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In his two most recent books, American Dynasty and Wealth and Democracy, Kevin Phillips has perhaps rightly earned the prestigious moniker of America’s premier analyst and critic. Now, in his new release, a doom and gloom tome some 480 pages long, Kevin Phillips assails three overlapping, growing, forces that threaten to rain on the parade of the American way of life. Actually, American Theocracy : The Peril and Politics of Radical Religion, Oil, and Borrowed Money in the 21st Century, at $26.95 retail is still a great value because it is really three books in one, with just enough threads woven between the very different but often interrelated fabrics to help illustrate the upcoming perfect storm.
Kevin Phillips, as a former Republican strategist and observer for over 30 years, has a keen sense of the current political and economic landscape. When contrasted against his commanding historical perspectives, the author is aptly able in his book to show how past world powers, from the Roman to the British empires, have faced and failed the same critical circumstances the United States currently faces at the beginning of the 21st century. American Theocracy demonstrates that essentially every world dominating power is lured by the sirens of global over-reach and ultimately falls into the traps of resource depletion, runaway debt and the wars of militant religion.
In Part I of American Theocracy, Kevin Phillips looks at the ramifications of our preocupation of oil, past and present. The book maintains that American supremacy was derived by our exploitation and effective use of a newly useable form of energy on the world stage. While other nations were trapped in their inertias of coal, wind and water infrastructures, America quickly realized the versatility of this black gold and leveraged a nation around it. In fact, with only roughly five percent of the world’s population, Americans still consume over 25 percent of the world’s oil. But supply of this precious resource has always been a concern. American Theocracy points to World War II especially, which was waged by Japan and Germany to secure their hold on this vital fossil fuel for modern economies. The book takes care to explain that America itself has been heavily involved in its own petro-imperialism over the last century. Moreover, the life blood of our economy is becoming more difficult to find and extract even as the world economies are demanding more. One little know fact in all of this, as other Middle East supplies are being exhausted, is that Iraq is the last large pool of oil on the planet. And all of this still virtually untapped, near the surface. American Theocracy describes how Iraq has never been able to pump much of its oil, with U.N. sanctions in the 90’s, war with Iran in the 80’s and so forth. With the thinly disguised cloak of spreading democracy and fighting terror, it is of little surprise, given our history of petro-imperialism in the Middle East, and the fact that there is an estimated one trillion dollars in estimated profits for the (American) companies who will pump it, that we found ourselves with troops in Iraq.
Complicating matters further, Part II of this book explores the unprecedented rise in evangelical religion and its surging influence in American politics, especially under the presidency of George W. Bush. Kevin Phillips believes Republicans view the world in apocalyptic terms and endeavor to shape domestic and foreign policy around fundamentalist religion. This undue influence of faith over fact, and religion over (prudent) reason has resulted in inept policies, which only serve to weaken our respect, prestige and effectiveness in the world. This zealous underpinning has put us on a collision course with much of Islam, swelling the ranks, ironically, of terrorists, not to mention many other miscalculations, putting us in peril of a self-fulfilling prophecy. American Theocracy describes how we are endangering our future, as virtually every war is fought over resources or religious ideology. We seem to be running out of the former and have an over abundance of the latter.
In Part III, American Theocracy contends what is the traditional hallmark of an overextended world power: over consumption and massive public and private debt. Huge trade deficits, trillions of dollars in national debt and financial speculation, made worse by the influence of big business and Wall Street on Washington only serve to exacerbate the problem. The Republican Party, once the icon of sound fiscal policy, has discarded its ideals by mortgaging our country’s financial health and future to the whim of other countries in order to fund and maintain our status quo around the world.
American Theocracy : The Peril and Politics of Radical Religion, Oil, and Borrowed Money in the 21st Century is not without its critics. Many feel Kevin Phillips is biased and bigoted in his view as he tackles the concerns he has for the Christian right and their influence in America today. Others may feel he is not always accurate in his facts. But this is to be expected by stirring the pot and necessarily not always being politically correct. Having said that in view of the import of the thesis presented in no way detracts nor dismisses these vital problems all Americans face.
The prolific and exceptional historian and Churchill biographer Martin Gilbert has produced another interesting volume for the expanding library of Churchilliana. Gilbert’s look at the complex (and hardly submissive) relationship between Churchill and America, is edifying reading given the current threats faced by the once “Anglo” powers and Britain’s increasing Euro-centric orientation. Inter-state relations are necessarily complex, and Gilbert does a great job of detailing Churchill’s 60 year relationship with America, and outlining why, for world peace and prosperity, an Anglo-US partnership is vital. Churchill, for all his disputes with the Americans, certainly felt so.
The book runs about 400 pages and much of the material will be familiar to those acquainted with Mr. Gilbert’s copiously informative official biography. What is new is the refraction of events during Churchill’s long career, with America and the surprisingly profound fixation Churchill possessed about preserving US-British harmony. Chapter headings confirm Churchill’s appreciation of Anglo-American unity and hegemonic responsibility. “If we are together nothing is impossible”, “Our Band of Brothers”, “Never be separated from the Americans”, etc. Churchill, the dogmatic aristocrat of British Imperial splendor, understood that Britain alone was not a great force in world affairs, but that with American support; he could still influence world events.
Mr. Gilbert observes that Churchill possessed two important concepts regarding Anglo-US relations, both of which are still relevant today. First, isolationism, withdrawal, and insularity by a great power only leads to international chaos and irruption. Second, even given the grave differences in self-interest between the US and Britain, the commonality of outlook, institutions, laws, culture and even history (not to mention language), mandates a close cooperation between the two states, and that such cooperation benefits the international system and its attendant concerns including; peace, trade and stability. These two propositions, then and now, deeply offend socialists, Marxists, and race-baiters. Churchill had a very difficult time indeed throughout his career in convincing fellow Brits that an informal alliance with the US was in Britain’s best interest.
Churchill rightly commented that both world-wars could have been prevented if the US (especially) and Britain (less so) had pre-emptively intervened in world affairs. US disengagement from European politics insured that a Civil War would rage in Europe. A fact which was repeated during the 1990’s in the Balkans. As Churchill stated during a 1947 speech which looked back at the causes of World War II and forward to the Cold War, “War is not inevitable, but it would be inevitable if Britain and the United States were to follow the policy of appeasement and one-sided disarmament which brought about the last war.” (P.384)
Even Churchill’s tepid support of a “World Instrument” or a “United States of Europe”, was qualified by the avowal that only a US-British partnership could give such creations a chance of survival and a claim to legitimacy, and purposeful direction. For Churchill, International Institutions were to support the spread of peace, trade, law and rights. Only great powers acting in concert could promote such lofty ideals. (He would of course be amazed and disgusted by the perversion, waste and corruption of today’s U.N.O.).
Some other observations made by Churchill about the necessity and right of Anglo-American cooperation and engagement in international affairs.
“……the two great English speaking nations- the two great world creditor nations, the two great anti-communist nations…find a practical way out of this present ghastly world muddle (the Depression…..” (P.145)
“A tithe of the efforts now being made by America (Cold War), would have prevented the Second World War….” (P.399)
“He (Churchill) felt that he was called on as a result to serve the function of uniting the two great Anglo-Saxon civilizations in order to confer the benefit of freedom on the rest of the world.” (U.S. V.P. Wallace, diary 1943, P. 276).
As Churchill adjured the Americans post – 1945, higher ideals and moral suasion would need to inform US policy. Indeed and moral suasion would need to inform US policy. Indeed it can be stated that the mixture of US self-interest with “Wilsonian” liberalism has resulted in a foreign policy that is rather unique. The 1947 Marshall Plan, plan to save Europe; defending Korea and Vietnam; stopping genocide in the Balkans; intervening in 14 conflicts to save Muslim populations; the support of Israel; the funding of UN; and the billions of private dollars sent to overseas charities highlight what Churchill demanded in 1946m “(that) the United States must realize its power and its democracy for resolute guidance”. This is as true today as it was in 1946.
None of this is to suggest that Churchill wanted Britain subservient to US interests. But post-war Britain was unstable and broke. Only by repairing its economy, trade position, and instruments of power (the Navy, Diplomatic Corps, industry etc), could Britain hope to regain influence. American aid and support, then as now, was vital. American’s “arsenal of democracy” extracted over $100 billion in war payments from Britain, just paid off in 2005. Over the years Churchill volubly complaints about American desire to dismantle the British Empire. Disregards British interests; trust Soviet Russia (pre-1947); engage in economic protectionism; or impose unilateral (and usually utopian) solutions to complex issues in the geo-political sphere. Indeed in many ways Churchill never trusted, but usually admired the abstract ideal of America, and its leadership cadre. He did not however, countenance ignorant and misinformed anti-Americanism, “….Churchill deplored the anti-American attitude of (left-wing politicians)…” (P. 387). Marxist jingoism, while emotionally satisfying is not intelligent commentary.
Mr. Gilbert’s book has some valuable lessons. First, the world is a much better (I would say even a great place), thanks to Anglo-American historical development. Second, an Anglo-American partnership is the best guarantor of peace and prosperity. Third, relating to the Americans is best done from a position of strength and self confidence, not from supine weakness, and moral carping.
As usual Mr. Gilbert has fashioned an informative and interesting volume on his favorite topic. Its contents echo from the past to find relevance today.
New France was the French colony organized in the North America. The first French foundation – Quebec – was established in 1603. The French society was concentrated on the fur trade and Catholic missions. The Spanish and the French understood the importance of the maintenance of friendly relations with the Native Americans and it became their major priority. In his ‘The People of New France’ Allan Greer describes the growth and development of the French colony in Canada. His book is a deep look into the social life of New France that occupied a large territory of the North American continent. French colonial society was developing rapidly owing to the fur trade with the Native Americans. The French regime allowed woman in the status of a wife to be an equal owner of the family property along with her husband. The similar law was present in New Spain where women had the same amount of rights. Another common feature was that the Spanish as well as the French wanted to find gold and silver in America, to trade with the Native Americans and to convert them to their religion.
Despite its growth French Canada became an obstacle for English government to establish its colonies in the North America. England started the colonization of America in 1607 having established its first colony in Jamestown. England sent many people to America – more than 400,000 in the 17th century. Besides, the English established constant agricultural settlements and converted Native Americans to their religion. New England society was more secularized and increasingly overpopulated than the Spanish and the French societies. The English society was based on family farms and land that was inherited by relatives.
In his book ‘American Colonies: The Settling of North America’ Alan Taylor describes many cultures and societies that formed America. He stresses the significance of the Native Americans, African slaves, who worked on the plantations, and the contribution of the Spanish, French and English colonizers to the development and growth of the USA society. The author tries to be objective in his description of the English colonial society emphasizing that the British and especially their spawn the Americans dedicated their governments to promoting commerce. Taylor depicts the mixture of nations and the interlay of freedom and slavery in the colonized America, as well as the movement toward colonial independence displayed by the English in New England. Thus, the Spanish, English and French created unique colonial societies in the Americas. Although each society had its own features, all of them had similar features in the organization, development and growth of trade, silver and gold mines, agriculture and communication with Native Americans.
Each year we get a lot of questions about Book Expo (BEA). Authors and publishers are wondering if they should go, how they will benefit from it and most importantly, how best to maximize BEA. This year I decided to ask AME’s Publishing Consultant, Jerry D. Simmons for his take on BEA. Having spent countless hours at this event, I thought he would be a perfect candidate to share some valuable insight on this big publishing event!
1) For those who are reading this who don’t know what BEA is, can you explain what it is?
Book Expo America is the annual showcase for the largest publishers in the world. It’s a place where companies rent booth space to display their goods and services. The convention hall includes publishers and related businesses, both large and small, which offer products and services to industry professionals directly or indirectly related to the industry.
2) Someone reading this might wonder, why would I attend BEA? Do you think it benefits anyone in publishing to go to an event like this and if so, why?
If you’ve never attended, it is fun to attend at least once just to get a feel for what the bigger world of publishing is all about. Depending on your particular situation either as an author or business person, it is the one place where all related companies gather to display their offerings so if you want to see what the industry is all about and how you or your business might fit, it’s worth the visit. Book Expo can be as much or as little as you want out of it, but if you derive your revenue from books, publishing, or anything related, you should attend at least once.
3) Can you explain the setup of BEA? It seems that the big 6 New York publishers are always taking center stage of this event, is that true? Is it a case of “whoever can throw the most money at this event gets the biggest booth?” Or is BEA generally a primary focus of corporate publishing?
BEA is focused around the six big publishers, no doubt, without them the BEA would hold little relevance to the general public. As it stands today, the media is interested simply because of the celebrity authors and future bestsellers that are on display. Each of these big companies may spend well in excess of $1 million on this show so it is a big deal for them and they spend a lot of time in New York preparing.
Booth placement is key for this show and the sponsors do the best they can to make everyone happy. Size of the booth is indicative of how much money the sponsors are receiving from the big publishers. Having attended more than 20, I would have to say that the BEA as it now stands is as much representative of corporate publishing as anything else.
4) So, let’s say I’m a small publisher looking for more exposure for my books. How would I strategize BEA to my best advantage?
For small publishers BEA becomes a necessity to attract the kind of attention it takes to build your business and sell books. If you are small and do not attend, then industry wide you are not seen as a “player” in the publishing business. The best way to strategize if you are a small publisher is to make sure your booth reflects who you are or who you want to be as a publisher. You have to promote your company to the industry, such as agents, authors, and other publishers. It’s important for you to put forth the perception that you publish quality product and are serious about your own development as a company. The BEA is the place where you have an opportunity to capture the attention of the bigger players regardless of their area of expertise. This is especially true if your books rarely get reviewed in the traditional media and if you are not based in Manhattan.
5) As a small publisher, what’s my best plan of attack? How should I prepare for this event?
The first thing you have to do is make sure you have developed an image you want to portray to the industry. If your focus is quality fiction then you need to have large images of your covers, with free and review copies available, and complete marketing plans, including promotion, publicity and advertising. You have to mimic what the big publishers are doing which gives the impression you can compete even if you are on a smaller scale.
6) I’m a vendor looking to acquire more business. Let’s say I’m a publicist or marketing person – why would I want to go to this event and how could it benefit me?
The first thing I would do is walk the halls and get the lay of the land, in other words, determine where the big publishers are located and what all the other booths are about. It’s one thing to read the BEA catalog or read Publishers Weekly for the convention layout, it’s quite another to walk the hall to see for yourself what each of these businesses are all about. The employees of all the big companies constantly walk the halls looking at their competition, and not just the big publisher booths, but the entire hall.
As a vendor trying to acquire more business, I’d gather as much free information in the form of handouts as you can possible carry, including catalogs from everyone. I would also gather as many business cards as you can and shake hands and speak with as many people as you can meet. Then at night in your hotel pour over all of this information looking for opportunities. I’d pick up as much competitive information as possible and then use this information in acquiring more business.
7) As an author, how could BEA impact my career? How could BEA help me?
Depending on where you are in your writing career attending a BEA for the first time should open your eyes to the possibilities. The books you see from the biggest publishers could easily have been written by you, it’s all about understanding the market, positioning your manuscript, having knowledge of what the big guys are looking for, how they purchase rights to publish books, and then knowing how to market yourself as an author. As you walk the hall you will get a sense of just how big the industry, how serious you need to approach your writing, and how extremely important it is to know how the business operates. The authors of the books you see in the catalogs of the big publishers are no more talented than you, but they know something about the business and how to market themselves and their writing. If you’re serious about a career as a writer, you can learn what you need to know to be successful by keeping your eyes open and developing your plan.
 As someone who’s attended many of these events, what are some insider tips you can share about event networking and attracting new business at an event of this magnitude?
The idea that you can walk into any booth and make a cold call on an editor, publisher or any business and accomplish something is the easiest way to be seen as an amateur. When that happens, no one will take you seriously. The BEA is not the place to try and transact business; it’s the place to meet people that will hopefully allow you to transact business in the future. The only way for anything to get accomplished at BEA is to have established some contact prior to the show and then set an appointment to meet during the show. That is the only way. Dropping in on people and sticking your hand out with a business card is the quickest way to ruin what reputation you might have established.
9) Many people say that “deals are made at Book Expo” but is that true, are there deals made on the event floor?
The biggest deals the largest publishers make is international rights transactions. I can’t say that deals are never done on the floor, but if there are, then BEA is the end point, not the beginning. Discussions are held that lead to business being conducted, but rarely do agents and authors, service and product vendors initiate contact at BEA that result in business being conducted at that moment. The atmosphere is more festive and most executives hate to have serious discussions on the floor. BEA is the place for introductions, exchanging of information, but not serious business.
10) As a service provider, publisher, or author – what are some things to look for in book placement, catalog placement, or promotional pieces that might clue me into new trends, or vendors one might want to connect with.
First of all depending on the product or service you provide, you need to scope out the competition. Who else is offering the same and how are they presenting themselves to the public? This is very important. If you are looking for opportunities from publishers’ catalogs, look for books that are similar to ones you have worked on in the past. Particularly check out the marketing of these titles and make a mental note on those which you have something to offer that is new and exciting for the publisher.
If you are a small publisher again, take note of the competition. Publishing is about perception; compare your presentation to your competitive publishers. Does your catalog compare? What about your marketing plans? Prices? Page counts? What are they doing differently? The goal is to figure out how to compete effectively.
As an author, there are tons of free and review copies available on the floor of the big publishers at all times, these are the titles they are heavily promoting. Pick them up and read them, this is what is selling today, compare the story, not the writing and pay attention to what publishers are doing to promote their books. Regardless of how you publish, there are plenty of marketing ideas floating around, right in front of your eyes, pay attention because chances are you can take those ideas back home and use them.
11) What type of information gathering do you recommend someone does prior to the event? What’s the best way to prepare for Book Expo?
Remember, the BEA is not the place to transact business; it’s the place to meet people who you can eventually do business with. It’s okay to have a plan of how you want to tour the hall, especially if your time is limited. But the best preparation is hunting and gathering as I’ve discussed before. The BEA has plenty of information to share, take advantage of the free offering in one location, and it happens only once per year.
The best way to prepare for a BEA is REST! Attending a BEA can be exhausting, go in with your eyes open and don’t let the show overwhelm you. It can be daunting to walk in and see all the huge displays and walk away feeling like you’re lost. This is the place to see what’s going on in the world of publishing. I tell my clients that the bookstore is their laboratory, where they can find out what’s being published and how books are being marketed. If the bookstore is your lab, the BEA is the PhD program for students of the business. There is a lot to learn and much you can gather at a BEA.
(Originally published on the AME blog and reprinted with permission of the author, Penny Sansevieri).
Penny C. Sansevieri, CEO and founder of Author Marketing Experts, Inc., is a book marketing and media relations expert whose company has developed some of the most cutting-edge book marketing campaigns. Visit AME.
I still remember the early morning of November 4, 2008, as the US Presidential election results started pouring in, I realized that something unbelievably historic was happening in America. I just couldn’t stop wondering how a Black – African American (since so many mails and messages have told me!) – could become the President of the United States of America; the same country that had earlier re-elected George Bush as the President! The whole experience was so tumultuous! I couldn’t help recall old books about America that I had read. Books about the Civil War that President Abraham Lincoln had presided over; the war that eventually resulted in the emancipation of blacks. As I wrote in my editorial in The Sunday Indian on November 9, 2008, my favourite book, of course, was Uncle Tom’s Cabin. The book – which passionately documented the immense pain of black slaves – is perhaps the greatest read for any human wishing to understand the meaning of the term ‘depth of character’, and is guaranteed to bring tears to your eyes. And on January 21, 2009, I relived the whole gamut of those emotions seeing Barack Hussein Obama emotionally taking his oath to become the 44th President of the United States of America. That day again, I actually felt that historical figures like Lincoln and Stowe did have the biggest path-breaking roles to play in changing the character of modern day America.
My appreciation for Obama is immense, and this appreciation does not simply come from his becoming the President; but from his becoming President for all the right reasons. He demanded change from his fellow Americans, not simply in economic outlook or policy orientation, but in something graver; he beseeched them to realise that in the hardships of today should not be forgotten the intensity of the American character of past. Despite all research to the contrary – that a Black presidential candidate stood no chance against the white combine of America – Obama committed passionately to his steadfast belief that American character was deeper than suspected, wider than speculated and more intense than believed by Americans themselves… and he won… a win that is not only as brilliant as the brilliance of all his outstanding speeches combined – for I have rarely seen a more powerful and emotional orator than him – but a win that mirrors Obama’s greatness as proved by his commandingly devastating books – for Obama is great not just because of the words he speaks, but because of the greatness of the words that he has written in his books, which conclusively prove his magnificent character. I go as far as to say, and perhaps demand, that after his eight years as US President (!), Obama should be made the Secretary General of the United Nations for at least a decade more; for the world needs as amazing a leader as Barack Obama if we ever want to even take a shot at one day having true global peace and equitable development of the masses.
But even as I write this, Obama faces daunting challenges in Asia. And the least of those challenges that I’m worried about is Obama’s illogical disposition towards the outsourcing conundrum, with respect to specifically India. Obama has flatly commented that he wishes to restrict the outsourcing business to countries like India. But Obama, for all the gallery motivating statements, would fail double time on this issue. To discourage government departments from outsourcing is one thing, but forcing most competitive American multinationals to follow the example? Leave in high end software consulting and development, in this era of economic deceleration, there is no way that sensible global corporations would follow Obama think to stop IT outsourcing to India simply because of a patriotic appeal, especially when the cost benefits are dramatically expansive, sometimes even reaching 90% cost reductions.
Obama’s biggest challenges lie rather in foreign policy in Asia. And I have many questions. In Iran, Obama faces his predicament, as Bush faced supposedly in Iraq. Iran, and its clearly undiplomatic-mouthed President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, have regularly threatened the US about their intentions to go nuclear. Obama’s challenge lies in the Iran Libya Sanctions Act (after which came the present Iran Sanctions Act), which was in reality put in place in 1995 by the Bill Clinton establishment. The question is, will Obama go against this Act to create his own new liberal politico-think? That has a very slim chance of happening. And under what logic will Obama justify to Iran – which technically has a democratically elected government and was even a close ally of America till 1979 – that a nuclear deal can be signed with India but not with Iran?
And that leaves Obama with a neighbouring headache, remnants of the Bush era – Iraq! Obama has claimed he’s ready to pullout troops from Iraq and relocate them to Afghanistan. And this when the Afghan President Karzai has implored Obama to stay out of Afghanistan… How then would Obama ensure that the weekly bloodied ethnic battles between Shias and Sunnis in Iraq – which occur despite US presence – would not become more regular, god forbid daily? Will Obama also come clean about past US mistakes and reimburse to Iraq the losses they have suffered on account of stolen oil, a devastated economy and a destroyed society, all because of the US? I suspect Obama will not!
If there is North Korea that is threatening to go nuclear for a second time – and Obama’s predecessors have tried everything from hardball to soft pedal the Kim Jong clan – then there is China that is so strong economically that forget criticising China’s clear human right indiscretions, Obama might have to look towards them for an economic bailout in the future. If there are Arabs who’ve been well fed on US money for years and were the main reasons for inflation (by manipulating oil prices to reach historic highs), then there is Israel that only needs a justifiable excuse and a bloodthirsty Hamas to bomb everything in sight in Palestine. Will Obama come out strongly against all of them, now that he is the President? Slim chance again…
And perhaps the worst expected response of the Obama camp will be to the Pakistan issue. Will Obama continue to irrationally mollycoddle India to ‘take it easy’ despite huge casualties in the Mumbai attacks and despite clear evidence of the Pakistan administration’s complicity? I believe that the spineless Indian politicians will actually make his task easier. But the truth is that if Obama, like his ill valued predecessor, continues to finance Pakistan and its leaders in spite of their being a terrorist state, a major part of the Indian populace – which fervently wants to believe in him – would lose complete faith in him and the values that he stands by. For in his response to terror in Asia – especially in the Pakistan-India conflict – lies his biggest nemesis. Slight Pakistan, and Obama risks losing a critical geographical military beachhead in attacking al-Qaeda targets in border regions. Slight India, and Obama risks losing long term support from an economic superpower of the future.
Unfortunately, to top it all, Obama’s fight to save the American economy would take precedence over every other global issue; for the solution to the current slowdown will require a long term structural repair program engineered by global governments, and Obama’s focus would completely be diverted to this issue for most of his first term at least. And that is the irony of it all; that though the world expects gargantuan change from a person who personifies the promise resounding in his words, most of the change would occur in the American continent only. And Asia, for most of it, will remain unchanged… lakhs would continue dying of poverty, many more would suffer ill-health, and lakhs more would succumb fatally to hunger. Asia will sadly remain unchanged.
But that in no way takes away an iota from Obama the fact that history, and future, will never remain the same. In my November 9, 2008, editorial, I was compelled to write: “Above all, it is the United States of America which won today at least the hearts of millions like me all over the world, because today, America has shown that it has in it to finally give respect to a black man at the highest level possible; and this surely will change world history forever.” Today, in Barack Hussein Obama, I see Uncle Tom’s deep emotion resounding in the dream of Martin Luther King Jr., a dream that had beseeched the character of Americans to change to a moment in history when a man would be judged by the content of his character and not by the colour of his skin. Today, in Barack Hussein Obama, I see that undeniable moment in history… And I would not give that up for anything!
Blurbs:
1. There is no way that global corporations would follow Obama’s call to stop IT outsourcing to India.
2. Will Obama continue to mollycoddle India to ‘take it easy’ despite clear evidence of Pakistan’s complicity?
Author Carole M. Lidgold (nee Thomas) was born in Toronto, is married, mother of two, grandmother of two, and attended Winston Churchill High School in Scarborough. She inherited her voice from her grandfather and father, and has sung in The Canada Life Choralaires, various church choirs and has been a member of the Serenata Singers for eleven years. Carole is the author of The History of The Guild Inn and has eight other self-published books. She tried politics but lost out and has since worked as a secretary, currently retired as a church secretary.
Featuring: Birds On My Brush by Carole M. Lidgold – In April 1763, unknown artist and naturalist, Elizabeth (nee Symonds) Gwillim was born in England. She accompanied her husband, Henry, to Madras, India, in the 1800s, where she died in 1807. In London, England, in 1924, a Dr. Casey Wood, surgeon and ornithologist, discovered in an ‘out of the way shop of arts’, Elizabeth Gwillim’s watercolour paintings. Today, 2009, these painting, painted two decades before Audubon published his illustrious Birds of America, are part of the Blacker-Wood collection of Zoology and Natural History, at McGill University, Montreal, Quebec. Prints of several of her painting of India’s birds are included in this novel.
About The Story: Birds On My Brush is a novel based on the few known facts of the life and untimely death of Elizabeth Gwillim. My character, Sarah Purcell, was born in the spring when birds were chirping the birth of their new offspring. As a child, and later as and adult, Sarah was obsessed with sketching precise details of the birds. She married William Cantwell, a barrister determined to live in the land of his boyhood hero, Robert Clive, and English hero in India’s development. Sarah’s younger sister, Rose Purcell, accompanied them on this journey. Rose’s tortured dream of death in India hampered her enjoyment of this new life.
Birds on My Brush Book Review: A compelling account of an unknown artist’s life!
The life and times of 18th-century wildlife artist Elizabeth Gwillim are shrouded in mystery and uncertainty. She was born in England in 1763 and moved to India with her husband in the early 1800s, where she worked diligently to perfect her art.
She never achieved public recognition in her lifetime and she died, an obscure, undiscovered artist, in her mid-40s; it appeared, for the longest time, as though her art may have gone to the grave with her.
Nearly two centuries later, Gwillim’s wildlife watercolours were “discovered” in a London, England art shop. Today, in death, Gwillim has achieved what she could not in life; her wildlife art, notably her precision sketches of birds, has been widely praised as among the finest of its era. Gwillim’s work now forms part of the Blacker-Wood Collection of Zoology and Natural History at McGill University in Montreal, one of Canada’s pre-eminent schools of higher learning.
Carole M. Lidgold, a Canadian writer fascinated with Gwillim’s life and art, has painted a fascinating portrait of Gwillim’s life in her new, fact-based fictional novel entitled Birds on My Brush. Lidgold has taken what is known of Gwillim’s history and has built around the edges, crafting a fully-realized novel from the sketchy framework of Gwillim’s remarkable life.
She has created a lead character, Sarah Purcell, utilizing the Purcell character as a standin for Gwillim, and producing a sweeping, engrossing tale that lovers of art and history will find both hugely enjoyable and dramatically memorable.
The story covers the artist’s life from the early years in England, through the productive artistic period in India, to the point of the artist’s comparatively early death. Along the way, this much is made very clear: author Lidgold’s fascination with Gwillim’s life and artwork shines brightly throughout the novel’s 280 pages. A particular bonus for readers is that Birds on My Brush offers up not only some factual context of the details of Gwillim’s life, but also some representative samples of her artistic work.
Lidgold is an accomplished writer, whose stories typically brim with life and vitality. Birds on My Brush offers something beyond that – an historic and artistic integrity that takes readers well back in time to contemplate the challenging life of an artist who produced first-rate work, but couldn’t break out from the prison of artistic obscurity.
The novel is a well-constructed triumph. It is a triumph that the artist herself could imagine only in her dreams.
Reviewed By Anonymous Reader
Book Details:
Paperback: 280 Pages
Publisher: Self-Published (April 17, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0968938116
ISBN-13: 978-0968938119
Genre: Fiction
Print List Price: $16.95
Purchase Directly From Author: (Use Pay Pal Button On The Webpage or Email Author):
http://www.booksinsync.com/authordirectory/lidgoldcarolem.html
Books by Carole M. Lidgold
History:
The History of the Guild Inn – ISBN: 0-9698244-8-3
Memories of Cayuga: Ontario’s Love Boat – ISBN: 0-9698244-2-4
Steamship Cayuga: Toronto’s Ship of Romance – ISBN: 0-9698244-3-2
Fiction:
Faces of the Night – ISBN: 0-9698244-5-9
Birds on My Brush – ISBN: 9780968938119
Children:
The Adventures of Inch Worm Willie – ISBN: 0-9698244-4-0
The Elf Who Made Snowflakes – ISBN: 0-9698244-6-7
Daisy Dee’s Party – ISBN: 0-9698244-7-5
(All of Carole’s children’s books are fun stories for children of all nationalities, from picture book to story. All three children’s books have pen and ink sketches with a colored laminated cover to withstand constant reading.)
Poetry:
Journey Into Christmas – ISBN: 0-9698244-0-8
Submitted by: Books In Sync
Douglas Chandler Graham grew up in rural Virginia close to Lakeside Amusement Park. He worked summers at this park from the age of twelve until he was eighteen when he joined the U.S. Army Air Force. Honorably discharged from the military, he became a street cop in Roanoke, Virginia. Over the years, he has been a bill collector, salesman, and postman. After retiring from the Postal Service, he became a certified private investigator and bodyguard. He has lived in Florida since 2000.
His first book ‘Smoke and Murders’ is a fictionalized story of the murder of the Hodges family as discovered in the small town of Vinton, Virginia, on August 29, 1994. Most of the characters are composites of people known to the author and, except for the murders; most of the situations are made up. Fascinated by the sequence of events as they unfolded, the author could not get the crime off his mind, and over the years, Smoke and Murders evolved. Urged by family and friends to finish the story, the author hopes that it will spark some interest in the real story of a man he believes was falsely convicted.
Books In Sync Honors DouglasChandler Graham For Service To His Country In The United States Military.
Sequel to Smoke and Murders (“Three Trailers Down”) Is Here As Promised!
Three Trailers Down by DouglasChandler Graham is the extended story that began in Smoke and Murders.
Although this may be regarded as a sequel it is a complete novel. After the small town of Vinyard is about to settle down after the murders of an entire family, new problems arise to keep the gossip pot boiling.
The story follows the Lieutenant that ran the Vinyard police department and was caught and fired for multiple criminal offenses.
Intrigue, murders, sex and money drive just about all the characters in Three Trailers Down, at least, the more sophisticated ones. The rest take life as they find it.
Douglas Chandler Graham tried to get dozens of organizations to look at the arrest and trial of Earl Bramblett in the five years after his trial while on death row. All were overloaded with other cases they were working, which should give some indication of justice in America, or the lack thereof. High profile cases give the impression every fact is checked and all evidence is examined. In the dark courtrooms of America “justice” is whatever the court determines, the law be damned. A prime example of this is on the ten year old website allamosa.com.
There was no justice in that trial and it cost Bramblett his life.
Details:
ISBN: 1-4415-5755-5 (Trade Paperback 6×9)
ISBN13: 978-1-4415-5755-1 (Trade Paperback 6×9)
Pages: 278
Book Format: Trade Book 6×9
Genre: True Crime/Biography & Autobiography/General
Print Price: $19.99
First Book:
Smoke and Murders by DouglasChandler Graham
This is a fictionalized story of the murder of the Hodges family as discovered in the small town of Vinton, Virginia, on August 29, 1994. Most of the characters are composites of people known to the author and, except for the murders; most of the situations are made up. Fascinated by the sequence of events as they unfolded, the author could not get the crime off his mind, and over the years, Smoke and Murders evolved. Urged by family and friends to finish the story, the author hopes that it will spark some interest in the real story of a man he believes was falsely convicted.
Book Details:
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Llumina Press (March 11, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1605942499
ISBN-13: 978-1605942490
Paper Back Price: $12.95
Hard Cover Price: $27.95
Genre: True Crime/Biography & Autobiography/General
Paper Back Price: $12.95
Hard Cover Price: $27.95
DouglasChandler Graham Author’s Pages On Books In Sync:
http://www.booksinsync.com/authordirectory/grahamdouglaschandler.html
http://www.booksinsync.com/honorveterans/douglaschandlergraham.html
North America Energy Efficiency Policy Handbook, 2010: Policy Measures Driving Energy Efficient Practices
This report provides an in-depth analysis of the policy initiatives in the US and Canada. It details the key policy instruments adopted by the US and Canadian governments and analyzes the different forms of incentives and subsidies provided for the development of energy efficient technologies. The report analyzes financial instruments such as tax reforms, subsidies, loans and other types of incentives. The report details the market-based instruments such as certificates driving the energy efficiency appliance market. The report discusses in detail the energy efficiency measures being taken by the industrial, residential, tertiary and transportation sectors of each country. The report assesses the key regulations and policies and their impact on the growth of the energy efficient appliance market. The report also discusses the role of the public sector in the deployment of energy efficiency measures. The report suggests investment decisions in building equipment, heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC), lighting, automotive equipment and boiler suppliers by describing the trends and information on various policy instruments by country. ( http://www.bharatbook.com/detail.asp?id=132383&rt=North-America-Energy-Efficiency-Policy-Handbook-2010-Policy-Measures-Driving-Energy-Efficient-Practices.html )
Focus on Reducing Carbon Emissions Drive Energy Efficiency Programs in the US
Several regulations in US have been developed in order to encourage the deployment of renewable source and energy efficiency measures. The ‘American Clean Energy and Security Act’ has provisions to reduce carbon emissions by decreasing the country’s consumption of fossil fuels. The consumption of energy from fossil fuels can be decreased by increasing the energy produced from renewable sources or by saving energy.
Energy efficiency measures can be used to reduce the energy consumed from fossil fuels, which is why the US climate bills has provisions to drive energy efficiency measures. The existing provisions in HR 2454 for energy efficiency measures could save $400 billion by 2030 and nearly $470 billion by 2050. The investments in energy efficiency measures will also create jobs, ensure energy security, drive innovations and save consumers’ money.
The provisions in the clean energy bills and budget allocations will drive the energy efficiency programs in the US.
Stimulus Package of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) has Boosted the Energy Efficient Appliance and Building Markets in the US during Recession
The ARRA was passed in 2009 and has encouraged significant investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy in the US. The recovery act was intended to provide a stimulus to the ailing, recession-hit American economy. A major portion of the stimulus package for the energy sector was focused on energy efficiency and renewable energy measures.
It was estimated that approximately 47% of the overall stimulus package of $16.8 billion went towards energy efficiency measures. ARRA has also extended the tax incentives which were part of Energy Policy Act 2005 (EPACT). ENERGY STAR rated appliances are also eligible for Federal Tax Credits. ARRA has encouraged the purchase of ENERGY STAR-rated appliances, new furnaces, windows and insulation for the energy efficient upgrade of homes.
The Canadian New Energy Efficiency Act is aimed at strengthening the Country’s ENERGY STAR rated Appliances Market
The Canadian government has planned to rigorously pursue energy saving targets through energy efficiency measures. As a part of the plan, the government has proposed amendments to the Energy Efficiency Act in order to enhance the standards for energy consuming equipment/appliances. Windows and doors, as well as thermostats and other energy-system control devices, are among the applications eligible for the new standards. The amended act facilitates the development of standards to reduce the energy consumption from televisions, microwaves, CD players and computers. The new act is expected to drive technologically advanced products with better energy performance. The stringency of the new standards and the need for compliance will drive the energy efficient appliance market in Canada.
To know more and to buy a copy of your report feel free to visit : http://www.bharatbook.com/detail.asp?id=132383&rt=North-America-Energy-Efficiency-Policy-Handbook-2010-Policy-Measures-Driving-Energy-Efficient-Practices.html
Or
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Introducing Author S. Brooks Juvenile Adventure Books:
The Diamond Traitors by S. Brooke
Book One In The Series
“The Diamond Traitors” is a young adult modern day fantasy for middle readers ages 8 and older. Join Becca on her adventure into her family’s homelands in another realm through openings called “the Mist”. Becca appears to be a normal fourth grader. But, she and her family come from another realm entered through openings called the Mist. Beyond the Mist, Becca begins to develop her own special abilities and learn about the world she comes from. She and her new friend, Violet, discover a secret and help save the lives of two people they both hold very dear.
Book Details:
Publisher: Publish America
Publishing Date: August 2007
ISBN-13: 9781424188499
Pages: 160
Genre: Juvenile
Softcover: $24.95
Purchase Website:
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Diamond-Traitors/S-Brooke/e/9781424188499/?itm=2
************************
The Shadow Diamond by S. Brooke
The Second Adventure Begins
Once again Becca’s special abilities continue to develop on the other side of the Mist. A new journey unfolds, this time on a beautiful tropical island. Becca and Violet come face to face with Richard Grant, the Traitor. He has left behind a trail of evil and vows revenge as he cleverly avoids capture. Becca and Violet dash into danger without a second thought for their own safety when two of their friends disappear from the beach. If you enjoyed The Diamond Traitors, follow along with Becca’s second adventure on the other side of the Mist.
Book Details:
Publisher: Publish America
Publishing Date: June 2008
ISBN-13: 9781606106594
Pages: 232
Genre: Juvenile
Softcover: $24.95
Purchase Website:
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Shadow-Diamond/S-Brooke/e/9781606106594/?itm=4
************************
The Ghost Diamond by S. Brooke
Becca’s Third Journey
Becca and her friends are staying at the castle on Ghost Island where the head Scholar, Sir Leon, is only interested in dancing. He isn’t the least bit concerned Paul and Amy Osteen may be running loose on his island.
Steven is in real danger and time is running out.
Mrs. Greenfield is no help. She can barely keep her eyes open this close to the Sensors’ hibernation season.
Becca and Violet are left on their own to explore the many hidden passages beneath the castle. Will they be able to save Steven before it’s too late?
If you enjoyed “The Diamond Traitors” and The Shadow Diamond” find out what’s happening next in Becca’s third journey through the Mist.
Purchase Links:
www.amazon.com
www.publishamerica.com
www.bn.com
www.buy.com
www.dealoz.com
Author’s Email:
brookewrites07@aol.com
Author’s Webpage On Book In Sync:
http://www.booksinsync.com/authordirectory/brookes.html
Submitted by Books In Sync
Author/Book Promotion
Website: http://www.booksinsync.com
Submission Date: March 2010
North American Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients Market Analysis and Forecasts to 2020
This report provides in-depth analysis of the North American active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) market and presents revenue forecasts up to 2020 for the United States and Canada. The report is based around the two major product types, namely, synthetic API and biotech API. Revenue forecasts are provided for both the product types. The synthetic API market is further analyzed based on the customer base – generic and innovative sectors. This study also provides detailed insights into the factors affecting the dynamics of the market with strategic analysis of the major trends. Market share analysis of the major companies in the whole North American market is also covered in the report. ( http://www.bharatbook.com/Market-Research-Reports/North-America-Active-Pharmaceutical-Ingredients-Market-Analysis-and-Forecasts-to-2020.html )
Economic Crisis Slows the Revenue Growth of the North American API Market
The current global economic crisis has negatively affected the North American API market leading to a drastic reduction in its growth. The economic crisis has necessitated the need for the governments to reduce their expenditure even in the healthcare sector. Therefore, in an attempt to realize significant savings of the healthcare expenditure, there is a shift away from the high-priced innovative drugs in the United States and Canada. This has resulted in a significant slowdown in the revenue growth of the North American API market. In 2009, the North American API market is set grow at a rate of around 2%.
Biotech APIs Set to Drive the Overall Growth of the API Market in North America
The biotech API market in North America is geared for a higher growth which is set to drive the overall growth of the API market. The increasing demand for the biological drugs is boosting the demand for the biotech API in the market place. Also, the technological advancement in the pharmaceutical industry is paving way for newer biotechnology drugs. The pharmaceutical industry is also optimistic about the approval of biogeneric drugs which is expected to create further growth in the development of the biotech API market. This will boost the growth of the biotech API market making it to grow at a rate significantly higher than the synthetic API market. The biotech API market is expected to grow at a CAGR of around 13% from 2008 to 2020.
Generic APIs Get a Boost Due to the Cost-Containment Measures in North America
Canada Poised to Increase its Revenue Share in the North American API Market
The Canadian API market, which held a revenue share of around 6% in 2008, is bound to increase its share to 7% in 2015. The Canadian API market is characterized by an emerging biotech API product segment which is growing fastest in the North American market.
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Bharat Book Bureau
Tel: +91 22 27578668
Fax: +91 22 27579131
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