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Re-thinking personal safety

September 29, 2010 By Julia 4 Comments

Julia

Today’s Grommet, ila security, actually got me thinking quite a bit about my own personal safety. I know there are times when I’m not as aware of my surroundings and as alert as I should be … and I’ll bet I’m not the only one feeling that way after watching today’s video. Jacqui Hames is the spokesperson for Ila security and she reached out and asked us to pass along her top 10 safety tips for personal safety. I was very impressed by Jacqui — she’s one of Britain’s best-known real-life detectives, with 25 years in the London Metropolitan Police. Plus, she co-hosted BBCs Crimewatch for 16 years. She clearly knows what she’s talking about, so I’m happy to share her safety primer with everyone here.

by Jacqui Hames

1. THINK AHEAD

Take a few minutes before you go out to think through and plan your journey, particularly if it’s not a regular route.

It may sound obvious but try and avoid poorly lit or very quiet areas if possible – even if it is the quickest route.

Check public transport journey times and look for alternative options should your plans change or a bus/train is cancelled – have a contingency.

2. CARRY A MOBILE PHONE

This can be a lifeline when stranded but when you need it most you can guarantee you’ll have forgotten to top up your credit or the battery will be flat! If nothing else, make sure you have change for a call box. Some phones have an SOS message facility – check yours.

3. LET SOMEONE KNOW

Keep in touch with a member of your family or a friend, particularly of you’re feeling nervous or a little vulnerable on a new route. Phone or text just before you start your journey and let them know what time you should be arriving.

4. CARRY PERSONAL SECURITY ALARM

This could give you the opportunity to stop any attacker in his tracks. Attaching the ila Dusk to the outside of your bag also provides you with the additional feature of using a woman’s scream.

So many of us are literally ‘struck dumb’ with fear when confronted by an attacker – the ila Dusk gives you back a voice and valuable seconds to escape. Sad to say these days there aren’t many knights in shining armour about to come to your rescue unless you’re really lucky, but using the few seconds to put as much distance between you, could stop you from becoming a victim.

5. WALK WITH CONFIDENCE

Following all these tips will give you confidence and there’s no doubt that striding out, head up, oozing confidence is one of the best ways of putting off a potential attacker. He won’t want to raise his risk of being caught, so if he thinks you’re going to cause him trouble he’s likely to be put off. When you arrive at your front door have your key ready to go straight in. Try to wear flat shoes (or have spares with you) and walk with traffic coming towards you so a car can’t creep up and surprise you from behind.

6. DON’T FLASH YOUR CASH OR VALUABLES

If you stop at a cash machine or shop on the way, try to conduct transactions as discretely as possible. Carrying your bag with the clasp facing inwards is a good idea, but keep your keys and phone separately in your pocket if possible.

7. TAKE OFF THOSE HEADPHONES

It’s sooo tempting to lose yourself in your favourite music when walking home or to work, but being aware of your surroundings and the other people around you will sharpen your senses and provide an early warning system of any potential trouble.

8. ALWAYS USE LICENSED CABS

When your feet are sore, you’re tired, fed up and desperate to get home it’s oh so tempting to get into a car when the driver says ‘Want a cab, love?’ Please don’t – licensed cab drivers are only allowed to ply for hire in a regulated cab rank. Would you willingly get into a stranger’s car under normal circumstances? Well that’s exactly what this is.

Book a cab through a known cab company and make sure the driver tells you the name it was booked in – before you get in. Programme a couple of reputable cab numbers into your phone before you go out.

9. IF YOU THINK YOU’RE BEING FOLLOWED

I know – our worst nightmare. But it needn’t be if you keep your wits about you and act fast. First try crossing a road or turning back on yourself. If they continue to follow, assume your suspicions are right and get help. Try pretty much anywhere there are people – pub, bar, cafe, shop, service station etc or knock on the nearest door where the lights are on. If the worst happens and you think an attack is imminent set off your ila Dusk alarm and run as fast as your can towards an area where you know there will be people. Leave your shoes behind and even your handbag if that’s what he’s after – you are far more valuable than property.

10. TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS

Well all develop instincts or intuition for danger as we gain more experience of life. But it’s easy, particularly under influence of alcohol or peer pressure to ignore what they’re telling you. Trust them and you’ll invariably stay one step ahead of the criminal.

For more about Jacqui’s background, you can check out the video she sent us below:

As Jacqui mentioned, she has written a book called, Savvy! The Modern Girl’s Guide to Doing It All Without Risking It All, and she has generously offered to give a copy away to one of you today.

To enter to win, just leave a comment or question below. Jacqui will also be checking in to answer any questions you might have!

General contest rules: To enter, you must be a U. S. or Canadian resident, and at least 18 years of age and you must leave a comment or question on today’s post. No purchase necessary. The winner will be randomly selected and will receive the title above. Employees, contractors, and the families of employees and contractors of Daily Grommet, Inc. are not eligible to enter. You are not eligible to win if you have received a prize or giveaway from Daily Grommet in the last six months. Void where prohibited. Contest will run from 9:00 am PST September 29, 2010 to 10 pm PST September 30, 2010.

Filed Under: Books and Music, Contests & Giveaways

The Search for Clean Cosmetics

September 23, 2010 By Wendy 22 Comments

Beauty products are supposed to do great things for our skin, but the scary truth is that many of them expose us to harmful chemicals that can be absorbed through our skin.

A new tell-all book by journalists Siobhan O’Connor and Alexandra Spunt blows the lid off unhealthy cosmetics. But it’s not just gloom and doom. No More Dirty Looks: The Truth About Your Beauty Products and the Ultimate Guide to Safe and Clean Cosmetics shares insider secrets from scientists and dermatologists, plus it lists Siobhan and Alexandra’s choices for the best clean cosmetics, hair care, and skin care products (one of them is an upcoming Grommet, so stay tuned).

No More Dirty Looks is a great resource. Siobhan and Alexandra are informative without being preachy. We had a chance to ask them a few questions of our own, and here’s what they had to say:

This can be overwhelming for people — and upsetting, as well. You want to feel like the products you buy are safe, when the majority are not. What should people start with, to see the biggest difference? Body lotion?

Don’t we know it! We found it very upsetting to learn that the products we trusted were potentially unsafe, but that’s also why we wrote an essentially upbeat book. We LOVE our products now, and we want to make the transition easy, beautifying and fun for other women. We think the book helps with the transition, because it’s arranged by body part/product category. We say start slow, replace things as you run out of them, and keep in mind that things you use daily, and over a large surface area — such as a shampoo, facial sunscreen, and body lotion – should be among the first to go.

What do you say to people who try one of the products that you recommend and they don’t see a difference in their skin care?

We’ve had pretty happy responses so far, we have to say! But as with anything, we think you need to find what works for you. I love pure organic argan oil from Kahina, and believe it has completely changed my skin. Some people don’t want to put oils on their faces, but really love fancy creams from Tata Harper, or Evan Healy. The trick, as with anything, is managing expectations. We can’t expect a bottle of anything to make us look 10 years younger, but we can expect more manageable, balanced, calm and hydrated skin, and that can make a huge difference in our appearance and in how we feel!

We’re curious: Why are some of the top brands not included, like Perricone, La Mer & Arbonne?

We were very strict when it came to ingredients and we only recommended products with really clean lists. We don’t name names in the book, because the truth is most mainstream lines all use the same ingredients—variations on a theme.  We think you can get more bang for your buck using organic, clean lines instead.

You can also visit their website nomoredirtylooks.com.

If you would like to win a copy of No More Dirty Looks, simply leave a comment on this post. We will randomly select two winners.

General contest rules: To enter, you must be a U. S. or Canadian resident, and at least 18 years of age and you must leave a comment or question on today’s post. No purchase necessary. The winner(s) will be randomly selected and will receive the title above. Employees, contractors, and the families of employees and contractors of Daily Grommet, Inc. are not eligible to enter. You are not eligible to win if you have received a prize or giveaway from Daily Grommet in the last six months. Void where prohibited. Contest will run from 8:00 am PST September 23, 2010 to 10 pm PST September 24, 2010.

 

 

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An interview with author Shauna Glenn

September 20, 2010 By Angella 31 Comments

Shauna Glenn is a hilarious writer, and her second book (Relative Insanity) has just come out. I asked Shauna if she’s do a Q&A for our readers here at  Daily Grommet and she was kind enough to sit down with us and dish.

I’d love to give you the chance to tell our readers where they can find you online. *I* know you’re funny on a daily basis – it’s only fair that we let everyone else in on the fun.

You can find me on my website, ShaunaGlenn.com

Or at AimingLow.com. And of course TheBadMomsClub.com

On Twitter I’m @shaunaglenn; and I’m on Facebook too (but only because my publicist is making me–please don’t invite me to play Farmville)

Can you give our readers a quick synopsis of what Relative Insanity is about?

My latest book, Relative Insanity, is about a woman, Kate, who gives up her career to stay at home and raise her children. She definitely thought her life would amount to something other than being the resident nose wiper. Along the way she loses her identity and instead becomes some one’s wife and mother. She’s lost. She’s unhappy. But she has no way of knowing what it is she wants or needs. Her family doesn’t help. Her mother is not exactly the kind of traditional grandmother she was hoping she would be. Her mother in law is a religious fanatic who insists that Kate will one day become a minister. Usually when hearing this Kate chokes on her wine. Her husband, Tom, is a certified workaholic who seems less and less interested in her, leaving her feeling lonely and unwanted. In other words, Kate’s a mess. But don’t let this depressing synopsis fool you. This book is funny.

Here’s what a few people are saying about Relative Insanity…

“From the title, I thought this was a book to help me deal with my brother’s bi-polar disorder, because he’s spiraling down very quickly and I needed immediate assistance. He’s dead now, but man, this book was funny!” –Adam Heath Avitable, author of Avitable.com

“This book is good birth control. It will also make you laugh like hell. You should buy it because it’s hard to find that kind of combination without a medical prescription.” –Jenny Lawson, TheBloggess.com

“Shauna Glenn is from that rare breed of authors who can make you laugh until you cry even when she’s writing about the most raw and visceral human emotions. Driven by heart and hilarity, RELATIVE INSANITY might just be Shauna’s best novel yet.” –Danny Evans, author of RAGE AGAINST THE MESHUGENAH

Writers often talk about their “muse.” What does your muse look/feel like?

I would say that my family feeds my overactive imagination and the stories just blossom from there. As you can probably guess, they’re excited about this.

What did you find to be the hardest part of the writing process for the book?

The hardest part of the book writing process is finding the time and ignoring the distractions. I have to force myself to shut off things like THE INTERNET. Which, if you know me at all, is hard.

What did you find to be the best part of the writing process for the book?

The best part of the book writing process for me is typing two little words. The End.

This is your second novel (Congratulations!) – do you have plans to keep writing books? Is there a book #3 on the horizon?

I have more books in the works. I have one other completed manuscript called Good Mourning, but it’s in the editing phase. I hope to finish it by 2015. I know that’s a long way out there but there’s nothing worse than having to rewrite sections of a book you swore you were finished writing. I would rather eat my own arm than edit a manuscript. But like everything else the Nazis invented, editing is an important, yet sucky, part of the writing process.

Also, I’m in the process of writing a non-fiction proposal. So we’ll see what happens there. I’m sure my family can’t wait to read that.

Thanks so much Shauna!

If you would like to win a copy of Relative Insanity, simply leave a comment on this post. We will randomly select one winner.

General contest rules: To enter, you must be a U. S. or Canadian resident, and at least 18 years of age and you must leave a comment or question on today’s post. No purchase necessary. The winner will be randomly selected and will receive the title above. Employees, contractors, and the families of employees and contractors of Daily Grommet, Inc. are not eligible to enter. You are not eligible to win if you have received a prize or giveaway from Daily Grommet in the last six months. Void where prohibited. Contest will run from 9:00 am PST September 20, 2010 to 10 pm PST September 21, 2010.

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Facebook advice for parents

September 14, 2010 By Sara 13 Comments

Sara Pacelle

As summer winds down and back to school approaches, I know my 13 year old daughter will start up asking me again for her own Facebook account.  During the summer I had a slight reprieve as she was busy with lots of activities, but, I have to say that during this past school year she was relentless!  I guess I have been avoiding her request (pleading is more like it) because I myself am not that comfortable with kids being on Facebook.  Sure, she tells me that “all” her friends already have their own accounts, but I know that’s an exaggeration.  Many teenagers do and I know the legal age for a Facebook account is 13, but I am sure there are still some kids who have parents like me who just don’t know whether it’s appropriate.  The Internet can be a scary place and I have heard lots about kids being “cyber bullied” or becoming addicted to sites like Facebook.  Since my own childhood did not include Facebook, I am hesitant to accept the fact that it is part of my children’s lives.   I understand businesses, adults and older teenagers using it, but do kids have the maturity level to navigate such a powerful medium?  When my daughter patted me on the shoulder one day and calmly explained to me that “Don’t worry, Mom, Facebook is fine, if you know how to use it”, I realized that I needed to get educated.

So, I went on a mission to find an excellent resource for parents like me to get the scoop on the pros and cons of Facebook. What I needed was, Facebook advice for parents.

I contacted BJ Fogg and Linda Fogg who are co-authors of the book Facebook for Parents and of their website www.facebookforparents.org .  BJ is a Facebook expert, a research psychologist and the Director of Stanford University’s Persuasive Technology Lab.  Fortune Magazine named him one of “10 New Gurus You Should Know”.  Linda is a mother of eight children who has the unique vantage point of being a mother of active teens online.  Linda is also a business owner and involved in several overseas humanitarian projects.  In addition to authoring this book, both of them teach a course called “Facebook for Parents” at Stanford University. 

Linda was kind enough to speak with us about her book.

Your book is entitled Facebook for Parents, Answers to the Top 25 Questions.  I like how it is concise, clearly written and organized around some very relevant questions.  In fact, your questions were the exact ones my friends and I had, mainly about how to protect our children on Facebook.  How did you choose these particular questions?

The top 25 questions are clearly the most asked questions that parents have.  This became very obvious as BJ and I taught the class Facebook for Parents at Sanford University. We had a class of 75 parents that we taught over a two month period.  I also have organized a Parents Advisory Council that I get frequent feedback from.   I travel all over the United States teaching workshops and speaking.  It is from these various groups that I am able to continue to keep in touch with what parents really think and what their questions and concerns are regarding Facebook.   I would love to add more parents to my Parents Advisory Council.  Any parent that is interested in participating can email me at lindfoggphillips@gmail.com

You compare Facebook to an unknown neighborhood, where you wouldn’t let your kid enter unless you knew the pitfalls and potentials first.  I see your book as a great guide to this Facebook neighborhood, all tailored to parents.  Is this book for the pure beginner on Facebook or for someone who has had some experience already?

 This book is written in a way that someone that has never been on Facebook will benefit and learn as well as someone that has been an active user for a long period of time.  We purposely wrote the book to be read according to the reader’s interest.  It does not need to be read cover to cover.  The reader can read just a few chapters or all of them.  They do not even have to be read in order.

You are both fans and critics of Facebook, what would you say is the best and the worst things about Facebook?

The best thing about Facebook is that it is a great parenting tool and family strengthening tool.  As a parenting tool it allows you to be more aware of your children’s thoughts and feelings.  It gives you as a parent a window into their lives that  you may not have access to any other way.  Kids sometimes have a hard time expressing their feelings verbally.  They are still developing that skill, but on Facebook they are very comfortable expressing their inner thoughts and feelings in written form.  That can be both good and bad. 

If a parent is willing to become knowledgeable on how to use Facebook, this can assist him in meeting the needs of his child that may not be obvious otherwise. Facebook has the ability to strengthen family relationships by providing more opportunities to communicate and be vicariously involved in each other’s lives.

The worst thing about Facebook is the fact that personal privacy can be compromised, especially if you or your child are not familiar with how to lock down the privacy settings.  This is a huge risk factor!  Even if you don’t have a Facebook account, your privacy can be compromised by what other people post about you.  It is critical that every user know how to use the privacy settings as well as use good judgment in what they post.  I continually teach both parents and kids alike to regard Facebook as a public space where anyone can observe what is going on, much like your front lawn.

What do you say to parents who worry that their children would encounter cyber bullying or identity theft or even, addictive behavior if they joined Facebook?

I have not seen identity theft be much of a problem with Facebook although it is a risk.  To minimize this risk, parents and kids need to avoid putting too much personal information on their page.  This would include address, city that they live in, phone number, school that they go to, birthday, etc.  Basically avoid putting as much personal information as possible on your page or make it private. 

Cyberbullying is becoming a concern with not only Facebook, but with texting and emails as well.  This is where the parent needs to teach their child to let them know when this is occurring.  The parent needs to take immediate action to stop any cyber bullying before it gets out of hand.  It is viral and escalates very rapidly.  By being a friend with their child on Facebook, a parent can often recognize the initial signs of cyberbullying and put a quick stop to it.  Some kids get caught up in the bullying process without even being aware that they are contributing.  Parents need to remind their kids of the old adage that if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.  This applies to texts , emails, wall post and comments.

Facebook addiction is a risk to not only kids but adults as well.   It is very easy to get consumed.  Setting limits and boundaries and sticking to them is the best defense in this case.

What if your kid won’t “friend” you?

This question is so commonly asked that it surprises me! In my house, not friending me is not an option, especially if my children want to eat.  I understand that this is not the policy of every family.  The advice that I give  parents that have children that won’t friend them is to not worry about it.  The parent needs to go ahead and establish an account and become familiar with Facebook.  They need to build their own network of friends and interact with them.  In most cases, once the child feels comfortable that the parent will not embarrass him in front of his Facebook friends and knows what he is doing, then the child will be comfortable in friending the parent.

It seems like Facebook is changing constantly, how do you recommend parents stay “Facebook hip”?

Facebook IS constantly changing.  That is just the nature of the beast.  It will continue to change and evolve.  Here are the best ways to stay “Facebook hip:

1.  use it on a regular basis

2.  follow @fb4parents on Twitter

3.  sign up for our newsletter on facebookforparents.org

4.  read the facebook blog

5.  use google alerts to notify you of updates and news on Facebook

Plus, we outline other resources available in our book. 

We are giving away a free copy of Linda and BJ’s book Facebook for Parents. To enter, leave a comment or question for Linda or share your thoughts about Facebook.

General contest rules: To enter, you must be a U. S.  resident, and at least 18 years of age and you must leave a comment or question on today’s post. No purchase necessary. The winner will be randomly selected and will win a copy of Facebook for Parents.  Employees, contractors, and the families of employees and contractors of Daily Grommet, Inc. are not eligible to enter. You are not eligible to win if you have received a prize or giveaway from Daily Grommet in the last six months. Void where prohibited. Contest will run from 9:00 am PST September 14, 2010 to 10 pm PST September 15, 2010.

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Babushka’s Beauty Secrets

September 9, 2010 By Angella 39 Comments

A little while ago, Jeanne asked me if I wanted to review a book about home beauty remedies,  Babushka’s Beauty Secrets.  She included the book description:

DON’T SPEND A FORTUNE TO LOOK FLAWLESS. Esthetician to the stars Raisa Ruder learned her time-tested beauty techniques from her Ukrainian grandmother (or babushka, as they say in the old country). Now everyone can discover the all-natural, better-than-botox secrets the Hollywood stars use to shine on the red carpet! Ruder reveals her sought-after beauty recipes that can fight wrinkles, plump lips, and eliminate crow’s feet and acne, using inexpensive, everyday grocery items like eggs, honey, vegetable oil and strawberries (and a splash of vodka for freshness!).

I told Jeanne that I am thirty-five and hate my “laugh lines”, so SIGN ME UP. It’s a quick read – I spent all of an afternoon reading through the tips and recipes. It all seems so simple and easy and…inexpensive. As someone who has spent her fair share of money and lotions and potions, it was hard to believe that these tips might work. I figured it couldn’t hurt to try a few recipes and I don’t know if it’s all in my head or wishful thinking, but my face does seem a little brighter and my lips a little fuller. I tend to pick myself apart, as women often do, so if I see an improvement it can only stand to reason that maybe there is something to this book and its tips.

I happen to have not one, but TWO copies of the book to give away. You know you want one; you can enter in the comments below.

If you would like to win a copy of Babushka’s Beauty Secrets, simply leave a comment on this post. We will randomly select two winners.

General contest rules: To enter, you must be a U. S. or Canadian resident, and at least 18 years of age and you must leave a comment or question on today’s post. No purchase necessary. The winner(s) will be randomly selected and will receive the title above. Employees, contractors, and the families of employees and contractors of Daily Grommet, Inc. are not eligible to enter. You are not eligible to win if you have received a prize or giveaway from Daily Grommet in the last six months. Void where prohibited. Contest will run from 9:00 am PST September 9, 2010 to 10 pm PST September 10, 2010.

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Change makers of the (self) publishing world

August 10, 2010 By Tori 15 Comments

Here at Daily Grommet we get to meet and form relationships with many smart, innovative change makers – in that regard, Amy and Claire from www.indiereader.com do not disappoint.  While speaking with Amy and Claire (founders of IndieReader, website featuring books published by distinguished indie authors), it became clear that they are passionate about what they are doing.  They shared with us  their mission to bring their community a unique collection of books that have been published and produced by the people who actually wrote them.  These books are submitted by the authors themselves or by the readers who have loved them.  In short, they had us at “Hello.”

Amy and Claire work tirelessly at providing a venue in which you can find and purchase books that are promised to be quite different than other book stores (both online or brick-n-mortar).  They think of these books, curated and loved by its author, to be like handmade goods. They are produced in small numbers, instead of the mass-marketed stuff you’d find at a super book store. Plus, every book on the IndieReader site is reviewed prior to acceptance, guaranteeing that you’ll find the “cream-of-the-indie crop”.

If you  have never  given a lot of thought to the process in which books are published, you might be wondering “why is this so important?” Amy and Claire explain:

“…today more than ever, almost everything we produce gets co-opted by corporate culture, turned into a business model, reformulated and churned out like soap with the simple intent to appeal to as many people as possible. In a world where almost everything is packaged by committee, IndieReader offers you books with a single voice: the writer’s own.” They point out that “With today’s technology, writers are able to take back their ability to create – and share their creations – without getting someone else’s permission.”

In addition to giving authors a platform to share their craft, IndieReader also offers a very eco-conscious way to purchase books. Traditional publishers print and over-stock  mass amounts of books. Indie Reader on the other hand, prints via On Demand Technology meaning the books aren’t made until after they have actually been sold.

While speaking with Amy and Claire it became obvious that they are not saying indie published books are better than those traditionally published. They are just pointing out that indie books are well … different.  They are leaving it up to you to decide what to read (hence their tagline: “Read What You Want”). They note:

Here at IndieReader, we think that people can decide for themselves (what to read), and don’t need the big publishing houses to tell them what they should like.

We encourage you to browse the virtual book shelves at Indie Reader. In fact, if you come back here and leave a comment sharing a title that you would like to read, we will enter you in a drawing for a book of your choice.

Thank you Amy and Claire for sharing your story with us and for offering a generous giveaway. You can also follow IndieReader on Twitter or join them on Facebook.

 General contest rules: To enter, you must be a U. S. or Canadian resident, and at least 18 years of age and you must leave a comment or question on today’s post. No purchase necessary. The winner  will be randomly selected and will receive a copy of all four books above.  Employees, contractors, and the families of employees and contractors of Daily Grommet, Inc. are not eligible to enter. You are not eligible to win if you have received a prize or giveaway from Daily Grommet in the last six months. Void where prohibited. Contest will run from  8:00 am PST August 9, 2010 through 10:00 pm PST August 10, 2010.

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It’s not too late for some Summer reading!

August 4, 2010 By Tori 62 Comments

Whether you are able to grab a book and enjoy a lazy Summer day lost in a  story, or you simply squeeze some reading in here and there — you will like today’s post.  Just in time for some end-of-the-Summer relaxation, Hachette has generously given us four great Summer reads to giveaway.

     Adam by Ted Dekker

 FBI behavioral psychologist Daniel Clark is a man on a mission. After over a year of tracking a mysterious serial killer known as Eve, he feels closer than ever to discovering the murderer’s true identity when he finds Eve’s latest victim still alive.

 More about Adam by Ted Dekker

 

The Island by Elin Hinderbrand

Birdie Cousins has planned a getaway with her daughter Chess on rustic, charming Tuckernuck Island off the coast of Nantucket, a chance to bond before Chess’s upcoming marriage. Birdie’s been through a difficult divorce herself, so she knows the big commitment that marriage entails. She’s only recently dared to tiptoe back into the waters of romance.

More about The Island by Elin Hinderbrand

The Recessionistas by Alexandra Lebenthal

It’s the day after Labor Day, 2008, and the bottom is about the drop out of the economy. Hedge fund owner John Cutter is in the process of an ugly divorce and nearly in financial ruin, except for the assets he is hiding from his wife Mimi in the Cayman Islands. When he concocts a scheme to redeem himself, he enlists Lehman Brothers investment banker Blake Somerset as an accomplice. Blake is ripe for recruitment given that he too is on the verge of being in dire financial straits given Lehman’s decline and imminent bankruptcy.

More about The Recessionistas by Alexandra Lebenthal

Rich Boy by Sharon Pomerantz

Robert Vishniak is the favored son of Oxford Circle, a working-class Jewish neighborhood in 1970s Philadelphia. Handsome and clever, Robert glides into the cloistered universities of New England, where scions of unimaginable wealth and influence stand shoulder to shoulder with scholarship paupers like himself who wash dishes for book money. The doors that open there lead Robert to the highest circles of Manhattan society during the heart of the Reagan boom where everything Robert has learned about women, through seduction and heartbreak, pays off.

More about Rich Boy by Sharon Pomerantz

  Backseat Saints by Joshilyn Jackson

Rose Mae Lolley is a fierce and dirty girl, long-suppressed under flowery skirts and bow-trimmed ballet flats. As “Mrs. Ro Grandee” she’s trapped in a marriage that’s thick with love and sick with abuse. Her true self has been bound in the chains of marital bliss in rural Texas, letting “Ro” make eggs, iron shirts, and take her punches. She seems doomed to spend the rest of her life battered outside by her husband and inside by her former self, until fate throws her in the path of an airport gypsy—one who shares her past and knows her future.

More about  Backseat Saints by Joshilyn Jackson

Are you reading for some Summer reading? One person will win all four books! Simply leave a comment below and we will draw a winner.

 

General contest rules: To enter, you must be a U. S. or Canadian resident, and at least 18 years of age and you must leave a comment or question on today’s post. No purchase necessary. The winner  will be randomly selected and will receive a copy of all four books above.  Employees, contractors, and the families of employees and contractors of Daily Grommet, Inc. are not eligible to enter. You are not eligible to win if you have received a prize or giveaway from Daily Grommet in the last six months. Void where prohibited. Contest will run from 8:00 am PST August 4, 2010 through 10:00 pm PST August 5, 2010.

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An Interview With Tracy Kash

July 21, 2010 By Angella Leave a Comment

In our early days here at Daily Grommet, we had the pleasure of  being introduced to the music of  Tracy Kash. Tracy  (the 2009 Detroit Music Award winner for Outstanding Jazz Vocalist),  has just released her 3rd album Sound Truth. We have been watching this outstanding singer-songwriter and are thrilled to finally get the chance to share her story with you.

 
Who would you collaborate with if you could choose anyone – dead or alive?

Harry Nilsson and Maurice Ravel. They’ve both passed on so collaboration would be tricky – unless they have REALLY good cell service…Seriously, I’ve been listening to Harry Nilsson since I was a tiny little thing when “The Point”, an animated movie for which he scored the music was very popular (70’s). His influence and amazing sense of melody and humor never left me. I hear a lot of him in some of the music I write – some very Nilsson-esque melodies tend to creep into my tunes without me even realizing! I’d love to pick the brain of Maurice Ravel, one of my favorite classical composers. Not only is his beautifully lush writing an influence, but the man was a masterful arranger. Even his contemporaries called on him to arrange a large number of piano works for full orchestra. He had wonderful ears and, amazingly, a really good sense of various instruments’ natural qualities and capabilities and, consequently, always knew what would sound good on those instruments. Arranging is a much underrated skill – it’s more difficult to it well than most people realize.

How did you get started in music – what’s your story?

I don’t remember ever NOT being a musician. My mother was a very fine pianist and taught piano for many years. Naturally, she was my first piano teacher starting when I was about 5. I was always a singer as was my sister. We would all harmonize in the car on family road trips – it was like being in a car with the Lennon Sisters. So much fun. As a result of having such a background, I was comfortable with crafting harmonies starting from a very young age. I started to play the flute when I was 11 so that I could play in the school band and orchestra. I studied flute/orchestral music and vocal jazz in college and grad school, then pursued a symphony career very seriously (see attached bio for details) After a while, I just sort of burned out on that scene. I needed a new direction with new music. I decided to start writing my own music starting in around 1999 and never looked back. I ended up in New York City working/gigging with several of my old music colleagues from my college days – truly outstanding musicians. They really supported me and sent me on my way as a performing songwriter.

What other interests do you pursue in life other than music? Do you have any hobbies that you enjoy?

I absolutely love to garden. I find it’s a great escape from everything. And the results – everything is so beautiful and fragrant! I feel the same way about cooking – I just get into this zone and just revel in creating something out of nothing. My husband recognizes this when it happens and likes to stay out of my way for fear of being trampled! I tend to be a bulldozer when I commit to any kind of creative project.
What is your favorite thing about social media? Do you twitter? Or is social media just something you have to do?

Oh I think social media is magnificent. I think it’s important to balance the time one spends using/manipulating it and that used for practice, songwriting, and other more creative ventures. You have to remember to keep up your craft – both songwriting and playing – there’s just no substitute for practice. I do tweet, thank you very much! The best thing about social media these days is how so many of its forms are being integrated to work in concert with each other. It’s a huge time saver for me to be able to update something in one spot, and have that information automatically fed into all the various sites where I have a page (ArtistData, Twitter, MySpace, etc.); I don’t have to update information at each site. It helps to keep the breadth of social media a little less intimidating.

Regarding your current album – what’s the story you want to leave behind?

My albums tend to be very autobiographical, more philosophically speaking than in the literal sense, though some lyrics are inspired by or based on actual events. When that’s the case, I think it’s important for artists to be honest about their own story. If you truly want to tell your story, then tell yours, not someone else’s. This album is very appropriately titled in that sense. Most importantly, I’ve had to learn to not punish myself for being what/who I am, thinking the way I think. It’s not wrong or right, it just is what it is! It’s taken me a while to learn that – I’m still working on it.

Filed Under: Books and Music Tagged With: ,

Meet Stona Fitch of Concord Free Press, the Robin Hood of Publishing

July 19, 2010 By Sara 12 Comments

I sat down with author Stona Fitch recently, to talk about his brilliantly innovative publishing house called Concord Free Press, www.concordfreepress.com

Author Stona Fitch

CFP’s non-profit model is to publish a limited quantity of original books from top-shelf authors and give them away, for FREE. Even shipping anywhere in the world is FREE. The industry calls it generosity-based publishing. In exchange for the book, CFP requests that you make a voluntary donation to a charity or a person in need—your choice. You can chart your donation on the CFP website and then pass the book along to someone else so that the giving can continue. It’s a simple, yet powerful concept, inspiring both reading and giving. It’s all good, all real and pretty amazing.

DG:  Stona, we know you are an acclaimed author yourself, what gave you the idea to start Concord Free Press?

Stona: My fourth novel, Give + Take, was orphaned when my editor left the publishing house I was working with. The novel is about a jazz pianist who steals diamonds and BMWs, fences them, and gives the money away. Generosity and its limits is a big theme in Give + Take, so the book really inspired CFP, which publishes beautifully designed, original books and gives them all away in exchange for acts of generosity.

DG:  OK, this sounds too good to be true. You have an American Revolution-era patriot in your logo. Are you trying to revolutionize the world of traditional publishing?

Stona:  Yes, if only by showing how a radically simple idea can take hold and work. We’re interested in expanding the core definition of what a book can do, in engaging with readers in new ways, and in inspiring a link between the solitary act of reading and more community-focused acts of generosity. From the start, we suspected that readers were inherently generous. If you can believe in a character made out of words, you’re likely to have empathy for the real, three-dimensional people around you. And our readers have really come through.

DG:  That’s perceptive of you to know your readers so well.   I see you have some literary Big Guns on your advisory board (e.g., Joyce Carol Oates, Russell Banks, Francine Prose, Megan Abbott, Jess Walter, and more) How did you attract these authors? 

Stona:             I asked them to join and they said yes, because they were intrigued by the CFP, which is a rare positive note in the overall gloom of publishing. It’s important to note that we’re writers, not publishers. We’re taking control of the machinery and technology of publishing and using it in a new way.

  

DG:  We know what’s in it for readers (free books), bookstores (store traffic), and the charities (donations). But what’s in it for your authors who submit their work knowing their book will not generate traditional profits?
 
Stona: When they publish with us, writers get their work to readers via an interesting new channel, one that gets a lot of attention for such a small operation. Plus, our writers retain all rights to their work beyond our inherently limited press run. Being published by us doesn’t preclude having the work republished in a traditional, for-profit edition, either in the U.S. or abroad. Or from selling the film rights. In fact, a CFP edition can encourage these sales. So a book that we publish can go on to bigger, more commercial, and more lucrative things for its author. For example, Thomas Dunne Books just republished Give + Take in a traditional hardcover edition in the US, with foreign editions in the UK, Greece, Taiwan, and beyond. And HarperCollins will be republishing Gregory Maguire’s The Next Queen of Heaven, the third CFP novel, this fall.
 
 
 

 

DG:  Really interesting.  It sounds like even traditional publishers are benefitting from your concept.  So, what is your business model? How do you support the press?

Stona:  Like any non-profit, we ask a lot of people for a little money and a few people for more. And it’s working. People believe in what we’re doing and are willing to support us. And since we all work for free, our expenses are very low—mostly just printing and postage.

DG:  Alrighty then, what’s the bottom line? How much cha ching do your books generate for charities?

Stona:  Our books generate $40,000 to $50,000 per title in donations, an unheard-of figure for a trade paperback. And that’s only the donations people tell us about. Factoring in our costs, that’s an ROI of more than 400%, even though worthy causes and people in need ultimately receive that money. And each book keeps going, generating more generosity along the way. We just launched our fourth book, a multi-genre collection edited by the acclaimed poet/critic Ron Slate called IOU: New Writing on Money and we’re already at about $139,000 in total donations to date.

DG:  Those numbers are impressive. How do you distribute your books and how often do you publish new books?  

Stona:  We give away our books through a network of more than fifty great independent bookstores around the country and via worldwide requests on our website www.concordfreepress.com Distribution of our books is strictly first come, first served. We publish new books twice a year, in May and October.

DG:   Thanks for being with us Stona.  It was a pleasure speaking with you about Concord Free Press. We think you are doing something important here.  Good luck!

Stona: Thanks for spreading the word about our admittedly unusual approach to publishing. There’s no catch. We promise.

 If you would like to find out more about Concord Free Press, check out their website www.concordfreepress.com. Also, we are giving away four copies of IOU.  It’s a wild collection of writings on money— short fiction, poetry, essays, and memoirs—from a remarkably diverse set of voices.  There are also fascinating interviews by CFP with two people who served prison time for money-related crimes, including Katherine Ann Power, the 70s-era radical who spend more than a decade on the run as America’s top fugitive. Get a copy and see why so many people are talking about the Concord Free Press.

To Enter: Leave a comment or question below for Stona or share your thoughts on Concord Free Press.

General contest rules: To enter, you must be a U. S. or Canadian resident, and at least 18 years of age and you must leave a comment or question on today’s post. No purchase necessary. The winner(s) will be randomly selected and will recieve a copy of the bok IOU.  Employees, contractors, and the families of employees and contractors of Daily Grommet, Inc. are not eligible to enter. You are not eligible to win if you have received a prize or giveaway from Daily Grommet in the last six months. Void where prohibited. Contest will run from 11:30 am EST July 19th through 12:00 pm EST July 20th, 2010.

Filed Under: Books and Music, Contests & Giveaways Tagged With: ,

Turn Left at the Trojan Horse

July 7, 2010 By Jeanne 2 Comments

When I sent an email to author, roadtripper, and blogger, Brad Herzog, telling him we’d like to review his new novel, he wrote back and told me I had good taste. That’s when I decided I liked this guy. Turns out he’s actually part of the extended Grommet family: His wife, Amy Herzog, works with Psi Bands, a Grommet we’d discovered back in early 2009.
 

So every summer (this is his 11th in a row), Brad and his wife, together with their two young sons, take off for a few months in an RV. This year, they actually passed right by Daily Grommet headquarters here in Lexington, Massachusetts. Unfortunately, our timing was off and we weren’t able to get together, but we did have the opportunity to talk to him about his book, Turn Left at the Trojan Horse — the story of Brad’s epic quest for modern day heroes right here in America. Here’s his video introduction to the book, followed by our conversation. 

What inspired you to embark on this 31-day journey?

I was invited to my college reunion at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. When you’re asked to revisit where you’ve been — particularly with middle age bearing down on you — you tend to assess where you are. So as I envisioned encountering my ultra-successful classmates, I wondered just how heroic my life has been to date. What exactly are the parameters of a heroic life? I tend to find that a road trip is the best way to clear the existential cobwebs, so – since Ithaca was my destination – I decided one way to answer the question was to approximate the homeward journey of Odysseus, fabled King of Ithaca, who was the template for all future heroes. Also, my wife thought I needed to get away for a while.

With all of the stories you uncovered on your quest, do you feel like you answered your biggest question about what it means to live a heroic life here in America?

I suppose I learned that there are all kinds of heroism. It can mean courage, like the sheriff in Siren (Wisconsin) who risked his own life to warn his neighbors about the tornado that was bearing down on them. It can mean sacrifice, like the soldier I encountered at an army base in Sparta (Wisconsin) who spends his days diffusing bombs in Iraq. It can mean dedication, like the teacher I found in a one-room schoolhouse in tiny Troy (Montana). It can mean resilience, like the elderly man in Pandora (Ohio) who has spent the past six decades dutifully recording the local daily weather to the National Weather Service. In the end, though, I found that the hero is in the eye of the beholder. And seeing my kids again clarified that for me.

Speaking of heroes, and continuing with the Greek themes in “Turn Left at the Trojan Horse,” which Greek God would you most like to be and why?

Well, in many ways those Olympians were a bunch of jerks — petty, impetuous, haughty, self-centered and oversexed. So I could have been any of them… But I’ve always been partial to Hermes — the messenger of the gods, the bringer of dreams, the patron of travelers and athletes but also harlots and thieves. He always struck me as a bit of a rogue, but gentler and more playful that his male mates on Olympus. Plus, his winged sandals would have been sweet…

Filed Under: Books and Music, Featured Tagged With:
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