The Goal Achiever The Complete System for Setting and Achieving Any Goal You Choose

8 CDs

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The Memory of Water

On the night their mother drowns, sisters Marnie and Diana Maitland discover there is more than one kind of death. There is the death of innocence, of love, and of hope. Each sister harbors a secret about that night-secrets that will erode their lives as they grow into adulthood.

After ten years of silence between the sisters, Marnie is called back to the South Carolina Lowcountry by Diana’s ex-husband, Quinn. His young son has returned from a sailing trip with his emotionally unstable mother, and he is refusing to speak. In order to help the traumatized boy, Marnie must reopen old wounds and bring the darkest memories of their past to the surface. And she must confront Diana, before they all go under.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars The Memory of Water
I was entranced with this story. A family with a history of bipolarism, secrets and tragedies.

Mystery and supsense will keep you turning the pages. I found it disturbing but insightful. A mothers love with a fine line of insanity.

5 Stars One of the best I have read this year…
What a pleasure to read a novel that has it all together - characters that are real and easy to see, a setting that draws you in and wants to keep you there, and a plot that keeps you wondering right up to the last minute. This was not a book I plowed through at breakneck speed. I was savoring it too much - it’s one of those ones you really don’t want to end. The surprising thing I learned when I completed the book was that Karen White doesn’t live anywhere near the water - and she has never sailed! You will swear that she is sitting in an oceanfront cottage writing this story - with her sailboat tied to her dock. Bravo, Karen, for all your research. The rich detail of the characters, home, town and sailing experience, is perfection!

Karen has a wonderful facility for leaving a trail of information that eventually adds up to a plausible conclusion. I love those “Aha!” moments and the pleasant re-thinking one goes through as the pieces fall into place. This is my first Karen White book, so I now have the pleasure of looking forward to reading the others!

4 Stars Good Book, Good Summer Read!
This is the first book I’ve read by Karen White. It was a wonderful story of the Carolina lowcountry with rich detailed characters and an intriguing storyline. Family secrets and sister’s connections come to the surface after an accident that has forced one of them to come home. My only bone to pick was the multiple narrations. While I enjoyed the adult characters’ perspectives, I found the young boy Gil’s to be a bit out of place. It didn’t ‘ring true’ for me. None the less, I’m passing this gem along because I know my friends will snap it up and love it for a fun summer read!

5 Stars Gripping novel…

Gripping novel…

Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for ReviewYourBook.com

Sixteen years ago, Marnie’s mother drowned. She could not remember everything that happened that fateful night, but she knew she had lost two things that day that she dearly loved, her passion for sailing and the love of her sister. She escaped to the dessert pledging never to go near the ocean again. A call for help brought her home again. Marnie was determined to help her nephew but had to work through her own problems to do so.

The Memory of Water by Karen White is not a fast read. This is one of those books that you want to savor every word. The plot is gripping. The characters are multifaceted. Diana and Marnie are sisters that at one time dearly loved each other. The Memory of Water explores the relationship of sisters and the dynamics of living with a person that is bi-polar. The sisters are forced to face ghosts from their past. Karen White draws readers in to her plot. She successfully moves from one narrator to another, each telling their part with a distinct voice, fitting together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. There are several twists that will keep the reader turning pages. I found this book to be captivating. If you enjoy high drama this is the book for you.

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5 Stars wonderful book
This is a wonderful book. The characters were believable and likeable. I would definitely read something else by this author.

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The Secret Knowledge of Grown Ups

Parents are always spouting these rules. Do they really care about nutrients and mattresses, or are they hiding something? Luckily, one fearless grown–up will risk his neck and his dignity to find out. Disguised as everything from a chocolate milk scuba diver to a giant nose, this counterspy uncovers the disturbing truth. And what he learns will shock you like nothing before. Startling suckface emergencies! Dangerous digit gangs! Powerful sumo cells! Those are just some of the secrets revealed in this book by Caldecott medalist David Wisniewski. But don’t let anyone catch you reading it–especially grown–ups. Who knows what could happen if they knew that you knew?

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars The Secret Knowledge of Grown-Ups
What a great book! My children enjoyed reading this book together, we all laughed out loud at the revelations of adults “Secret Knowledge!” Sure to delight grown-ups and children alike!

3 Stars Good Book!!
This is a great book for children at any age. I use the book for a writing assignment.

4 Stars Top Secret Files Revealed!
An adult has done the unthinkable! Broken the secret adult pact and published confidential files telling kids the truth about various rules we adults have passed onto them under the misconception that these rules were for their own good. David Wisniewski reveals the truth that the real reason we eat vegetables is to keep them in their place so they do not take over the world and eat us, instead of the lies we tell that vegetables are good for you. Other secrets he reveals include the reason why grown ups say drink plenty of milk, that combing your hair is not to keep it neat, why you shouldn’t blow bubbles in your milk, why you shouldn’t play with your food, why you shouldn’t jump on your bed, why you shouldn’t bite your fingernails and why you shouldn’t pick your nose.

This book has been published with great illustrations made from cutting little bits of paper and gluing them into very detailed pictures. The only thing that lets this book down for kids and thankfully saves us adults is that there are only a few myths unveiled. This of course makes it extremely likely that David Wisniewski will release a sequel but you’d think if he had the secrets he could have made this book a bit thicker and included them in the one book. As an adult I can only say that I hope the book is so thin because these are the only confidential files he has managed to steal. Wait a minute he is an adult isn’t he? So why does he even need the files since he already knows the answers. I predict Mr Wisniewski’s motives are not just to publish the truth for kids but to make money along the way and that this is the first in a planned series of sequels. I enjoyed this enough that I’ll check them out as well.

4 Stars Kids LOVE it!
I ordered this book to go along with a lesson I was teaching. I have to admit, I was a little disappointed in the book when I read it myself. I almost didn’t even use it, but at the last minute decided to read it to my class. They LOVED it. They begged me to read more and began a list of who could check it out from me next. They think the files are HYSTERICAL, and my book is already looking well-worn!

3 Stars Wasn’t as funny as the first edition…
Seems like all the hysterical topics like nose picking, etc were explored in the first chapter. My kids aren’t too excited to read about dust bunnies…

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Making Comics Storytelling Secrets of Comics Manga and Graphic Novels

Scott McCloud tore down the wall between high and low culture in 1993 with Understanding Comics, a massive comic book about comics, linking the medium to such diverse fields as media theory, movie criticism, and web design. In Reinventing Comics, McCloud took this to the next level, charting twelve different revolutions in how comics are generated, read, and perceived today. Now, in Making Comics, McCloud focuses his analysis on the art form itself, exploring the creation of comics, from the broadest principles to the sharpest details (like how to accentuate a character’s facial muscles in order to form the emotion of disgust rather than the emotion of surprise.) And he does all of it in his inimitable voice and through his cartoon stand–in narrator, mixing dry humor and legitimate instruction. McCloud shows his reader how to master the human condition through word and image in a brilliantly minimalistic way. Comic book devotees as well as the most uninitiated will marvel at this journey into a once–underappreciated art form.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars As usual, high quality stuff
Well thought out, well written, quality throughout. I like this book the best so far; the previous weren’t as appealing as this but were still very well done. The author really practices what he preaches as far as his message and the book speaks for itself. You won’t be disappointed. Looking forward to the new books!

5 Stars Great Look at How Stories and Art Combine into the Comics You Love
I’ve always found it fascinating to imagine how a comic book author/illustrator creates the stories and images that appeal so much. Having been a non-fiction book author for many years, I have a firm understanding of the writing process. I sometimes pick out a few illustrations to put into a book.

But building a story around the illustrations, that seems like a trip to the planet Neptune to me. I was very pleased to find that Scott McCloud is very good at explaining (and illustrating) the creative and production processes he uses. I was delighted when I realized that he had also described how an individual could make a few comics to share with friends.

With computer art getting to be easier to do, I can see that there’s even hope for those of us who couldn’t draw out way out of a paper bag.

Mr. McCloud has the kind of mind that sees everything in perspective, in this case as facets of an overall story-telling task. He always has the goal of engaging the reader in mind and relates his points well to that purpose.

The work is impressive at another level . . . it’s a masterpiece of providing instruction. The book shows more than tells, as a book about comics should do.

If Mr. McCloud ever tires of making comic books and graphic novels, he should go into explaining non-fiction subjects. He would make a fortune!

5 Stars An Excellent Book For Everyone
When my grandparents got me this book, I didn’t think it could help me. I was looking for a “How to Draw” not a “How to Write”. This book proved me so wrong. I couldn’t believe how much fun it was to read, and it helped me a lot too. Almost everything I thought I knew was proved wrong and after reading it I felt like I understood comics so much better. As well as making me better at writing comic books, it made me a better writer altogether. I strongly recommend this book for anyone who is interested in comics or in just plain writing or art.

5 Stars Great Book on Comics Structure/Analysis (also good intro to some techniques)
This is a great tutorial and reference for anyone considering writing a comic book for the first time (or perhaps someone more experienced who’d like to get a fresh perspective and/or deeper understanding of fundamental structure). Scott has taken all those elements that go into making a good comic book (that you’ve probably noticed subconsciously but couldn’t put into words) and laid them bare with expert analysis.

The analyses and guidelines are presented in a light-hearted, comic book format that is both entertaining and enlightening. You won’t find yourself getting sleepy or distracted while reading this book - and you will understand every concept with perfect clarity, even if you are a complete novice.

Get this book! I found it at my local library and read it twice (cover to cover). I plan to buy it so that I’ll have it handy for reference as I plan and begin drafting my first comic book.

Highly recommended.

5 Stars A Must-Read for All Comic Artists
Scott McCloud’s “Making Comics” is a must-read for all aspiring comic artists. This book is very different from other comic technique books. While most other books will teach you how to draw characters or backgrounds, this one teaches you how to tell stories. McCloud goes in depth into what makes a good story through pacing, image choice, layout, words, facial expressions, among many other factors. All of the instruction is given in comic form, so it is very easy to see how the techniques are implemented since he shows you right on the page. I particularly like the section on facial expressions. He has a very inventive method of using basic facial expressions and then mixing them to create totally new facial expressions. It has to be seen to be believed.

If you’re thinking of starting to draw comics, or if you’re on the edge of giving up comics because you just can’t get it right, this will give you the inspiration to keep trying. If you’re a great artist, then you’ll come to a better understanding of the techniques that you use. I definitely recommend reading this book.

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