Give the gift of reading (it's free, after all)

I was thrilled to hear about an anonymous donor in the Pottstown area who has pledged to donate $1 to the Pottstown YWCA Tri-County Area Adult Literacy program every time someone "signs" an online petition (find it below), and I was inspired to write a few thoughts about literacy.

Many of The Mercury's Town Square Bloggers did the same during the month of November as part of our Read and Write for Literacy campaign. (I'm bringing up the tail end of the month.)

The first thing that popped in my mind was not a book, but a song: "Cherry Tree" from the 10,000 Maniacs album "In My Tribe" that came out the year I graduated from high school (1990). It's a catchy tune (as most songs sung by the richly-voiced Natalie Merchant are) about someone who doesn't know how to read and desperately wants in on the world where the characters on the page tell an interesting story. Here are the lyrics (take a listen):

10000 Maniacs
Cherry Tree lyrics

[ Robert Buck/Natalie Merchant ]

Over your shoulder, please don't mind me
If my eyes have fallen onto your magazine
OH I've been watching and wondering
Why your face is changing with every line you read.
All those lines and circles, to me, a mystery.
Eve pull down the apple and give taste to me.
If she could it would be wonderful, but my pride is in the way.
I cannot read to save my life, I'm so ashamed to say.
I live in silence, afraid to speak
Of my life in darkness because I cannot read.
For all those lines and circles, to me, a mystery.
Eve pull down the apple and give taste to me.
If she could it would be wonderful.
Then I wouldn't need someone else's eyes to see what's in front of me.
No one guiding me.
It makes me humble to be so green
At what every kid can do when he learns A to Z,
But all those lines and circles just frighten me
And I fear that I'll be trampled if you don't reach for me.
Before I run I'll have to take a fall.
And then pick myself up, so slowly I'll devour every one of those books in the Tower of Knowledge.

I heartily agree that a life without reading would be a "life in darkness."

My mom says I learned how to read at a young age, trying to keep up with my older brother and sister. She recalls that I, as young as age 5, would tuck her into her bed and then go back to my room to read awhile before sleep. I always had a bookshelf full of books of my choosing or hand-me-downs from my siblings. I can't remember the early, early favorites (oh, it's been so long...), but I do remember being quite fond of the Nancy Drew mysteries, of which we had a full set, the Ramona books and anything by Judy Blume.

I also loved spending time in the library at Boalsburg-Panorama Elementary, where Mrs. Knob and Mrs. Ritchie would to read us magical stories such as Shel Silverstein's "Where the Sidewalk Ends." I was enchanted. Being able to pick out a new book to take home and devour was like picking out a new present every visit.

I think it's a gift, to love reading, to want to attempt to write stories like the most imaginative authors do. It certainly has inspired me in my journalism career.

That's why I'm asking your help in supporting the literacy program at the Pottstown YWCA. There, volunteer tutors help folks who have advanced into adulthood without the benefit of learning to read. Please fill out the form below and $1 will be donated to this cause by an anonymous donor. If my name's not on the blogger list, just choose another (My blog is considered separate from the Town Square bloggers).

Each name and valid e-mail address nets the program $1

Pre-teen author Victoria Johnson to sign book at Coventry Mall Books-A-Million Saturday

Author Victoria Johnson
(Photo by PhillyBurbs.com)

Author Victoria Johnson will be at the Coventry Mall Books-A-Million store on Saturday, Nov. 3, at 2 p.m. to sign copies of her children's book, "The Lemonade Standoff."

Read a Feb. 12, 2012, PhilllyBurbs.com story about Johnson, who is now 12 (that's right, she's TWELVE) but started writing this story when she was 10. In the article, Johnson offered this advice to other aspiring young authors: 

"Don't let a challenge stand in your way. Be brave."

Johnson is now in the 8th grade and resides in Warminster with her family.

He 28-page book sells for $9.99 and is available at the Pottstown Books-A-Million, via online retailers including Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com, and through the book's publisher, Tate Publishing, as a paperback, audio CD or ebook. 

Below is the brief press release I received from Tate Publishing about the event: 

Author Victoria Johnson Book Signing Event

WHEN: 11-3-12

TIME: 2 p.m.

WHERE: Books-A-Million, 351 W. Schuylkill Road, Ste G16, Pottstown, PA 19465 
 
WHAT: Johnson, a resident of Warminster, PA, will be available to sign copies of her children's book, The Lemonade Standoff.

BOOK SUMMARY: It's finally summer, and Keenah and Shay are really excited about their lemonade stand! But when their sworn enemy, Brianna, opens a lemonade stand, their summer becomes The Lemonade Standoff. Will the girls ever stop fighting? Can Keenah and Shay save their lemonade stand's reputation? 

For more information about the book-signing, call the store at 610-323-6805.

Author Ralph E. Godbolt to sign his book, Kickin' the Ballistics, Saturday in Pottstown

There's a book-signing this weekend right here in Pottstown. I copied the below information from Sue Repko's Positively Pottstown blog, which is hosted on The Mercury's Town Square page. Like the blog name says, Repko's blog promotes great things happening in my town. The indefatigable Repko also hosts popular happy hours once a month at different businesses in town.

Book Signing at ArtFusion 19464 this Saturday

 MOSAIC Community Land Trust and ArtFusion 19464 have teamed up to host Ralph E. Godbolt, author of Kickin’ the Ballistics:  Reflections on the Hip Hop Generation, Poverty and Power. He will speak this Saturday night at ArtFusion, formerly the Gallery on High. 

Author Ralph Godbolt will discuss his book and the realities of urban violence, the high school drop out crisis, misogyny, the war on drugs, sexual orientation and the Hip Hop Generation in the aftermath of the American Civil Rights Movement. “He takes aim at generations of harsh public policies, unequal access to opportunity and discriminatory practices that has led to a generational cycle of poverty, violence, addiction, under education and unemployment in America’s urban centers by using Hip Hop culture and rap music as a means to communicate the deep despair, but enduring faith of young urban Americans.”

The book signing and talk will take place this Saturday, October 20th, 7– 9 PM at 254 E. High St., Pottstown, Pa. Light refreshments will Be Served.  

A portion of the proceeds from each book sold will be donated to both  MOSAIC and ArtFusion.

About Ralph E. Godbolt (from his website):

Ralph Edward Godbolt has earned national recognition as an expert on issues of urban affairs, public policy, non-profit management and the Sociology of the Hip Hop Generation. As Executive Director of the COLOURS Organization, Godbolt is recognized as one of the first straight African American males to serve as Executive Director of an African American LGBT based organization. COLOURS is committed to addressing issues of HIV/AIDS and supporting the unique needs of the African American LGBT community. Godbolt is the Founder, and Chair of the Board of Directors of HIP HOP, Inc., an organization committed to leveraging the human capital of the HIP HOP Generation to directly address issues of poverty, community empowerment, the high school dropout crisis and violence. 

Ralph Godbolt also serves as a Professor at Cheyney University of Pennsylvania where his research and teachings focuses on the intersection of public policy and poverty and formerly at Chestnut Hill College where his teachings and research focused on the Sociology of the Hip Hop Generation. Godbolt is also a writer for PULL Magazine, a publication dedicated to reaching the untapped young urban American reader. 

Since his days as a youth in inner-city Pittsburgh, Godbolt has been committed to social justice, community empowerment, and educational equality. In addition to his work in the field of academia, Godbolt has served as CEO of Special Olympics Philadelphia where he led an aggressive effort to provide services to youth and adults with special needs. He also served as Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Coalition of Child Advocacy Centers - an organization committed to supporting children who are victims of physical and sexual abuse. 

 

As the former Executive Director of the West Philadelphia Alliance for Children, Godbolt developed and implemented programs that reduced the risk factors for youth identified as potential high school dropouts and developed a coalition of funders, volunteers, academics, and community members to provide low income youth with essential in-school library access.
Godbolt recently published his first book, “Kickin' the Ballistics: Reflections on the Hip Hop Generation, Poverty and Power.” Godbolt has been educated at Clarion University of Pennsylvania, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania and Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Pottstown author of fantasy books to launch 3rd novel, 'Curse Bearer'

Pottstown author Rebecca Minor is set to release her latest fantasy novel, "Curse Bearer," on Oct. 14.

"Curse Bearer: Book 1 in The Risen Age Archive" (OtherSheep Books, 2012) is Minor's third novel to be published, but is first book she set out to write when she began her writing efforts five years ago. 

Minor took an unusual, and quite technologically advanced tack to fund marketing efforts for her book - she started a campaign on Kickstarter, an online funding platform for creative projects. Minor set a goal of $3,500 and launched the Kickstarter effort Aug. 25. About three weeks later, with 32 backers, Minor met and surpassed her goal (funding levels hit $3,587 on Sept. 16). 

Minor is using that Kickstarter money on targeted advertising campaigns as well as signing and book launch events. The biggest of these is a private release event for backers and the press to be held at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire in October. (What better location for the launch of a fantasy novel than the Renaissance Faire?)

Additionally, the funds will be used to "mitigate the cost of the cover art for the book, because I believe adamantly that artists deserve to be paid for their talent. After all, a great cover is great advertising, since people do judge a book by its cover," Minor wrote on her Kickstarter launch page.

To view to Minor's successful Kickstarter campaign to fund marketing efforts for her book, click here.

The release party, according to Minor's husband and enthusiastic public relations director, Scott, is "an opportunity to support her success in funding a marketing campaign that defies convention for what 'small publishers' have the resources to do, and thus leave a good book to flounder unheard of."

Book summary:

When Danae Baledric, alchemist’s apprentice, undertakes a journey to find a cure for a degenerative malady that’s killing her father, her search uncovers a series of life-altering revelations. Her father’s illness is part of a plot to enslave him. In addition, the forces of Darkness hunt Danae, intent upon collecting a debt she owes for drawing upon magical power whose cost she’s never understood. A commitment to a life of service to her Creator offers both deliverance from this debt and the power to intervene on her father’s behalf. But something bars Danae from claiming redemption — her insistence she must achieve her goals in her own strength.

It’s an epic tale of curses and miracles, where headstrong ignorance creates bondage, and the desire to serve offers freedom.

Read the first chapter.

The book is available for pre-orders on Amazon.com and will be available as of Oct. 1. Here is a link to Minor's author page on Amazon: http://amzn.com/e/B0062Z0S68.

About the author:

REBECCA MINOR

Rebecca Minor draws narrative experience from a BFA in animation from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Since her graduation in 1997, she has worked as a game animator, freelance artist, full-time mom, teacher, and sheet music customer service representative. She is the author of "The Windrider Saga," serial fantasy fiction published in paperback form in Feb 2012 by Diminished Media Group.

On her blog, Call of the Creator, (www.rebeccapminor.com), Minor writes about anything from fantasy reading and writing to the life of mother and wife. In addition to writing, she also creates occasional illustrations, three of which will appear in Port yonder Press's "The Book of Silvari: An Anthology of Elves."

Minor is currently writing "The Windrider Saga: Book 3" and the sequel to "Curse Bearer," which is already written but is yet unnamed. 

Rebecca resides in Pottstown, PA with her husband and three sons, whom she is slowly infusing with a love of fantasy, one member at a time.

Psssst ... There's a free lending library at The Mercury's Community Media Lab

Today I'm writing from The Mercury's brand new Community Media Lab, where the newpaper offers the public free WiFi, the use of three computers, a microfilm machine to look up past editions of the paper, and space to hold a meeting or small gathering.

The lab is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday immediately adjacent to the offices of The Mercury at 24 N. Hanover St., Pottstown (located at the intersection of King and Hanover streets). The lab celebrated its grand opening on July 20.  It is usually staffed by Mercury Community Engagement Editor Diane Hoffman, but sometimes she gets to have a day off and people like me fill in.

Our lending "library" at the lab.

At the lab we also have a small lending library of books on loan from various Mercury staffers. Our "library" consists of just one 3-tiered bookshelf, but on it you'll find a fair sampling of books in lots of different genres.

There's an 8-book collection of Anita Shreve novels (great for the beach!); various mystery/suspense/thriller novels by writers including Mary Higgins Clartk, Tom Clancy, Jack Higgins, and Thomas Harris; non-fiction writing including Jon Krakauer's amazing book "Into the Wild" and Stephen King's "On Writing"; and some of my personal picks, which include "The Book of Ruth" by Jane Hamilton (dark and deep) "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd (mysterious and engrossing) and "Turtle Moon" by Alice Hoffman (magical and enchanting).

We had a total of 5 visitors today!

We are also in the lending library some how-to books - "The Garden Primer,"  and "Train Your Dog in One Hour" and even some nonfiction offerings from local (Pottstown!) writers: "The Chiropractic Way to Health" by Leo McCormick, Darryl Hajduczek and Roger Walker: as well as the extremely well done "Save Our Land, Save Our Towns" by former Mercury Editor Thomas Hylton. We also have a copy of the stellar documentary that accompany's Tom's book.

There are also several copies of Mercury Reporter Evan Brandt's "The Hidden River" series, which have been in demand since he wrote the newspaper series on the Schuylkill River way back in 2001. That's how good it is!

Some Mercury staffers including me and Mercury Editor Nancy March plan to note some of our book recommendations (just like those staff picks you see at a bookstore) and rotate them each months. So far, we still need to make the staff pick signs, but Nancy has put her recommendations of Frank McCourt's "Teacher Man" and Philly writer Mark Bowden's "Black Hawk Down" atop the shelf. Mine are those mentioned above.

We're also open to having "guest picks" - Do you have any good books you'd care to recommend? Please comment below!

A view of the lab at the end of open hours today.

Stop by check out the community media lab and our lending library. Search the 'Net, sit and read in our cushy new microfiber loveseat from Pottstown's own Lastick Furniture or take a book home for free (we just ask that you sign it out ... and promise to bring it back).

It's 100 degrees out today, but it's a cool 72.1 here in the lab. It's a nice place to stop for a cup of $1 coffee (we have a Keurig), hold a small meeting, work on our new computers or peruse some microfilm copies of The Mercury going back to 1933.

Come see us!

Book related fundraiser for YWCA to be held March 19

Among the many organizations in Pottstown that need your help is the YWCA Tri-County Area. This agency does wonderful things to help women and children in the Pottstown area who are in need.

• Their Adult Literacy Program includes GED tutoring and diploma assistance as well as organizng a network of trained volunteers to help women learn how to read and improve their prospects.


• Their Parents Network program support group allows parents to meet for one or two hours a week with a facilitator. The children's group that meets in conjunction gives kids some time to work on crafts and enjoy snacks while parents seek help.


• Their Women EXCEL group holds monthly breakfast meetings give professional women and businesses the opportunity to network, provide support and become aware of local commerce and trade. The group seeks to energize, empower and inspire women to reach their full potential.

Coming up March 19 is your chance to support the YW and have some fun at one of its major fundraisers of the year, this time with a book-related theme.

The YWCA Tri-County Area's 11th Annual Basket Party will be held on Friday, March 19, from 6 to 9 p.m. at North Coventry Elementary School, 475 Kemp Road, Pottstown.

The organization is currently accepting sponsorships as well as book-themed basket donations.

From 6 to 7:15 p.m., attendees can view and bid on themed baskets, purchase dinner from the buffet, bid on silent auction items and view live auction items. The basket raffle, door prizes and auctions will be held from 7:15 to 9 p.m.

Advanced tickets are $15 each or two for $25. Advanced table reservations (for eight people) are $100. Admission at the door is $20. Admission includes 10 raffle tickets. Additional tickets are available 10 for $15.

This year’s event is "All About Books." Basket donations with that theme in mind are being accepted. Choose a favorite book/story and build your basket around it. All basket contributors will receive 10 additional raffle tickets with their paid ticket. All baskets should be wrapped in cellophane with your name or company name, basket theme, and a list of contents. Deliver your basket to the YWCA no later than Monday, March 15. Basket pickup is available, call the YWCA at 610-323-1888 to make arrangements or for more information.

Sponsorship levels are also available. The gold level ($300) includes eight admission tickets, a reserved table and a full-page program ad. The silver level ($200) includes four admission tickets and a half-page program ad. The Bronze level ($100) includes two admission tickets and a business card program ad.

All proceeds to benefit YWCA Tri-County Area, which promotes the elimination or racism and the empowerment of women.

Above is their cute and colorful flyer, designed by Epps Advertising and printed by Complete Graphics.

Perhaps your business would like to become a sponsor and help out this tremendous organization. Or maybe you have some books lying around that you no longer need that you wouldn't mind donating to this cause. Plus, when you donate, you get an additional 10 raffle tickets with paid admission. It's worth combing the bookshelf for.

For more information about YWCA Tri-County Area, visit http://www.ywcatricountyarea.org/

Buying this book won't solve your debt issues

Reviewed: “Debt is Slavery: and 9 Other Things I Wish My Dad Had Taught Me About Money,” by Michael Mihalik, October Mist Publishing, 2007, $14.95, 128 pages.

Michael Mihalik was inspired to write this little book because of his own struggles with debt after college.
Mihalik, an aerospace engineer when not penning books, proudly mentions several times throughout “Debt is Slavery” that he has overcome his early credit card debt and is so financially savvy now he was able to take six whole weeks off in order to write his book. Six whole weeks.
This is where I think to myself that I or pretty much anyone who can put pen to paper might be able to come up with 128 pages on any topic if given a month and a half.
When it comes down to it, I don’t think Mihalik’s experience overcoming his debt is anything remarkable. He overextended himself with credit cards while in college and it took a while for him to bail himself out. Well done, Mr. Mihalik, but I also learned that “easy credit” lesson the hard way. So did a few others I know.
While sound, Mihalik’s pointers to overcome your debt are far too general, to the tune of: Don’t buy things you don’t need. Um, OK.
“I came up with 10 basic ideas and rules about money that allowed me to gain control of my finances and pay off my debt,” Mihalik states. “They literally transformed my life.”
Mihalik was 13 when his father died, and the premise of the book is that Mihalik had to come up with his own rules for money because his dad never had the chance to teach him.
“That’s not the easiest way to learn. I wish someone had just taught me the rules, but fate had other plans for me,” he writes. “If you’re drowning in debt, if it seems like you’ll never get ahead financially, or if you’re forced to work at a job you dislike to pay the bills, this book has something for you.”
Something, yes. Something in the way of very general advice.
(Specific financial advice, let it be noted, should come from a financial services professional).
The author says that when he got out of college, armed with his engineering degree and several pre-approved credit cards, he soon found himself in roughly $20,000 of debt and living beyond his means. At the time, Mihalik said he searched for a self-help book but could find none that were short and to the point. There, his idea for this book was born.
“After I eliminated my debt and gained control of my finances, I wanted to help other people do the same, so I decided to write the book I wish had been available to me,” he writes.
It took Mihalik one “hellish year” to get out of debt, he says.
The core lessons of the book are sound: Debt is bad. Try not to get into it. Possessions won’t bring you happiness, so stop buying them. Find work you enjoy, and you’ll be happier. Don’t just save, invest in “income-producing assets.” Spend less than you earn.
Are these suggestions bad advice? Not at all. Did I need to read this book to learn them? Not at all.
The one piece of advice that piqued my interest was the chapter — I mean the three whole pages — on how to save 50 percent of your salary.
“If you save 50 percent of your salary, for every month you work, you will save enough to take a month off — without changing your lifestyle,” Mihalik writes.
Hmmm. Saving half my salary. I don’t think that’s even possible.
But Mihalik anticipates this reaction, and advises trying for a 33 or 25 percent total savings — over and above the maximum 401k plan contributions you can make at work, that is.
To save this quarter of your salary, you have to make a budget, he says.
I agree — making a budget is a great idea for anyone who has any debt at all. It helps you see where your money goes.
Additionally, Mihalik advises, you should budget for savings, trips and special purchases. Yes, all good ideas, but still super-simplified and general.
My advice is to save the money you would spend on this book and add it to your savings.