From a news release:

“Death Never Crossed My Mind,” a new book by Anne Allen, has been released by Dorrance Publishing Co., Inc.

Accepting God in your life can truly change you as a person. In her deteriorating health due to a brain tumor, the author tells a piece of her life, how God healed and cared for her during her times of great need. She tells how the Word of God became her source of strength and comfort whenever she feels frail, and how she falls back and finds herself again in the comforting love of God.

The book discusses different aspects of the author’s life and what she thinks about the past as she looks at it now. She shares lessons learned from many years of struggle, pain, doubt, hatred, and jealousy, but also shows enough of the happiness that God and her loved ones have imparted in her life.

Death Never Crossed My Mind, by Anne Allen, is a selfless pouring and sharing of wisdom gleaned from a fruitful life’s journey.

Anne Allen was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. She is now retired and resides in Euclid with her husband of thirty-five years, and dedicates her time to serving the Lord and helping other people.  

“Death Never Crossed My Mind” is a 108-page paperback with a retail price of $14.00. The ISBN is 978-1-4349-2842-9.  It was published by Dorrance Publishing Co., Inc of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. For more information, or to request a review copy, please go to our virtual pressroom at www.dorrancepressroom.com or our online bookstore atwww.dorrancebookstore.com.

From a news release:

BROOK PARK, Ohio — In her new children’s book, “Cricket, the Unhappy Frog,” author Mary Lu Stary tells a story that showcases the importance of family to one’s personal happiness.

The story introduces readers to a little female frog named Cricket. When her father and sisters suddenly disappear from the pond, Cricket knows it’s up to her to find them. Readers will follow her as she hops along highways and through forests to find the family she didn’t realize was so important to her happiness.

Published by Tate Publishing and Enterprises, the book is available through bookstores nationwide, from the publisher atwww.tatepublishing.com/bookstore, or by visiting barnesandnoble.com or amazon.com.

Stary is the mother of six and a grandmother of 10. She lives in Brook Park, Ohio, with two of her children. She has dreamed of becoming a published author since her days as co-editor of the high school newspaper.

Because I'm always looking to add to the list of books I'm in the middle of reading or hope to finally crack open, I was excited to see this news release in my inbox. NPR Books has put together a summer reading collection titled Book Your Trip:

NPR HELPS ‘BOOK YOUR TRIP’ THIS SUMMER  

BECAUSE READING IS ALL ABOUT THE JOURNEY; REPORTS, CRITICS’ LISTS & MORE AT NPR.ORG/BOOKYOURTRIP  

June 17, 2014; Washington, D.C. – Who needs destinations? This summer, NPR Books focuses on the journey. Tales of travel and transit inspire this year’s Summer Books package, an annual recommendation of literature and reading centered around a select theme. “Book Your Trip” launches today with an introductory story airing during Morning Edition and a dozen online lists from notable critics, librarians and tastemakers. Start exploring now at npr.org/bookyourtrip.  

The 12 “Book Your Trip” reading lists collect favorite books about incredible journeys, and can be browsed by mode of transportation: Train, Plane, Car, Bike, Boat, Foot, City Transit, Horse, Balloon, Rocketship, Time, and even Dragons, Drugs and Giant Peaches. The lists feature selections from NPR staff, including Michele Norris, Lynn Neary, Neda Ulaby and Mandalit del Barco, as well as book critics Nancy Pearl, Maureen Corrigan, Ellah Allfrey, Alan Cheuse and Jane Ciabattari. Audiences can share personal favorites in the comments section of the lists or in social media using the hashtag #bookyourtrip.  

In complementary reports airing across NPR newsmagazines, NPR’s Arts and Entertainment desk explores how the way people get from place to place connects to larger human issues – women’s rights, race, loss, citizenship, peace and freedom. Expected coverage includes NPR TV critic Eric Deggans examining the travel experience of whites and blacks through The Watsons Go to Birmingham 1963; Neda Ulaby following the journey of Snowpiercer from graphic novel to the big screen; pieces revealing the gender issues surrounding The Little Engine That Could and revving up literature with motorcycles; and NPR film critic Bob Mondello sharing some journey-inspired show tunes.  

NPR Books helps a busy audience find great reads. Recently redesigned to better serve those on-the-go, the site brings together news about books and authors with original interviews, reviews and recommendations from every genre and non-genre. It also compiles popular recurring series such as the "This Week’s Must Read,” "My Guilty Pleasure” and “Crime in the City,” which begins its 2014 summer run in late June with crime fiction stories about Melbourne, Australia; Shetland Islands, Scotland; Natchez, Miss.; Los Angeles, Calif.; and for the first time ever, New York, N.Y. In December 2013, NPR Books took its year-end “best of” list to a new level with the launch of the NPR's Book Concierge, an app that allows readers to sort, shuffle and surf their way through more than 200 of the year’s best reads. “Book Your Trip” is the latest addition to this expanding library of outstanding books coverage at www.npr/books.

Where are your books taking you this summer?

Local author Annmarie Cleversey (previously profiled here) has released the fourth book in her Hailey Hanson mystery series. "Reunions Can be Dangerous" is available on Amazon as an ebook download for $2.99.
 
Book summary from a news release:

It's summer time and children's librarian Hailey Hanson and her best friend Kayla Martin are looking forward to their 10 year high school class reunion and visiting with old friends. But neither imagined that reunion weekend would bring up old jealousies, rivalries and old flames wanting to be rekindled. While Kayla is fighting off the advances of her former high school sweetheart, Hailey is trying to figure who is responsible for seemingly harmless pranks that are occurring. But reunion weekend turns deadly when Hailey finds a classmate dead at one of the reunion events. Is the killer amongst the reunion guests? Hailey is determined to find out and with Kayla's help tracks down the killer. 

Earlier books in the series include "Trouble Comes to Town," "Deadly Deceptions" and "Buried in the Past." All can be found on Amazon as ebooks for $0.99 each.

Mentor photographer Johnny Joo is releasing a book titled "Empty Spaces: Photojournalism Through The Rust Belt," which can be preordered on his website, Architectural Afterlife, for the next seven days.

The 116-page hardcover book is 11.25 inches by 8.75 inches, and each book preordered through Joo's website will be personally signed by the author/photographer. (Only seven days left to preorder to receive a personally signed book and free gift.)

The book is also available as an e-book through Amazon.

Some of Joo's photos were recently featured on a viral Buzzfeed post on abandoned malls. His photos of abandoned buildings have been on display at Mentor Public Library.

Joo also has shared some of his work on News-Herald.com:

• Mentor Marsh fire, Nov. 5, 2013
• Winter weather photos, Nov. 27, 2013
• Mentor Fire Department training, Dec. 17, 2013
• Winter weather photos, January 2014

Find more of Joo's photography on his Facebook pages Johnny Joo Photography and Urbex.

Local author and News-Herald Community Media Lab blogger M.E. Betsy McMillan will be at Perry Public Library on May 3 (map). More information from a news release:

What can you possibly do for a person who is dying? What meaningful gift can you give to someone who no longer has the need or want of material possessions?

In her latest book, “A Mystery in the Mailbox,” local author M.E. Betsy McMillan discusses her long history of confronting this issue and her years of success in making the “gift of thought” a special way to give hope and inspiration to those who are fighting a long, hard battle.

Betsy will be appearing at Perry Public Library on Saturday, May 3rd where she will be talking with library visitors about how they too can give the “gift of thought” when nothing else seems appropriate. Signed copies of “A Mystery in the Mailbox” will be available for purchase.

About the Author
A native of Cleveland, Betsy and her family have resided in Perry, Ohio for the last 40 years. Betsy is the head writer and editor for a pharmaceutical research organization as a full time avocation, but still finds the time to write on her own time. “A Mystery in the Mailbox” is her fifth non-fiction book.

What people are saying about “A Mystery in the Mailbox”
“His Holiness sends prayerful good wishes for your work with the terminally ill. Invoking upon you the joy and peace in our Lord Jesus Christ, he cordially imparts his Apostolic Blessing.”
— Secretariat of State for Pope Benedict, The Vatican, 13 February 2010

“When one is ill and becomes a patient, the secret in caring for the patient, is caring about the patient. Betsy’s stories are fascinating and describe her twenty-plus years of caring and compassion for those in need. I highly recommend this book.”
— John L. Turner, M.D., author of Miracles and Manifestations: A Doctor’s Journey Through the Worlds of Divine Intervention, Near-Death Experiences, and Universal Energy

“One of the greatest blessings in life is to die having been loved and cared about. Betsy, through her wonderful and thoughtful book, has shown us how we all can express our love and care for those who need it the most.”
— Dr. Harold J. Bowersox, author of The Bowersox Protocol for Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue

“My tears flowed because of the simplicity of the idea, shared with such an open heart. Betsy writes, “There are times when I think I am getting much as in the sending as the recipient gets in the receiving.” To which I say, “Amen.” That is exactly the experience I have every time I do Reiki at the hospital. And her process does not involve any sort of training!”
— Elisabeth Petry, author of Can Anything Beat White? A Black Family’s Letters and At Home Inside: A Daughter's Tribute to Ann Petry

Betsy McMillan works as a writer and editor for Ricerca Biosciences in Concord, OH. She attended The Ohio State University and Cleveland State University. She is currently marketing her non-fiction books and has two novels that are scheduled for publication this year. McMillan also pens a blog at http://thefracturedanecdote.blogspot.com/.

Peninsula resident Susan Ellison Busch will be in Mantua on May 4 to sign copies of her book. More information from a news release:

WHEN: 2014-05-04

TIME: 1 - 3 p.m.

WHERE: Hattie Larlham Center for Children with Disabilities, 9772 Diagonal Rd, Mantua, OH

WHAT: Ellison Busch. a resident of Peninsula, OH, will be available to sign copies of her book, Yearning for Normal.

I phoned for an ambulance. As I called, Mike paced back and forth in the kitchen saying, 'Just drive me. I'll be okay.' He told me that he had been cooking meatballs and his shirt caught on fire.  While waiting for the ambulance,

I got him some pants for modesty, covering his burnt waist and buttocks.

I remembered a little from nursing school about burns, so I tried to get him to lie down on a quilt since I knew he was in danger of going into shock.

This heartbreaking journey will take Susan Busch and her son, Mike, through hospitals, backyards, schoolrooms, psychiatric wards, a court room, a burn unit, and the corridors of Susan's own heart. But beyond the struggles of adjusting to life with this deletion, there is a tale of humanity, with all its sorrow, love, and hope. This story is not just for the parents of children with 22q.11 Deletion syndrome, but for their friends, neighbors, doctors, nurses, teachers, speech therapists, social workers, police officers, paramedics, firefighters, ministers, and whoever else likes a good story.