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BookExpo America 2009 is being held this weekend at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City and Penguin Group (USA) once again has a strong presence at the event. Yesterday, The AAP Librarian's Dinner was packed with librarians from all across the country and featured Kathryn Stockett, author of the debut Putnam novel, The Help, and five other authors talking about their favorite "librarian stories" and how libraries helped shape their careers as writers. The Editors Buzz Forum, an SRO event, featured Dutton Senior Editor, Ben Sevier and five other editors talking about the stories behind their "buzz books." Ben had the room enthralled speaking about Jonathan Tropper's upcoming Dutton novel, This Is Where I Leave You. In addition, Viking/Penguin's Greg Mortenson was featured at an off-site event at the 92nd St. Y.

Among the many Penguin authors who will do autographings this weekend, is Dutton's Anthony Zuiker, who is currently in the Penguin booth signing copies of his upcoming "digi-novel" Level 26: The Dark Chronicles to a large crowd that has turned out, while a chilling and exciting sample reel of corresponding motion picture footage plays on a plasma screen.

Other highlights include the Saturday luncheon, which will feature Dan Pink, author of Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Truly Motivates Us (Riverhead Books); and Mary Karr, author of The Liars Club, which Penguin publishes. Ken Auletta, author of Googled: The End of the World as We Know It (The Penguin Press), will be the Master of Ceremonies. Penguin Group (USA) sales rep Tom Benton will be attending to accept his Publishers Weekly Sales Rep of the Year Award. In addition, Penguin Young Readers' Tomie de Paola, author of Strega Nona's Harvest will be featured in tomorrow's CBC Breakfast, and Penguin Young Readers Group author Mike Lupica, nationally syndicated sports columnist, will participate in the "The ABC Not a Dinner and (Mostly) Silent Auction" event in Brooklyn tonight.

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If you wish to drown, do not torture yourself with shallow water. ~ Bulgarian Proverb

This Beliefnet blogger is just back from teaching a week-long workshop (entitled: Our Lady of Weight Loss ~ Your Fat-Burning Journey to Sveltesville) and wants to know ...

What are you tolerating? Putting up with? STOMACHING?

An Illuminating Question that LIGHTENS.
This question was discussed at length this past week, as we explored, discovered, and investigated the various things in our lives that are WEIGHING us down. Things from dust behind the refrigerator to people in our lives; from bad hair days to our own thoughts and beliefs.

I promise you that as you take the time to be honest, be brave, look deep and write down at least 50 things that you are STOMACHING, you will be brought to a place where you can see, feel, experience and even taste your 'lite.'

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"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." ~ Galatians 5:22

Pineapples are juicy, delicious and good for you, too. They are loaded with fiber, manganese (a mineral that helps with digestion), and vitamin C, which is helpful when fighting colds and coughs.

And if I may be so bold, I dare say that pineapples are filled with the juicy and scrumptious spirit of love, goodness and self-control. Fresh pineapple is a natural and delicious way to enhance your health and improve your ability to heal.

The Healing Pineapple also contain an anti-inflammatory enzyme called bromelain.

Bromelain is believed to help:

* reduce inflammation and swelling,

* strengthen bones,

* reduce symptoms associated with sinusitis,

* alleviate symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis,

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I'm STUCK, SWIMMING, DROWNING in My DRAMA and I CAN'T GET UP.
from Janice Taylor, Life & Wellness Coach and Beliefnet Blogger.

Dear Our Lady of Weight Loss (and Janice), I am OUT of CONTROL. Honestly ... OUT OF CONTROL. I did lose 21 pounds some time ago but have gained nearly all of those 21 pounds back. I Have NO CONTROL. I eat whatever, whenever. Please HELP! ~ Jess C.

Dear Jess, In order to permanently remove excess weight we need to change our internal landscape (I don't mean move your stomach to a new location).

1. Watch and become aware of your language. If you say, "I am OUT of CONTROL," you are out of control and reinforcing that belief.

2. Let go of 'the WHY of it'. Asking WHY questions ... "Why am I doing this?" "Why me?" may well yield an answer, but not necessarily a strategy to effect change.

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When this Beliefnet blogger tells her "I quit my secure job of 17 years to become our country's premiere Weight Loss Artist Story" inevitably people want to know: Had she lost her mind? Was she filled with fear or was she fearless? How does one leave security and money and jump into their dream, head first, no water in the pool, and not be overcome, frozen, paralyzed and swallowed up by fear?

Truth be told, there's no way around fear ... you can only move through it! 
Here follows a brief synopsis of Janice's story, in honor of her five year anniversary of diving into fear, head first ... OUCH!

Five years ago, almost to the day, after permanently removing over 50 pounds both internally and externally, I walked into my boss's office and said, "I can't do this any longer. I'll be leaving now." Just like that - I QUIT. (And permanently removed an additional 175 pounds ... HIM!)

"What will you do?" he asked.
"Become our country's first weight loss artist and write a book." I answered
"What?" "Huh?" "That's crazy." etc. etc. etc.

Nevertheless, in the face of a fully loaded platter of fear, anxiety, and the unknown, I went for it. And when fear did rise to the surface and - oh boy - did it! - (no job, no money coming in, no real knowledge of how to write a book, no agent, no publisher), I used my 'fear' meditation/visualization to catapult me from stuck to action!

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Janice Taylor, author of All Is Forgiven, Move On: Our Lady of Weight Loss's 101 Fat-Burning Steps on Your Journey to Sveltesville wants to know ...

What happens in your brain in response to a sidesplitting, tear inducing, stomach aching, diaphragm exercising laugh?

Laugh Yourself Skinny - Researchers at the University College London Institute of Neurology found that as study subjects mulled over, chewed on and digested verbal jokes, the areas in their brains that are connected to understanding and learning were set in motion.

These one-liners set off a chain of chemical reactions that instantly elevated participants' moods, reduced pain and stress, and boosted their immune systems. (Holy Guacamole!!) We are talkin' about dopamine, folks. Dopamine is released when we eat, have sex and laugh!

In addition, (wow folks, we hit the mother load here), laughter promotes good health by warding off anger and aggression (remember, there is a different between being assertive and aggressive). Laughter communicates good will.

Let's agree to make laughter a part of our reality. Let's individually and collectively find the funny side, the humorous side in as many things as we can!

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Janice Taylor is our guest blogger during the week of June 30th. If you have any questions for Janice Taylor, add a comment to any of her posts. Here is some brief information about All Is Forgiven, Move On:

An inspiring new book from Janice Taylor- the ultimate weight loss cheerleader

In Our Lady of Weight Loss, Janice Taylor put a new, creative spin on weight loss, offering humor and art projects to make slimming down fun. Now, in All Is Forgiven, Move On, Taylor takes us on a journey to Sveltesville-the magical place where we can free ourselves from the food and weight madness for good.

As Taylor explains, to change our bodies we need to radically shift our attitude-get out of our ruts, forgive ourselves for past sins, and move on with a positive outlook. Here she offers 101 forgiving, fun, and fat-burning steps along the road to weight loss to help readers recharge and stay inspired when the journey gets rocky. Each step ends with a "new point of view"-a fresh perspective on weight loss-and includes advice and activities such as:

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San Francisco can't be beat. I grew up three hundred miles to the south, in Santa Barbara. I lived in the Bay Area during college and law school. And from the time I was a kid, San Francisco was the most exotic, exciting place in California. It had Chinatown. Hippies. Fog. My introduction to both Szechwan food and drag queens came during a high school journalism conference in the city. San Francisco's where I learned that glitter eyeshadow and Lynyrd Skynyrd-style hair and beards should never, ever mix. And they should definitely not be worn with gold platform shoes. It's where I learned that no matter how hard you sprint, the cable car you're trying to board will outrace you up Powell Street. I never get tired of San Francisco.

And the city can seem all out front, and in your face. It's bright, it's loud, it's full of clashing noises. But it also has plenty of California history - old money, quietly guarded lives.

In this environment, where do secrets dwell?

That's why I set The Dirty Secrets Club in San Francisco.

Turning the city into the setting for a thriller was a joy. You doubt that it's a great place for a fast-paced story? Watch Bullitt. Any place that works for Steve McQueen and a 1967 Mustang is ready-made for excitement. Besides, it has the most beautiful natural setting of any city in the USA. (Sorry, Seattle. You're a close second.) And beneath the beauty runs a current of danger.

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The Laws of Unattraction: Top 10 Appealing, Eye-Catching and Attractive Tips On How to STOP Being Unattractive from Janice Taylor, beliefnet Blogger.

Chances are you've heard about the Laws of Attraction. The basic concept is that you attract into your life whatever you think about. Positive thoughts and beliefs create a positive life; negative thoughts and beliefs attract negativity.

One sure way to get those positive vibes swirling out there is to be attracted to yourself, in a healthy and self-affirming way (not in a narcissistic, oh my goodness, Im the greatest ever, wheres the mirror I need to look at myself again - kind of way). Truthfully, if you arent attracted to you, if you dont fully recognize your qualities and embrace yourself, how attractive could you possibly be to the universe.

One thing we dont want to do is throw a false blanket of positivity on top of a basement full of unattractive thoughts and behaviors. Lets get in there, excavate, STOP .. and make some mind-altering changes and create space for the positive life that we are craving!

Top 10 Appealing, Eye-Catching and Attractive Tips on How to STOP Being Unattractive

1. STOP doing what is bad for you!
Keep in mind that determining what is bad is completely subjective. So dig deep and be honest. Make a list of at least ten things that you are currently doing that are bad for you from sleeping too late, to eating too much, to dating bad boys! Or bad girls, for that matter. And then STOP doing those things!