city and she was taken, . . . more »

We all know the old adage, but in these heady days of print vs e-media, one of the great pleasures of reading print is appreciating the artistry that goes into book design. There are many publishers, authors, editors, and designers who celebrate the many considerations that go into the presentation of a print book. Look anywhere on the internet and you'll find designers who have . . . more »