"The Art of Managing" by Jane Treber Macken - Book Review

The Art of Managing: How to Build a Better Workplace and Relationshipsby Jane Treber MackenInfinity Publishing (2007)ISBN 9780741439338Business Guru Jane Treber Macken calls on her 36 years of acclaimed expertise in the business field to put together her first book, "The Art of Managing: How to Build a Better Workplace and Relationships." Her vast knowledge in both business and psychology bring a holistic flow to her methods, making her strategy a natural marriage between the two fields. "Bridging business and psychology will assist you not only in managing your workplace, but also in managing your personal life. Both are really about successfully managing relationships.""The Art of Managing" is the enlightened manager's guide to a more effective management style. It teaches and sharpens skills in successful communication based on personality types and levels of ability and motivation. By positively exploiting certain character 'flaws' and traits and knowing another's behavior style, managers can boost both individual vision and group interoperability. Macken utilizes specific examples from her background and upbringing to illustrate her points. She also brings in plenty of descriptive charts, exercises, and bolds key phrases that can be used as a management mantra. "The Art of Managing" is a quick read while easy to digest and emulate.Macken does a superb job bringing her technique full circle while bringing in the importance of a foundation of self-knowledge, continual personal growth, and unwavering ethics throughout. "The Art of Managing" is perfect for those established and aspiring managers hoping to be more effective leaders by building work environments full of trust, honesty, and open communication. I also think the book would serve those interested in bettering their own interpersonal skills. Whether or not one is a "manager" per se, the book offers valuable information on how to get to know oneself on a deeper level and improve your interaction experiences with people of other personality types."The Art of Managing" is definitely a positive alternative for those who have become frustrated with other methods of management. Jane Treber Macken's style is motivating and insightful, bringing a fresh take on employee mental well-being while keeping the ultimate goal of a successful business in focus. "People who continue to learn are better able to implement and manage continuous change, meet customer expectations and needs, and lead an organization to success in the competitive economic environment." dr seuss cat in hat quotes

Interview With Jane Treber Macken, Author of "The Art of Managing"

Interview with Jane Treber Mackenauthor of The Art of Managing: How to Build a Better Workplace and RelationshipsInfinity Publishing (2007)ISBN 9780741439338Tyler R. Tichelaar of Reader Views is joined today by Jane Treber Macken, author of "The Art of Managing: How to Build a Better Workplace and Relationships."Jane Treber Macken is a highly acclaimed business consultant, who has served as manager with companies in the energy and mortgage brokerage fields and served on the faculty at John F. Kennedy University. Her new book "The Art of Managing" discusses the attributes of successful people and teaches how to use these attributes to be successful in business and relationships.Tyler: Welcome, Jane. I'm happy to have you here today. I understand in "The Art of Managing" you explain that there are three key attributes to success. Would you begin by telling us what those attributes are?Jane: The three key attributes to success are caring and compassion for others, serving the community, and working on Self which means mind, body and spirit. These key attributes are responsible for building successful businesses, lasting relationships and a more balanced life.*Caring and compassion mean showing a deep sympathy and empathy which is an intellectual and emotional identification with another person; there is mutual understanding; and, especially an ability to share another's ideas and emotions. Successful leaders show patience and connectedness to others, including expecting no more or less from others than they were willing to do. In talking with their employees, they had high qualities of trust, a sense of fairness and were extremely patient. It's like, "They are able to put themselves in the other person's shoes."*Serving others and the community means engaging in some role in the community - service or charity. Leaders growing up in small towns or large families usually have a great sense of community. Everyone knows everyone else's business and there are few secrets. But, when you need help and support, the community or family is there for you. These trusting relationships carry over into these folks' adult lives and often result in genuine caring for others. Even if not raised this way, you can develop these skills through community involvement or mentorship.*Working on Self means paying attention to your mind, body and spirit; that includes expanding your knowledge through travel or education, eating the right foods, exercising, getting enough rest and meditating (sitting quietly, pondering, letting thoughts percolate up). Working on Self is really about honesty; honesty with ourselves...truly understanding ourselves. Honesty builds relationships. Our shadow fears dishonesty in Self. Our shadow causes us to REACT emotionally rather than RESPOND to others. When we react emotionally, it is part of our hidden shadow. It takes a lifetime to work on these emotional reactions to rid yourself of your shadow.These are the blind spots we all face. However, once you rid the shadow, you respond more frequently. Think of your shadow as a toy box. From the time you are born, all the negative messages you put in the toy box. All these emotions (fear, anger, sadness, guilt, rage, shame) are in this toy box. Something a person says or the way he/she looks at you may evoke an emotional reaction. Reflect and go back in time to when you first remember a similar word, situation, person, or incident. Work through the original incident by replacing those memories with what should have been to make you feel okay. By replacing negative messages with positive ones, we overcome negative programming and become more in harmony with our relationships and environment.Tyler: Thanks, Jane. In other words, we all bring our shadows, or maybe we could say "emotional baggage" with us into the workplace. A manager needs to understand we all bring our personalities to our jobs. In "The Art of Managing", you talk about how we can apply psychology to business. Would you expand a little on how that idea works?Jane: "The Art of Managing...How to Build a Better Workplace and Relationships" is a book that bridges the worlds of business and psychology. The business world is about tasks and activities, and the psychology world is about getting to know ourselves, what motivates us, and how we interact with others. Leaders learn how effectively and successfully to manage their relationships, have lasting relationships and a more balanced life.*Learning and understanding how to form teams, how groups develop, how to motivate employees, and how to analyze an organization for effectiveness and efficiency will help their business prosper.*Gaining insights into themselves and becoming better leaders and team players will benefit them personally and professionally.Managing the workplace is really about managing relationships. People are still the most important asset.Tyler: What do you feel is the biggest management mistake that managers tend to make?Jane: In my opinion, the biggest mistake that managers tend to make is not being honest with themselves and others. They may not honor their true feelings/beliefs and do what they believe others want them to do. This builds resentments within and folks truly know when someone is not acting authentically. Managers must embrace honesty with themselves...truly understanding themselves. Honesty builds relationships.Tyler: Jane, could you share with us a success story that happened as the result of using the ideas in "The Art of Managing", either by your own application of them in the business world or the application of one of your readers?Jane: I am certified to administer the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) which is a personality preference instrument that has been used by businesses world wide for more than 60 years. When becoming part of a leadership team, it is important that you understand your preferences as well as the preferences of others.In Chapter 8, Effective Teams, pages 61-66 talks about the ability of the leader to observe and influence a group/team at many levels and understand the team dynamics. This application was truly a success story in that the team began functioning at a higher level. The group dealt with the basics of communication and was able to work effectively as a group in problem-solving and decision-making roles.Using the MBTI tool for team formation has resulted in successful business results.Tyler: Would you give an example of how the personality preference instrument works? Are managers supposed to use the tool to understand the personalities of their employees so they can better manage them?Jane: The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) instrument defines sixteen types of people. The MBTI types are based on Jungian theory that we all have natural, inborn preferences for doing certain things. For example, if you are right handed and you write your full name with your right hand, it feels natural. But, if you are right handed and you write your full name with your left hand, it feels unnatural. We are all born with natural preferences for the way we do things.The MBTI preferences fall into four categories: extraversion/introversion (where we get our energy), sensing/intuition (how we gather information), thinking/feeling (how we make decisions and solve problems), and judging/perceiving (what our orientation is).*Extraverts tend to focus on the outer world of people and external events and get their energy from others. Introverts tend to focus on their own inner world of ideas and experiences and get their energy from within.*Sensing people prefer to take in information through their eyes, ears, and other senses. Intuitive people prefer to take information in by seeing the big picture, focusing on the relationship and connections between facts.*Thinking people tend to make decisions by looking at the logical sequences of a choice or action. They try to mentally remove themselves for a situation to examine it objectively and analyze the cause and effect. Feeling people tend to consider what is important to them and to other people. They mentally place themselves in a situation and identify with the people involved so that they can make decisions based on person-centered values.*Judging people process in the outer world and tend to live in a planned, orderly way, wanting to regulate and control life. They make decisions, come to closure, and move on. Perceiving people process in the outer world and tend to live in a flexible, spontaneous way, seeking to experience and understand life, rather than control it. Plans and decisions feel confining to them; they prefer to stay open to experience any last-minute options.
The MBTI provides a straightforward and affirmative path to self-understanding as well as understanding of others. It offers a logical model of consistent human behavior, including emphasizing the value of diversity and uniqueness, especially when forming teams and groups.It is my opinion that effective leaders use the MBTI as a tool to understand their employees' preferences so they can better manage them.Tyler: You talk a lot in your book about motivating people. What do you think are the major reasons why employees are not motivated?Jane: The major reasons why employees are not motivated are the lack of leadership skills of the leader. Motivation is the leader's ability to urge action in others by influencing their inner drive. Leaders must adopt different leadership styles depending on the situation and understanding his/her employees. If an employee is not motivated, it can be either professional maturity or psychological maturity. It is up to the leader to determine.*Professional maturity is the ability or capacity to do the job. Does the employee have the knowledge, training and experience to do the job?*Psychological maturity is the motivation or willingness to do it. How does the employee want to be recognized or rewarded; does the employee show confidence and good self esteem?Tyler: What advice would you give to a manager to increase the motivation among his or her employees?Jane: Once the leader understands the professional and psychological maturity of his/her employees, he/she can influence the desired or wanted outcomes. For example, if the person is new in the job and doesn't appear to be working at speed, it may be a lack of training. Once additional training is given, performance should improve. Conversely, if it is determined that an employee has the skill and appears to be wasting time during the day, the employee may lack the will to do the work. It is then up to the leader to redefine the gap in the job expectations, such as, this is where I want you to be versus this is where you are. By understanding and working with the employee to close the gap, the leader will be setting up the environment for motivating the employee.Tyler: Can any employee be motivated, or are there just bad apples it is better not to hire or to fire before they spoil the group?Jane: Through years of experience and application of the motivation module, I believe that if the leader defines the professional maturity and psychological maturity of an employee, the leader can motivate the employee to the desired outcome.The one exception is when an employee is under the influence of either alcohol or drugs. This is another issue that needs to be resolved through EAP intervention and/or termination.Tyler: In other words, everyone has something to contribute. To give a practical example, what should a manager do, say with an employee who is constantly late to work and returns late from lunch. The employee's work is fine, but his behavior is creating low morale among co-workers? How would "The Art of Managing" help a manager with such a situation?Jane: Even where the work is fine, when someone takes advantage of the norms in a work situation, such as being late to work and returning late from lunch, this behavior creates low morale among co-workers and is a performance issue.Chapter 2, Organizational Effectiveness, emphasizes shared values as one of the seven S's for organizational effectiveness. Shared values refer to the guiding concepts and dominant values, beliefs, and assumptions. Some of the attributes include trust, integrity/truthfulness, accountability. There must be congruence between individual values and organizational values for the company to continue to grow and prosper.Chapter 4, Caring and Compassion, says that successful leaders demonstrate caring and compassion for people by showing deep sympathy and empathy/concern for others. A leader would ask the employee what was causing the lateness and handle the response with understanding. Once the leader determines the cause of the lateness, he then makes the employee aware of how his/her behavior is negatively impacting co-workers, resulting in low morale as indicated by higher sick leave and turnover in the organization.The leader can then motivate the employee by defining the "gap" between what is the desired behavior versus what the employee is doing. Once the leader and employee agree to the behavior change and the change occurs, the leader should recognize the behavior change and continue to monitor. If the old behavior continues, there should be consequences (positive discipline, disciplinary leave).Tyler: Of course, "The Art of Managing" would be useful for the workplace, but how can its techniques and ideas be carried over into our personal lives and relationships?Jane: Through my learnings and experiences, I saw many ways that people can be more effective in their daily lives, and consequently, much happier both at work and personally. The book shows how you can develop the three key attributes to successfully manage your work and personal life and offers tools for forming effective teams and motivating people. The theory and examples in the book have helped me and I know they will help others.Tyler: Would you provide us with an example from the book of how a person can manage their personal life by applying the principles you teach?Jane: Chapter 6, Developing of Self, provides an example from the book of how a person can manage their personal life by applying the principles. To develop Self, work on the mind through continuous learning, the body through exercise and proper nutrition, and the spirit through quiet time such as meditation, contemplation, reflection or relaxation. Quiet time helps you define where you are, where you want to go and what you must do to get there.When people are striving to improve Self, they are more open to learning and more energized by opportunities to learn. The payoffs can be increased commitment, higher levels of energy and enthusiasm, sincere dedication to success and a general positive effect on many people's lives. By setting challenging goals for ourselves, we can expect to develop the drive and ambition to move forward in our lives. As we develop Self, we will have a better understanding of creating the lives that we most desire for ourselves. As you begin to understand yourself more and more, you will respond positively to more and more situations and relationships with understanding and compassion.There is nothing more powerful you can do than to encourage others toward the lifelong process of working on Self.Tyler:Jane, what do you feel sets "The Art of Managing" apart from all the other books in the market today about business management?Jane: My book is different because:*It bridges the worlds of business and psychology. Managing the workplace is really about managing relationships. Basically, people are still the most important asset.*It provides insights on how to develop the three (3) key attributes that make leaders successful in managing the workplace and their personal lives.Tyler: Jane, "The Art of Managing" also talks about the history of management theory. How do you think management theory and styles have adapted and changed from say a generation or two ago to our current and more technologically advanced age?Jane: As the needs of society and the environment change, history reflects the changing leadership and organizational needs of society. In the last generation or two, companies are taking a more "holistic" or "organic" approach to management theory. The next generation has emerged with better education and skills, including being raised to excel and achieve. This generation will come into the information age significantly contributing to the knowledge-value/based economy.Progressive companies are embracing transformation, examining their businesses in the areas of operations, policy and strategy, project management, accounting and finance, and sales and marketing. Transformation embodies change management, performance improvement, and reengineering. There is a deep fundamental assessment of every process and every organization. The culture is focused on teamwork and attempting to eliminate the silos that occurred in the 1980s. Some of the pressing issues are customer satisfaction and employee dissatisfaction.Customers expect more for less. Employees are disillusioned with management. Transformation has led to not only looking at processes, but also to valuing the employee.In the 2000s, employees' values and beliefs are now a focus after years of neglect. Employees provide a product and/or service. Managing the workplace is really about managing these relationships.Tyler: Thank you so much, Jane, for talking with me today. Before you go, would you please tell our readers where they can find out more about "The Art of Managing" and where they may purchase a copy?Jane: To find out more about "The Art of Managing...How to Build a Better Workplace and Relationships" go to my web site: http://www.JaneMacken.com My web site talks about the book, author, excerpts, testimonials, press release, blogs (includes a book review).Tyler:Thank you, Jane. You've offered managers and employees both, lots of great advice, and I wish you well selling "The Art of Managing." dr seuss cat in hat history

"IM" by Rick R Reed - Book Review

IMby Rick R. ReedQuest Books (2007)ISBN 9781932300796"IM" by Rick Reed is a fast-paced page turner that I could barely put down. The title is the abbreviation for "Instant Messaging" but in this case, the instant messaging results in instant murder. While it is a mystery concerning a series of crimes against gay men, and featuring a gay detective and a questionably gay killer, the plot twists, character development, and suspense make it a story any fan of mystery or crime fiction will enjoy.The story is about Timothy Bright, a man sexually abused as a teenager by his aunt's boyfriend. He now seeks revenge upon the gay world, as well as his aunt and her boyfriend. He preys upon gay men who log onto Men4HookUpNow.com, instant messaging them and getting them to invite him over for a night of hot sex. Once they let him in their homes, he murders them. Chicago Police Department detective Ed Comparetto, who happens to be gay himself, investigates the crimes. Ed soon becomes convinced Timothy Bright is the murderer, until he learns that Timothy Bright actually died years before. Complications ensue as Ed seeks the killer and the truth behind the real identity of Timothy Bright. Several attempts to catch Bright fail until Ed puts not only himself, but his boyfriend, Peter, in serious danger.What I found most interesting about "IM" was how Reed used different point-of-views to achieve his effects. The primary story takes place in the present day, detailing Ed Comparetto's investigations in third-person. However, the author also uses diary entries from Timothy's aunt, discussing Timothy's childhood and how she came to realize he was mentally unbalanced. Most daringly, Reed creates chapters told in first person by Timothy Bright to explain how Bright became a killer. Reed manages to pull off these first person sections magnificently, not making Timothy completely repulsive to the reader, yet staying away from making him a sympathetic villain. Timothy's first person narration is bold and allows him to flaunt to the reader how clever he is that he can get away with his crimes."IM" has many gruesome scenes which make it unlikely the reader will pity Timothy. Because of the highly descriptive sexual encounters and the repulsive murders that result from them, I would caution readers to stay away from the book if they cannot stomach blood and violence, yet the violent scenes are not simply for gratuitous shock effect, but to help the reader better understand Timothy's evil nature and the sexual revenge he is set on committing.Rick R. Reed has written several other novels and short stories. Fans of mystery and suspense may want to explore his work further. At the end of "IM" are several pages of his upcoming vampire novel "In the Blood" which gives a taste of his work in other genres. If his other books are as fast-paced and well-developed as "IM" I would read them as well. I may, however, think twice before I ever instant message anyone. dr seuss cat in hat book

Interview With Rick R Reed, Author of "IM"

Interview with Rick Reedauthor of IMQuest Books (2007)ISBN 9781932300796Today, Tyler R. Tichelaar of Reader Views is joined by Rick R. Reed, who is here to talk about his new novel, "IM".Rick R. Reed's horror fiction has been referred to as "a harrowing ride through cutting-edge psychological horror" (Douglas Clegg, author of "The Attraction"), having "a knack for presenting the gruesome lower depths of a soul" ("New City") and "brutally honest" ("Fangoria"). "Unzipped" magazine, in its October 2006 issue said, "You could call him the Stephen King of gay horror..."Tyler: Welcome, Rick. I'm happy to have you here today. To begin, would you briefly tell us what "IM" is about?Rick: "IM" is a suspense/horror novel about a serial killer who uses internet "hook-up" chat rooms to lure his victims. The title stands for instant message, and it is through these instant messages that the killer seduces his victims into inviting him into their homes for what they think will be an evening of romance, but what turns out to be an evening of brutal murder. The twist of the book is that the killer himself may be dead, a victim of a similar crime to the ones now being perpetrated. It takes a recently out and ousted gay Chicago police detective to try and discover the truth and to stop the killer--dead or not--before he kills again.Tyler: Where did you first come up with the idea for "IM"?Rick: I guess I must have been thinking about the potential peril gay men, especially, put themselves in by using these online hookup services, like Adam4Adam, M4M, etc. There's a whole slew of them and finding sex online nowadays is as easy as ordering a pizza. And I'd be lying if I said I had never availed myself of the opportunity. But the thought crossed my mind at one point, "What if one of these people you're inviting over wants to do you harm? Or even kill you? Who would know? How would anyone trace any connection from you to the killer?" That "what if..." is a big question for writers and it started me on the course for writing "IM".Tyler: A book like "IM" could not have been written even twenty years ago when the internet was not widespread. What advantages do you feel advances in technology have created for storytelling?Rick: Well, I think the internet has many possibilities for storytelling. A while back, I read an excellent novel called "I.D.", which was about a woman whose identity is stolen. I also believe there's a young adult novel out told entirely in IMs. The cyberworld is a whole new setting!Tyler: I know you've set "IM" and some of your other novels in Chicago, and you live in Chicago. Is there a reason why you choose to set the books in the town where you live?Rick: Actually, Tyler, I lived in Chicago for eighteen years. In October of 2006, I moved to Miami, FL with my partner because of a job relocation/promotion. But to get back to your question, I set so much of my work in Chicago because the city was a true inspiration to me. I knew it so well it was easy to visualize the locales as I wrote. And the hardiness, the people, the beauty, and the vitality of Chicago all contributed to making me want to set what I wrote there.Tyler: I have also read your book "Penance" which I enjoyed, but what really made "IM" stand out for me by comparison was your use of multiple first and third person narratives, and you allowed the serial killer to speak in first person. Why did you choose to alternate points-of-view and what did you feel were the benefits and drawbacks of doing so?Rick: I like using different points of views first because it helps me get inside the character's head and feel what he's feeling, thus bringing it alive for the reader (sometimes I go to some pretty dark and dangerous places!). Second, I like to do it because I think it brings the reader much closer to the character I'm writing about. You know the scene in the movie "Halloween" where the little Michael Myer is going to kill his sister? You see this through his Halloween mask, and hear him breathing beneath the mask...and I think that's what makes it more personal and terrifying for the viewer. In "IM", we get to see things "up close and personal" from the killer's and his victims' perspectives. I like having that immediacy and bringing readers right into my own little nightmare world.Tyler: One thing I found interesting about the serial killer in "IM" is that you gave the reader background information on him and why he became who he was. Even with showing his motivation, however, I'm not sure he ever became sympathetic. Did you feel sympathy for him at all?Rick: Yeah, I do feel some sympathy for Timothy. You've read the book, so you know he endured some pretty horrible abuse growing up. I don't really expect anyone to feel sympathy for him, but I hope they can at least have some understanding why he became the way he is. I think of people in terms of shades of gray and I think that makes them a lot more compelling as characters than one-dimensional stock villains or heroes.Tyler: Rick, do you ever receive negative criticism about your novels because of their violent or sexual subject matter? And if so, how do you respond to those critics?Rick: It's interesting seeing some of the reviews for "IM" and how almost all of them warn that there's pretty graphic sex and violence, yet all of them say it's not gratuitous and it has to be there to advance the plot. That makes me feel good because I never put graphic stuff in simply to shock...it always has to pass the test: does it need to be there? Could the story work without it? I think my answer is always, "Yes, it has to be there."Tyler: That's an excellent response, Rick. I agree it's important that such elements as violence are used to advance the plot. Do you feel there is too much violence today in books, films and television? I am always surprised by the number of crime shows on television today. How do you think your books or such programs reflect American viewpoints today?Rick: It's hard to gauge how much is too much. I think the test I mentioned above is a good one: is the violence necessary? I think movies like "Hostel" and "Wolf Creek" take it over the top and for me personally, they go a little too far. The gore and violence just seem like they're there for their own sake (remember that sentence for the correct usage of variations on "there"!).Tyler: Do you feel your works exaggerate reality by being sensational, or is that the fun of writing within a horror or suspense genre?Rick: Most of my stuff is the kind of horror that can really happen (save for a detour into the world of vampires occasionally), so I would say that I don't think the crimes and the suspense are exaggerated. I think what makes them terrifying is that they could really happen. I have always been a true crime buff and it fascinates me how people can bring themselves to do horrible things (which I could never do). Writing about these things is a way of examining crime more closely.Tyler: What really strikes me about your works and especially "IM" is that they focus on gay characters, and yet those gay characters are victims of sexual crimes. Do you feel your books reflect some sort of homophobic feeling that still exists in America, or perhaps the fears of the gay population about not being accepted by the mainstream?Rick: I don't think I consciously set out to write anything themed that way. As I've said before, I just set out to write a good page-turner, not a "cautionary tale" or to hold a mirror up to society. I suppose, though, if you peel back the layers of "IM", there is an element of self-loathing that some gay men have and that's what causes them to seek out highly risky behavior, even sometimes at the expense of their own lives.Tyler: Why do you choose to write gay horror? Why not just a gay coming out story?Rick: Gay is just because I am; I know those people best. I think my "gay" books could just as easily be straight ones...my first concern is with the human condition. My characters' sexuality makes them more alive to me as I write them and hopefully more alive to the reader. Horror is because I have always been fascinated with the dark side of things and always loved the delicious tingle you can feel from fear (the kind of safe fear you can have between the covers of a book or on a movie screen, though!).Tyler: How did you feel about "Unzipped" Magazine calling you the "Stephen King of gay horror"? Do you think that's a fair comparison?Rick: I love the marketing angle that someone comparing me to King has given me. And I love the comparison because he's always been a favorite. I've been reading him since I was a boy and have read almost everything he's written. That said, no, I don't think we're alike at all. Our styles, subject matter, and perspectives are very different. "Unzipped" picked King because he's probably the most recognizable name in horror, not because we are actually all that alike as writers.Tyler: You mentioned the film "Halloween" and of course, Stephen King. Which writers and/or films have been influences upon your writing?Rick: Some of my favorite horror movies are "THE HAUNTING" and an Asian film called "AUDITION. In both of those, the sense of dread is pervasive and, at least with the former, much of the chilling stuff that happens occurs off-stage, which makes it even more frightening. As far as writers who've had an influence, the three that come to mind would not be classified as horror writers, but I really love their sense of suspense and the grotesque: Flannery O'Connor, Patricia Highsmith, and James Purdy. I think they have all influenced how I write characters.Tyler: How difficult was it for you to publish a novel with gay characters in it? Being gay yourself, did the thought of becoming famous make you nervous?Rick: It's taken me a long time to accept myself as a gay man (I didn't come out until I was 30) and now I'm happy with who I am and don't care who knows it. I would be happy to be known as a "gay author" and be famous for it. Our community needs more "out and proud" people standing at the forefront, so people can see we come in all different shapes and sizes. I started out writing straight horror books and I was very lucky to have the first two picked up by a huge NY publisher like Dell and I suppose I could have continued down that path. But I wanted to write what I wanted to write and now I'm very comfortable publishing with a small GLBT house.Tyler: How would you yourself describe your work? Is it horror, suspense, thriller, gay fiction, or do you prefer some other term?Rick: I prefer the term, "good story." I'm a storyteller and hope that the main thing I can avoid is boring people. If I can give them a couple or three hours of entertainment and escape from their usual world, I'm happy. If I can make them think a little along the way, that's a bonus. I leave the labels to publishers and bookstores. They use them to make me easier to find. But I suppose if pressed I would say my work is suspense/horror, in that order.Tyler: I understand your next novel will be about vampires. Are you leaning more toward writing horror?Rick: No, if anything I'm leaning more toward suspense/mystery. But people often assume books are written chronologically in the same order they're published. I wrote "In the Blood" some time ago, based on a short story I wrote even longer ago (and that was published in an anthology of historical vampire fiction called "Dark Destiny"). I love the whole romantic, savage mystique of vampires though and expect I'll get around to exploring them more in my fiction.Tyler: What do you feel is the attraction in recent years surrounding vampires in horror literature? Why does the vampire figure speak to modern audiences?Rick:I don't think the attraction for vampires is recent; it goes way back. I think we've always been fascinated by the possibility of immortal life...and I believe that's what's at the core of the appeal of vampire fiction.Tyler: Thank you so much for being here today, Rick. "IM" had me on the edge of my seat all the way through and I definitely recommend it. Can you tell our readers where they can find out more information about your books and where to purchase a copy of "IM"?Rick: Sure. From Amazon, BarnesandNoble.com, Starcrossed Productions, Lambda Rising, and other online booksellers. It's also available for order from any good bookstore.Rick:Thank you, Rick. We'll certainly be looking forward to your next book. dr seuss book collection

"Dance of the Heart" by James L Therrian - Book Review

Dance of the Heartby James L. TherrianJames Therrian (2007)ISBN 9780615135007"Dance of the Heart" is a quick-read novel of only 118 pages, however, there is so much more to this story than one would expect. First of all, Therrian does a fantastic job of setting up the scenes, the characters, and the beginning. It was very clear to me who the characters were and what role they played.Michael Baldwin is successful and flourishing. He is well-balanced in his career as a successful professional dancer and home life with a longtime partner, David. And, they just built a beautiful home on Lake Michigan. All goes well until his lead partner, who is morbidly disliked, accidentally dies.Michael has mixed emotions over her death but even more so, mixed emotions when a new dance partner, Elizabeth, replaces Margo, the dead lead. Michael, acknowledging being gay from as long as he can remember, is extremely attracted to Elizabeth. The drama continues as Michael struggles with his emotions and ultimately discloses his feelings to his partner David.Of course, David, as any partner would be, is crushed and reacts accordingly. In the meantime, Elizabeth, being only a temporary replacement for Margo, returns to her home. Michael, with all intentions in place, was going to tell Elizabeth how he felt, however, she left before he was able to do so. This results in more mixed emotions for Michael."Dance of the Heart" is appropriately named, because there certainly is a lot of heart dancing in the book. Does Michael ever tell Elizabeth how he feels? Can a gay man actually fall in love with a woman? Was Michael's infatuation with Elizabeth real or a fantasy? Does David move on to other lovers?What a wonderful story! "Dance of the Heart" is an account that proves how complicated love can be. Therrian's story shows how we, as human beings, can spin ourselves into a hole of confusion when we don't follow our true feelings. Michael's mother, Sally, summed it up best by saying "You can't choose who you fall in love with, but you can choose what you do with it. In the end, it's all up to you." seuss book collection sets cat hat

Interview with James L Therrian, Author of "Dance of the Heart"

Interview with James L. Terrianauthor of Dance of the HeartJames Therrian (2007)ISBN 9780615135007Today, Tyler R. Tichelaar of Reader Views is pleased to be joined by James Therrian, author of "Dance of the Heart."James Therrian was born in Michigan and spent most of his early years in the rainy Northwest before following the sun to Maui, Santa Fe, New Mexico & California. An avid writer, James has attended workshops with Lew Hunter of the famed Screenwriting 434 class at UCLA. James currently lives and writes in San Diego and works with the University of California San Diego.Tyler: Thank you, James, for joining me today. To begin, would you briefly tell us what your new novel, "Dance of the Heart" is about?James: "Dance of the Heart" is a love story and a story about attractions. The main character Michael is a successful professional dancer who has a happy settled life, which suddenly changes after the death of his dance partner Margo. Her replacement Elizabeth is totally opposite from Margo, who was a nasty bitter woman. Michael is mesmerized by Elizabeth and falls head over heels for her the minute he lays eyes on her. The problem is that Michael is a gay man in a long-term relationship with his lover, David.Tyler: James, are you a dancer yourself?James: No I am not a dancer, but enjoy the ballet and performing arts.Tyler: Where did you come up with the idea for "Dance of the Heart?"James: It was an idea I came up with for a creative writing class I took years ago. I wanted to show that everyone is the same when it comes to the heart; no matter who we are or whom we love, we all have similar challenges and choices to make in life.Tyler: Of course, the book is not just about dancing in its literal sense, but about love and how love can change. I am especially struck by the fact that the main character, Michael, is gay and has a lover, David, but then begins to fall in love with his female dance partner, Elizabeth. Do you think it is possible for a person to fall in love with people of both sexes?James: Yes I do. Many of us have feelings for people who are inappropriate, be it the same sex, someone who is married, or someone we know the people in our lives would not accept, so usually we just keep our feelings hidden. In Michael's case, the question isn't whether he has feelings for Elizabeth, it is can he change who he is for love?Tyler: In the novel, Michael doesn't just question whom he loves, but his own sexual identity and preference. Do you think Michael truly is gay or that a person's sexual preference can change over time?James: For some people a sexual identity is a choice. For instance, some people live their entire lives not being who they are because they are afraid to declare themselves. Many live double lives, but that's an entirely different conversation. Michael is gay, but attractions can make us all question what we want at times.Tyler: One of the characters, Michael's mother, Sally, states, "You can't choose who you fall in love with, but you can choose what you do with it." Would it be fair to say that is the theme of the book? Was the exploration of that statement why you wrote the book?James: "Dance of the Heart" does explores the theme that sometimes love has surprises for us all. What we do with them is the choice we have to make. I also wanted to show that when it comes to affairs of the heart, we are all the same, no matter who we are or how we choose to define ourselves.Tyler: How have readers so far responded to the novel and especially its themes of love and sexual identity?James: I have had very positive feedback from the readers I have talked to. Michael is a gay man; however, "Dance of the Heart" is a story about love and attractions. One reader told me that she thought it would be a good book for her teenage daughter to read in school as a part of her diversity studies. I was pleased to hear this because I purposely wrote the story to appeal to all readers. It is a funny and wholesome story and has reminders for everyone about the lessons we have to learn in life."Dance of the Heart" twists a familiar genre with the fact that the main character is gay, but thinks he may be in love with a woman. I think many readers can relate to Michael's plight as we all do silly things when we fall in love.Tyler: James, what can we expect next from your pen?James: My next book, which I am currently working on, is an instructional book on how to self publish a book. I have also been working on a book about what Americans will need to do to thrive in the future as well as leave a livable planet for our children.Tyler: More and more authors, myself included, are self-publishing these days, yet self-publishing still retains a certain stigma. How would you respond to the critics of self-publishing?James: It's the familiar old boys club story in my opinion. There are thousands of stories out there that merit being published; however, getting a publisher to pick up your book can be challenging given the way traditional publishing works. It's not impossible to find a publisher; however, it can feel like the proverbial needle-in-a-haystack for most authors. After comparing how traditional publishing and self-publishing worked, I decided to self publish as it allowed more control of my work. Through my self-publishing journey, I actually took the time to learn the skills to do my own typesetting, layout and cover. My next book will be much easier to publish as I now have software, knowledge and skills to truly self publish. Essentially I have become a publisher in addition to an author.There are definite advantages to being with a large publishing house as they have marketing departments, industry connections and contacts, but I believe that the industry is changing with self-publishing becoming more prevalent. It is similar to the old Hollywood studio system and the advent of independent filmmakers and the affects it has had on the movie business. Self-publishing is very similar to the independent film industry. There are many excellent self-published books out there and I think in the future many authors will choose to self-publish.Tyler: Do you think self-publishing will continue to be the trend and ultimately be dominant in the market over the books of traditional publishing houses?James: I am amazed with how many people have approached me telling me they have story they always wanted to publish. I encourage them to go for it as it can happen if they have the commitment to see it through. Personally it has been an extremely satisfying life accomplishment for me to publish "Dance of the Heart" and the fact that it is being well received is even more rewarding.I do see self-publishing continuing to gain market share. The biggest challenge for self-published authors is of course promotion. This is the advantage of being with a traditional publishing house. They have the resources to get the word out. Most authors are simply writers and have no idea how to promote their book. I recommend finding a professional to help get the word out, because you could have the best story ever written, but if people don't know about it, they won't have the opportunity to read your work. This is a good investment, as not only could you sell some books, you may eventually find a traditional publisher who is interested in picking up your book.Tyler: You also mentioned you are writing a non-fiction book about how Americans can thrive and yet leave behind a livable planet. Could you tell us a little bit about your past writing? Have you written both fiction and non-fiction, and what do you see as the special difficulties or advantages of writing each kind of prose?James: I enjoy all kinds of writing and am not afraid to jump into a new genre. I have written both fiction and non-fiction pieces in addition to doing travel writing while in Hawaii. My first audience was a group of coworkers at a bank I worked for years ago. Everyday, I filled in for the receptionist while she went to lunch. During that hour, I wrote installments to a suspense thriller, set on the Oregon coast. I shared my story with the other assistants on the floor who eagerly awaited my new chapters. Years later, I moved to Hawaii and sent a series of stories of my adventures to my friends on the mainland, which I called "Memos from Maui." Living on Hawaii is kind of like living in a foreign country and I had fun sharing my observations of life on a tropical island. "Memos from Maui" was well received and I knew then that I was hooked; I had to do something with my writing. Both fiction and non-fiction have their own advantages and challenges, but non-fiction commentaries I find are easy to write. Fiction takes more thought and imagination, but where you go with it is totally up to you. Having said that, I think a good writer isn't afraid to take on a new challenge. I also write poetry which I have had published as well.Recently I was involved in a playwriting workshop, which was a great learning experience. Part of the workshop involved writing a 10-minute play to be directed and acted by professionals on stage. I took three chapters from "Dance of the Heart" and was able to see a part of my story acted out on the stage. It was an insightful process and I grew as a writer from the experience.Tyler: Thank you for joining me today, James. Before we go, can you tell our readers where they can find out more about "Dance of the Heart" and where they can purchase copies?James: "Dance of the Heart" can be purchased on-line by visiting http://www.danceoftheheart.net. It can also be ordered through any bookstore from Borders to your local bookstore. Thank you, Tyler. dr seuss cat in hat quotes

Stewie Griffin Depicts the Winter of Spengler's Discontent

Oswald Spengler predicted a protracted winter in The Decline of The West. Spengler wasn't alone in his depiction of a distopian society where fashion reigns over utility, luck is dominant, bureaucracy squelches progress and the rich have a firm hold on the reigns of an incipient global culture. Spengler was one of the first to be taken seriously.Stewie's Guide to WORLD DOMINATION [sic] is a ray of sunshine for a winter day of our decline. In Spengler's seasonal taxonomy of decline, winter is the final phase. Spengler writes that one cue of a culture in winter is an increasingly authoritative government. In an authoritarian government, clearly stating your perception is not a fiscally sustainable option."...if I were to confess to knowing that the entire enterprise is a sham, then that delicious stream of cold, hard cash that appears under my pillow following the loss of a tooth gets suddenly cut off, doesn't it?"
--Stewie Griffin
Transcribed by Steve CallaghanSpengler separates culture from civilization. Yes, the two are intertwined, but culture reflects the people while civilization reflects the aspirations of global domination, requiring increasingly authoritarian leaders who represent power rather than being powerful on their own. A culture of war masks itself in fashion and subverts education into specialized academic philosophy with obvious discrepancies from reality.Stewie calls out that the basis of American education, the three Rs doesn't represent three Rs: Reading, wRiting and aRithmetic. Stewie suggests that we might be better served by the acronym W.A.R."There's no country that likes 'W.A.R. more than our own...blame the Boss Hoggs of the world who got the whole enterprise off on the wrong foot with this 'thre Rs' nonsense."
--Stewie GriffinSpengler predicted a focus on lavish sport entertainment as the final cues of the closing of culture and the domination of civilization, where work looses meaning for the affluent as sports becomes the substitute for meaning in one's life. Stewie deftly reveals both of these cues at once as he discusses a typical civilization workplace."you are rotting your brain...find yourself having to alternately ask and then answer the terribly probing and provocative question, 'Did you have a nice weekend?' forty-seven different times. And let's face it: Despite the fact that most of the replies should fall along the lines of, 'Well, I spent most of Saturday and Sunday trying to ignore the loveless marriage and spoiled brats I've surrounded myself with while being tranquilized by the narcotic of back-to-back-to-back NFL football in order to keep myself from pondering the very real possibility that I might be gay.'"
--Stewie GriffinStewie is a ray of light, warming our winter day. Spengler holds that winter is devoid of symbolic art. In a civilization's winter art is replaced by a meaningless fashion dialogue. Stewie staves off the meaninglessness of our encroaching civilization by disseminating symbolic art about our civilization in Stewie's Guide to WORLD DOMINATION, Helped into print by Steve Callaghan; Perennial Currents, 2006. dr seuss cat in hat history