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[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Work” _builder_version=”4.23.4″ background_enable_image=”off” background_size=”initial” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”35px||30px|||” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_module=”607″ saved_tabs=”all” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”29px||6px||false|” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.23.4″ text_font=”||||||||” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Prata|500|||||||” header_2_font_size=”40px” header_2_line_height=”1.3em” header_3_font=”|700||on|||||” header_3_text_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.35)” header_3_font_size=”12px” header_3_letter_spacing=”5px” header_3_line_height=”2em” transform_translate_linked=”off” max_width=”700px” max_width_tablet=”70%” max_width_last_edited=”off|phone” module_alignment=”center” header_2_font_size_tablet=”40px” header_2_font_size_phone=”32px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_font_size_phone=”10px” header_3_font_size_last_edited=”off|desktop” module_alignment_last_edited=”off|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
by Lisa Lucas & Steve Landsberg<\/strong><\/p>\n Published October 2022 by\u00a0 Historium Press May 20th 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.lisalucas.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Amazon-Best-Seller.png” title_text=”Amazon-Best-Seller” url=”https:\/\/www.lisalucas.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Ping-Promotion-Report.pptx.pdf” url_new_window=”on” align=”right” align_tablet=”right” align_phone=”left” align_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”28%” width_tablet=”28%” width_phone=”30%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”19px||30px||false|” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.lisalucas.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Ping_Ebook_Cover_Final.avif” title_text=”Ping_Ebook_Cover_Final” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.23.4″ border_width_all=”20px” border_color_all=”#ffffff” border_width_all_last_edited=”off|desktop” box_shadow_style=”preset4″ box_shadow_horizontal=”0px” box_shadow_vertical=”0px” box_shadow_spread=”1px” box_shadow_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.34)” global_colors_info=”{}” box_shadow_color__hover=”#000000″ box_shadow_color__hover_enabled=”on” border_width_all__hover=”30px” border_width_all__hover_enabled=”on|desktop”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_line_height=”1.8em” link_text_color=”#E02B20″ link_font_size=”16px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n AND YOU THOUGHT PING-PONG WAS JUST AN INNOCENT LITTLE GAME<\/strong><\/p>\n A Barnes & Noble Top eBook & NOOK Indie Favorite For fans of Forest Gump and the upcoming 2025 Christmas movie release of Marty Supreme with Timothee Chalamet & Gwyneth Paltrow, don’t miss this ‘tie-in’ novel revealing the influence of ping-pong in politics and diplomacy.<\/p>\n Alternating between the pivotal 1971 Ping Pong Diplomacy – where a simple game of table tennis thawed the icy relations between the U.S. and China during the Cold War – and the present-day struggles of a family weighed down by legacy, Ping is al compelling tale of history, politics, and personal conflict.<\/p>\n Jenny, a modern-day teen, wrestles with her grand-mother Miriam’s larger-than-life legacy, rooted in Cold War tensions and the surprising intersection of ping pong, antisemitism, and global diplomacy. As Jenny uncovers Miriam’s secret role in shaping history, she confronts her own place in a family bound by expectations and unspoken truths. Blending family drama with meticulously researched historical events, this gripping story explores the enduring impact of the past on the present,<\/p>\n “Ping skillfully blends family drama with political and historical events, particularly through Jenny’s modern-day struggles and Miriam’s Cold War-era experiences. The use of Ping Pong as both a symbol and a plot device keeps the story engaging, exploring generational expectations and legacies. Ping effectively combines history, sports, and personal conflict, appealing to readers of both literary fiction and historical drama.”<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Buy Hardcover<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0 Buy Paperback<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0 Buy E-Book<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/www.historiumpress.com\/lisa-lucas” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”View Publication” button_alignment=”left” button_alignment_tablet=”center” button_alignment_phone=”” button_alignment_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.23.4″ custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”14px” button_text_color=”#ffffff” button_bg_color=”#000000″ button_border_width=”2px” button_border_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” button_border_radius=”0px” button_font=”|700|||||||” custom_margin_tablet=”|0px||” custom_margin_phone=”|0px||” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|tablet” custom_padding=”14px|48px|14px|48px|true|true” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” module_alignment=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.lisalucas.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/491546065_1282315676731489_1969980119296485486_n.jpg” title_text=”491546065_1282315676731489_1969980119296485486_n” url=”https:\/\/www.barnesandnoble.com\/b\/top-indie-favorites\/ebooks-nook\/_\/N-rf4Z8qa?Nrpp=40&page=1&fbclid=IwY2xjawKZ4QtleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFLMGVEOUk4ckFxZVR3Y2UxAR6O65lXcLLcAKzgwaeDdj-Y4Yp4D51PgmvuOxfl0yEapIS4vQjMVZlhOaNePg_aem_WuLHU437WcK61NsgAqVF3A” url_new_window=”on” _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_video src=”https:\/\/www.lisalucas.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Ping-Book-Trailer.mp4″ _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_video][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.23.4″ text_font=”||||||||” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Prata|500|||||||” header_2_font_size=”32px” header_2_line_height=”1.3em” header_3_font=”|700||on|||||” header_3_text_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.35)” header_3_font_size=”12px” header_3_letter_spacing=”5px” header_3_line_height=”2em” transform_translate_linked=”off” max_width=”700px” max_width_tablet=”70%” max_width_last_edited=”off|phone” module_alignment=”center” header_2_font_size_tablet=”40px” header_2_font_size_phone=”32px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_font_size_phone=”10px” header_3_font_size_last_edited=”off|desktop” module_alignment_last_edited=”off|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Review by Lybi Ma<\/strong><\/p>\n A story about antisemitism, sexism, and sports competition on a global stage.<\/p>\n Published May 2025<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/www.psychologytoday.com\/ca\/blog\/brainstorm\/202505\/ping-pong-is-more-than-a-simple-game” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”Read Full Review” button_alignment=”left” button_alignment_tablet=”center” button_alignment_phone=”” button_alignment_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.23.4″ custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”14px” button_text_color=”#ffffff” button_bg_color=”#000000″ button_border_width=”2px” button_border_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” button_border_radius=”0px” button_font=”|700|||||||” custom_margin_tablet=”|0px||” custom_margin_phone=”|0px||” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|tablet” custom_padding=”14px|48px|14px|48px|true|true” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.lisalucas.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/psychology-today-seeklogo-1024×226-1.png” title_text=”psychology-today-seeklogo-1024×226″ _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#eaeaea” custom_padding=”4vw|4vw|4vw|4vw|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.lisalucas.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Screenshot-2025-05-23-at-10.43.26-AM.jpeg” title_text=”Screenshot” show_in_lightbox=”on” _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.lisalucas.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Yarde-Reviews-Book-Promotion.jpeg” title_text=”Yarde Reviews & Book Promotion” show_in_lightbox=”on” _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||10px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_toggle title=”Read Yarde Review” icon_color=”#E02B20″ toggle_icon=”L||divi||400″ use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”24px” _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_font_size=”15px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n YARDE <\/b><\/b><\/p>\n Review by Ellie Yarde Publication Date: 28th November 2024 Publisher: Historium Press Alternating between the pivotal 1971 Ping-Pong Diplomacy – where a simple game of table tennis thawed the icy relations between the U.S. and China during the Cold War – and the present-day struggles of a family weighed down by legacy, Ping is a compelling tale of history, politics, and personal conflict.<\/p>\n Jenny, a modern-day teen, wrestles with her grand-mother Miriam’s larger-than-life legacy, rooted in Cold War tensions and the surprising intersection of ping pong, antisemitism, and global diplomacy. As Jenny uncovers Miriam’s secret role in shaping history, she confronts her own place in a family bound by expectations and unspoken truths. Blending family drama with meticulously researched historical events, this gripping story explores the enduring impact of the past on the present.<\/p>\n “Ping skillfully blends family drama with political and historical events, particularly through Jenny’s modern-day struggles and Miriam’s Cold War-era experiences. The use of Ping Pong as both a symbol and a plot device keeps the story engaging, exploring generational expectations and legacies . . . Ping effectively combines history, sports, and personal conflict, appealing to readers of both literary fiction and historical drama.”<\/p>\n Ping Pong. A simple game, derived from tennis, as an attempt to continue the game when it got too cold outside to keep playing. When it was created, it was simply a sport, something that anyone could play, and everyone could enjoy. However, it quickly evolved into something much more significant.<\/p>\n The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) had significant implications regarding political standings worldwide. By allowing countries to compete and showcase their best players for the title of Champion, the ITTF created opportunities for mass political movements, diplomacy, and alliances that might have otherwise been considered impossible.<\/p>\n \u201cPing,\u201d by Lisa Lucas and Steve Landsberg, masterfully delves into the captivating and often shadowy complexities of the Ping Pong world. It chronicles the sport\u2019s remarkable ascent to fame, revealing how it has not only transformed lives but also served as a double-edged sword, with the power to uplift and devastate. This compelling narrative uncovers the profound impact of the game on history, making it a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of sport and society.<\/p>\n This is a fictionalised account inspired by real events that took place during the rise in popularity of Ping Pong, and also of the thirty-first World Table Tennis Championships. While real events have been depicted with factual accuracy, the characters in this story are fictional creations. Names have been changed to enhance the narrative and establish it more firmly in the realm of fiction. Miriam Stahl, a world-famous American Table Tennis player, is based on the real life Leah Thall-Neuberger. By fictionalising her character, the authors have allowed for alterations to her life, including the fictional inclusion of her family and herself in the modern day, many years after the death of her true counterpart. While the reasoning behind changing the names of world-famous players is, for the most part, unexplained, it does allow for the story to show a wider influence, and more so, just how much many lives were changed by Ping Pong.<\/p>\n Miriam Stahl and her sister played for the US team and were well-known Table Tennis players. Miriam\u2019s role in this novel is vast, for it follows her through intense training and competitions, right up to the modern day when she is 86 years old. Despite her age, her fame in the Table Tennis world remains significant. Miriam\u2019s character reflects the evolution of society over the years. She has faced discrimination and antisemitism but ultimately achieved global recognition. Known as \u2018Miss Ping\u2019, her life was drastically transformed by the game, and even in her later years, Table Tennis continued to influence her daily life.<\/p>\n In the modern day, Miriam\u2019s granddaughter, Jenny, has distanced herself from the game that brought fame to her grandmother\u2019s name. She has been bullied for the game her grandmother loves so much, and to protect herself, has attempted to step away from it. But Miriam is about to be inducted into the Table Tennis Hall of Fame, and she wants her family there with her when it happens. Jenny provides a negative perspective on the game of Ping Pong, feeling the weight of a legacy that has taken a toll on her mental health. The glory associated with her grandmother\u2019s fame feels like a burden to Jenny, and while she may have inherited her grandmother\u2019s talent, she has no desire to pursue the sport herself. Her mental health is addressed with care, although her family often attempts to push her to get past her dislike for Ping Pong, and make her come with them to celebrate her grandmother\u2019s achievements. Although the reader understands the family\u2019s intentions, it\u2019s hard not to feel sympathy for Jenny, who clearly expresses her feelings on the matter and struggles to move forward when those she loves keep trying to pull her back.<\/p>\n Jenny serves as a modern-day comparison, and her character distinctly contrasts with others in this book, including that of Zhuang Zedong. While Jenny does not need to play Ping Pong, should she so wish, people like Zhuang had little choice\u2014with the Great Chinese Famine claiming millions of lives from starvation, to become a great Ping Pong player, to be selected for the Chinese national team, was to save yourself from inevitable death. Those higher up in the world of Ping Pong were fed well, training regimes calling for sufficient meals and carefully maintained nutrition. This novel clearly shows the differences between Jenny and Zhuang, and their attitudes towards the game differ significantly. Their contrasting circumstances highlight the differences in their situations but also emphasise the years between them. Ping Pong may have kept Zhuang alive, and it may have been Miriam\u2019s life, but that was many years ago, and living in a safe home with no worry about food, Jenny has much wider options.<\/p>\n The history of the game of Ping Pong is rich and complex, and although this novel is fairly short, it delves right into the intricacies of the politics surrounding the game. The authors have done a marvellous job of maintaining historical accuracy, illustrating how it was used to promote widespread communism in China, and how it brought China and the United States together. At the same time, the novel highlights the darker aspects of the game\u2019s history.<\/p>\n While Ping Pong was accessible too many, it was not free from the world\u2019s social issues, such as antisemitism and political agendas. Spanning many years, this novel focuses not just on the game itself but also examines its political implications and how players were often exploited for the benefit of those in power. This novel does not shy away from the darker topics, such as drug use, or the mistreatment of those representing their country, creating an unsettling atmosphere while reading. Ultimately, this novel seeks to reveal the truth about how Ping Pong has been historically leveraged for political and financial gain, while also acknowledging its significance and the positive impacts it has had on the world.<\/p>\n In the short story \u201cPing\u201d by Lisa Lucas and Steve Landsberg, an expansive narrative emerges that transcends its brief length. Despite its compact size, the story is beautifully intricate and utterly captivating, showcasing a masterful blend of entertainment and knowledge. A lack of prior knowledge, or<\/p>\n even of interest in Ping Pong, is of no consequence, for the story will drag the reader in, and keep their attention rapt until the very last page.<\/p>\n Review by Ellie Yarde [\/et_pb_toggle][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Work” _builder_version=”4.23.4″ background_enable_image=”off” background_size=”initial” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”35px||100px|||” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”65px||6px||false|” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.23.4″ text_font=”||||||||” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Prata|500|||||||” header_2_text_align=”left” header_2_font_size=”40px” header_2_line_height=”1.3em” header_3_font=”|700||on|||||” header_3_text_align=”left” header_3_text_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.35)” header_3_font_size=”12px” header_3_letter_spacing=”5px” header_3_line_height=”2em” transform_translate_linked=”off” max_width=”700px” max_width_tablet=”70%” max_width_last_edited=”off|phone” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”||4px|||” header_2_font_size_tablet=”40px” header_2_font_size_phone=”26px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_font_size_phone=”10px” header_3_font_size_last_edited=”off|desktop” module_alignment_last_edited=”off|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n A Collection of\u00a0 Poems<\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||45px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.lisalucas.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Ravenous-Words-CVR1000.jpg” title_text=”Ravenous-Words-CVR1000″ align=”center” _builder_version=”4.23.4″ border_width_all=”20px” border_color_all=”#ffffff” border_width_all_last_edited=”off|desktop” box_shadow_style=”preset4″ box_shadow_horizontal=”0px” box_shadow_vertical=”0px” box_shadow_spread=”1px” box_shadow_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.34)” global_colors_info=”{}” box_shadow_color__hover=”#000000″ box_shadow_color__hover_enabled=”on” border_width_all__hover=”30px” border_width_all__hover_enabled=”on”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.23.4″ text_font=”||||||||” link_font=”|700|||||||” link_text_color=”#E02B20″ header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Prata|500|||||||” header_2_text_align=”left” header_2_font_size=”28px” header_2_line_height=”1.3em” header_3_font=”|700||on|||||” header_3_text_align=”left” header_3_text_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.35)” header_3_font_size=”12px” header_3_letter_spacing=”5px” header_3_line_height=”2em” transform_translate_linked=”off” max_width=”700px” max_width_tablet=”70%” max_width_last_edited=”off|phone” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”||22px|||” header_2_font_size_tablet=”40px” header_2_font_size_phone=”26px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_font_size_phone=”10px” header_3_font_size_last_edited=”off|desktop” module_alignment_last_edited=”off|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n A COLLECTION OF POEMS<\/strong><\/p>\n In these tumultuous times, poetry bridges borders, creates connections, and imparts ideas. Writers Lisa Lucas and Susan J. Wurtzburg whispered words and shouted stanzas to each other by text and voice across the geographical expanses of Canada, the USA, and the Pacific Ocean. Their collaboration was adorned later by paired ravens, the cover print created by James Lahey, a noted Canadian artist, living in Toronto.<\/p>\n This raven motif glides through the book sections and their poetry, with connections to the idea of being ravenous, insatiable, and greedy, all of which contrast with the socially normed perceptions of women. It also links to the long history of strong female writers, hungry for expression, who were largely disparaged and outcast from less contemporaneous poetry histories. Here, the title and poetic content connect these tropes in innovative ways that speak to people in the Americas and the Pacific, where most of these works are situated.<\/p>\n BARNES & NOBLE<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0 AMAZON<\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_video src=”https:\/\/www.lisalucas.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Ravenous-Words-video-2-1.mp4″ _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_video][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/www.brandylanepublishers.com\/product\/ravenous-words\/” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”View Publication” button_alignment=”left” button_alignment_tablet=”center” button_alignment_phone=”” button_alignment_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.23.4″ custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”14px” button_text_color=”#ffffff” button_bg_color=”#000000″ button_border_width=”2px” button_border_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” button_border_radius=”0px” button_font=”|700|||||||” custom_margin_tablet=”|0px||” custom_margin_phone=”|0px||” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|tablet” custom_padding=”14px|48px|14px|48px|true|true” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”2″ _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_testimonial author=”Janet N. Gold” job_title=”Professor Emerita, Languages, Literatures & Cultures” company_name=”University of New Hampshire” portrait_url=”https:\/\/www.lisalucas.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Janet-Gold-2.jpg” quote_icon_color=”#000000″ _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” body_font=”||on||||||” body_line_height=”1.6em” author_font=”Prata|700|||on||||” author_text_color=”#000000″ author_font_size=”16px” position_font=”|600|||||||” position_text_color=”#000000″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n But let’s be real; the poet wrote. And indeed these are poems that tell the truth and are nothing if not real. Ravenous Words, a courageous collaboration of poetic worlds, are Sues memories and Lisa’s portraits, Sue’s defiance and Lisa’s unsentimental observations. Listening to their poems converse among themselves, through the synergy of their nightmares and daydreams juxtaposed and woven together, we hear, among the voices of spirit animals and endangered seals, of silent monks and plucky travelers, the words of ‘girls who know how to fight.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_testimonial][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_testimonial author=”Kate Sontag” job_title=”Co-Editor of After Confession: Poetry as Autobiography” company_name=”(Gray Wolf)” portrait_url=”https:\/\/www.lisalucas.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/sontag_k-500×500-1.png” quote_icon_color=”#000000″ _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” body_font=”||on||||||” body_line_height=”1.6em” author_font=”Prata|700|||on||||” author_text_color=”#000000″ author_font_size=”16px” position_font=”|600|||||||” position_text_color=”#000000″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Follow the currents of this shared conversation between two very different poets and come away with a unique sense of what it means to col-laborate. These often hard-earned poems of experience deeply female, familial, environmental, and lyrical-bring their themes to shore in one urgent song, a kind of pact in verse that commands our attention.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_testimonial][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_testimonial author=”Pamela Wax” job_title=”Author of Walking the Labyrinth and Starter Mothers” portrait_url=”https:\/\/www.lisalucas.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Rabbi-Wax-1.webp” quote_icon_color=”#000000″ _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” body_font=”||on||||||” body_line_height=”1.6em” author_font=”Prata|700|||on||||” author_text_color=”#000000″ author_font_size=”16px” position_font=”|600|||||||” position_text_color=”#000000″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n With ravenous passions spanning personal and family history, geogra-phy, nature, food, and current events (addressing a range of issues including the pandemic, racism, migrant workers, and sexual assault), poets Wurtzburg and Lucas have imparted to their readers a ‘quilted heritage of experience and image in which the world folds, like a handkerchief, and we balance on its crease.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_testimonial][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_image=”https:\/\/www.lisalucas.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/art-gallery-55.jpg” custom_padding=”75px|||||” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row custom_padding_last_edited=”off|phone” _builder_version=”4.23.4″ background_position=”bottom_center” custom_padding=”||30px|||” custom_padding_tablet=”17vw||17vw||false” use_custom_width=”on” width_unit=”off” 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header_3_font_size_phone=”10px” header_3_font_size_last_edited=”off|desktop” module_alignment_last_edited=”off|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Word by Lisa Lucas<\/strong> [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”My Books Section” module_id=”books” _builder_version=”4.23.4″ custom_padding=”35px||75px|||” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,1_4,1_4,1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ max_width=”1280px” custom_padding=”||55px||false|false” use_custom_width=”on” custom_width_px=”1280px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.lisalucas.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/61rZKwdjQkL.jpg” alt=”When the Earth Shook” title_text=”When the Earth Shook” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.16″ animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”left” animation_intensity_slide=”5%” animation_starting_opacity=”100%” border_radii=”on|6px|6px|6px|6px” box_shadow_style=”preset3″ box_shadow_vertical=”35px” box_shadow_blur=”50px” box_shadow_spread=”-35px” box_shadow_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.5)” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Nunito||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.8em” header_font=”||||||||” header_3_font=”Abhaya Libre|700|||||||” header_3_font_size=”24px” header_3_line_height=”1.4em” header_4_font=”||||||||” custom_margin=”||15px|” custom_padding=”10px|||” animation_style=”fade” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n When the Earth Shook provides a mythical framing for kids to understand that it will be their job to help save the Earth.\u00a0<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/www.amazon.ca\/When-Earth-Shook-Lisa-Lucas\/dp\/088448808X\/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&qid=1612372680&refinements=p_27%3ALisa+Lucas&s=books&sr=1-4&text=Lisa+Lucas” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”Buy on Amazon” button_alignment=”left” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”14px” button_text_color=”#94a6bf” button_border_width=”0px” button_letter_spacing=”2px” button_font=”Nunito|700||on|||||” button_use_icon=”off” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” animation_style=”fade” button_bg_color_hover=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” button_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” 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button_url=”https:\/\/www.chapters.indigo.ca\/en-ca\/books\/when-the-earth-shook\/9780884488088-item.html?ikwid=when+the+earth+shook&ikwsec=Home&ikwidx=0#algoliaQueryId=7db4f5c63e92f4a51eaf66e51bd2adf2″ url_new_window=”on” button_text=”Buy on Indigo” button_alignment=”left” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”14px” button_text_color=”#94a6bf” button_border_width=”0px” button_letter_spacing=”2px” button_font=”Nunito|700||on|||||” button_use_icon=”off” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” animation_style=”fade” button_bg_color_hover=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” button_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”on” button_bg_color__hover=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.lisalucas.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/81FYzL6aDL.jpg” title_text=”81F+YzL6aDL” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.16″ animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”left” animation_delay=”200ms” animation_intensity_slide=”5%” animation_starting_opacity=”100%” border_radii=”on|6px|6px|6px|6px” box_shadow_style=”preset3″ box_shadow_vertical=”35px” box_shadow_blur=”50px” box_shadow_spread=”-35px” box_shadow_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.5)” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Nunito||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.8em” header_font=”||||||||” header_3_font=”Abhaya Libre|700|||||||” header_3_font_size=”24px” header_3_line_height=”1.4em” header_4_font=”||||||||” custom_margin=”||15px|” custom_padding=”10px|||” animation_style=”fade” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n A young refugee living in America learns to see herself as beautiful, in spite of physical and emotional scars from her troubled homeland, thanks to a gifted teacher.\u00a0<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/www.amazon.ca\/Spectacularly-Beautiful-Refugees-Lisa-Lucas\/dp\/1576878910″ url_new_window=”on” button_text=”Buy on Amazon” button_alignment=”left” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”14px” button_text_color=”#94a6bf” button_border_width=”0px” button_letter_spacing=”2px” button_font=”Nunito|700||on|||||” button_use_icon=”off” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” animation_style=”fade” button_bg_color_hover=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” button_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” 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global_colors_info=”{}” button_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”on” button_bg_color__hover=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" BooksPublished Ping by Lisa Lucas & Steve Landsberg Published October 2022 by\u00a0 Historium Press May 20th 2025AND YOU THOUGHT PING-PONG WAS JUST AN INNOCENT LITTLE GAME A Barnes & Noble Top eBook & NOOK Indie Favorite For fans of Forest Gump and the upcoming 2025 Christmas movie release of Marty Supreme with Timothee Chalamet & […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-378","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nPing Pong Is More Than a Simple Game<\/h2>\n
Yarde Book Reviews & Book Promotion<\/p>\n
Page Length: 105
Genre: Historical Fiction \/ Sport Fiction<\/p>\n
Yarde Book Reviews & Book Promotion<\/p>\nBy Lisa Lucas & Susan Wurtzburg<\/h3>\n
Ravenous Words<\/h2>\n
Children’s Books<\/h1>\n
Illustration by Laurie Stein<\/strong><\/p>\nWhen the Earth Shook<\/h3>\n
Spectacularly Beautiful<\/h3>\n