Showing results by author "Gini Graham Scott" in All Categories

The three tales in this audiobook are adapted from stories told by the peasants in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. They are drawn from some books I found in shops when I visited the former USSR in 1988 as part of a citizen diplomacy group. I was intrigued by these folktales, since my paternal grandmother lived for some time in Odessa in the Ukraine. Also, I found these stories share a common theme - the poor peasant is able to succeed despite obstacles against an unfair ruler.

The Upside Down Day is a story in which everything seems to be topsy turvy for Tommy. He wakes up late, puts on socks that don’t match, wears his shirt inside out, and opens his book upside down. Even the cat looks upside down when it lays on its back. So Tommy is very upset, until his parents try to comfort him with some advice and he has a mysterious visitor in his dreams.

The Dog Who Wanted to Be a Cat is a whimsical story about how a dog wished he could be a cat, because he was jealous of the cat’s freedom and independence and didn’t like having to follow orders and go through puppy training. But when he runs off to be free and independent, he finds he misses many of the perks of being a dog after all.

The Squirrel Who Wanted a Change is a whimsical story about a squirrel who didn’t like getting chased and was curious about the warm cozy houses and how the people who lived there seemed to have so much fun. Though his squirrel friends laugh at him, he tries various ways to get inside and eventually becomes friends with a new boy in town who likes to play games on his computer. In the end, he discovers many new things to do with his new friend.

Elise and the Big Bad Plant is a story in which Elise sees a plant with thorns that grows up very quickly after her family has moved to a new house. As the plant grows larger and larger, she wonders about its odd purple flowers and finds it a little scary. Soon she is even dreams about it. So what will happen to Elise and this “big bad plant”?

I Was Scammed: Don’t Be Scammed by Email, Phone, and Social Media Scams begins with a brief introduction to how the scam investigation began after a scam targeting book authors in The Big Con. Then the book focuses on the different ways that scammers use emails, phone calls, and social media posts to find victims. Some of the scams featured include inheritance, business opportunity, investment, and consignment scams. Others are winning a lottery, good news for you, help from the government, account suspended, unauthorized access, and credit card misuse scams.

I Was Scammed Books: Don’t Be Scammed by Home Sale and Rental Scams features an overview of different types of scams, followed by a brief introduction to how the scam investigation began after a scam targeting book authors in The Big Con, the audiobook discusses the different types of real estate frauds, including rental scams, moving scams, home improvement and repair scams, and real estate investment scams. Besides describing the scams, the audiobook provides tips on how to avoid becoming a victim, and what to do if you are.

I Was Scammed: Don’t Be Scammed by Identity Fraud features the different methods that scammers use to steal one’s personal identity, followed by ways to avoid such scams. The book describes the growing identity theft problem, the many data breaches that have occurred, the ways scammers use your personal information, how to protect your identity from theft, and how to repair the damage after a scam. Besides describing the scams, the book provides tips on how to avoid becoming a victim, and what to do if you are.

I Was Scammed: Don’t Be Scammed by the Latest Scams begins with a brief introduction to how the scam investigation began after a scam targeting the book authors of The Big Con. Then the book focuses on some of the latest scams, including gift card, couponing, and phone contest scams. Other scams featured are podcast, conference participation, book review, publishing, and marketing service scams. Besides describing the scams, the book provides tips on how to avoid becoming a victim, and what to do if you are one.

I Was Scammed: Don’t Be Scammed by Merchant and Customer Scams begins with a brief introduction to how the scam investigation began. Then the book focuses on the different ways that merchants defraud customers and customers take advantage of customers. Some of the scams featured include chargeback scams, fraudulent damage and nonreceipt claims, online fraud, hidden fee scams, counterfeit product sales, and more. Besides describing the scams, the book provides tips on how to avoid becoming a victim, and what to do if you are.

Songs about Finding More Love features a series of songs about love, from finding love to the mystery and magic of love. All these songs have been recorded and include the YouTube link to each song, so you can listen to the recording, and even sing along with the lyrics. There is also a cover image for each song.

Songs About Improving Your Life features 12 songs about having a better attitude and overcoming challenges and difficulties. The songs are recorded in a mix of country and pop styles. The book includes the lyrics, illustrations, and a link to the recording on YouTube for each song, so the listener can hear the recording, and even sing along with the lyrics. The illustrations feature the cover image for each song.

The Mountain of Gems tells the story of Aman, who lives with his widowed mother. When she can no longer work, he looks for work, and a rich noble invites him to search for gems. They travel through the desert on camels, and at the bottom of a mountain, the noble asks Aman to lie down on a rug that he rolls up like a big tube. After two large black birds grab the rug and drop it on the mountain top, Aman discovers gems on the ground. After the noble asks him to throw them down and he does, the noble rides off leaving Aman to die.

The Lord of the Crows tells the story of Sasha, a boy growing up on a poor farm with his parents, brothers, and sisters. Then, the Lord of the Crows comes to seek tribute of one son or their oxen. After two boys get lost in the forest going to the palace, Sasha goes and gains the help of a crow who needs a ride on his back and gives him a warning, which enables Sasha to obtain a special coffee grinder that is able to give him and his family whatever they want, and after that the Lord of the Crows loses his power and becomes the size of any other crow.

The Magic Ring tells the story of Vadim, a boy who lives with his father in a small house in the villages. He goes to the market to buy bread, but returns home several times without any after he gives the money to get a peasant to stop beating his dog, another to stop beating a mouse, and a third to stop whipping a cat. Finally, he gets a peasant to stop kicking a snake, who gives him a magic ring. He not only has to tap it to get bread, but he creates a tree with leaves of gold.

Top Tips for Experiencing Gratitude describes the forms that gratitude can take from gratitude for one’s home and possessions, to one’s skills, job opportunities, business achievements, and relationships. This positive attitude not only makes you feel better by focusing on what you have and not on what you lack, but it helps you have better relationships by allying with others with a similar positive and self-affirming outlook.

The Courage Book features quotes showing the many ways that courage is a valuable quality to have, and how to use it to bring more success and happiness into your life.

The Latest Thinking About Neanderthal Thinking features an overview of the findings about Neanderthals and their thinking, based on this new research. As this research indicates, the Neanderthals are a lot smarter than we have given them credit for in the past. Also, this new research shows that we do have the technology to bring them back by using the DNA from the bones of many Neanderthal skeletons, along with cloning and gene editing techniques.

Top Tips for Feeling Forgiveness features quotes showing the many ways that forgiveness is a valuable quality to have and how to use it to bring more happiness into your life. The audiobook features these topics: Forgiveness and the divine, forgiveness, love, compassion, and peace, forgiveness, strength, and courage, forgiveness and letting go, moving on, and new beginnings, forgiveness, making mistakes, and acceptance, forgiveness and forgetting, forgiving others and enemies, the difficulty of forgiveness, and applying the principles of forgiveness in your life.

Top Tips for Overcoming Fear and Anxiety features quotes showing the many ways you can confront and overcome your fear and anxiety. It includes these topics: The danger of fear, conquering and overcoming fear, having courage, do it anyway, understanding your fears, changing your mindset, and techniques for overcoming your fears.