The Happy Clam

2021 Eric Hoffer Book Award Category Finalist

"This short, sweet book is like a long conversation with your really smart best friend.

The personal insights shared, the failures and successes, the tips on how to find the positive and even the recipes all add to make this a very good workbook for living."
—IBPA Benjamin Franklin Book Award Judges Panel

"During a time when the whole world is feeling quite down and lost, a book such as this is welcomed with open arms.

Prose: Schmidt has a way of meandering through her thoughts cohesively and eloquently. Although her ideas blend together to a degree, they do so in an intentional fashion, stitched together with facts, citations, quotes, poetry, and recipes.

Originality: The Happy Clam is a self-help book about finding one's inner happiness and contentment – a topic that has been well traveled. However, Schmidt has the ability to tread these waters with a unique perspective, and successfully manages to take a tired subject and breathe new life into it."
—The BookLife Prize

"Throughout, she revealed herself as insightful and funny, charming and wise, qualities that, along with the rigor of her presentation of research, ensure The Happy Clam stands out from the pack of self-help books on happiness. She is realistic and positive in the same breath, illuminating how 'elusive happiness' can seem attainable to readers.

Takeaway: A quick, thorough, inviting self-help book on ways to seek, find, and maintain happiness in adulthood."
—BookLife Review

“The Happy Clam is a book that should be on the bookshelves of everyone in the current climate. Rosemary A. Schmidt has a way with words that invigorates your soul and makes you feel optimistic despite the countless problems facing society at large. The author relates the pain of losing her sister and her mother, but she manages to find a way to navigate through the grieving period. She also recounts her experiences of working as a supervisor. There is a surprising amount of humor sprinkled throughout the pages that makes Schmidt's writing all the more engaging, and I honestly found myself chuckling out loud once or twice. You also get some really cool recipes to soothe your stomach as well as your soul. Highly recommended.”
—Pikasho Deka, for Readers’ Favorite (5 stars)

“I came away from reading The Happy Clam, feeling motivated and inspired to take more steps to ease up on the things that are currently dragging me down. I will focus on spending more time on taking care of my own wellbeing. In turn, in the long run, this will enable me to feel better physically, mentally and spiritually. This is highly recommended reading and would make a thoughtful gift for someone who is seeking a way back to a happier life.”
—Paige Lovitt, for Reader Views (5 stars)

Book Launch, Talk and Giveaway March 20th, 2022, timed to coincide with International World Happiness Day. Virtual via Zoom. Tickets are free, but seats are limited.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-happy-clam-book-launch-talk-giveaway-tickets-252533403207

BookTrib will be posting reviews and issuing press releases in March 2022 to promote the book talk, followed by distribution of a book brief to syndicated newspapers.

Reviews have been obtained from: BookLife, Readers’ Favorites, Reader Views, US Review of Books.

BookLife five-star review to be included in its publication 2/21/2022.

Publishers Weekly Select listing is planned for the 3/28/2022 edition of PW Select, the monthly supplement dedicated to the self-publishing industry and bound into the print and digital editions of Publishers Weekly.

Book giveaways are in progress on the Readers’ Favorite and Reader Views websites in Feb 2022.

Additional talks, events, and book giveaways are planned for the summer of 2022.