The Varieties of Religious Experiences

The Varieties of Religious Experiences, written by William James in 1902 is a widely renowned classic book.

It covers a wide range of different topics. How do we define evil? What is evil? How is the difference between a mind that is well and a mind that is not well defined?

It examines religious beliefs, looks at how our religious beliefs are view not only by ourselves but by other people, too.

He drew on several wells for this seminal work, philosophy and psychology and also on the great body of work that made up literature until the very last part of the 19th century.

He examines saints and sinners, looks at the works of people who have claimed to be prophetic and of others who served as their scholars or acolytes.

It is an extremely interesting and captivating book, remarkable easy to read. The introduction and notes, by the editor of this edition, Matthew Bradley, are of considerable benefit to the reader.

It is published by the OUP in paperback at £10.99.

The Ancient Olympics by Nigel Spivey

We hear much about the Olympic ideal, of how the modern Olympics are a reflection of the ancient, 'pure' Olympic ideal.

Nothing could be more removed from the truth about the ancient Olympics!

In this erudite, yet extremely easy to read book, Nigel Spivey turns his expertise on to a very interesting look at what the ancient Olympics were really like.

Cheating and bribery were common, contests were not only fierce but incredibly bloody because the Olympics were not a gentile exercise in unity of mankind, they were war without the killing. Well, without a great deal of killing because as Spivey points out some Olympic clashes proved to be fatal to some of the Olympians.

Spivey also has some interesting facts on the origins of the Olympics and dispels some myths, too. For example, there was no Marathon race in the ancient Olympics and victory really was all.

It will be of great interest to fans of the modern Olympics and those studying the history of ancient Greece. It is in paperback, published by the OUP at £9.99.

New Book Encourages Men to Speak Out about Childhood Sexual Abuse

Jan L Frayne wants men to know there is no shame in admitting they suffered abuse.

According to the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, 17,727 sexual crimes against children under 16 were recorded in England and Wales in 2010-11. Timed to coincide with the U.S Child Abuse and Awareness month in April, author Jan L Frayne offers readers his poetic memoir Beyond Survivor – Rising from the Ashes of Childhood Sexual Abuse: A Collection of Writings (published by AuthorHouse).

In Beyond Survivor Frayne, who boasts Welsh Poet Dylan Thomas in his ancestry, offers his own history, hoping to help other victims of abuse find the courage and strength to seek help to triumph over it, and to increase awareness and education among the general public. “Child abuse is in the headlines almost every week,” he says.

“Very few men are prepared to come forward and be counted. I hope this shows them there is no shame in doing so.”

An excerpt from Beyond Survivor, the poem “A New Dawn”:

My heart’s empty hallways echo forlornly.
My eyes but broken windows to my soul.
Blinded by my own fractured self,
So that I would be ignorant to truth,

My flesh aching and writhing in remembrance,
Spirit disfigured and grounded with clipped wings,
Silent tears fall for innocence long dead.
But beneath the chaos a light flickers dimly.

From the all-consuming madness comes hope,
A new tomorrow, a new dawn, a new hope.
Out of the ashes of a childhood destroyed,
I will rise, stand firm, and be strong.

Author Patricia A. McKnight, in her review of the book, says, “This expertly written book shows the path of standing strong and achieving what all mankind desires; retrieving the happiness once destroyed by the wicked. This collection of outstanding poetry and prose is a must read for all as inspiration to prevail against the challenges put forth in the battle to obtain our own freedom.”

About the Author
Mr Jan L Frayne is a 44-year-old male survivor of childhood sexual abuse. An advocte for survivors of childhood sexual abuse worldwide, he has written both prose and poetry since he was 11 years old.

First Preserves: Marmalades Now Available On iBook®

Vivien Lloyd, the country's leading authority on preserves, has released First Preserves: Marmalades as an iBook®, featuring recipes that can be made throughout the year. It combines the interactive nature of the iPad® with elements of Vivien's acclaimed first book, also entitled First Preserves.

This multi-touch iBook offers detailed explanations of each stage of the preserving process, from the preparation to how to fill and seal the jars, with galleries of informative colour photographs and embedded video demonstrations from Vivien.

A helpful "Define, Highlight, Note and Search" facility allows the reader to obtain definitions, explore further information online and set up a personal notebook to record all their thoughts during the preserving process, and all the equipment needed for successful marmalade-making is described, with direct links to suppliers' websites.

First Preserves: Marmalades also features the original book's popular chapter on competitions, utilising Vivien's extensive judging experience by providing anyone planning to enter a preserves competition with that crucial edge. Vivien offers advice on preparing for the competition, divulges the key elements that judges are looking for and reveals the common faults in unsuccessful entries. 

All the recipes in the book advocate Vivien's strong belief that preserve-making is a simple science. She says: 'Follow a few straightforward rules and you have an inexpensive and rewarding activity you can enjoy over and over.'

With First Preserves: Marmalades, Vivien aims to bring the tradition of marmalade-making to a new audience, informing and inspiring beginners and enthusiasts alike to get into the kitchen to make the popular preserve, and to perhaps even experience the excitement of entering a competition.

FACTFILE:

• Vivien Lloyd has 25 years' worth of experience of making and demonstrating award-winning preserves
• Vivien won 'Best of the Best' at the 2008 World's Original Marmalade Festival
• First Preserves: Marmalade is available to download from the Apple iBookstore in 32 countries, priced £5.49 http://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/first-preserves-marmalades/id513881112?mt=11
• First Preserves, the original book, covering jams and chutneys as well as marmalades is on sale now, priced at £14.99 and available from amazon and www.vivienlloydpreserves.com
• Twitter: @Vivienlloyd and Facebook.

New from author Lee Baldwin

Author Lee Baldwin, writer of Angle of Attack reports that his book Angle of Attack has now come out in a special second edition, with a rewrite on the last two chapters.

Lee Baldwin has launched a new website Baldwin Books to promote Angle of Attack and his other books.

The Diary Of A Student Midwife

"Journal of a Student Midwife" by Ellie Ryan

Candid diary documenting the reality of being a student midwife

Ever since she had her own children in her early twenties, Ellie Ryan was determined to become a midwife - 'the best job in the world'! After her children started school, Ellie began the demanding training she needed to achieve her ambition.

Ellie kept a blog-style journal throughout her training; the result combines laughter and friendship with poignant reminders that life is never as simple as we would like it to be. There are high points as Ellie takes steps towards reaching her goal; gaining confidence in her profession and helping women bring their babies into the world.

On the other hand, Ellie worries that she will never have what it takes to become 'a proper midwife' and feels terrible guilt about the detrimental effect her pursuit of this career could be having on her family. This real-life story provides an intimate and candid account of the author's journey towards becoming a midwife and the struggle to balance her professional and family life.

After being made redundant from her job in a call-centre, Ellie Ryan decided she would return to college to train as a nurse. After working as a nurse for a year she returned to university in order to achieve her dream of becoming a midwife. Ellie is now a practising midwife.

31st May 2012.  £12.99 Paperback.  ISBN 978-1-84624-708-8

• This real-life blog-style journal will appeal to student midwives and the midwifery and nursing professions, plus women in general who will identify with the pressures of combining work and home life
• Candid account of midwifery training and the workings of the profession
• Working wife and mother balancing the demands of her career with those of her young family

The Oracle of Life: a sci-fi book for children of all ages, bringing together extraordinary powers of the mind, a holographic playground and the return of long sworn enemies in one explosive adventure story.

Thirteen-year-old Julius McCoy is about to start his second year at Tijara Academy, in the Zed Lunar Perimeter. With the threat of the Arneshians averted for the moment, he can get on with the important part of his school life: developing his rare mind-skills.

Of course, what any student on Zed looks forward to most is competing in games in the Hologram Palace. But who is the mysterious lady hidden in one of the games? 

An encounter with her will set in motion an exciting and dangerous treasure hunt that will give him a whole new perspective on the real history of Zed, and ultimately beyond to a shocking truth that could jeopardise the safety of everyone he holds dear.
 

When an old enemy returns, it becomes clear that the Arneshians are back with a new plan for taking over Zed and seizing control of Earth. As the pieces of the puzzle fall into place, and he is drawn towards a climactic showdown, it will take all of Julius’s mind-skills as he is forced into a deadly final confrontation.

The Tijaran Tales series brings the complex genre of science fiction easily within grasp for readers of all ages. The books look at the trials of growing up, the joy of friendship and the need to stand up for what's right, as seen through the eyes of a particularly unique group of children.

A sample chapter from Tijaran Tales: The Oracle of Life is available to read at: www.authorsonline.co.uk

FACTFILE:
Francesca Tristan Barbini was born in 1976 and raised in Rome, Italy. After years of volunteer work around the world, she completed an MA Honours in Religious Studies, focusing on the Ancient Near East and the Dead Sea Scrolls. She currently teaches R.E. in a Scottish high school.

Her free time is divided between family and writing children's novels. An active member of the Tolkien Society, she also runs a kinship on Lord of the Rings Online. Barbini is currently working on the third instalment of her Tijaran Talesseries.

Visit: www.ftbarbini.com

Imprint: Bright Pen
Published: 02/04/12
ISBN (Paperback editions): 978-0-7552-1440-2
eBook Download Price: £3.95
PaperBack Purchase Price: £7.99