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book reviews |
Multi-volume author and renowned herbalist, Lesley Tierra introduces us to her book “A Kid’s Herb Book: For Children of All Ages”: A Kid’s Herb Book makes learning about herbs and plants fun and educational for children. They follow the friendly elf, Mr. Greenleaf, through the plant “kin-dom.” They learn various uses of plants and they learn to appreciate vital things that plants provide, such as oxygen, food, soap, wood, teas, and medicines. They will discover the differences between herbs, weeds, and spices. They learn to make products from herbs, such as natural toothbrushes and homemade cough medicine. They learn about the healing properties of specific herbs. And they learn enchanting stories that can be read aloud and that awaken the imagination. A Kid’s Herb Book includes delicious recipes for such culinary delights as “Basil Pesto” and “Rose Petal Jam.” Children and their parents are encouraged to grow their own herb gardens. Simple instructions are provided for outdoor gardens (when space is available) to smaller gardens (using a window box, a basket, or even a flowerpot!). To go completely natural, readers can learn to make and use compost as well. What a marvelous and fun book! I enjoyed this book so much. It truly is written for children of all ages. The writing style is winsome and easy to read for almost any average skill level fifth or sixth grade reader and above. The black-and-white line drawing invite you to color them in and own the book. The page layout and fonts keep the information flowing in an easy-to-understand fashion. The creation-of-the-herb stories are fun and invite discussions between parent and child about important issues and character traits. There are recipes, songs and care guides that extend the reading experience and solidify the knowledge imparted. This is such an excellent and well-written book; it easily deserves to be awarded 5 stars! You can buy this book:
https://rdrpublishers.com/a-kid-s-herb-book-for-children-of-all-ages-by-lesley-tierra https://amazon.com/Kids-Herb-Book-Children-Ages-paperback https://www.goodreads.com/A_Kid_s_Herb_Book You can follow the author: https://twitter.com/east_west_herbs https://planetherbs.com https://www.facebook.com/lesley.tierra# Copyright © 2020 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction.
62 Comments
9/26/2020 02:23:24 pm
What a wonderful review. My goal for writing A Kids Herb Book was to get many people, especially children, involved in the world of herbs and their myriad fantastic uses. Your review will help them do just that! Thank you -
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Mark Schultz
9/27/2020 10:01:48 am
Welcome to wordrefiner.com.
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Mark Schultz
9/27/2020 10:02:32 am
Thanks again.
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9/27/2020 12:02:20 pm
I first learned about herbs in my late twenties after leaving a budding career in big business. Since then, I have discovered that herbs are not only wonderful healers but also a way of life.
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Mark
9/27/2020 01:17:40 pm
Herbs and other healing arts became your business.
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9/27/2020 02:43:24 pm
Oh gosh I am definitely a writer because I love it! I can't help but write. I actually started writing my first fiction piece when I was about seven years old. I am not a part-time writer because I oversee our herbal distance learning course and school, The East West School of Planetary Herbology, plus our acupuncture and herb clinic, The East West Acupuncture Clinic, where I practice with my husband, Michael. But I would love to rite full time!
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Mark
9/27/2020 05:14:37 pm
That is wonderful that you want to write so much. I knew you were busy with all of the businesses. You do have a lot on your plate.
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9/27/2020 06:55:07 pm
Oh I'll bet you could write even more useful books for writers. Word refining is key to all writers. I hope you do so!
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Mark
9/27/2020 07:06:58 pm
Thanks for the vote of confidence. There are a lot of talented editors out there and quite a few have written about editing. A lot of great blogs have been written also, I have links to a number of them on my Highly Regarded Blogs page. If I wrote a book like that, it would take away time from proofreading, which I love doing. I have written quite a few blogs about spelling issues caused by homophones and typographical errors, I doubt if I will write a book.
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9/28/2020 01:03:49 pm
I am tracking Susie's website down - I agree, her illustrations are fabulous.
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Mark
9/28/2020 02:49:08 pm
The title is self-explanatory, no question.
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9/28/2020 06:06:29 pm
I've written several other books: The Herbs of Life (Crossing Press 1992), Healing with Chinese Herbs (Crossing Press, 1997, also published in India, 2016), A Kids Herb Book (R.D. Reed, 2000, also published in Japan and Estonia), Healing with the Herbs of Life (Crossing Press, 2003), and Metaphor-phosis (Balboa Press, 2012). I also collaborated with my husband, Michael, to found the East West School of Planetary Herbology with its course books I helped write (nearly 2200 pages), which has over 10,000 students worldwide, and co-authored with him, Chinese Traditional Herbal Medicine Vol I & II (Lotus Press, 1998).
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Mark
9/28/2020 06:32:14 pm
You have written quite a bit. You know a lot about herbs. Can you recommend a good field guide for the Pacific Northwest? My family has a tree farm way out there, there is no cell service. I think I recognized quite a few plants in your book.
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9/28/2020 06:35:34 pm
I do have more non-fiction books in the works, some for over twenty years. Will they get done? I've also been writing my first work of fiction, a trilogy for middle grade-young adult that's been in the works for over twenty-five years now! Writing non-fiction is entirely different than fiction so I'm having to learn that craft as I go along, but it's fun!
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Mark
9/28/2020 07:17:10 pm
I think you know a great deal about writing non-fiction. You are correct about that being very different from writing fiction. Some of my articles on my Guest Posts page might be helpful, plus there are a lot of blog links on my Highly Regarded Blogs page that you may find useful.
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9/28/2020 09:09:38 pm
I'm thrilled to know abut your resources. The services you offer are incredibly useful for authors, so thank for those. And I appreciate your recommendations, too.
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Mark
9/28/2020 10:07:08 pm
You almost had publishers knocking on your door. Writing in a well-defined niche and finding the right publisher can make a lot of difference.
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9/29/2020 07:47:30 pm
The publishing industry was very different thirty years ago, as industries were for all the arts. That was both a good thing - less work for the artist and more promotion - and a bad thing - it wasn't even possible yet to self-publish, or very rare.
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Mark
9/29/2020 08:12:49 pm
The first edition of the Kids Herb Book is still listed on Amazon, with a similar but brighter cover.
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9/29/2020 10:08:25 pm
Advice to be a good write: for non fiction - write what you know. I think over all for writing, the fewer words, the better. Too many words can interfere with action and even descriptions.
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Mark
9/29/2020 10:48:35 pm
That is good advice, shared by many different authors over the years. Most books can benefit from an economical use of words. Every word on the page should have to earn its place. If a word doesn't move the story forward it should be removed.
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9/29/2020 11:14:32 pm
It's so true that every word should have it's place or go. That means lots of editing, which a writer has to love doing or else hire someone.
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Mark
9/30/2020 11:32:57 am
Self-editing is difficult for a lot of writers. It requires a certain mental rigor. Our brains will lie to us when we are in the proofreading phase of editing. There are many ways to trick our brain into letting us see what is actually on the page. Putting the manuscript away for a week or three is useful for a lot of authors. Changing the font and color of the font helps a lot of writers. Reading the book aloud is another way, because it engages more than one sense. Reading the book backwards can also help.
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9/30/2020 12:07:20 pm
Those are great self-editing tips, Mark. I also put the manuscript away for two-three weeks or even longer, which I find enormously helpful. Reading the book aloud I think is essential. I've never tried changing the font and color, interesting. I do know about reading the book backwards as my professional pianist son teaches that technique for learning piano.
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Mark
9/30/2020 12:30:05 pm
You are welcome, I have learned a lot from reading blogs and these interviews with authors. I have tried to make my website a resource for writers.
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9/30/2020 12:51:26 pm
My son, Chetan Tierra, (https://www.chetantierra.com) has developed and learned all sorts of techniques to develop piano skills to the highest level as demonstrated by being in such world competitions as the Queen Elizabeth and Van Cliburn and being a Yamaha Artist (I can't help but brag!). He's developing online courses to teach exactly such skills.
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Mark
9/30/2020 01:11:20 pm
That piano technique makes a lot of sense.
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9/30/2020 02:31:29 pm
I have to laugh because my children's trilogy began from a dream I had in the 90s, which is the end of the entire series. I am mostly a panther but also a plotter, too, since with three books I have to keep track and plan what's happening in which book
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Mark
9/30/2020 03:08:25 pm
Nice. Having the end in mind clearly is important for a book to stay on track; even more important for a multi-volume series.
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9/30/2020 03:51:04 pm
It's essential to tap into the emotions of characters to bring them to life and make them relatable.
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Mark
9/30/2020 04:20:06 pm
The emotional connection is very important, otherwise the characters seem flat or shallow.
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9/30/2020 04:48:00 pm
Good question. It's taken me years to learn about bringing characters to life and I still am. Again, non-fiction comes easy to me, but fiction? It's hard! What I've learned is to embody the character and flesh them out with feelings and senses. People are looking for characters they can relate to so these are two ways I'm aware of.
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Mark
9/30/2020 05:38:02 pm
Some writers go to great lengths to make their characters seem real and understand them as individuals. I have heard from writers with an artistic bent, they draw or paint pictures of the characters, some design wardrobes and playlists. Others search through pictures on the internet until they find one that matches the image of the character in their mind. Many authors create a character sheet that provides details about the character whether or not it all gets into the story is not important. One of my guest bloggers, Rick Hall, made a website he describes as a character generator. You can build or find a character that is psychologically congruent, regardless of being a protagonist or antagonist. Put his name in the search box below to see all of his fabulous guest blogs.
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10/1/2020 01:23:47 pm
What great ideas for character building! I appreciate you sharing all of these as there are some I haven't heard of. I will also look for Rick Hall's information.
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Mark
10/1/2020 03:16:49 pm
You are welcome. It's a pleasure to share what I have received from others.
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10/1/2020 03:28:26 pm
As for non-fiction, I many have cut words and sometimes sentences. Since I am writing what I know, the words flow easily onto the page.
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Mark
10/1/2020 06:14:28 pm
It is necessary to be ruthless, sometimes, even if it hurts. Quite a few authors chant the mantra, 'kill your darlings'. I think it means more than one thing. The first thing that comes to mind is a favorite character, sometimes it is needful for the plot to kill a favorite character, that doesn't mean they have to stay dead; but it does take them off the scene for a while. The second thing that comes to mind is a favorite bit of prose or dialogue. That paragraph or two that the author is especially proud of. As the editing moves from phase to phase, that precious bit becomes irrelevant. It must leave the book at least for the present. Maybe, it can reappear later.
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10/1/2020 09:12:38 pm
You are so right about 'kill your darlings' and what it can mean. This was very hard at first; now it's a tad easier.
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Mark
10/1/2020 11:13:48 pm
Knowing what to cut is very hard for new writers. Some genres involve a lot of research, some writers hate research and others love it (me). Those latter writers get really excited at some of the unusual and arcane nuggets they find and are excited to put it into the story (me), in fact, they want to put all of that research into the story (me, again). That leads to a condition known as the dreaded information dump and that kills more readers, at least their desire to finish that book, than almost everything else. You have to give out the good stuff in tiny portions, just enough to keep two hummingbirds alive.
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10/2/2020 02:07:44 pm
I love research, too, and sprinkle discovered gems throughout the story line. I think this makes the story richer as well as sparks my imagination for other ideas and development.
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Mark
10/2/2020 05:02:38 pm
It does make the story richer. It's fun to run across those bits as a reader. Sometimes they open up a new level of understanding or inspire a new train of thought.
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10/2/2020 08:14:50 pm
Your cozy murder story character gave me a good laugh! It must have been fascinating to see yourself altered and in print.
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Mark
10/2/2020 11:32:16 pm
You are right, it was fun.
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10/3/2020 11:03:04 am
Ha, a space pen and waterproof paper - if only. I taught myself to take notes in the dark so the light won't walk me up. It works 99% of the time. I once used a recorder so I could verbally catch my ideas whenever they came - this would work in the shower, too - but I find the writing process much more conducive to my thoughts. Somehow it opens a door to my subconscious so more connections occur.
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Mark
10/3/2020 11:22:46 am
I just recently heard about some new research that claims writing by hand, as opposed to typing, uses more of the creative part of the brain. Which is great, if you can read your handwriting.
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10/3/2020 11:33:53 am
I have been writing fiction since at least 1998, if not earlier. But because I've been teaching myself, it's still evolving. I finally feel I have a handle on the writing part, although I'm sure more needs attention in the character department. It really has been a part-time passion because I've published most all my other books during this time span, not to mention running my other businesses and raising a family. Now that I'm in partial retirement, I've got more time to dig in and write creatively. I intend the trilogy will be published someday Now I know who to run it by for word refining! Do you do other editing, too?
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Mark
10/3/2020 12:33:25 pm
I think most authors grow into their writing. It seems to take a long time and multiple volumes or stories to find the right balance with description, action and dialogue for many authors. There is a maturing process that all must go through. I have heard of some editors upon receiving a first book from a new author, throw the book away and tell the author to write another book. The second book is almost always much better than the first book.
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10/3/2020 01:20:53 pm
Whew - it is good to know most authors grow into their writing because that is definitely what i have been slowly doing. And I'm thrilled to learn of all your skills - I may well be calling on you for those in the near future!
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Mark
10/3/2020 01:33:49 pm
Thank you, I look forward to working with you.
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10/4/2020 02:19:47 pm
How could I forget about Sci-fi and fantasy? I also love Tolkien's trilogy, and of course Asimov, Lewis Carroll's Narnia books, the Mars Trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson, Doris Lessing's books, Marion Zimmer Bradley ,and so many more.
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Mark
10/4/2020 03:58:58 pm
Tolkien and C. S. Lewis are two of my favorite authors. Lewis amazed me by writing so many different types of books. Did you know Lewis wrote a sci-fi trilogy? He did, "Out of the Silent Planet" is the first one, even better the protagonist is fashioned after his good friend, J. R. R. Tolkien.
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10/4/2020 04:39:28 pm
I didn't know about that Lewis trilogy so I look forward to more good reading. And I agree with you about adjectives.
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Mark
10/4/2020 05:38:34 pm
The Chronicles of Narnia have overshadowed so much of Lewis's other works. Few have heard of his sci-fi set. I am glad I could share that with you.
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10/4/2020 06:34:02 pm
Thanks for the link to Scrivener. I't looks interesting. I may try it, although I have to say I mainly write by hand wherever I am. I have a friend who is writing a book about plot planning and it's excellent. I hope she finishes it and gets it published as I think it would help a lot of writers. It uses a large table with post-it notes that can be moved around.
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Mark
10/4/2020 09:14:31 pm
Let me know if you take it on, I would love to hear how it works for you. Post-it notes on a table or board is pretty decent of an idea. I use Post-it notes to track my clients for proofreading. Every once and awhile I have to write a new note because one stops sticking.
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10/5/2020 12:09:02 pm
I write anywhere the muse grabs me. That's mostly at home, although because I write by hand, it could well be at the beach or in the woods. I don't purposefully put on music or TV to write, but if an idea comes when either are on, I'll write it down and am able to focus on just that. For focused periods of writing, I definitely prefer quiet.
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Mark
10/5/2020 12:23:04 pm
Not being tied to an electronic device has some advantages for writing. No worries about a source of power.
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10/5/2020 01:58:45 pm
Of the five senses, for me the visual is easiest to write while the hardest is taste, followed by touch.
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Mark
10/5/2020 04:25:58 pm
Many authors say pretty much pretty much the same thing. That makes sense to me, I suppose the work around would be to use a common taste experience as a reference point.
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10/5/2020 05:50:12 pm
Excellent advice. I'm in a writing group and one of our members has written for TV. Screen plays are a different animal entirely and beautifully teach the necessity of cutting words and boosting imagery, not to mention how to get one's plot and message across succinctly.
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Mark
10/5/2020 06:12:04 pm
That sounds like a good group you are in. You described screenplays so well in just a few words.
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10/5/2020 07:49:28 pm
And thank you so much, Mark. You've shared much wonderful information and given great tips. I really appreciate your interview process, too. I'll miss our daily interchanges. Thanks for the fun interview!
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Who am I?An avid reader, typobuster, and the Hyper-Speller. I am a husband, father, and grandfather. Archives
February 2025
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"I'm very pleased with all your efforts. Twitter promotion and proofreading were beyond what I expected with a book review. Your suggestions throughout the process of refining both books helped me immensely. I look forward to working with you again." A.E.H Veenman “Dial QR for Murder” and “Prepped for the Kill”
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