editorial

Google I/O - SEO site advice from the experts

Irene Watson

I've been away for the last couple of weeks; first as keynote speaker at the 13th Annual UP Publishers & Authors Association Conference in Marquette, MI. I also presented two workshops: Creating Your Marketing Platform, and, Introduction to Blogging. And, this past week I've been in Calgary, Canada, attending our granddaughter's high school graduation.

Considering I'm just flying back today I decided to share this great video with you instead of attempting to write something. It's a presentation by experts from Google on Search Engine Optimization site advice. The video is an hour long but it's so full of information that you'll probably end up viewing it twice. I suggest taking notes, or actually stopping the video, and implementing the ideas into your site. Even though I pride myself in knowing a substantial amount about SEO I ended up getting some very good information that I immediately put into effect. We are maintaining page one on Google search and have been for quite some time. I attribute this to good SEO.

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featured this week

Nonfiction - Poetry, Life, Recovery

The Road-Shaped Heart

Nick Purdon

Modern History Press (2011)
ISBN 9781615990573
Reviewed by Marissa Libbit for Reader Views (4/11)

Synopsis

The Road-Shaped Heart is the poetic journey of a man winding his way through a landscape of darkness, anguish, addiction, loss and grief; carrying with him a lantern of hope, courage, idealism and love to illuminate a pathway to self-forgiveness, acceptance and spiritual growth. While often haunting and melancholy, the poems are also rich in vivid colour and imagery, with an ever-present sense of fire lilies relentlessly springing forth from a razed and scorched soul. "The Road-Shaped Heart by Nick Purdon will squeeze the heart of each reader to elicit emotions held tight. Each reader will find his or her own life pain and loss within the words spread before them like a feast to be swallowed until the soul has been touched." Barbara Sinor, PhD, author Tales of Addiction and Inspiration for Recovery.

Read review of The Road-Shaped Heart
Listen to interview on Inside Scoop Live
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featured this week

Fiction - History, Gay/Lesbian

The Queen’s Companion

Maggi A. Petton

Booklocker (2011)
ISBN 9781609106461
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (5/11)

Synopsis

Set against the backdrop of the Inquisition, Queen Catherine and her soldiers discover a woman being raped and tortured. They rescue Lady Isabella, and during her convalescence the women fall in love. The sexual tension creates spiritual struggle for Catherine, who believes that their feelings doom them for eternity. The danger intensifies as her own Bishop, a known pedophile, is determined to expose her as a heretic.

A loving, sympathetic priest helps Catherine, and a small band of rebels, form an underground movement to help victims of the Inquisition. Meanwhile, the Bishop works to seduce Catherine's daughter, Sofia, into playing out his intention, propelling everyone toward disaster. The Queen's Companion by author Maggi A. Petton is an epic tale of lives torn apart by ambition, greed and betrayal. More, it is a story of how love can transform broken souls.

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Spotlight - reader views literary awards winner

Second Place Winner of Business/Sales/Economics Category

The Employee Rights Handbook by Steven Mitchell Sack

Legal Strategies Inc. (2010)
ISBN 9780963630674

 

Steven Mitchell Sack has been enforcing the workplace rights of employees, executives and sales reps for over 30 years. As a practicing attorney, author of 19 books, and radio host, Steven Sack is driven to protect workers by providing invaluable job and career legal strategies. Although employment law is complex and ever-changing, employees have more legal rights than they think. As the worker's advocate, attorney Sack stresses how to be properly hired and what to do if you are fired.

Synopsis: The Employee Rights Handbook, written by best-selling author Steven Mitchell Sack The Employee's Lawyer® is a comprehensive legal guide in simple English providing all the essential information workers need to protect themselves before, during and after their jobs have ended. Attorney Sack’s comprehensive, up-to-the-minute book is a first-aid kit to understanding one’s job rights, giving you the information and power to fight back, cut a deal if you are fired, and land firmly on your feet. The book advises how to be properly hired, steps to take if you resign or are fired, and how to enforce your on-the-job rights. Readers will learn how to anticipate and avoid common sticky situations during all stages in the employment process. Throughout, Sack offers practical advice by using valuable checklists, charts, agreements and easy-to-follow recommendations.

Chapters are helpfully divided into relevant headings making it easy to find information you are looking for. The book also contains a glossary, index, and numerous valuable demand letters to send to enforce your rights. Easy to use, practical, up-to-date, The Employee Rights Handbook provides all the essential information employees need to protect themselves and fight back, whatever their job or industry. If you work for a living, you need this book.

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Enter Literary Awards Program
List of 2010 Literary Awards Winners

Spotlight - reader views literary awards winner

Honorable Mention in Business/Sales/Economics Category

Leading Team Alpha: Leadership in Novel Form by Joel DiGirolamo

PranaPower (2010)
ISBN 9780977088430

Joel DiGirolamo has over 30 years of staff and management experience in Fortune 500 companies. He has a BSEE, MBA, and an MS Psychology degree and is the author of the book Leading Team Alpha and the award-winning book Yoga in No Time at All. The combination of his diverse work experience and education enable him to relate to individuals at all levels and positions of any organization in any region of the world. His broad experience has allowed him to successfully lead and participate on teams of individuals with unique backgrounds and various motivations.

Synopsis: Leading Team Alpha is a novel about a software business, Dandadata, that suddenly finds itself trailing its major competitor when they announce a new version of their product. Dean, a manager at Dandadata, has been working on NU technology with a small team of four people and must build his team and incorporate NU technology into the DandaData mainstream product to save the company. Navigating treacherous market forces and political headwinds, Dean incorporates research-based leadership elements as he learns them from Dr. Solomon (Sol) König, a local university professor.

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List of 2010 Literary Awards Winners

This week's video

The Palomar Paradox: A SETI Mystery

Richard Rydon

Richard Rydon
Lulu (2011)
ISBN B004UGDWK0)

Synopsis

Each of the characters in 'The Palomar Paradox' deals with the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) in their own way. As in real life, some believe; others don't want you to believe. 'The Palomar Paradox' sees Luper Beauchamps, a brilliant scientist, back in an astronomical observatory searching for signs of extraterrestrial intelligence. He finds himself working with Leila Keiler, a young student recovering from leukaemia, and Karina Lowenhaupt, an experienced astronomer. Other characters include, Trent Foresyth, a senior Pentagon official, and his intern, Rihanna Sørensen. They are charged chiefly with quashing all reports of, and evidence for, extraterrestrial activity.

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