Mother's Day Gift Guide From Viva Editions

Viva Editions would like to make a toast to all of the moms and inspiring women in the world! To show mothers how much you care this Sunday, bring them one of a book written by a mom for moms on Viva’s gift guide.

1. Toasts by June Cotner and Nancy Tupper Ling

Life’s special moments deserve special words. And the special women in your life deserve a toast just for them.  Cotner and Ling deliver with a section dedicated to motherhood, and “A Mother’s Day Grace.”

2. Girlfriends are LifeSavers by Reeda Joseph

 This is truly a celebration of women’s friendship with rare vintage art and bold bon mots. Show that special lady in your life that she is more than just your mom; she’s your friend too. And you value that friendship.

3. She: A Celebration of Greatness in Every Woman by Mary Anne Radmacher and Liz Kalloch

Mothers are among the strongest and smartest women we know. So inspire the woman who has so inspired you with this celebration of women’s strength and wisdom. 

4. Getting Laid: A Grow-You-Own Guide to Raising Chickens, Gardening and Preserving with Over 100 Recipes by Barb Webb

The extraordinary woman behind the top country living blog Rural Mom, shares her trade secrets for living a healthier, happier lifestyle.  This Mother’s Day, share with your mom the joys of gardening and sustainability.

5. Veganish: The Omnivore’s Guide to Plant-Based Cooking by Mielle Chenier-Cowan Rose

This fact-filled and fabulous cookbook on how to get all the nutrients you need with a plant-based diet was inspired by Mielle’s own child. When you’re a mom, you know the importance of providing your family with proper nutrition.

6. Love in Every Stitch: Stories of Knitting and Healing by Lee Gant

 The power of knitting can transform your life and heal your heart, mind and soul. If your mother or grandmother loves to knit or has ever made you a crocheted scarf, give her the gift of uplifting knitting stories carefully crafted by one mother for another.

7. Crafting Calm: Projects and Practices for Creativity and Contemplation by Maggie Oman Shannon

Moms are always busy! We know that better than anyone. Reward your mom for all of her hard work by crafting something for her, or helping her find inner peace and a quite mind by putting those busy hands to good and creative work. 

8. Lemons and Lavender: The Eco Guide to Better Housekeeping by Billee Sharp

Mother and eco-extraordinaire, Billee Sharp shares with you her tips and tricks for eco-friendly housekeeping.  The perfect gift for all moms who want to keep their families happy and healthy!

9. The Grateful Life: The Secret to Happiness and the Science of Contentment by Nina Lesowitz and Mary Beth Sammons

We are all grateful for the strong women in our lives! What better way to show mom that we care then to give her a book full of inspiration to live to the fullest through daily gratitude.

10. Imperfect Spirituality: Extraordinary Enlightenment for Ordinary People by Polly Campbell

Though moms are always extraordinary in our eyes, Polly knows that even they need reminders! With this guide, moms can learn how real-life moments create opportunities for growth, ultimately leading to a stress free and enlightened life.

11. All You Need is Less: The Eco-Friendly Guide to Guilt-Free Green Living and Stress-Free Simplicity by Madeleine Somerville

 Mom’s are always on the go. Share this book of stress-free simplicity with the woman who has given so much! She’ll save the rainforest and the whales along the way.

12. Getting to 50/50: How Working Parents Can Have It All by Sharon Meers and Joanna Strober

These two moms, wives, and professionals have five young children between them. They understand not only the challenges and rewards of motherhood, but also the importance of tapping into your best recourse and powerful ally – the man you married. They know that you can have it all: a great careers, a great marriage, and be a great mother.

13. Help! My Baby Came Without Instructions: How to Survive and (Enjoy) Your Baby’s First Year by Blythe Lipman

All veteran moms know that newborns are both a delight and a test of strength.  Well Blythe is here to help with her parent-tested, expert-approved guide to the art of infant care! This is the perfect gift for all of your friends and loved ones expected an addition to the family. 

14. Everything I Needed to Know I Learned Through My Six-Month-Old: Awakening to Unconditional Self Love in Motherhood by Kuwana Haulsey

If you’re a mom or know somebody who is, then you know the difficulties of caring for yourself while caring for others. Give the gift of self-love to a mother you love, or give that gift to yourself! 

15. Jump-Starting Boys: Help Your Reluctant Learner Find Success in School and Life by Pam Withers and Cynthia Gill

These moms offer positive, practical, and powerful solutions for parents of underperforming pre-teen and teen boys because they want to see all young boys, and mom, success!

16. It’s Never Too Late to Be What You Might Have Been: A Guide to Getting the Life You Love by BJ Gallagher

BJ Gallagher knows that being a mom doesn’t mean sacrificing your happiness. Instead, motherhood enhances it! So whether she’s a new mom or sending her kids off to college, this book will offer her advice, step-by-step guidelines, and pure inspiration to listen to her inner voice, and live the life she truly loves.

17. Use Your Words: A Writing Guide for Mothers by Kate Hopper

We can learn so much from mothers, so share this book with a mother in your life and encourage her to share her wisdom and story through writing.

18. Mom’s The Word: The Wit, Wisdom and Wonder of Motherhood by Allen Klein

You don’t have to be mom to appreciate motherhood. This inspiration for Allen Klein’s book was his mom; he wanted to write a wise and witty tribute to the heart of every family – mom. 

I was never prom queen but this I'll take!

My few years here at Cleis have flown by, always a sign you are having fun. I vividly remember getting my job the day before the stock market crashed in fall of 2008 and the recession began. I was worried my time at Cleis would be all-too brief. But, founders Felice Newman and Frederiqué Delacoste were unfazed having bootstrapped their way through two bankrupt distributors and countless banned books. Instead, we "doubled down" October 2008 and launched VIVA, expanded Cleis and I was encouraged for the first time to boldly pursue my publishing passion. For me, it is not enough to just chase dollars and treat books like "product." That, in fact, offends me. Inspired by a graduate course taught by KQED's Michael Krasny, I wrote "Women of the Beat Generation" to give voice to writers who had been kept in the shadows, ignored and overlooked. This same purpose drives me at Cleis Press & Viva Editions, as evidenced by the #OutWriters project. I go to a lot of our author events and it isn't to fill a seat or out of obligation. It is for me. Because I am moved when gay teens come to author events and tell our authors Jon Ginoli and Bob Mould that their music and writing saved their lives. Because Rachel Pepper's Transitions of the Heart reminds us to accept and love all our children. And that cancer survivor Mark Nepo's words on the page have helped thousands of others survive and thrive. I am gobsmacked, honored and humbled to be named Indie Fab Publisher of the Year. But mostly, I am encouraged to keep at it. Because there are many more voices we need to hear.

All NIck Belardes All the Time! (plus some Tolkien!)

Random Obsessions: Trivia You Can't Live Without - Nick Belardes

Genre: "Reference," but, please -- it's a trivia book.

While there are more books of weird facts, quirky stories, and mind-bending figures than there are dimples on a golf ball, Nick Belardes’ Random Obsessions leaves the rest of the trivia book genre looking puny and sophomoric by comparison. Divided into eight chapters covering such themes as weird scientific anomalies, freakish illnesses, the strangest jobs ever, and assorted tales of films, authors, inventions, and artists, the sections read more like an amusing free-association Mensa exercise than a run-of-the-mill book of random information.

 

Take Chapter 6: Eccentric Authors and Fantastic Art. A typical trivia book would list interesting factoids under clearly defined, encyclopedia-boring headings. Not Random Obsessions. The chapter starts with information about expatriate writer V.S. Naipaul, leaps to random expatriation facts, moves on to J.R.R. Tolkein, then on to info about famous art depicting war. Each chapter follows this setup: leaping from one topic to another, related, if off-beat topic, to still another. The entire book is like an intellectual and oddly fascinating playground. Goody, goody.

 

What to drink while reading Random Obsessions: I'd suggest a festive, yet sophisticated, cocktail for this one. My choice would be a Gimlet. As Julie Powell of Julie and Julia fame (and soon to be released bookish movie) says, Gimlets are "exquisitely civilized and not at all girly." Well said, ma'am. Although the traditional Gimlet recipe is about 2 oz. gin, 1/2 oz. Rose's lime juice, and 1/4 to 1/2 oz. simple syrup, that's sissy stuff, in my opinion. I'm with Terry Lennox from Raymond Chandler's The Long Goodbye when he tells Philip Marlowe that, "a real Gimlet is half gin and half Rose's Lime Juice and nothing else." Get thee behind me, simple syrup.

 

Verdict?: This is one trivia book that won't be relegated to Bathroom Status.