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Book sale looking to help children in Strathmore

5 For Life, a non-profit organization is running a local book sale, and they need your help. Volunteers are needed to help the sale run smoothly. Debbie Taylor, past chair of the organization, explained that there are many positions available at the event. “We are looking for greeters at the door, cashiers, and people to…

What does Prince Harry’s ghostwriter make of his contribution to book?

When browsing through celebrity autobiographies, most readers may not realize that the famous name on the cover isn’t always the one behind the words inside. While some may suspect a ghostwriter’s involvement, few understand the extent of the collaboration and how complex the relationship can be.According to professional ghostwriter, Mark McCrum, in the ideal scenario, a ghostwriter sits down with the celebrity to conduct a series of in-depth interviews, often lasting days or weeks. The ghostwriter then takes the material from these sessions and weaves it into a complete book, often requiring multiple follow-ups for clarification.Did Prince Harry work closely with his ghostwriter?However, sometimes the process is even more removed, as McCrum recalled when he worked with Prince Harry on his 2011 bestseller ‘Walking with the Wounded’.”When I ghostwrote Walking with the Wounded for Prince Harry, I never met him in person. Instead, I was sent a video of him on a North Pole trek, in which he recorded some brief thoughts on the landscape and his companions,” McCrum wrote in a Daily Mail editorial.”Despite being part of the project, I never knew if he read the final result, as the material I developed had to go through Clarence House for approval.”What concerns McCrum? The lack of acknowledgment for the skill and experience that ghostwriters bring to the table remains an ongoing issue. As Teena Lyons from The Ghostwriters Agency is credited with pointing out, “If a ghostwriter remains nameless and faceless, it’s much harder to negotiate for better pay and conditions.”Although ghostwriters are meant to remain invisible, McCrum maintains their contributions are far from insignificant. They are the ones who help transform raw ideas into compelling stories, often putting in months of effort without ever receiving the recognition they deserve. Their work continues to shape some of the best-selling books in the industry, even though their names are rarely mentioned in the credits.

Local Student Publishes Educational Coloring Book to Raise Money for Local Early Learning Initiatives

LaGrange resident and Springwood School 10th-grade student Caroline Van Schoor recently created and published an educational coloring book to raise money for local early learning initiatives, specifically the Jungle Bus.

Van Schoor worked with Jungle Bus representatives Gail Gordon, aka Reading Ranger, and Nicole Kennedy, aka Jungle Jama, to create the interactive coloring book entitled, “Learning the ABCs with My Jungle Friends: Baby’s First Educational Coloring Book.” The coloring book helps children learn the ABCs by coloring in images of animals associated with the letters A through Z. The pages also provide educational tips for adults to help the child best learn how to read.“I enjoyed volunteering with the Jungle Bus so much that I wanted to come up with a creative way to raise money for them,” said Van Schoor. “I enjoyed designing the coloring pages with the animals’ images and providing reading tips at the bottom of each page. Mrs. Gail (Gordon) and Mrs. Nicole (Kennedy) helped me come up with these tips so that parents and adults can learn how to encourage reading with their children, too.”

The Jungle Bus is a jungle-themed bookmobile that visits schools, neighborhoods, early learning centers, and community events in Troup County. Its mission is to promote a love of reading and ensure that children are prepared to learn when they start school and share the love of reading by putting free books in the hands of children.

“We are beyond excited about this coloring book and Caroline’s generosity in using it to benefit THE JUNGLE BUS. It is a two-generational coloring book!” said Success By 6 Coordinator Gail Lee Gordon. “Children can enjoy coloring with an adult, and the adult can benefit from helpful reading tips on each page.”

“Coloring together with your child is a great way for family members to not only spend quality time with their child but for both generations to strengthen hand-eye coordination, improve fine motor skills, build creativity, and relieve stress,” said Troup County Schools Community Coordinator Nicole Kennedy. “We would love to see families with this coloring book at restaurants, at doctors’ offices, in the car, EVERYWHERE! Put the screens down and pick up a jungle-themed coloring book today!”

The coloring book’s proceeds will go to the Jungle Bus and early learning initiatives in Troup County. It is available on Amazon for $6.99 at this link: https://a.co/d/1a44GSZ. 

Media Contact: Caroline Van Schoor, [email protected] or (706) 415-6263.

A.J. Brown read his book during a playoff game. The story behind the book is even more unusual

Jim Murphy had lived three lives when he moved to the desert. He wasn’t sure what he wanted, but he knew he wanted to be alone.He had already been a minor-league outfielder for the Cubs, a graduate student with big ideas, a minor-league coach for the Texas Rangers, but then, in 2003, he gave away half his things and headed for Tucson, Ariz., where he began what he terms “a life of solitude.”AdvertisementIt was quiet, sparse and isolating. His first year, he did not realize it was New Year’s Eve until he heard a loud noise, walked outside and saw fireworks.“I was a career minor-league baseball player and grad student,” Murphy says. “Those are like the two poorest people.”The days were long and lonely. They were also clarifying. Haunted by a baseball career that never launched and a life put on hold, Murphy, then 36, became consumed with a question: How can a baseball player stand at the plate in Game 7 of the World Series and find, as Murphy terms it, “peace and confidence”?Murphy called one sports psychologist. And then another. He soon fell down a rabbit hole that lasted five years and, between his living expenses and the travel for interviews, left him $90,000 in debt. “I’ve never had a nervous breakdown,” he says. “But I assume it was pretty close.” The result was “Inner Excellence,” published in 2009, a 300-page tome about training your mind for extraordinary performance.For many years, the book was a modest success, a hit with golf instructors and life coaches, a text on which Murphy could build a career as a mental skills guru for golfers like Henrik Stenson and Hunter Mahan. But that changed on Sunday night, when Eagles receiver A.J. Brown was spotted reading the book on the sidelines during his team’s playoff victory over the Green Bay Packers.
AJ Brown is reading a book on the sideline? 📚😂
📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/jQGv8smD9N
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) January 13, 2025Brown told reporters the book gives him “a sense of peace.” It’s believed he came across it thanks to Eagles defensive tackle Moro Ojomo, who received it from a chaplain at the University of Texas, who happened to know Murphy. But the story of how “Inner Excellence” became a viral sensation in Philly is less interesting than how it became a book in the first place.Advertisement“Jim has an amazing story,” said Carson Foster, a professional swimmer who trains at the University of Texas and works with Murphy. “It’s really his own story that was the basis for ‘Inner Excellence.’”“It has legs for the people who read it,” added Mahan, who reached No. 4 in the world in 2012. “Maybe you don’t get it right away because you’re too trapped in yourself, but down the road, man, I feel like all those lessons and all those things in the book are really powerful when you really let them in.”One day in the early 2000s, Bucky Jacobsen, a minor-league baseball player with the Seattle Mariners, met a man at a baseball training facility in Tucson. In Jacobsen’s memory, it wasn’t clear if the man worked at the facility, or if he worked anywhere at all. But his name was Jim Murphy, and as they began to talk, his story felt familiar.Born in the Pacific Northwest, Murphy had played baseball at Portland State and spent three seasons as an outfielder in the Cubs system. He had hit just .236 in 879 career at-bats, and a vision issue helped end his career. He had then returned to graduate school with the goal of being a high school baseball coach. But what he really wanted was to help young players who were struggling.“He was kind of on a quest,” Jacobsen says now.In practical terms, Jacobsen became Murphy’s first client. In reality, they didn’t use that term. It didn’t feel like a doctor-patient relationship. It wasn’t formal. Instead, they just started talking.“Being a professional athlete, you know that you’re good, but you’re constantly scared of not being good enough,” Jacobsen says. “And I think that inner turmoil stops 99 percent of athletes. And he kind of opened up my eyes.”At that point, Jacobsen was a 27-year-old who had played seven seasons in the minors, never reaching the major leagues. He was in his third organization. Murphy asked Jacobsen to start writing down scripts and affirmations. You’re one of the best power hitters in the world. You’re one of the best power hitters in the world. Advertisement“There were multiple things he said that ended up being little tipping points,” Jacobsen says. “Little light bulbs.”Little did Jacobsen know at the time, but he was giving Murphy something, too: proof of concept. The next season, in 2004, Jacobsen reached the majors and hit nine homers in 42 games, becoming a momentary folk hero in Seattle. Murphy wondered if he was onto something.

Bucky Jacobsen worked with Jim Murphy and became a fan favorite for a summer in Seattle. (Otto Greule Jr. / Getty Images)What Murphy and Jacobsen discussed became the first stages of “Inner Excellence.” The book would eventually come to include four daily goals:1. Do the best with what you have each day2. Be present3. Be grateful4. Be focused on routines and what you can controlBut the core of the text, according to Murphy, stems from two realizations he had during his sojourn in the desert. The first is Murphy’s belief that self-centeredness is the biggest challenge in performance.“It leads to fear because your subconscious is running your life and it knows all your mistakes and all your weaknesses,” Murphy said. “And the more you think about yourself, the more you’re going to be reminded. So you try to feel better about yourself by getting more achievements or by telling people you’re great, and that only puts more pressure on yourself.“Because most of life is out of your control.”The second part comes from Murphy’s best attempt to explain the concept of mental toughness. To Murphy, the concept is ill-defined. Because in five years of writing and research, he came to believe something simple:“Your heart is the key to your life,” he says.Murphy knows it may sound counterintuitive. When people think of sports psychology, they think of the mind. But Murphy wants the athletes he works with to think of the process differently.“When I say heart, I mean your spirit and your will,” Murphy says. “It’s the deepest part of you, your heart and subconscious, working together to run your life.Advertisement“And when you squeeze, what’s in your heart comes out. So what we want is when you squeeze, or when you’re under pressure, what comes out is inner peace and inner strength. Mental toughness.”It was the kind of epiphany that might cause some to roll their eyes. The mental skills industry is full of books giving athletes a roadmap to success. But Murphy was steadfast. He believed he could help. He wanted to help. So he finished the book and found a publisher, an imprint that focused on educational texts.The only question was if anyone would read it.When “Inner Excellence” hit bookshelves in 2009, Murphy had one problem. In an industry that thrives on self-promotion, he didn’t like marketing. He almost never posts about clients on social media. His business is largely done by word of mouth.One of Murphy’s first big breaks came when a golf caddie from Dublin, Ireland, called. He wondered if Murphy would work with his boss, Henrik Stenson, the Swedish golfer and future winner of the Open Championship. Murphy made more inroads in the golf world. Swing instructor Sean Foley introduced the book to his client, Hunter Mahan. Matt Killen, a putting coach who has worked with Justin Thomas and Tiger Woods, told The Athletic that he keeps “a stack of ‘Inner Excellence’ books in my office that I hand out to students.”When Mahan started working with Murphy, it took some time to adjust. The world of golf is ruthlessly competitive. Murphy was calm, soothing and positive. It felt a little …different.“It would be sometimes annoying,” Mahan said. “Like sometimes you wanted to be mad. I think he just saw the world in such a beautiful way, and I don’t think I fully appreciated it at the time because I wanted so many things.”

Hunter Mahan credits “Inner Excellence” with helping him win the World Golf Championships Match Play in 2012. (Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images)For Mahan, the proof of “Inner Excellence” came at the World Golf Championships Match Play in 2012, when he made a run to the final match, where he faced Rory McIlroy. Mahan had won on the PGA Tour before, but his career was still on the rise. McIlroy was one of the best players in the world. Before the final match, Murphy and Mahan spoke. Murphy told him to be present and engaged in his routine, to forget about McIlroy and focus on the course and himself.AdvertisementIt may sound simple, Mahan says, but it put him in the right headspace. He won the match.“Man, he creates an energy that if you let it, it is very nourishing,” Mahan said. “Because he’s not this competitive person that you think you need in your life. He’s the person that you really, really need in life … that you don’t know you do. There’s such a calming effect to talking to him and understanding what you’re doing.”For most of the last decade, Murphy has worked in the shadows. He’s continued to work with golfers. His stable also includes NHL players, swimmers and others who remain unnamed. A revised edition of “Inner Excellence” came out in 2020. That’s the version Brown was reading.Murphy has never worked with Brown. But he sees value in the practice of reading during a game, if for no other reason than to provide a mental reset. He had another client — NHL player Kevin Connauton — who would attempt a mental rewind after each shift, visualizing the moments that did not go well.The viral nature of Sunday’s NFL playoff game sent “Inner Excellence” skyrocketing up the Amazon sales charts and thrust its author into the spotlight. Brown’s copy is dog-eared and highlighted.More than two decades after Murphy’s only athletic career washed out and he came up with a rough idea for a book, “Inner Excellence” was doing what he had always hoped: In a pressure moment, it was helping an athlete.“My life never would have been as extraordinary as it has been,” Murphy said, “had I been a major-league superstar.”(Top photo: Emilee Chinn / Getty Images)

The Nero Book Awards 2024 fiction winner is a ‘hypnotic and eerie’ take on folklore horror that surprised our Books Editor

The winners of the Nero Book Awards 2024 have been announced – and the Fiction novel crowned the favourite is a thrilling take on ‘modern folklore horror’ that our Books Editor was left hypnotised by. With the winners of the Nero Book Awards having been chosen, four books have been crowned as the Best Fiction, Best Non-Fiction, Best Debut Fiction and Best Children’s Fiction books of the year from the UK and Ireland.The awards exclusively honour authors based in the UK and Ireland, celebrating outstanding writing and high quality literature, with a range of exceptional books offering something for readers of all tastes making the shortlist.Out of hundreds of books reviewed and read by a panel of expert judges and authors, the Best Fiction title is one that woman&home Books Editor, Zoe West, was surprised by – and she thinks it’s well worth a read whether you’re a Kindle reader or a classic paperback fan.Lost In The Garden by Adam S. Leslie is a folk horror novel that’s been applauded for its ‘disturbing, dreamlike and unsettling’ plot, revolving around Heather, Antonia and Rachel on their journey to Almanby – a place of old wives tales that was famously avoided and for good reason.
Best Fiction Winner

Lost in the Garden by Adam S. Leslie: Winner of the Nero Book Awards 2024

An eerie, gripping and unsettling novel that’s an epic take on modern folklore is horror writing at its finest.

Best Debut Fiction Winner

Wild Houses by Colin Barrett

Wild Houses is renowned short story writer Colin Barrett’s debut novel that has been described as ‘thrillingly moreish’ by The Sunday Times.

Best Non-Fiction Winner

Maurice and Maralyn: An Extraordinary True Story of Shipwreck, Survival and Love by Sophie Elmhirst

A remarkable true story of a marriage tested by a couple’s decision to leave suburban living for a new existence at sea.

Zoe, who was on the judging panel for the awards, alongside the likes of award-winning author Bill Bryson, admitted that while Lost In The Garden wouldn’t be her usual book shop pick – she was sucked in by the thrilling tale.”From coming-of age books set in the 70s to rural Ireland in the 90s and a multigenerational novel set in Italy and London, the shortlisted books were all so distinct and wonderful in their own way, but Lost In The Garden, our overall winner, really surprised me,” Zoe said.Sign up to our free daily email for the latest royal and entertainment news, interesting opinion, expert advice on styling and beauty trends, and no-nonsense guides to the health and wellness questions you want answered.”Hailed as a modern folklore horror, it’s not a go-to genre for me, but that’s what I loved about it. The hypnotic writing drew me in and took me on a wild, dream-like adventure with these three friends that I couldn’t get enough of. Unsettling and humorous, it was a real find.”(Image credit: Nero Book Awards)”It was a great privilege to be asked to judge the Cafe Nero Fiction Award. I read a lot for my job anyway, but it was great to look at such a variety of books from hidden gems to bestsellers. I am thrilled with the winning novel and wish its author every success,” Zoe continued.The Best Non-Fiction award was given to Maurice and Maralyn: An Extraordinary True Story of Shipwreck, Survival and Love by Sophie Elmhirst, the true story of a couple in the 1970s who uprooted their suburban life to build a boat and set sail for New Zealand.Wild Houses by Colin Barrett, a standout hilarious tale set in Ireland’s County Mayo, was crowned Best Debut Fiction – while magical novel The Twelve by Liz Hyder was hailed the Best Children’s Fiction winner.

Book vending machines: A novel approach to boosting literacy

Book vending machines are boosting literacy by making reading fun and accessible for children across the globe.Across the United States, a unique and exciting trend is emerging in the fight against illiteracy: the rise of book vending machines. These innovative devices are popping up in schools, libraries, community centers and even airports, offering a novel and engaging way to get books into the hands of children and adults alike.For instance, in Pine Level Elementary School in North Carolina, a book vending machine was installed as a key component of their Accelerated Reader program.”This has been such a great tool to help get books into the hands of students, excited about reading,” a school official told WSFA 12. This initiative not only promotes literacy but also fosters a sense of accomplishment and ownership within the student body.Expanding access: Bringing book vending to unexpected placesFurthermore, beyond the classroom, public libraries are also embracing this innovative approach. The Little Elm Public Library in Texas, for example, has increased book access with the addition of a convenient kiosk, making reading materials readily available to patrons 24/7. This 24/7 accessibility significantly expands the library’s reach, ensuring that books are available to community members at their convenience, regardless of library hours.”There are 340 titles on display, and you can use your library card to check out materials from there. It…rotates around like a carousel. It displays everything nicely, so it’s a fun kiosk,” Diana Slavinsky, Little Elm Library’s managing director of library services, told Kiowa County Press.Moving beyond traditional school and library settings, the impact of these machines is evident in unexpected locations. At New Haven Airport in Connecticut, R.J. Julia Booksellers installed a vending machine, introducing travelers of all ages to the joy of reading while waiting for their flights. This initiative not only promotes literacy among travelers but also showcases the versatility of these machines in reaching diverse audiences and transforming otherwise idle time into a valuable reading experience.Engaging readers: Making reading fun and rewardingMoreover, the benefits of these machines extend beyond simply providing access to books. The element of surprise, the anticipation of choosing a book and the sense of ownership that comes with “purchasing” a book with earned tokens or library card credentials all contribute to a more engaging and rewarding reading experience for both children and adults. This gamified approach to book acquisition can transform reading from a passive activity into an exciting and engaging pursuit.These machines cater to diverse interests and reading levels. For example, in the Amphi Unified School District in Arizona, officials aim to equip each elementary school with a birthday book via their book vending machine, allowing students to choose a book as a birthday gift.”Reading has become a really strong event for our kids and having the vending machine will make it that much stronger and allow them to have a book at home,” Coronado K-8 School Principal JJ Letts told KGUN 9.This personalized approach ensures that children can explore a wide range of genres and find books that truly captivate their imaginations, fostering a lifelong love of reading.Technology, innovation and the future of readingLooking ahead, the potential for these machines to transform how children and adults engage with books is vast. As technology continues to evolve, we can expect to see even more innovative approaches to using book vending machines to promote literacy. From personalized recommendations based on reading history to interactive features that enhance the reading experience, the possibilities are vast.For instance, imagine a future where book vending machines offer personalized recommendations based on a child’s reading history, suggesting books that align with their interests and reading level. Or perhaps machines could incorporate interactive features, such as short audio clips or video trailers, to further pique a child’s interest in a particular book. These technological advancements have the potential to revolutionize the way children discover and engage with literature.Ultimately, book vending machines are more than just a novel way to dispense books; they represent a powerful tool for fostering a love of reading and cultivating a more literate future for generations to come. By making books more accessible, rewarding positive behavior and creating a fun and engaging reading experience, these innovative devices are inspiring a new generation of book lovers across the nation.

Photos: El Paso Matters Book Club hosts Full Moon Bash

El Paso Matters Book Club kicked off the new year Saturday with a Full Moon Bash, drawing readers to Margin Notes Bookbar for an afternoon of literature, community and creativity. The event featured local vendors and tarot readings to celebrate themes of the first book the club will collectively read this year. “The Witches of El Paso” by Luis Jaramillo is the latest selection of the El Paso Matters Book Club. Check out our photo gallery to relive the event’s highlights – or see what you missed!To read along, join the El Paso Matters Club. Click here to subscribe to our newsletter. You’ll get the first look at the books we’ll be reading together. You’ll also get Q&As with El Paso authors, book reviews and more.El Paso Matters Book Club Full Moon Bash, Jan. 11, 2025. (Corrie Boudreaux/El Paso Matters)El Paso Matters Book Club Full Moon Bash, Jan. 11, 2025. (Corrie Boudreaux/El Paso Matters)El Paso Matters Book Club Full Moon Bash, Jan. 11, 2025. (Corrie Boudreaux/El Paso Matters)El Paso Matters Book Club Full Moon Bash, Jan. 11, 2025. (Luis Torres/El Paso Matters)El Paso Matters Book Club Full Moon Bash, Jan. 11, 2025. (Corrie Boudreaux/El Paso Matters)El Paso Matters Book Club Full Moon Bash, Jan. 11, 2025. (Luis Torres/El Paso Matters)El Paso Matters Book Club Full Moon Bash, Jan. 11, 2025. (Luis Torres/El Paso Matters)El Paso Matters Book Club Full Moon Bash, Jan. 11, 2025. (Corrie Boudreaux/El Paso Matters)El Paso Matters Book Club Full Moon Bash, Jan. 11, 2025. (Corrie Boudreaux/El Paso Matters)El Paso Matters Book Club Full Moon Bash, Jan. 11, 2025. (Luis Torres/El Paso Matters)El Paso Matters Book Club Full Moon Bash, Jan. 11, 2025. (Corrie Boudreaux/El Paso Matters)
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