North Atlantic Books Blog

Do you teach martial arts to kids? Ever considered writing about it?

Blue Snake Books, an imprint of North Atlantic Books, is now actively looking for manuscripts in a new area: martial arts books for children. Staying true to Blue Snake’s mission of publishing in-depth books on a wide variety of authentic martial arts traditions, Blue Snake Kids will publish sophisticated, intelligent books to help foster young martial artists. We are especially interested in publishing books on single arts or disciplines (karate, tai chi, aikido, muay thai, jujitsu, etc.) but also encourage submissions on slightly broader topics: grappling arts, internal arts, practical self-defense, etc. Authors are also encouraged to submit books on multiple arts that are closely related.

WHAT WE WANT: Books that speak to kids in a language they can understand—without being condescending; training manuals with illustrations or high-quality photos; books designed to be interactive and entertaining (e.g. suggestions for training games, questions for the reader to think about). We especially want books that are intended to be used as a supplement to, not a replacement for, regular training with a teacher.

WHAT WE DON’T WANT: Books that are overly simplistic and broad (e.g. “Respect your teacher; practice your forms every day; bow before entering the dojo.”); fiction, picture, or coloring books; books on obscure or not-widely practiced arts.

If you have a quality manuscript that you’d like to submit, here are our submissions guidelines. Feel free to forward and repost!

Mail a cover letter, proposal, and partial manuscript to:

Blue Snake Books Acquisitions Board
2526 Martin Luther King Jr. Way
Berkeley, CA 94704

Or email Terri in Marketing Communications: tsaul@northatlanticbooks.com

Send a self-addressed stamped envelope for all responses!

The proposal should include:

1. Table of contents
2. At least three sample chapters
3. Sample illustrations or high quality photos
4. A 75-word statement describing the book’s intention
5. Statement of your qualifications in this area
6. A marketing plan
7. Review of comparable titles: What are the two leading titles to which your book will be compared? How do they differ from your book?
8. The length of your manuscript in double-spaced pages
9. A few suggestions for foreword writers, and your ideas for back cover endorsements
10. Your plans for promoting the book, including your ability to travel to workshops or speaking engagements with relevant organizations

We aim to respond to every submission we receive within three or four months. Submissions received without S.A.S.E.s (self-addressed stamped envelopes) may not receive responses.

Best of luck from the Blue Snake Books Acquisitions Team!

CLICK HERE to learn more about Blue Snake Books.

CLICK HERE to visit the Blue Snake Books Blog.

Paula Moulton, North Atlantic Books’ author of Seasons Among the Vines: Life Lessons from the California Wine Country was recently featured in the Press Democrat in an article is entitled “A Writer’s New Chapter: Journey Through Grief.”

Meg McConahey writes,

[Seasons Among the Vines] is equal parts philosophy and science, laced with personal anecdotes, tiny confessions and tips for everything from composting to pruning, maintaining wells to managing wild critters.

Along with a brief review of Seasons Among the Vines, the article explores how Moulton has coped with the loss of her husband and the important role that her family plays in her everyday life.

Moulton runs her own winery in Sonoma, which she and her kids named Midnight Moulton, named after her deceased husband’s nickname to honor him. She remarried a year ago and has a second book on the way, aimed at helping people who have lost something — be it a job, a friend, or a spouse. She hopes people can learn from her experiences that life is uncertain and the best you can do is make the choice to move on.

Seasons Among the Vines explores the pleasures and pitfalls of following a lifelong dream. For Paula Moulton it was the dream of leaving the city for the California wine country to take up viticulture and gardening. In the process, she finds unexpected frustrations in running a farm and seeks help from some skeptical farmers who initially challenge her. As she finds her stride, her story resonates with her passion for the outdoors and the rewards of risk-taking. Organized by the seasons, the book shows how experimenting with vines can be a joyful reality, not simply an unattainable fantasy. Moulton’s enthusiasm and “you can do it, too!” attitude add an inspiring touch to a compelling story of the rich rewards that authentic living can bring. This enchanting memoir is accompanied by photos and illustrations.

CLICK HERE to read the complete article from the Press Democrat.
CLICK HERE to learn more about Paula Moulton.
CLICK HERE to order a copy of Seasons Among the Vines.

Casson Trenor, North Atlantic Books author of Sustainable Sushi: A Guide for a Changing Planet (January 2009) is an expert in oceans management and sustainability. Trenor is a top consultant for the new Tataki Sushi & Sake Bar in San Francisco. Along with chefs Raymond Ho and Kin Lui, Trenor is a forerunner in the effort to create ecologically sustainable options for San Francisco diners.

I recently had the opportunity to dine at Tataki. I was not sure what to expect, never having dined at a sustainable sushi restaurant. I was blown out of the water! The food was amazing, the wait staff well learned, and everything inside of the restaurant (not just the seafood) was sustainable! Overall, it was a great educational opportunity to compare and contrast Tataki to the conventional sushi restaurants that I habitually patronize.

The dishes that I tasted were quite tasty and many of the flavor combinations were unlike any I’d ever tried. On every table (which are lovely and made from sustainable bamboo) there was a Seafood Watch reference card, and only seafood from the “Safe” and “Moderate” categories is offered to diners at Tataki. As each dish was served, the waitress explained where the seafood came from and happily answered any sustainability questions that I had.

Here’s what I tried:

Appetizers:
- Cold spinach
- Baked mussels
Not traditionally a Japanese dish, the mussels gave a San Franciscan flare to the dinner.
- Ahi Tuna poke
There were three mounds of delicious Ahi, each with it’s own marinate – garlic (mild), sesame (slightly spicy), and chili (hot).

Main Dishes:
- Sashimi deluxe
I tasted the Wild-caught New Zealand Tai Snapper (Kodai), Closed-containment Farm-raised Striped Bass (Suzuki), Australian Farm-raised Yellowtail Amberjack (Hiramasa), Suspension Farm-raised Hokkaido Scallop (Hotate), Trap-caught BC Spot Prawn (Amaebi), and Wild Pacific Horse Mackerel (Aji). I was encouraged to enjoy each piece of seafood without ginger or wasabe to really savor the complex simplicity.
- Tataki deluxe
I tasted the Closed-containment Farm-raised Arctic Char (Iwana), Farm-raised Hawaiian Almaco Jack (Kona Kampachi), Net-caught Australian Skipjack Tuna (Katsuo), Handline California Albacore Tuna (Shiro Maguro), and Handline Hawaiian Yellowfin Tuna (Maguro), all lightly seared and with individual dipping sauces to compliment each unique seafood flavor.
- Nigiri special
I tasted the Wild Atlantic Mackerel (Saba), Wild Texas White Shrimp (Ebi), Wild Pacific Conger Eel (Anago), and Wild MSC-certified Alaskan Salmon Roe (Ikura). Trenor snatched up the last Ikura roll saying, “I can’t let it go to waste. Each of these would have become a fish!”

Rolls:
- Mix it up
- Raymond Special
This was a treat because the roll is the chef’s VIP special. Not listed on the Tataki menu, the ingredients are top secret. This was my favorite dish of the night.
- Extinguisher
By far, the #1 crowd pleaser and not for the weak of heart! This roll consisted of spicy Kampachi topped with avocado, habanero Tobiko (where the Tobiko was marinated in habenero chili), and topped with hot sauce. And then they set the whole thing on fire!

Dessert:
-Green Tea Cheesecake
This was very tasty and unique and a great way to cleanse the palate.

In addition to all of the information that I’m still digesting, I learned that wild seafood is not necessarily more sustainable than farm-raised, Arctic Char really does taste like Salmon, and a happy conscience is attainable while enjoying sushi.

Tataki Sushi & Sake Bar is located at 2815 California Street in San Francisco.

Tataki’s Mission: to showcase the beauty and delicacy of Japanese cuisine while respecting the sanctity and fragility of our environment. If we are to preserve the art of sushi, we must also safeguard the health and biodiversity of our oceans. With this in mind, Tataki strives everyday to integrate the concept of sustainable dining into its menu options.

CLICK HERE to learn more about Tataki Sushi & Sake Bar.
CLICK HERE to pre-order a copy of Sustainable Sushi: A Guide for a Changing Planet.

Chapter 12
There Is Nothing Wrong

Most of us have grown up in a culture where there is definitely something wrong when things do not turn out the way we expect them to. If it wasn’t that way for us at home, it most likely was that way at school. Consciously or unconsciously, we have been acculturated to believe that there is a way that life should be, and if it isn’t that way, there is something wrong with us, with those around us, and with life itself. Letting go of this concept can be challenging, for we have also come to believe that change occurs when something is so wrong we can no longer stand it. We want you to consider that there is power in realizing that change can be initiated at any time, and nothing needs to be “wrong” in order to actualize change.

Consider this: you could change a job or a relationship that is in great shape. It isn’t a prerequisite that something needs to be in bad shape in order for you to move on. Making something or someone wrong diminishes you and your life; it places you in judgment of someone or something and separates you from the unity of life. Only when we are one with the whole of life can we know ourselves as fulfilled and complete, missing nothing. Many people spend their lives looking to complete themselves through accomplishment. What if the only true completion is when we come to know ourselves as one with all of life, with no separation or judgment?

Some people imagine that the flip-side of “nothing is wrong” is resignation to a set of circumstances. That is not what we are saying. We are advocating standing for what you believe, creating business as an opportunity to initiate powerful change in the world, including the awakening of its people, and a good starting place is the vision that there is nothing wrong.

I recall an occasion in which an employee contacted us feeling angry and unappreciated. In the face of this expression, I reflexively began to wonder why we were working so hard to keep this person on board. I started thinking, ‘This is a waste of time.’ I caught myself and shifted my attention to all the ways in which the employee had contributed to our company. I also thought about the beneficial difference we have made in the employee’s life. My judgment separated me from the win-win we had been for each other, the awakening process we were sharing. We could learn and grow from being in relationship; this person was actually contributing to us, in part by flushing out my impatience. When I let go of my inclination toward making the employee wrong, I immediately felt connected and appreciative.

Practice

Identify a situation at work where you are creating the belief that “there is something wrong; it shouldn’t be this way.” Now consider what the impact of that view is on the quality of your life. Ponder an outcome in which you let go of the idea that there’s something wrong and instead just see that this is the way that situation is–what would your experience be? What might you be feeling? What actions might you take?

From Sacred Commerce by Matthew and Terces Engelhart, published by North Atlantic Books, copyright © 2008 by Matthew and Terces Engelhart. Reprinted by permission of publisher.

To learn more about the Engelharts and Café Gratitude, visit http://cafegratitude.com. The site includes menus, workshop information, newsletters, media clippings, and videos.

CLICK HERE to order a copy of Sacred Commerce.

Author Mark Borax’s newly released book, 2012: Crossing the Bridge to the Future, tells the fascinating story of his apprenticeship to visionary astrologer Ellias Lonsdale. Mark has said that the goal of the book is to “usher” readers down the “private dirt driveway” of his spiritual teacher, “where the mysteries burn bright, and together we can cross the bridge to the future.” As 2012 approaches — a year many philosophical traditions have pinpointed as a major turning point in human history — Mark encourages us to live the lives of our deepest Souls in more ways than one.

Below are some of his “bridge-crossing” activities.

Soul Level Astrology Readings

Mark is the founder of Soul Level Astrology, which he describes as “a method of using your astrological birth chart to identify your core nature, or soul, which is the deepest part of you.” CLICK HERE to schedule a personal Soul Level Astrology reading for an individual or couple.

Cosmic Weather Reports

Mark also offers Cosmic Weather Reports on his website. In each report, he discusses the most relevant celestial events of the month and the significance the skies hold for our individual lives and for the collective life of the planet. CLICK HERE to view the most recent Cosmic Weather Report.

Upcoming West Coast Appearance

On Thursday, June 5th at 7 pm, Mark returns to Santa Cruz, the setting of his new book, 2012: Crossing the Bridge to the Future, to read excerpts, sign copies, and answer questions. He will be at Gateways Books, 1126 Soquel Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA.

Live 12 Week TeleClass

Mark will conduct a series of 12 weekly TeleClasses from June 5th to August 25th, with each class focused on one sign of the zodiac. CLICK HERE for more information about TeleClasses.

Radio Interview

In January, Mark spoke about his book, 2012, with Vaishali of One Talk Radio. CLICK HERE to listen to his interview. Be sure to scroll down to the 1/19/08 show, under the “Content Library” bar.

This year at the Harmony Festival there will be special presentations by numerous North Atlantic Books authors including David Wilcock, Alex Grey, Victoria Boutenko, and Matthew & Terces Engelhart. The Harmony Festival is scheduled for June 6-8, 2008 at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa, California.

CLICK HERE for more information about the Harmony Festival.

David Wilcock is the co-author of The Reincarnation of Edgar Cayce?: Interdimensional Communication and Global Transformation. He is a professional intuitive consultant who, since 1993, has intensely researched UFOlogy, ancient civilizations, consciousness science, and new paradigms of matter and energy. Wilcock has been a guest on numerous radio programs and has lectured throughout the United States and Japan. He is also an accomplished musician and composer of jazz-fusion, New Age/meditative, and world music pieces.

Alex Grey is the author of the soon to be released Art Psalms. His artwork has appeared in Newsweek and Time magazine, on the Discovery Channel, and on album art for the Beastie Boys, Nirvana, and others. Grey was professor of anatomy and figure sculpture at NYU for ten years, and a graduate painting professor at both the Rhode Island School of Design and the Philadelphia College of Art. In 2004, Grey and his wife Allyson founded the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors, a cultural center and refuge for contemplation in New York City. He lives in New York City.

Victoria Boutenko is the author of 12 Steps to Raw Foods: How to End Your Dependency on Cooked Food. She teaches classes on raw food all over the world, and is an adjunct professor at Southern Oregon University. Boutenko travels worldwide sharing her gourmet raw cuisine and her inspiring story of change, faith, and determination. She has published a monthly newsletter since 2003 on her Web site www.rawfamily.com. Boutenko is a leader in the raw food movement and her works are recognized as having a profound impact on the development of raw food communities across the globe. She lives in Ashland, Oregon.

Matthew and Terces Engelhart are the authors of Sacred Commerce: Business as a Path of Awakening and The Abounding River Personal Logbook: An Unfamiliar View of Being Abundance. Terces is also the author of I Am Grateful. The Engelharts are the owners of Café Gratitude, a popular organic vegan restaurant chain in the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles. They lead workshops on Abundance as a quality of the Divine, Kindred Spirit — Spiritual relationship, Sacred Commerce — merging the sacred with the commercial, and One Week Without Sugar — an introduction to a spiritual diet. The Engelharts live in San Francisco.

North Atlantic Books’ author Casson Trenor of the upcoming and highly anticipated book Sustainable Sushi: A Guide for a Changing Planet (due for publication in January, 2009) is a leading expert in sustainable ocean management. He is currently featured in the May 6, 2008 issue of the Oakland Tribune in an article entitled “EcoChef: Preserving Fisheries is a Matter of Choice.”

When it comes to eating at restaurants, consumers have to be even more wary. Many establishments now claim environmental awareness, but if you look closely at what they are offering, you might find something different. Casson Trenor is the author of the upcoming book “Sustainable Sushi: A Guide For a Changing Planet” (North Atlantic Books, 2009) and director of FishWise, an industry certifying organization. According to Trenor, there are two points of view in the seafood industry. Some groups realize that the industry is currently unsustainable, and are doing everything in their power to change those damaging practices. However, there are other groups that will sell anything to stay in business, including unsustainable fish. Unfortunately, Trenor says, “In the long run they are cutting their own throats.”

Top Choices For Sustainable California Seafood:
1. Dungeness Crab
2. Black Rockfish
3. Pacific Sardines
4. Pacific Albacore Tuna
5. White Seabass (King Croaker)
Also recommended are Alaskan Wild Salmon and Alaskan Halibut instead of local populations.
For farmed fish:
1. Arctic Char (an excellent salmon replacement)
2. Striped Bass
3. Tilapia (from U.S.)
4. Catfish (from U.S.)
5. Shellfish: Oysters, Clams, Mussels, Abalone
Avoid farmed salmon and shrimp.

Casson Trenor holds an M.A. in International Environmental Policy from the Monterey Institute of International Studies and is currently the Business Development Director for FishWise. Trenor is a sushi aficionado and has been so since a very young age. From saving the whales of the Antarctic to studying the salmon of Alaska, Trenor has worked to understand and analyze sustainable ways to manage the resources of our oceans. In thousands of conversations with fishermen around the world, he has heard one statement repeated: “The fish are gone.” Trenor has worked on environmental or fishery management issues in all five oceans and in more seas than he can name. Trenor was born in Seattle and is currently a resident of San Francisco.

CLICK HERE to view the full article from the Oakland Tribune.
CLICK HERE to learn more about Sustainable Sushi.

North Atlantic Books’ author Dana Ullman of The Homeopathic Revolution is a leading expert in the field of homeopathy. He is currently featured in the May/June 2008 issue of Healing Lifestyles & Spas magazine in an article entitled “Changing Tides.”

“Based on the theory of treating “like with like,” the gentle, centuries-old healing system of homeopathy uses infinitesimal amounts of a substance to cure symptoms that a larger amount of the same substance would cause. Safe to use in conjunction with other medicinal approaches, homeopathy offers several options for perimenopause symptoms, and numerous double-blind studies have shown it to be a viable treatment option. Dana Ullman, MPH, director of Homeopathic Educational Services in Berkeley, California, and author of numerous books including The Homeopathic Revolution (North Atlantic Books, 2007), and the on-line book Homeopathic Family Medicine: Evidence-Based Homeopathy (available at www.homeopathic.com), explains that the benefits of homeopathy go beyond symptom relief and embrace general health improvements, including reduced anxiety and decreased depression.

According to Ullman, homeopaths generally find that prescribing constitutional remedies (remedies chosen based on the totality of physical and psychological symptoms a given woman is experiencing) produces optimum results.

“Homeopathy nurtures the body’s own wisdom,” he says, “and supports the immune system. There are no one-to-one cures, however. It’s very individualized, and the best treatments improve, strengthen, or tone a person’s overall immune system.”

Dana Ullman received his master’s in public health from UC Berkeley and a doctoral degree in homeopathy (DHM) from the British Institute of Homeopathy. He is the founder and president of the Foundation for Homeopathic Education and Research, is an elected board member of the National Center for Homeopathy, and directs Homeopathic Educational Services, a primary distributor of homeopathic books, tapes, and medicine kits in the United States. Ullman currently serves on the advisory board of Natural Health, Let’s Live, Body and Soul, and Remedies. In addition to The Homeopathic Revolution and numerous other books, Ullman is the author of Discovering Homeopathy and The One Minute (Or So) Healer.

CLICK HERE to view the full article from Healing Lifestyles & Spas.
CLICK HERE to learn more about Dana Ullman.

Join Cathy Silvers - author of Happy Days Healthy Living and founder of The Healthy Living Show - at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books on Saturday, April 26 for an informative presentation about how the health of our bodies directly affects the planet. The presentation is from 4pm to 5pm at the UCLA Main Campus.

CLICK HERE to learn more about Cathy Silvers.

Come meet David Wolfe - acclaimed author and raw foods guru – on Friday, May 30 2008 at Book Expo America, in the Los Angeles Convention Center, Booth 1330, from 2pm until 4pm. Chat with David, sample raw foods, and get inspired!

“David is at the heart of a movement…that is already sweeping the planet like wildfire.” –Woody Harrelson

David Wolfe is the author of Amazing Grace, Eating for Beauty, Naked Chocolate, and The Sunfood Diet Success System. Out next spring from North Atlantic Books: Superfoods.

CLICK HERE for more information about David Wolfe.