Greetings friends and fellow deviants,
Needless to say, I'm long overdue for a new journal, the last one having been posted right before Christmas. I'm afraid that such ennui (or is it malaise? – I can never remember) is rather typical for me of late. For anyone who's still around and paying attention, I'm alive and reasonably well, if somewhat unproductive. I seem to spend most of my online time twittering and tweeting about …

What better way to paddle back into the journal stream than to reintroduce you to my great friend L. Diane Wolfe (well known to us deviants as =SpunkOnAStick)? I wrote about Diane some time back in my ”Get Spunky!” Promo journal, and now it's time to promo again.

Diane's life continues to be a whirlwind of activity, the nature of which is exhausting for me even to contemplate. I still don't know how she does it all – she must be running on some kind of 48-hour-per-day clock that I don't have access to. Among her many activities, Diane has come out with a non-fiction book titled Overcoming Obstacles with SPUNK, which includes contributions from authors David Ambrose, p.m.terrell, Darlene Wofford, Jocelyn Andersen, Bob Johnson, C. Denise Sutton, and Bill Wilson.

On a somewhat (to me) amusing note, the book was banned by a few small independent bookstores in Europe over the use of the word “spunk.” I wish I could find a reference to link to, but I can't … I think Diane was understandably appalled by this, but I see it as a classic illustration of just how silly and ignorant people can be. Anyway, no such thing as bad publicity, right? Heck Diane, in this day and age it would probably boost sales substantially if you were to include “BANNED IN EUROPE!!!” in the promo material.

Diane has rewritten the earlier books in her wonderful Circle Of Friends series, and May 5th marks the release on Dancing Lemur Press of The Circle of Friends Book II … Sarah (see below). This title remains one of my favorites – I loved the main character; I always seem to go for the offbeat, unconventional ones. Who'd have thunk that a rebellious, Goth-dressing girl with self-image issues could find happiness and a bright future with an outgoing, BMOC-type football star? That's one of the beauties of L. Diane Wolfe's books: her Friends discover each other in sometimes unlikely combinations, and in doing so find their true selves. The books are most inspiring, just as they're meant to be. Oh, and I should mention that the newly revised versions feature fresh cover art by talented hubbie *wolfeman99. Creativity flourishes in the Wolfe family unit.



As always, your faithful servant,

"snakes on the brain ..."






THE CIRCLE OF FRIENDS
BOOK II … SARAH
BY L. DIANE WOLFE

No awards for second best…

A student at Georgia Tech, Sarah Martin is bold, intelligent, and appears destined for a career in biochemistry. But her poor self-image has been masked by behavior unbecoming to a young lady brought up in an affluent Southern family. Estranged from her father, envious of her best friend’s perfect life, Sarah feels inadequate and unable to measure up to expectations.

When a friendship suddenly turns romantic, Sarah questions herself even more. A future NFL receiver, Matt’s joyful spirit and social status appear beyond her reach. Yet beneath his eager smile and playboy antics lies a young man hiding in shadows and desperate to trust again.

Faced with challenges, they must help each other come to terms with past disappointments before insecurities and doubt threaten to sabotage their future.

Release date: May 5, 2009, Dancing lemur Press, L.L.C.
$20.95 USA, 6x9 Trade paperback, 360 pages, Fiction/YA
ISBN 978-0-9816210-1-2 / 0-9816210-1-5

Teaser from Chapter One on DA - [link]
Teaser from Chapter Eleven on DA - [link]


"Sarah: Circle of Friends Book II is, without a doubt, one of the most amazing and moving books I have ever read. Wolfe has written the impossible: a story of real people facing life’s real issues and she does this with style, grace and aplomb. Anyone who has suffered from poor self-image and low self esteem needs to read this book. It will not only restore your faith in yourself but your faith in others." - Jamieson Wolf, The Book Pedler Reviews

“An enjoyable, well-crafted read, The Circle Of Friends, Book II will enlighten many a reader to the joys and pains of contemporary youth. A recommended, rewarding literary treat.”
- Linda Waterson, Apex Reviews

“I wasn't sure what to expect when I started this book. It was the first I had ever read by L. Diane Wolfe and I was pleasantly surprised. Not only is the story line very realistic it is very inspirational. It shows both the joys and the many pains of young adults in today's society trying to fit in but still be true to themselves.” – Katie’s Book Blog

Described as “encouragement personified”, Wolfe’s five-book Southern-based series portrays love and friendship overcoming all obstacles. Known as “Spunk On A Stick” to her fans, Wolfe is also a professional speaker. Originally from Oregon, she now resides in North Carolina. “With a positive attitude, any goal can be achieved!”
The Circle of Friends website – [link]

Book II online
Barnes & noble - [link]
Amazon - [link]
DancingLemurPress.com - [link]