Liberation: One Writer's Adventures and Misadventures on the Digital Playground

Rating:
Summary: simply amazing!
Review: As an editor of a writing ezine, I tend to surf the net checking out other writing ezines out of curiosity, more than anything else. I am in awe of all the writing ezines out there in cyberland, but one particular website, Word Thunder, impressed me over the other the others. I had come to know the editor, Sarah Mankowski, through an online writing group and had emailed her a few times asking her questions and generally admiring what she has done for writers. It wasn't until I read her book, LIBERATION, when I found out this woman who had managed to run one of the best writing ezines around, plus find time to answer the questions from this particular writing group and helping so many people, is legally blind.

LIBERATIONS, her latest book, is one of Sarah's finest achievements. Baring her heart and soul of what it was like in the early years of the internet, she lets us travel back to the time when she was a struggling writer and all the obstacles which could have been in her way if not for the internet.

She explores her life as a writer, the ups and downs, with such candidness, not only can you relate as a writer but as someone who has overcome the odds and become "liberated" through the wonderful access of computers.

A truly entertaining read and one in which will stay with me. I fully recommend this book!



Rating:
Summary: Liberation: One Writer¿s Adventures and MisAdventures on The
Review: As Sarah states in her introduction, this book is not a how-to book. This book is not a lot of
things. One thing that it is. It is a life. Sarah also says it's not an autobiography. And it's not. It's
a story. It's a story of a life. Sarah Mankowski's life and how she has developed various aspects
of her life to have what she now has.

What does she now have? A marriage, a son, a writing livelihood and a genuine interest and
commentary on things she observes as she lives her life. And something that they all have in
common, is that she loves them all. She loves it all.

This is a story about a woman who beat the odds. So what? There are many stories about people
who beat the odds. This is more than an inspirational story. It contains depth and conviction of
one person who is making a difference in many lives. But she chose to make a difference in her
own life first.

Sarah's writing style in this particular book is conversational, at least that's how I felt as I was

reading it. I felt like we were having a conversation, and she was answering questions before I
could ask them. In other words, she did very well at leading me down the garden path of her
story. I wanted to read more each day just to find out what Sarah was up to and how she did what
she did. And then what would I do? I'd tell others about Sarah and her life, and what she had
done and continues to do.

I will miss reading about Sarah each day. I felt like she was here with me for awhile, but now
she's gone. I'll miss her.

If I were to be asked would I recommend this book, the answer is most certainly yes, and I
already have, even before I finished it. It will help anyone along their way who may be at a
crossroads. It will help those who have made it past the crossroads, and want to join Sarah and
feel like you have a comrade in life who understands. You know the ones, the ones you don't
have to explain anything to, because you know, that they know. Sarah knows.

She is walking in your shoes as you read this story of her life. That's how good she is at this that
she has done.

Thank You, Sarah Mankowski!

Susan James

Rating:
Summary: One Writer¿s Journey
Review: Sarah was born legally blind. She was packed off to the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind at age six. Alone and lonely she retreated into a world of imagination. A writer was born.

The "Liberation" in Liberation One Writer's Adventures and Misadventures on the Digital Playground refers to the freedom that Sarah has found through computers and the Internet. Sarah has never been timid about trying new technologies and after being introduced to the Internet she dove in with gusto, learning all she could about web design and digital publishing. The book can be summed up in the following passage.

"And so, I began to understand the true greatness of the Internet. Sure, this amazing network has allowed men and women to make millions. Perhaps, even more importantly, it has allowed obscure, creative minds to speak to the world. "

Liberation will be a "must read" for all writers that use the Internet. But everybody who would like a new perspective on computer technologists and networking should read this book.

Rating:
Summary: Liberation
Review: Sarah writes a candid biography which describes her life and obsticles she overcomes despite being legally blind. She uses computer and internet technology to expand her writing career. While this book focuses on writing it is an inspiration for anyone dealing with disability whether personally or in one's profession.