Book Reviews

Roses Have Thorns
by Marilyn Redmond

“Marilyn helped me feel better and less alone, and that's a wonderful gift.” — Robert J. Grant, author of The Place We Call Home—Exploring the Soul's Existence After Death and spiritual speaker.

Join me on a spiritual journey in Roses Have Thorns. My first book is the experiences of emotional growth out of the darkness of insanity and into the light. My family never saw “the good” in anything even going to church. I needed the light and a positive influence. I realized that when I demanded love from people or things, I made them “gods.” A higher consciousness brought the idea that there is always hope and love, when I am open to it. Understanding unconditional love and that I deserve it, for the first time, allowed faith to grow and thorns to leave.

Call (253) 845-4907 to request book signings and/or speaking at your location. As a registered counselor I am able to help those in similar situations. Also, I teach at Tacoma Community College, give seminars, and workshops with my tools for healthiness, wholeness, and finding your identity. My speaking and writing internationally, also relates this information. “Lighten Your Life” is my column on the Internet, www.arepnw.org/pnwspirit/lighten.htm or visit my web page at www.tcmnet.com/~angelart.

Roses Have Thorns by Marilyn Redmond is now available in book stores: Kaleidoscope Press, ISBN 1-885371-16-0 or mail your order to: Marilyn Redmond, 2914 108th Ave. E., Edgewood, WA 98372.

Price is $5.95 each and please include $2 for shipping & handling per book. Tel: 253-845-4907, Fax: 253-848-4871.

Not the Guardian Angel You Imagined!
Argument With An Angel
by Jan Cooper

This touching story—of a young boy named Goldstein and an angel sent to earth to round up people to make the world a better place—will enter your heart through a vein of humor. Argument With An Angel is an inspirational modern parable about the good within us all, how we sometimes fight it, and how to manifest that good daily. It stands above the others in the swelling “angelology” market because of its simple message of hope, and its comical accounts of resistance that we all know so well in our personal daily adventures.

Jan Cooper, an internationally acclaimed artist, has found time to be an art teacher, an author of three books, a magician/ventriloquist on a children's TV show, and an auctioneer. Cooper is a winner of the International Award from Manuscripts International, and a recipient of the George Washington Honor Medal from the Freedom Foundation at Valley Forge. Cooper is also the author of The Artist's Survival Guide and The Artist's Renaissance Course. Currently Jan teaches and writes near Sacramento, California.

“Some years ago the reading public was quite moved by a slender book called Jonathan Livingston Seagull, containing a simple philosophy directed to the good that perhaps is with us all but needs to be 'scratched' to remind us. Jan Cooper has attempted a thought-provoking, universal dialogue with his Argument With An Angel and I believe he has succeeded. It gave me food for thought and nourished me.”
— Art Linkletter

Women Offer Help For People Who Lose A Loved One Suddenly

Each year, about eight million Americans suffer the death of a close family member. Sudden death happens across all age groups. According to Sherwin B. Nuland (author of How We Die: Reflections on Life's Final Chapter) trauma, defined as a physical injury or wound, is the leading cause of death for all persons below the age of 44 in the United States. It kills approximately 150,000 Americans each year, of all ages.

Now for those who face the challenges of sudden death, there is a hand to hold. Authors Pamela D. Blair, Ph.D. and Brook Noel both suffered the unexpected death of a loved one. Brook's big brother was stung by a bee at age 27 and died instantly. Pam's husband died suddenly of a brain aneurysm. As they struggled to rebuild, they found little printed material to help them. Many books covered terminal illness, but there was nothing for the growing number of people facing tragedy. From this void, I Wasn't Ready to Say Goodbye: Surviving, Coping and Healing After the Sudden Death of a Loved One was born.

This book acts as a touchstone of sanity through difficult times. The authors interview other tragedy survivors, share their own stories and provide over 30 pages of resources. They cover such difficult topics as the first few weeks, suicide, death of a child, when a body isn't found, children and grief, funerals and rituals, physical effects, homicide, depression and many others. Pamela D. Blair, Ph.D., December 1999 graduate of AIHT is a psychotherapist in private practice and the director of the Divorce Resource Network. She is a contributing editor for Divorce Magazine and has appeared on national television and radio. Brook Noel is the author of two other books, the highly-acclaimed, The Single Parent Resource and Back To Basics: 101 Ideas for Strengthening Our Children and Our Families and is the Editor-in-Chief of SingleParent: The Lifestyle Magazine for Today's Single Parent. She teaches regularly on topics of family and parenting and has taught at such places as Cedars-Sinai medical center and The Los Angeles Times.