Not a Hobby But a Business

My husband simplifies what I do by saying that I rearrange letters. While that is exactly what I do, writing is much more than that. It requires a talent for describing the action in such a way that readers can see in their mind what the author sees when she writes the words.

Writing can deliver a message subliminally. It can help a reader escape life's frustrations even though, as a writer of plausible fiction, I take them into a world with lots of problems and frustrations. Maybe I make their life seem simple after reading about the horrendous things that happen to my characters.

When I write non-fiction, the teacher in me pops out as I strive to help my reader see a change needed and adopt that change into their life. Readers of the devotional series have the opportunity to view a concept, a biblical concept, from a different Point of View. It gives them something to think about, to meditate on.

So while I know that the business aspects are important, sitting in front of my computer with my characters is where I want to be. Keeping track of expenses on a spreadsheet is important. Developing a social media presence is important. Booking events to showcase your work is important. Dangling the carrot before potential readers is important. Getting your name out there is important but all any writer wants to do is write.

We could hire a business manager and if we're E.L James, who just received a $5 million movie contract for her book, we could afford to do so. However, the majority of us are far from selling enough to be able to afford that position. The business aspects have to become a portion of our daily routine, the moments when we come out of our shell and meet people, even if it is over the internet or phone lines. Think of it as joining the world.

For all you readers out there, take a moment to add a review of the books you read to the amazon pages for that book. Or wherever else you made your purchase. You may have purchased the book in a bookstore but they all have websites and will welcome your review. Even if you borrowed the book, post a review. Authors depend on that feedback.

At the end of the day, support your local author. Help them succeed and they will be most appreciative.

Watching the expressions on the faces of her readers is what drives author and speaker, Barbara Ann Derksen to write. Her favorite genre is murder mystery but each book brings forth characters who rely on God as they solve the puzzle in their life.

With 11 books to her credit, two more in the process, Barbara works hard to develop a social media presence. Her books can be found on Amazon, at Barnes and Nobles, and on her website, http://www.barbaraannderksen.com.

Canadian born, Barbara is a member of The Word Guild, Manitoba Writer's Guild, The Writer's Collective, and Christian Motorcyclists Association, USA.

Books can be purchased at Amazon.com at http://amzn.to/HdXAqQ and Amazon Kindle.

Read Holy Quran Online

It is extremely valuable for Muslims, regardless of their sects, to learn and gain an understanding of the Holy Quran. Quran is taught to many of us from the very beginning. Most of us are taught Quran in our childhood. However, there are some people who have not yet studied the Holy Quran. One of the main reasons for this issue is the unavailability of appropriate teachers to tutor such people. Parents face many problems in finding a reputable instructor near the house. This ultimately leads to them giving up searching, and the kid never comes to understand the virtuous knowledge.

There are many people among us who have been unable to read the Quran and want to do so. The development of the internet has made it probable for all such people to read the Holy Book. You can only scan and search the internet for E-Quran. Yes you read it right, E-Quran. It is an online version of the Holy Book. There are many different sites that offer this facility. They also offer qualified teachers who will help you in understanding the Quran. Unlike a school, personal attention is paid on each and every student. This enables you to learn at the pace that is most suited to you. You not only understand the Quran, but make command on it. Within no time you can get this knowledge with the benefit of appropriate guidance.

There are many advantages of learning Quran online, especially for children who should learn it as early as possible. Not only is online coaching more appropriate for parents, but it also gives the child the value of a personal instructor who can assist him in analyzing the verses of Quran. The instructor may also correct him when it comes to errors in pronunciation. Apart from children, online Quran learning is also advantageous for the grownups. With the tough and hectic schedules nowadays, it becomes tremendously difficult to find time to go to Quran learning centers. Also, because of the social restraints, you may not find a enormous number of places to tutor adults exclusively. For these reasons, it is best to study Quran through an online source.

A big advantage of online Quran learning is that apart from studying the Quran itself, you can also study different explanations given by different scholars. This enables to get diverse viewpoints. Also, you are able to get translations in various languages. You may choose the preferred language in order to get a better insight of the Quran.

The importance of Quran cannot be expressed much more than this. The Prophet (S.A.W) said, "The most superior among you (Muslims) is the one who learns the Quran and teaches it" (Sahih Bukhari, Book #61, Hadith #546). It is the Book that not only contains teachings of how to live your lives according to God's Will, but also all information that has ever been discovered by mankind. It also contains information that is yet to be or will never be found by scientific researches. Such is the power of this Holy Book. Once you get a grip on its knowledge, you will be able to change your perspective towards life. You will know that all these worldly things are just temporary. There is a much more peaceful and happier life waiting for you.

Author frequents writes about Quran learning courses.You may visit how to learn Quran online and Read quran online for more details.

Blueberry Solution

"The Blueberry Solution" is a home distilling book.

Anthony: Your current book "The Blueberry Solution" says on the front cover that it's "a better investment in hard times than gold or silver" How so?

Argyle: There is no better investment right now than a still for both survival and for return on investment (ROI). It was so in Colonial times and it is so again today. For less than $1,000 you can put away a tool that will not only assure your survival in case of a societal breakdown but will also provide up to 2600% immediate return on your investment, a much higher and more certain ROI than gold or silver.

Anthony: That is a bold statement, I know to be true. What exactly is "The Blueberry Solution"?

Argyle: It's a play on words. You can legally make blueberry brandy using store bought vodka and fresh blueberries or other fresh fruit so it is an easy way to for novices to get started making their own high quality and inexpensive alcoholic beverages at home. It is also an excellent survival strategy should the worst happen. With a good still you can purify water from any source and make fuel for your vehicles, or in a crisis you can make alcohol for medicinal purposes or booze that you can trade for any goods or services that you might want or need.

Anthony: Why is a still such a good investment?

Argyle: "The Blueberry Solution" tells the history of distilling which is also the history of money, and of course that is also the history of tyranny and taxation. Tyrants have always tried to control the production of alcohol and taxed it heavily to finance control over their subjects. Even today, the Citizens of most states are forced to purchase booze from the state and pay upwards of 2600% for the privilege. There are few if any investments that will immediately offer such a potentially high rate return on investment should Citizens choose to make their own. Washington State for instance currently charges $26.03 per gallon of spirits that cost less than a dollar to make (2600%) for instance. While we are not advocating the making of illegal moonshine we are pointing out that there is a growing trend by those that want to make a political statement andt hose that want to make their own high quality beverages themselves much like craft brewing and it is often done by the same folks.

Anthony: How did you come to write "The Blueberry Solution"?

Argyle: People who read my last book "Self Reliance" were emailing me to ask if they should be buying gold? "Self-Reliance" (now out of print) was written before the last Presidential election and was about living off the grid if Obama was elected and the Democrats gained control of both houses of Congress. Of course that happened and now the country is a mess and readers are even more concerned. My response was that if they could afford to park money in precious metals then they should, but if they were concerned about survival and are already putting away a generator, food storage, etc. that they should buy an emergency refluxing tower still, a "survival still", so that they could cheaply and easily produce a commodity that they could trade for any goods or services they might need in a financial meltdown.

Anthony: Why do you feel purchasing a still is important?

Argyle: Whiskey was money in Colonial times, and could become money again if our government continues to print paper money around the clock, spend money it doesn't have, and devalue our currency. Rising prices are the response of commodity suppliers (like oil producers) who are simply trying to maintain the value of their products in the face of rapidly declining purchasing power of the dollar. Simply put, inflation is a direct result of the devaluation of our currency and runaway inflation is a distinct possibility although it is ignored by the mass media. This pending financial crisis is examined in the book and exposed as the most important issue of our times. The upcoming election is probably the most important since the Civil War and prudent people are beginning to realize this and to do something about it.

Anthony: How does owning a still provide a survival strategy?

Argyle: An emergency still is a relatively inexpensive investment (less than a thousand dollars) that allows the owner to produce a commodity that is in high demand no matter what happens (it's also fun to use). When you can cheaply and easily produce a commodity that has such widespread appeal you assure the survival of your family and even a way to prosper in very hard times. In Colonial America a man's still had more value to him that anything else except his rifle, his knife and his horse. With it he could get anything that he couldn't make himself, he could escape the rigors of a rough existence, and he could entertain his friends, especially members of the opposite sex.

Anthony: Why do you recommend a copper reflux tower still and what are its advantages?

Argyle: A tower still can produce alcohol pure enough to use as fuel (ethanol). Other types of stills will make whiskey but not ethanol fuel. You can obtain a free permit to make up to 10,000 gallons of ethanol fuel a year to run your vehicles, cook with, light your home, etc. and in an emergency you can cut that fuel in half and have white whiskey to barter with or use yourself.

Anthony: Can you legally make alcohol?

Argyle: Yes, the making and use of ethanol fuel is actually encouraged by the government and you can also legally make other useful products like fragrances, solvents, vinegar and especially pure water from any source. A reliable source of pure drinking water is probably the most essential part of any survival plan. Alcohol is also valuable for medicinal uses and of course alcoholic beverages are an excellent barter medium and always have been.

Anthony: What all is covered in "The Blueberry Solution"?

Argyle: The book explores the history of distilling and especially the history of distilling in America, the reason that we are in our present economic predicament and what we can do about it, and it also explains the different types of stills and how they are used to produce various kinds of alcoholic beverages and other products. It is a simple step-by-step approach to distilling at home and even offers recipes. It is an entertaining and practical look at a survival strategy that is overlooked by most including survivalists, the so-called "preppers" and many others.

Anthony: I see you updated your book recently to second edition of "The Blueberry Solution" so what is in it and why did you update the book?

Argyle: The 2nd edition places more emphasis on alcohol as a fuel because the price of oil and gas are rising and will inevitably rise as our currency is devalued. There may be temporary relief until after the election as Obama and the Democrats try to hold down gas prices in order to help their reelection chances but their stated goal is to drive up the cost of fossil fuels in favor of s-called "green" energy but the reality is that we are a petroleum based economy and we have plentiful fuel resources right here at home, enough o last for hundreds of years and certainly until we have the technology to make the transition. These "green" solutions are more about control than anything else. Meanwhile we are essentially broke and our government is so corrupt that it is doing nothing about it.

Anthony Zaca: Are you working on anything else?

Argyle: Yes, my next book is called "Whiskey Farm" and is the logical next step in home distilling. Just as "The Blueberry Solution" is about having and using a survival still, "Whiskey Farm" is about using a larger still and having a small farm to produce enough ethanol to run an enterprise. As a real estate developer and builder I am using my experience to help others to locate, obtain, set up and operate a small farm to not only live off the grid but to thrive no matter what happens in the outside world. It also provides an excellent lifestyle for those that are so inclined. Even if we somehow manage to survive the mountain of debt that is crippling our economy, we need to consider going back to the farm and technological innovation now provides us the means to live easily and very well with all of the modern conveniences without the necessity of living in the city. Satellite broadband, television, and data transfer means that we can telecommute and make a good living without the problems inherent in city life, especially if there are dislocations in the economy, supply and delivery chains, critical services, etc.

Anthony: Where can people buy "The Blueberry Solution"?

Argyle: The book is available everywhere such as Amazon.

Anthony: Is there anything that you would like to add?

Argyle: Yes, the past is gone and the future will likely take care of itself so long as we seize the day and prepare. I like the Latin phrase Carpe-Diem which literally means "seize the day" and because I write books on distilling I also like to offer "Cheers".

Anthony can be reached at anthony@rainierdisillers.com

Pun In Sanskrit Literature - A New Approach

The book under review titled Pun In Sanskrit Literature - A New Approach is a fantastic book.

All Sanskrit lovers and pun lovers should read this book without fail.

The book was first published by Mysore University, India in 1982. The author Gurupad K Hegde is a great scholar and has written this book after intense study of Sanskrit literature for many years.

The book has nine chapters.

The first chapter deals with the pun as alankara in Sanskrit literature.

The origin of pun starts with the first kavya (adi kavya) of the world written by the world's first poet, sage Valmiki.

The origin of Ramayana is from a sloka of pun! The verse starts with 'ma nisada' is a curse on the hunter that he should never attain salvation for he killed the beautiful krauncha bird which was absorbed in love. And wonderfully, the verse also means that the great Lord Vishnu may attain a position for ever as he killed the demon Ravana and Valin.

The author describes in detail the root cause of the concept of fun, the nature of the words in pun and objects of the pun in the second chapter.

The author gives numerous examples to explain the figurative combinations in the great and beautiful language Sanskrit in chapter three.

Chapter four of the book deals with the role of pun in classical Sanskrit literature.The author indicates Shakespeare's lines in Othello (III-2) The word 'lies' in the conversation of Desdemona and Clown is a witty use of pun to mean 'lodging' as well as telling a lie!

The great poets Sri Harsha, Bhavaputi,Asvaghosa,Bharavi,Magha,Dandin have used Slesha or pun in their works.

And it is to be noted that the only language which has kavyas where two or more stories are narrated throughout the full length of a poem is Sanskrit. Thus we have kavyas which describes Ramayana and Mahabharata in the same verse!

Needless to say that the author has dealt the Mahabharata kuta slokas which means the slokas with knots!

While the fifth chapter deals with functional pun and the sixth chapter deals with perceptional pun and the seventh with situational pun! The eighth chapter of the book deals with the impact of pun in iconography.

The author concludes in his concluding chapter that pun is everywhere starting from vedic literature to the modern literature which gives the experiences of day to day business of life.

Over three hundred selected verses are given as examples to understand the pun in Sanskrit literature.

On completing the book we are wonderstruck with the author's deep reading as well as with the vastness of the wonderful t Sanskrit literature!

Index of subject and index of 300 verses will be useful to the readers.

Finally, we may pray that more such books should come to enlighten us!

S. Nagarajan is a vehicle body engineer by profession. He has written more than 2500 articles in 16 magazines and published 27 books. He is revealing Eastern Secret Wisdom through T.V. Programmes, magazine articles, seminars, courses. His email address is: snagarajans@gmail.com. His articles on Yoga, laughter, efficacy of mantras and sound, Hypnotism, Tele Kinesis, Power of Prayer, Vastu and Feng Shui, Auto suggestion, Success Formula, Out of Body Experience etc are regularly appearing in EzineArticles.com. So far more than ninety articles have been published in EzineArticles.com.

How to Find Great Books to Read on Kindle

Approach 1 is to go for tried-and-tested authors: this is great providing they have published Kindle editions, and providing their Kindle editions are any good! Many traditionally published books are scanned in with special reading software and converted into Kindle editions. The problem is - the reading software isn't always that good! In a book I read recently 'Penn Station' had become 'Perm Station' - great for hairdressers but not quite right. The same book was littered with errors, and very irritating to read. The great thing about Kindle, of course, is that you can get a refund for up to seven days after purchase, so this downloaded was quickly returned.

Approach 2 is to try Amazon's recommended titles, or to look at what similar books other readers have downloaded. This can be successful, as Amazon employ a complicated system of looking at your browsing and buying history and matching you p with possible titles. Not that they always get it right, of course, but it's a good way to take the guesswork out of trying something new. Oh, the joy of finding a new author...

Approach 3 is to browse other book websites, such as goodreads.com, and then find the Kindle edition if you can. GoodReads is a fab resource, if a little time-consuming, but worth a look. Many authors (myself included) have Q&As on there, which is a rare chance for fans to connect directly with their favourite authors and ask questions about books they've read. GoodReads also has discussion groups, free giveaways and lots more, so head on over if you need some inspiration.

The one approach that doesn't seem to work so well is to browse Amazon's own listings. The categories are confused and mixed up, and unless you know exactly what you are looking for, it's a pretty soul-destroying task. And their algorithm for sorting books by ranking is incredibly complex, and looks at recency of a book's sales as well as total books sold, so you could easily find a title which has sold very few books but in a short time-period sitting much higher than a book that has sold millions of copies! Still, finding a good book in any setting is difficult - imagine a bookshop with over 3 million books to browse through - so why should Kindle be different? At least a great book is worth the effort.

And don't forget to leave a review for your Kindle title. Authors rely on these to be visible to new readers just like you.

Joanne Phillips is the author of women's contemporary fiction novel 'Can't Live Without', and lives in Shropshire, UK. She blogs about self-publishing, writing and books at http://www.joannephillips.co.uk

Book Review - Bringing Up Brits

I am an Australian woman, married to a man who was born in England and now holds three passports. Given our recent decision to move to England, this book seemed like an essential read for me, as it is of paramount importance to my husband and I that our kids settle in sooner rather than later.

I loved this book from the first page and I read it in one afternoon.

There were so many places in the book that I found myself nodding my head, realising that I have had so many experiences similar to Peterson Fenn, including when I lived in England in 1999 before I met my husband.

One of the first things she mentions is the distance factor, being far away from family particularly parents not being close enough to share and participate in her life and that of her children. So thank goodness for Skype, and Facebook and other forms of communication; but as Peterson Fenn points out there is no physical contact. You can't reach through the computer to give your parents a hug, or hug your sister's newborn baby son.

I thought her comments on belonging were most interesting. Sometimes non-British parents find a sense of belonging through their children, or their British spouse, perhaps even through friends or work, or it is something that remains difficult to achieve.

On page 83 she covers the issue of changing perspective and the importance of fitting in:
'On the other hand, I have found my perspective has changed because I live here and I have definitely somewhat assimilated into the British way of life. In a way, it is imperative for me because of my children who are half British and who are growing up here. I think it's natural to want to fit in and to do so almost seamlessly'.

I really identified with her comment about accent making you stand out a lot. Having just lived in Italy, people could tell that I was not a native speaker, and now that I have moved to England, many people can tell straight away that I am not English, and some can even pinpoint what country I do originate from. However like Peterson Fenn I also cherish my accent because it is a reflection of where I originate from.

I found the section from page 94 onwards very interesting about languages other than English in the home. It made me reflect on the past six years of our lives and how English has taken a back seat to Italian. Meghan reiterates a point that I was aware of already, that children who have more than one language are at an advantage and some of the children profiled in this book have two, three or four languages.

I will not give any more away in terms of the contents of this book. I simply believe if it is relevant to you, you will find reading it to be of great assistance, or even comfort.

The True Essence of Audio Books!

Since the emergence of audio books, it could be said that listening pleasure has taken on a more noteworthy meaning. You will never have a dull moment. They are so handy they can be taken and used almost anywhere. They also make shrewd and creative gifts.

If you'd rather give your eyes a rest, then books in audio are just the thing. If book clubs can provide a way to keep friendships alive as well as an opportunity to make new ones then audio books can simply help you to find time to read more. Listening is not a hassle. You can still do it even with friends around. You can carry it with you and it can give you the opportunity to share your books with friends.

Books in audio format no longer have a negative stigma so why not take on this modern approach to storytelling and enjoy even more books. If you don't have a Smartphone or iPod ask your children or grandchildren to download a book and burn it to disk- this way you can listen to your favourite books on a CD player at home.

New devices such as the Kindle Touch boast a 'read to me' feature, which converts an eBook into an audio book. This will be particularly useful for people with visual impairments and lets you "read" while driving, for example.

Some people agree that audio books help children see the humour in writing. This is something children often miss when reading printed books. They are an excellent way to help children develop the reading habit. It has been said that reading aloud to children is beneficial to their success in reading. This can be confirmed by the fact that an enormous number of these kinds of books are used for teaching purposes today.

It has been proven that audio books allow the listener to retain their visualisation and picture-making skills. The listener's enjoyment of audio books doesn't stop with the visualisation - as they listen their understanding is also helped by the tone of voice, the accent and the emphasis and timing given to the text by the professional reader.

To add a special touch, modern audiobooks are narrated by actors or in special cases the books' authors, which is great if you happen to be reading an autobiography or memoirs because the subject could be telling you their story.

Everyone deserves the same access to books and literature regardless of disability, illness or learning difficulty. For many people, the spoken word can provide welcome relief from the pain and loneliness often experienced as a result of having a disability. For younger members with a learning difficulty such as dyslexia, audio books can be equally helpful.

Audio books are a practical and convenient way to fill your time with great literature. The only difference is you're listening rather than reading.

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