Zonderkidz; 192 pages; $12.99; Amazon

The Berenstain Bears is one of the biggest picture book series on the market today. Created by Stan and Jan Berenstain, the first title in the long running children book series was published in the 1960s. Despite being criticized for it's formulaic storytelling, the series has remained popular with every new generation of young readers. Sadly, the original authors have both passed away; however, there son, Mike, has taken over writing and illustrating new titles, which now have Christian themes.

Now available from Zonderkidz is The Berenstain Bears: 5-Minute Inspirational Stories featuring twelve full stories with full-page artwork.






The collection includes:

Originally, I was going to participate in today's "It's Monday, what are you reading?" meme, but instead I've decided to start a new weekly post called Bookends, where I'll be discussing about what I'm currently reading, what I'll be reading next, and anything else related to the world of books.



Last Monday, I started reading the reprint paperback of the 10th anniversary edition of American Gods by Neil Gaiman. I had purchased the title at my local Walmart several weeks ago. My plan was to read the book before the television series debuted on STARZ, but I didn't start reading it until the day after the second episode aired. At a whopping 700+ pages, I've manged to read 456 pages out of a whopping 700+ pages in one week. The novel is very graphic, as well as the television series, and I don't think it would appeal to very many readers. Once I'm finished reading, I'll make sure to post a review on it.


Over the weekend, I decided it was best off that I stop the by the library and make sure my card was up-to-date, as I hadn't checked out a book there in quite awhile. I ended up checking out The Broken Road by Richard Paul Evans, so that will mostly likely be my next read. Hopefully, if everything goes right, I should be reading the book by Wednesday.


Of course I do! I have four new James Patterson titles:


Two from the Heart contains two romance novellas; one by James Patterson & Emily Raymond and the other by Frank Costantini and Brian Sitts. 16th Seduction is the sixteenth installment in the Woman's Murder Club series. Private: Gold and Detective Cross are Bookshots novellas. I had thought Little, Brown and Company had stopped releasing Bookshots paperbacks and were only releasing the titles in ebook formats, but I must have been mistaken as these two titles were released this month.

Fox Home Entertainment; Not Rated; 95 minutes; Amazon

When it comes to the western genre, Zane Grey is the biggest name out there. Born Pearl Zane Grey in 1872, he started out as a dentist before writing his first novel Betty Zane (published in 1903). He published over 90 western titles (more if you count all the reprints and re-titled novels). 112 films have been adapted from his novels and works.

Now available on DVD from Twentieth Century Cinema Archives is the 1941 Zane Grey's Western Union. Directed by Fritz Lang, the film stars Robert Young, Randolph Scott, Dean Jagger, Virginia Gilmore, John Carradine, Slim Summerville, Chill Wills, and Barton MacLane. There are no special features or bonus extras on the single-disc.

Based on the 1939 novel of the same name, Zane Grey's Western Union centers on Edward Creighton (played by Dean Jagger), a Western Union engineer who is injured while surveying a telegraph line. This is where he first meets the outlaw Vance Shaw (played by Randolph Scott), who attempts to steel his horse. However, Vance isn't exactly the bad guy that he portrays, so eventually helps Edward.

After recovering from his injuries, Edward returns to Omaha, Nebraska, where he develops a plan to construct a telegraph line from Omaha to Salt Lake City. He enlists the help of his sister Sue (played by Virginia Gilmore), an assistant named Kettle (played by Chill Wills), and a foreman named Pat Gorgan (played by Mintor Watson). Later, a scout is hired - Vance Shaw, who is trying his best to turn his life around.

Work begins on the telegraph line, but it's a lot more harder than what Edward ever expected due to threats from Confederate soldiers and Native Americans.

Fox Home Entertainment; Not Rated; 94 minutes; Amazon

Now available on DVD from Twentieth Century Fox Cinema Archives is the 1954 drama Woman's World. Directed by Jean Negulesco, the film stars Clifton Webb, June Allyson, Van Heflin, Lauren Bacall, Fred MacMurray, Arlene Dahl, Cornel Wilde, Elliott Reid, and Margalo Gillmore. There are no special features or extras on the single-disc.

The film centers on the owner of a large automobile company, Ernest Gifford (played by Clifton Webb), who is searching for a new general manager. He invites three possible candidates and their wives to New York City, so he can evaluate them.

The general manger candidates are: Bill Baxter (played by Cornel Wilde) and his wife Katie (played by June Allyson), Sidney Burns (played by Fred MacMurray) and his wife Elizabeth (played by Lauren Bacall), and Jerry Talbot (played by Van Heflin) and his wife Carol (played by Arlene Dahl).

None of the couples have a perfect marriage as all of them have had their own share of problems, especially during their trip to New York City. Of course none of them are aware that Mr. Gifford is also evaluating the wives.

Now available from Pennant Collective is the paranormal romance The Girl from the Woods by Chris Keane.




When did you become interested in storytelling?

In 1995, I read a book called High Fidelity by Nick Hornby and was blown away. The first person narrative was so real, like being inside the main character’s head. It reminded me of The Catcher in the Rye, but the subject matter was so much more relatable to me (the trials and tribulations of dating and relationships). It was also very funny. This made me want to write about my own experiences but first I had to learn about how to go about formatting a story.

What was your first book/story published?

The e-book short read, Loot (2015). Loot was inspired from my childhood experiences. Growing up during the seventies and eighties in a NJ town transitioning from a farming community to suburban commuter zone, I got the best of both worlds. There were a lot of fun places to hang out and things to do but there was also open and wooded areas to explore with my friends without parental supervision. The story was written in the spirit of Stand by Me and The Goonies.

What inspired you to write The Girl from the Woods?

The Girl from the Woods was inspired by my love for romance and the paranormal. I’ve always been a hopeless romantic so that aspect of the story flows quite naturally. I grew up in the eighties, which were a scary time to be a kid. Every summer the theaters were invaded with horror films like Friday the 13th, Halloween, and A Nightmare on Elm Street. The films used familiar settings, which lead to a lot of sleepless nights for me. But I also fell in love with horror and the paranormal.

What character in The Girl from the Woods is the most/least like you, and in what ways?