LISWire The Librarian's News Wire
🔗 http://liswire.com/node/227
Linda Mayfield-Hayes is a self-published, African American poetess, and mother of one. She was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, but currently resides in Delaware with her son and husband Ronald Salter. Linda is a graduate of Kingsborough Community College with an Associates degree in Data Processing. She is the author of, "Life is a Roller Coaster", a collection of poems depicting life's ups and downs, and "Afroetry" Afrocentric poetry that educates and motivates.
She began writing poetry in her teens, but soon gave it up. Now, over 30 years later, she has taken it up again. She has recently written her debut children's book entitled, "Grandma's First Computer".
<p>It’s hard to be committed to anyone when you don’t know whom to trust.</p><p>Alexis Toles, a former FBI agent turned undercover CIA agent, is quickly finding that out in Nancy Ann Healy’s newest political thriller, <i>Commitment</i>.</p><p>Alex embeds in a secret organization of intelligence operatives known as The Collaborative. Its partners include operatives from the CIA, National Security Agency, FBI, US Department of Defense, and an entanglement of foreign intelligence agencies.</p><p>It’s about half a year after the death of President John Merrow, a friend and someone she respected. But she remains committed to overthrowing The Collaborative as she works with a onetime adversary who believes the organization’s involved in the president’s death.</p><p>Meanwhile Alex; her wife, Cassidy O’Brien; and Cassidy’s son try hard to live as a family but must first overcome personal struggles, including a nasty custody battle with Cassidy’s ex-husband, Congressman Christopher O’Brien. The family has their own share of secrets that, if unleashed, could affect their hopes for the future.</p><p>There’s no place to turn without discovering people who are not who they claim to be. That can’t stop Alex. She must remain committed to the cause, both at home and as she works against The Collaborative.</p>
My retired mother used to constantly call me at work wanting me to do things for her which could easily be done from a computer. I finally convinced her to purchase her own computer, but she was having a lot of difficulty trying to figure it out. So, that summer, I sent my son over to teach her all she needed to know. This experience gave me the idea to write "Grandma's First Computer.
<p>When I saw this book posted for a review request, I knew that I wanted to read and review it. The title says it all. I immediately thought of the past several years of attempting to bring my own mother into the computer age. It has been a slow and go process and one day, she will finally give in and buy a computer. The frustrating thing is that she has taken some classes and does very well in the classes, but then when it comes time to buy, she postpones because “she needs to know more about that whole internet thing.” I haven’t given up hope.</p> <p>In the story, if you haven’t guessed it already, Grandma goes out and buys a computer. The problem is that once it has been delivered, she has absolutely no idea what to do with it. Fortunately for Grandma, her grandson Timmy shows up unexpectedly and comes to her rescue. He assists her in connecting the unit up and explaining some of the parts as he goes. This allows an opportunity for Grandma to become confused by the lingo.</p> <p><em>“Almost done,” said Timmy. “All I have to do now is connect the mouse.”<br /> “MOUSE,” shouted Grandma. “Did you see a mouse?” “Oh my,” she thought. “Kitty must not be doing her job.”</em></p> <p>The illustrations for the story, done by Acesgraphics, are darling. If Timmy were a blond, he could have passed for a cartoon version of my nephew when he was that age. <a href="http://www.lulu.com/content/4355338">Grandma’s First Computer</a> is a very short, but charming educational story which details computer components in a simple to understand manner. Linda Hayes combines the educational features with the bonding between two very different generations and does it with humor and simplicity.</p> <p>The story winds up with Timmy telling Grandma she has a lot to learn, so we may expect to see another book with Timmy and Grandma in the future. I’m not so sure that senior citizen groups will appreciate that all of the seniors in the book are depicted with canes, or that it is intimated that no senior citizen knows anything about computers, but the target audience of young children will want to read it again and again. This is a must read for the young school age.</p>