Sandra Gurvis - No Word Unturned

Books by Sandra

• Country Club Wives >
• Managing the Telecommuting Employee >
• Where Have all the Flower Children Gone >
• The Pipe Dreamers >
• Day Trips from Columbus >
• Careers for Non-Conformists >
• The Well-Traveled Dog >
• America's Strangest Museums >

Country Club Wives

"Not many women can say they've been left for season tickets to seats on the 50-yard-line at Ohio State football games." Thus begins COUNTRY CLUB WIVES, a contemporary parable about women, money, and homeless animals set in the affluent suburb of "New Wellington," Ohio.

Although the plot centers around the fate of four self-proclaimed "drama queens," the heart of the book belongs to its first-person narrator, Tish McLean, who has been left high and dry, both financially and emotionally, by her husband of over 20 years. Brian is about to marry Susan, anther drama queen, a wealthy widow whose spouse unexpectedly died of a heart attack and Tish's one close unattached friend.

Tish goes from inheriting a $250,000 tax-free, which she immediately spends on a house, luxury car, and membership to New Wellington Country Club ("The Club") to near-poverty, while drama queen CeCe, her sister-in-law, leaves Brian's not-too-bright brother Brett for an independently wealthy businessman, receiving not only a healthy divorce settlement but an upgraded, lavish lifestyle. Shelia, the only drama queen unscathed by marital upheaval, builds a home in the most expensive and exclusive part of New Wellington and then discovers a lump in her breast. And then there's Susan, "the social chameleon who slithered away" with Brian, who believes that being alone is the worst fate of all.

At the novel's outset, the women are in their late 30s and very much concerned with appearances, getting their kids into the right schools, and living in the most prestigious neighborhood possible. By the end of the book, all are grappling with deeper issues. Tish, whom a boyfriend once pegged as "beautiful but with the soul of a nerd" struggles not only to realize her dream of opening a shelter for abandoned cats and dogs but also with her love for Dr. Nick Fairchild, a very married veterinarian. How she achieves her professional goals, financial self-sufficiency, and personal happiness, despite losing nearly everything, is the core of the novel.

There's sex, drama, and murder, not to mention lots of reveals about the cubic-zirconium studded underbelly of a fiefdom developed by a local billionaire. One dollar from each novel sold will go to various local and national no-kill animal shelters.

For Kindle, click here to read a sample from Amazon and download the book! For all other e-readers click here to read a sample from Smashwords and download your copy. To learn more, watch this video.

Managing the Telecommuting Employee

In today's business environment, telecommuting just makes sense—after all, it's a great way to trim the budget, retain the best employees, and reduce the company's eco-footprint. In fact, it's estimated that in 2009 upwards of 21 million Americans will work via telecommuting. But what does this dramatic change mean for managers? In Managing the Telecommuting Employee: Set Goals, Monitor Progress, and Maximize Profit and Productivity (Adams, 2009) telecommuting experts Sandra Gurvis and Michael Amigoni show today's managers that this change doesn't have to be painful—in fact, it can be enjoyable, productive, profitable, and a great way to grow an organization.

Supervising the telecommuting employee poses many unique challenges for the modern manager, from motivating and communicating effectively to building schedules and enforcing deadlines. In Managing the Telecommuting Employee—the first book to deal with the management of telecommuters—Amigoni and Gurvis provide answers to the most complex and important challenges that managers face, such as:

• Conducting meetings and conferences efficiently with off-site employees
• Monitoring productivity
• Determining if the program is a success
• Deciding when the arrangement isn't working

Using expert advice, case studies, checklists, and sample forms and charts, Managing the Telecommuting Employee teaches managers how to make telecommuting enjoyable and profitable for themselves, their employees, and their company.

Available at Amazon.com.

Where Have all the Flower Children Gone

Whatever happened to the Vietnam protesters? "Where are they now?" The answers to these and many other questions about what some might still call those "damn hippies" can be found in the interviews, narratives, and photos of WHERE HAVE ALL THE FLOWER CHILDREN GONE? Chapters examine such aspects as the origins of the student protest movement and the conservative backlash as well the fates of draft evaders, expatriates, and conscientious objectors. Other topics are covered as well: the conflict between the various generations over Vietnam, Iraq, and other issues; what happened to the "average" child of the ‘60s and how they reconcile their pasts with the present; and communes and alternative lifestyles that continue to thrive today.

The book puts a contemporary face on the Age of Aquarius. Along with interviews with Senator Chuck Hagel (R-Nebraska), Bernadine Dohrn and one of the last with the late Ossie Davis, the story of Myra Aronson, typical of many of the generation, is one of the many startling examples of the "future shock" that Baby Boomers have encountered. The major and minor players of Kent State and Jackson State, where students and others perished at the hand of the militia weigh in as well, as do the generations preceding and succeeding the Baby Boomers.

So whether readers vaguely remember the '60s, claim to have forgotten them entirely, or never even lived through them, WHERE HAVE ALL THE FLOWER CHILDREN GONE? brings to life a colorful, complicated era that made a huge impact on our collective memory and culture.

Read more about WHERE HAVE ALL THE FLOWER CHILDREN GONE?.

The Pipe Dreamers

A freshman on another Ohio campus during the shootings at Kent State, Sandra Gurvis spent nearly 25 years researching the reasons behind the turmoil during the Vietnam era. In her quest for answers, she wrote two books, the first of which was THE PIPE DREAMERS (Olmstead, 1001). Set mostly at fictional Hayes University, a state college in the small town of Hampton, Ohio, it encompasses the student unrest regarding Vietnam, the sexual revolution, the rejection of parental values, and the recreational use of drugs. The main character is Julia Brandon, an innocent sorority girl who gets into trouble when she tries to bail her radical roommate out of jail and becomes increasingly involved with the protest movement, which erupts in violence, death, and destruction. Julia falls irrevocably in love with handsome, carefree, soon-to-be drafted Win. Fifteen years later, trapped in an arid life, Julia glimpses a man whom she believes to be Win. She embarks upon a journey which leads her to the brink of devastation. Can she accept the truth about what happened so long ago without destroying herself and those she loves?

Read more about THE PIPE DREAMERS.

Day Trips from Columbus

They once called it Cowtown, and you can still see bovines silhouetted against the growing skyline, thanks to the school of agriculture at The Ohio State University, but Columbus has finally reached the big leagues! And this book celebrates all the fun and neat things you can do in and around the area within an approximately two hour radius. Highlights include Longaberger basket and Amish country; amusement parks such as Cedar Point, Six Flags and King's Island; Lake Erie; and those "other" "C" cities of Cincinnati and Cleveland, along with Dayton and Akron. And for those of you who can't get enough of the '60s, Yellow Springs is just down the road. And these are but a sampling of the 25 day trip delights. Available at your local bookstore.

Careers for Non-Conformists

Thanks to a booming, rapidly changing economy it's easier than ever to develop a career that's fun and challenging and requires individualism, creativity, and, yes, even eccentricity. Author Sandra Gurvis showcases 75 careers—and touches on 150 more—within fifteen areas of interest, from animals and the outdoors to entertainment, travel, and the Internet. She covers what it takes to break into a field, what to expect, and what you'll need to do to thrive, and includes useful reference information such as associations, Web sites, trade magazines, and much more. Thirty profiles of people who have succeeded in unusual endeavors put a real face on these interesting and eclectic undertakings—one of which could be the career you've always wanted. The full range of educational levels is covered, from electronic media designer to handicrafts maker. Most fall in between, however, so practically everyone, with determination and training, can qualify. Click here for a complete table of contents. Careers for Nonconformists is available at bookstores everywhere and can be ordered online from Amazon.com.

The Well-Traveled Dog

OK, so I'm a cat person, but then felines aren't much for hitting the road, unless it's on their own terms, like sneaking out the door. But canines certainly enjoy traveling with their masters. And this book covers every aspect of their tail waggin' journeys: road trips (hanging out the car window is not cool); hotels and special getaways, such as camps especially for dogs; "ruffing it," with backpacking, hiking, and camping; reaching destinations via planes, trains, and ships; requirements for non-U.S. travel; and more. Plus there are chapters on accommodations for Fidos and Fifis who prefer to stay near their own back yards, and cool and fun travel accessories. No longer relegated to roach motels; these empowered pooches get first-class service and can hound their masters whenever they get the itch to leave. Click here to get more information on ordering this and their other titles or call 800/631-2188.

America's Strangest Museums (2nd edition, revised and updated)

With over 110 museums, AMERICA'S STRANGEST MUSEUMS offers weird and wacky excursions to the National Funeral Service Museum, the Voodoo Museum, Nut Museum, Museum of Bad Art, Museum of Menstruation, the Elvis is Alive Museum, The Barbie Hall of Fame and many more! An appendix now includes web sites and e-mail addresses. This popular title is hard to find but may be available on Amazon.com