About
I am a mother of four and a grandmother of ten. I have written eleven published rhymed children’s stories and two poetry books which have won 90 awards. Peter and the Whimper-Whineys, The Magic Word, Santa's Birthday Gift, Gimme-Jimmy. Manner-Man, My Fingerpaint Masterpiece, Mice & Spiders & Webs...Oh My!. The Golden Rule, My Little Angel, A Penny for Your Thougts, A Dime is a Sign, David's ADHD and Peter and the Whimper-Whineys Coloring Book which has just been released. I also have written seven published and internationally performed musical plays for elementary school children. I love to write. My friends and family ask me if I think in rhyme and meter, and I have to admit that sometimes this is true! A former teacher, all of my books are in rhyme and all try to teach something like good manners and caring for others. I have had a varied career. I grew up in the Willard Hotel in Washington DC (my Dad was the manager) and lived in the DC area where I was a teacher and coach for ten years; and then became a professional newspaper sports photographer and columnist for several years. Later, I became a Dinner Theatre Company Stage Manager, and finally became a Business Administrator. My husband and celebrated our 60th wedding anniversary in June! We are now retired, and we travel in our RV from the east coast to the west coast each year to spend time with our children and grandchildren... sharing my books along the way!
Learning to Breathe Fire: The Rise of CrossFit and the Primal Future of Fitness
Description
<p><b>The absorbing, definitive account of CrossFit's origins, its explosive grassroots growth, and its emergence as a global phenomenon.</b><br /> <br />One of the most illuminating books ever on a sports subculture, <i>Learning to Breathe Fire </i>combines vivid sports writing with a thoughtful meditation on what it means to be human. In the book, veteran journalist J.C. Herz explains the science of maximum effort, why the modern gym fails an obese society, and the psychic rewards of ending up on the floor feeling as though you're about to die. <br /> <br />The story traces CrossFit’s rise, from a single underground gym in Santa Cruz to its adoption as the workout of choice for elite special forces, firefighters and cops, to its popularity as the go-to fitness routine for regular Joes and Janes. Especially riveting is Herz’s description of The CrossFit Games, which begin as an informal throw-down on a California ranch and evolve into a televised global proving ground for the fittest men and women on Earth, as well as hundreds of thousands of lesser mortals. <br /> <br />In her portrayal of the sport's star athletes, its passionate coaches and its “chief armorer,” Rogue Fitness, Herz powerfully evokes the uniqueness of a fitness culture that cultivates primal fierceness in average people. And in the shared ordeal of an all-consuming workout, she unearths the ritual intensity that's been with us since humans invented sports, showing us how, on a deep level, we're all tribal hunters and first responders, waiting for the signal to go all-out. </p>
Story Behind The Book
This is a story told to me and my children and grandchildren by my mother, Beth T Stalker, who was a second grade teacher for most of her life. She was delighted with my rhymed version of her story. The books helps children understand how annoying whining can be, especially when read with alternating voice sounds. Try it! My 3-yr-old grandson gets to the last page and chants, "No whining, no crying!"
Reviews
<span style="color:#000000;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial, 'sans-serif';font-size:10pt;">Midwest Book Review: "Peter and the Whimper-Whineys" is a versed, color illustrated children's story about a very unpopular small rabbit named Peter who only knows how to whine. Because Peter's mother tires of his whining, she warns him about going to live with the Whimper-Whineys, a rude group of unpleasant beings. So peter dreams of going deep into the dark woods to find these Whimper-Whineys and see just what is so disagreeable about them. His ensuing adventures reflect back to him just how unpleasant and sour the effect of whimpering and whining can be on all who are around it. Eventually, Peter finds his way back to his own little bed, awakening to a golden, sunshine-filled day. Do you think Peter has learned his lesson? "Peter and the Whimper-Whineys" is a wonderful fable for harassed parents of fretful toddlers who only need a tweak and a joke to turn their frowns upside down.<span> </span></span>
