The Happy Hypochondriac Review

Dear Friends,

It is my pleasure to introduce you to a terrific new title available at Barnes and Noble, Amazon or your local bookstore: The Happy Hypochondriac.

 

The book, written by Kat Spitzer, is a hilarious story that narrates personal accounts throughout her life as a hypochondriac, according to each of her medical files. Each chapter is unique and personal, where we are able to laugh with her and understand what she is going through from all angles and perspectives through various stages of her life. The book weaves through her experiences, from her dance recital as a young girl to her college days, as each page comes alive with funny yet touching, vivid descriptions of all the craziness that occurs throughout her life.

The Happy Hypochondriac brought me back to when I was in sixth grade when we were learning about infectious diseases in our science classes. I believe to this day that the material we learned was much to advanced for our age and maturity level. I remember that my friends and I all thought we had these diseases. We would always remind each other to wash our hands before we ate, even a small piece of candy. I would go home and sanitize my binders and start cleaning my room. In addition, I would always worry that my bedroom and belongings were somehow contaminated with an infectious disease or that I was sick with a disease because I would have a headache one day or seem to feel exhausted for no reason. Communicating with my family helped me get rid of my fear. It took a little over a year to fully overcome that fear and not let those outlandish thoughts debilitate me.I need to focus on my life and having fun and that is what this story tells us to remember to do.We are in control of our life's enjoyment.

The story is truly a one-of-a-kind that readers of all ages will enjoy. The story is very entertaining and each chapter had me laughing out loud, with often side-splitting bursts of laughter. The message that I perceived from reading the book is that laughter always exists around us and that happiness and the ability to make fun of yourself are the greatest healing powers.

Author, Kat Spitzer

Kat Spitzer graduated from Vanderbilt University and received her law degree from Vermont Law School. The Happy Hypochondriac is published by Apprentice House. To purchase your copy of The Happy Hypochondriac, click here. Visit her blog at: www.happyhypochondriac.com.

Follow Kat Spitzer on Twitter @katspitzer

Like The Happy Hypochondriac on Facebook

Fondly,

Rent, not buy: college textbooks

Good Morning Everyone!

I would like to give a special shout-out to all potential and current high school, college, graduate and doctoral students. Why purchase your textbooks for astronomical prices when you can rent them and SAVE TONS of money!
CampusBookRentals.com has your solution! At their website, you can save 40-90% off the cost of textbooks at bookstore prices! The company also offers free shipping both ways with flexible renting periods. They also offer live customer support and have the LARGEST selection of textbooks for rental in the nation!

Below is are example textbooks from their website: http://www.campusbookrentals.com/book/0865304734/Esl-Active-Learning-Lessons:-15/Imogene-Forte,-Mary-Ann-Pangle/9780865304734/

and

http://www.campusbookrentals.com/book/0136070620/Personal-Finance:-Turning-Money-into/Arthur-J.-Keown/9780136070627/

Their website includes AP exam test prep books, language dictionaries, and thousands of books that you can search by subject, ISBN #, title, author and keyword. Everyone that will be or is currently attending college MUST visit their website!


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CampusBookRentals.com FAQ's:


CampusBookRentals.com donates to Operation Smile with each textbook rented. Operation Smile is a international children's medical charity that works with children who are born with clefts and whose families are unable to afford the surgery. According to the Operation Smile website, a child is born with a cleft every three minutes. These children are often unable to eat, socialize, speak and smile. It is a painful thing for children to experience because they are often rejected and shunned in their societies. Operation Smile works in over 60 countries to heal children's smiles and change their lives forever. Since 1982, Operation Smile has provided over 200,000 free surgeries to children around the world.

Create a smile and change a life. Donate to Operation Smile here!

Like Operation Smile on Facebook.

Wedding Diet Begins...after the holidays

Good Day Readers!

I first wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and happy holidays! I have been baking so much lately, and I feel enjoying a bit to much of my sweet creations. I have been eating at restaurants and eating dessert more than I would like to. I decide that after the holidays, (it would be nearly impossible for me because I will be baking until New Year's Eve *gasp*). Instead of calling it a diet, how about healthy eating plan, or a nutritious plan! A diet sounds too impersonal and grueling. Diets also are temporary eating plans.

With all the work I have been doing (grad school prep, wedding, internships, work, etc.) it has been tough to stick to a health eating and exercise routine. During the summers, I am very good with that. I am always active during that time, which keeps me in shape. Also I do not bake as often during the summers; I am usually grilling or cooking and preparing wraps, fruit salads and small plates. Below includes a personalized plan I developed to help me maintain a healthy lifestyle, just in time for my wedding. It is not just about preparing for the wedding, rather it is something I would like to stick to.

My personal goals:

• limit dessert to small portions twice a week
• elminate sweet drinks (sweet teas)
• have water when on the go
• do NOT order dessert out
• exercise 3-4 days a week (Taebo, running, fast walking with weights)
• yoga/pilates 2 days a week
• have plenty of fruit and vegetables in the house
• limit cheese intake (I LOVE cheese)
• no pastries (donuts, muffins)

I would say dessert is my main satisfaction. If I did not eat dessert ever, I would be super skinny!

Cinch! Book Review



Cinch! Book cover

 Want to lose weight after the holiday season indulgence? Cinch! is a 30-day weight loss program that you might be really interested in trying. Cinch! was created by Cynthia Sass, the creator and co-author of the New York Times Bestselling Flat Belly Diet. Cinch! will help you stop overeating, increase metabolism, and burn fat!

The program begins with the 5-Day Fast Forward, which includes eating simple foods that will assist you in detoxing from the not-so-healthy food you have been eating. This phase could help you lose up to 8 pounds in the first week! The remaining 25 days consists of eating high-protein foods that will help boost your metabolism and burn fat.

I will be using Cinch! to help me maintain a healthy weight and boost my weight loss and healthy eating routine. I received the book from One2One Network. Read more about Cinch! and order you own copy here. It will be on sale December 28. Be sure to follow Cynthia Sass on Twitter and Facebook as well.

The Attitude Girl Book Review

 Happy Holidays!

 I was very happy to receive an autographed copy of The Attitude Girl by Mila Bernadkin in the mail. Reading the book was quite an enjoyment and even brought my back to me high school years (which weren't that long ago). It was a fun read. I was certainly glad to take a break from my hectic schedule of writing articles and reading literature for school and work.

The Attitude Girl, front and back

The story is written in the first person, the speaker being Victoria (Vicky), a 17 year old girl with an attitude (but not too much attitude that it overpowers her character and charisma. The story follows her relationship with her friends, guys at school, dating, bullying, college applications, family relationships and classes. Her and her friends are gorgeous, fun, intelligent young women. Vicky lives with her mother, an aspiring interior designer and has a close bond with her mother's parents.
But does her attitude become a barrier between her boyfriend, her family and her friends? Is she simply being realistic and honest by expressing her feelings?  Find out by reading this amazing and gripping story.
I liked especially touched upon a variety of situations that many students face while in school, from college applications to guys to even tougher situations such as bullying and family related occurrences. This page turner is realistic and moving every step of the way. I especially liked the relationship that Vicky developed with a character named Tina, who transformed for the better. I also appreciated all of the situations touched upon, especially bullying. This topic needs to be spoken of more often as it is a very serious issue in schools today that should never be taken lightly. I am strongly against bullying and have zero tolerance for such ruthless and cold behavior.
I loved that Vicky was a reporter; some of her journalistic work is woven into the story, which is a nice touch! Humor, passion, anger, sadness are encompassed in this impressive coming of age novel.

 The Attitude Girl is a young adult novel. I recommend it for high school and college students. The novel is a winner of eight literary awards, including a 2009 winner in the London Book Festival contest.
Vicky's story is full of inspiration and impact that any young individual can appreciate, learn from and enjoy. I am very glad I read this book and recommended it for you.

Check out the book's website to find out more! Buy your copy today!

Gina Ardito aka Katherine Brandon

A Step inside the World of an Intriguing and Passionate Romance Comedy Author

Gina Ardito, who currently resides in Long Island, is the author of several Romance Comedy and Historical Romance novels. Besides her strong interest and dedication to writing, she is the co-founder of Dunes & Dreams RWA, the eastern Long Island chapter of Romance Writers of America. She writes her Historical Romances under the pen name Katherine Brandon. Some of her works include: A Little Slice of Heaven, The Bonds of Matri-money, and A Run For the Money. Besides her writing, she is also deeply devoted to her family.
“I often think there are two people living in my body. First, there's the author who can't get enough time for reading, writing, and supporting others in the business. The author loves the spotlight, has no trouble speaking to total strangers, and juggles a thousand different tasks without ever missing a deadline. The author wouldn't notice if the house burned down around her--until the computer crashed.”
Ardito and her husband have two children, a dog and two cats. She describes herself as a “homebody” who does not concern herself with the mundane aspects of meaningless idle conversation.
“But then there's the mom who loves to bake from scratch, attends every football practice, and hates to leave the house--even on the sunniest day. Mom's a homebody who barely speaks to her neighbors because she's not good at idle chitchat. She serves a fabulous Thanksgiving feast and believes her greatest accomplishment in life is her children. If these two personalities ever meet, they'll bore each other to death.”
Recently she co-founded Dunes & Dreams, which strives to help to help romance writers attain their publishing dreams and expand their careers through advocacy, networking, and education. Fellow authors Debora Dennis and Candace Gold were also members of another Long Island-based chapter. Ardito refers the process as a labor of love for her and her co-founders.
“We considered the fact that, at approximately 120 miles, the Island was too long for any one group to serve all the residents of Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Let's face it. Once you get to Riverhead, there are no parkways or expressways. Main arteries are mostly one lane local roads, which makes it difficult for East End residents to travel to meetings in, say, Massapequa. And there are several well-known romance authors who live out east. Bertrice Small lives in Southold. Barbara Metzger is on the opposite fork in Montauk.”
Ardito believed that there was a need for an East End chapter to serve these writers and others like them. Over a holiday lunch in December 2008, Dennis, Gold and Ardito found themselves at a crossroads. They knew the time was right to put their plans into motion. What followed were some hectic, frustrating, but rewarding months.

“Ultimately, our greatest strength--which we still rely on--was that there are no egos among us. We pitched in equally, dividing the workload based on our own particular skills and areas of expertise. Debora handled our online world: creating and maintaining a website, forum, blog, and online social groups. Candace took over the legal and financial paperwork. I became the liaison, overseer, and lead juggler.”
By May of 2009, less than six months after their original discussion, they became affiliated with the RWA. As of December 2009, Dunes & Dreams has fourteen active members. “Currently, we're up to 19 members with two additional in the application stage,” Ardito said.
Members of the affiliation attend monthly meetings, online workshops, and writing programs. There are writing workshops and author talks around the Island and members appear at several fairs in the warmer months. One of their most important events is their Multi-Author Book signing to Benefit Literacy Suffolk.
“Each spring, Pindar Vineyards in Peconic is kind enough to provide us space to sell personalized, autographed novels to the public. A portion of the sales from this event are donated to Literacy Suffolk, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping Long Islanders learn to read and write.”
This year's event will take place on Saturday, May 8 from 12-3 pm at Pindar Vineyards in Peconic. With the current economic climate and state budget crisis, Dunes & Dreams is hoping to raise a significant amount to help make a difference. Twelve authors will be participating in this event.
“It's the day before Mothers Day. What could make a better gift? An autographed romance novel and a bottle of wine--that just screams "Love you, Mom!"
When writing her stories, she develops a few personality traits for her hero and heroine before she begins her story. But most of their characterizations develop along with the story.
“I love baby name books for basics. One book in particular, The Secret Universe of Names, is chock-full of info. Based on the syllables in any given name, I can figure out what type of career my character should have, how my character will react with friends as well as lovers, and what my character might value.”
Ardito often bases characters on people she doesn’t know--but not in any recognizable way. “I'll take personality quirks from my butcher, the lady down the street, and a co-worker. Mix them up and voila! I've got a totally unique character.”
Her favorite authors are extensive. She has been a fan of Bertrice Small since she began reading romance novels. Her novel, The Kadin, is still one of her favorite books—thirty years after she first read it. She also enjoys reading the works of J.D. Robb's In Death series, Suzanne Brockmann's Troubleshooter series, and the ladies of Benny Rosado's law offices in Lisa Scottoline's works. I also love Barbara Freethy, Sabrina Jeffries, Allison Brennan, Jane Heller, and Sarah Strohmeyer.
“Outside of romance, "quirky" really appeals to me. Christopher Moore, Carl Hiassen, and Jeff Lindsay's Dexter series are all on my must-buy list.”
Ardito is currently writing a series of historical romances, written under the name Katherine Brandon, debuting this month. Book I, Kismet's Angel has just been released in trade paperback by The Wild Rose Press.

“These were actually the first books I ever wrote and I'm extremely fond of the characters. To finally see them in print is so gratifying. The historical stories are meatier and more sexually explicit than my contemporaries, so be warned!”
She started her first book, Kismet's Angel, when she was pregnant with her now-thirteen-year-old son and “confined to the house.”
“Knowing it was something I'd always wanted to do, my husband brought home an old desktop computer from his office and suggested that maybe my high-risk pregnancy was some kind of omen that it was time to begin my writing career. At its first completed stage, Kismet's Angel was 800 pages long. I can't imagine why no one wanted to acquire this magnificent doorstop when I first shopped it around. It's a much more manageable 350 pages now.”
Ardito then found Romance Writers of America, learned about the craft of writing, and kept going. She wrote four historical romances in five years. Then a critique partner suggested she write outside her comfort zone and try writing a contemporary novel.
“The first book I sold, The Bonds of Matri-money, was the fifth book I wrote--my first contemporary. Ten years had passed since the day my husband brought home that old desktop from his office and told me to "write the book or shut up about it."
There are specific guidelines Ardito gives herself before she begins writing. “I can't write a word until I have a title. Sometimes, the title is god-awful, and I know I'll be changing it before the story is ended. But I have to have that tangible name to save the document. Once I start the story, I have to write it in order. No piecemeal scenes. For me, writing is a road map. I can double back if necessary, but I can't jump ahead.”
She also does not want to know her plot. “If I know how the story ends, I get bored and won't write it. This means I often write myself into a corner and have to figure out how I'll get my characters out of whatever mess I've written them into. In one particular story, halfway through the book I tossed in a murder. I had to figure out who the bad guy was and then go back and revise the story to make this murderer's presence known but not suspect.”
When asked if she has a specific message or theme that she wants to convey, she replies, “I never thought I had a specific message until a few years ago when I attended a workshop on theme. Suddenly this light bulb illuminated my head. Although it's never been intentional, my storylines and characters always seem to have some common thread. "Love means more than money," "The strong should tend to the weak," and "You've only got one life; make it worthwhile" are recurring ideals in all my stories.”
She advises aspiring writers to always read, write, and believe in themselves. Then, “rinse, and repeat”

You can find more information about Gina Ardito, her upcoming works, and events at http://ginaardito.com/