Comments & Critiques are encouraged and should be emailed to info@woofbooks.com.

What They're Saying:

"Better Boobs will be up on the Girls With Insurance website. Thanks again for sending this one. It's a great story and we're very proud to have it on our site." www.girlswithinsurance.com

Liz Noun, Editor

"There's no question Mark Barkawitz can write. He delivers evocative images, crisp phrasing and a narrative that possesses pace and momentum. You get the feeling he knows what he's talking about . . . in his well-written prose and poetry. The author has a clean writing style and I think others will think so, too. I enjoyed the drawings and thought they added a nice touch." (Woof : A Collection of Dog Tales & Ghosts of a Christmas Past)

Writer's Digest, Cincinnati, Ohio

Very awesome ("Getting Off Mount Rushmore"). You're very talented. Rock on! Send more if you got 'em!

Gabe Lowe--Editor Censored Poets

"I trawled through hundreds of terrible websites looking for writers who work within Teenage genre. When we found yours and read the contents it was like a ray of sunshine, I tell you. I loved F.O.G. and my students raved over the page I read them."

William Patterson, Director/Professor, Screenplay Drama School, Oxford, England

"Love it! ("Getting Off Mount Rushmore") Raw, simple, and my first reaction was 'Ouch!'"

Lady Maramalade, www.halvingababy.blogspot.com

"I sat on the bed and read the whole thing (Kid Stuff). Laughing. Commenting. Loved 'Iron Wheels.' Really touching. 'Like My Father' hit a cord--'Why you look so mean, man?' And the one about your daughter running track with her 'ponytail waving blondely behind.' I can just see it, flopping in the wind. What a picture."

Chris Grisanti, photographer, Monrovia, CA

"I absolutely loved the poems (Kid Stuff). Especially 'Aint That Your Son' and 'Two-Hundred Meters.' I'm going to pass your book on to my friends. I read a lot and I like the way you create images. It's almost as if I'm there."

Gail Gammill, Sierra Food Development, Sierra Madre, CA

"I usually avoid poetry and clicked on "Ain't That Your Son?" in error. However, I love this piece. I'm happy I read it: it definitely changed how I think of poetry, and possibly even how I think of my eighteen-year-old son! Look forward to more from you."

Andrea, www.soulscribe.com

"Loved the book (Kid Stuff). Very clever."

Kelly & Joni McGinnis, Wailuku, HI

"We've truly enjoyed your writings (WOOF & KID STUFF). Your life has been quite an adventure and you've captured your experiences in an easy and entertaining style. In addition to displaying comedy in less than amusing situations--love the cactus story ("Crazy Dog")--your writings clearly demonstrate that you are a loving husband, proud and active father, and all 'round nice guy. Keep up the great work . . . and please keep me on your mailing list."

Stephanie Grunewald, technical writer, Warwick, NY

"Your Kid Stuff book was awesome. We really loved it."

Heather Banis, Child Psychologist, Arcadia, CA

"Loved the book (Kid Stuff)! I can somehow relate. 'Like My Father' touched me. 'Bark @ 49,' too. Unreal!!!"

Pat Lawrence, Central Point, OR

"Congratulations on your cool book, Woof! I especially enjoyed the tale of your No. California surfer dude experience with the phantom, the chili man, and the snake in the dashboard. I caught a glimpse of you through your writing that I enjoyed as much as tipping those beers with you in Big Sur."

Bob Edmondson, musician, Santa Rosa, CA

"Very enjoyable read (Woof: A Collection of Dog Tales). Good laughs. Touching times. Refreshing. Fun. Up. High. Reminded me stylistically of Round Ireland with a Fridge (New York Times Best Seller).Both full of chuckles and adventures, too."

Suzanne Bush, Educator, Monrovia, CA

"Really enjoying it (Woof: A Collection of Dog Tales). You really paint a picture."

Chris Cornet, Eugene, Oregon

"I read your Woof book while sitting on the beach at Pismo. It was a blast. So much fun. I was cracking up. I look forward to your next book."

Ed Eskeline, Manager ICI Paints, Pasadena, CA

"I just finished reading Woof and enjoyed it immensely. It brought back memories of my own life with dogs and my very first dog named 'Ginger.' Looking forward to your next book."

Tony Ingrassia, Howard Beach, New York

“It’s great! (Woof: A Collection of Dog Tales)”

Linda Weber, owner of Basic Furniture, Sierra Madre, CA.

“I'm really enjoying your book (Woof: A Collection of Dog Tales). I keep it in my briefcase and read parts while waiting at the airport.”

Dan Unfried, chauffeur, South Pasadena, CA.

"My teenage girls loved it (Woof: A Collection of Dog Tales). Could not put it down. I finally had to tell them to stop reading and first eat their dinners. Absolutely loved it."

Linda Schwietzer, astronomer, San Marino, CA

"I bought the last one (Woof: A Collection of Dog Tales) on the shelf. I really liked it. I couldn't put it down."

Lori Shayew, Special Ed teacher, Pasadena, CA

"Thanks for the (Kid) Stuff. It's a howl."

"'Nobody Knows' (IOU 1) is one of the great stories of all time."

Howard Junker, Editor/Publisher Zyzzyva (twenty-first most prestigious literary journal in U.S. -- Writer's Digest, '01), San Francisco, CA

"We really enjoyed your book (Woof: A Collection of Dog Tales). You're an awesome writer. The way you describe things really made me feel as if I were taking part in your story. I told my daughter Megan to read it so she can learn from you. So glad we bought it."

Marti Browne, Golden Browne Kennels, Phelan, CA

"We truly enjoy your writing. Looking forward to your next publication (Ghosts of a Christmas Past)."

Jack & Virginia Sauer, Westwood, NJ

"I think it is generally agreed that Mark is easily one of the most talented writers to have emerged from our university, and the level of creativity here is not negligible... I always enjoy (his) Christmas books."

Gerald Locklin, Professor of English, CSULB, and author of over one-hundred books of prose, poetry, and literary criticism.

"This is not poetry."

Editor, J. Mark Anthologies, Boynton Beach, FL.

"Your poetry book (CA5OH) just made my holiday season! I loved sitting down and reading something thoughtful--and zany, too-- in this overly-busy time. I loved 'from Ghosts of a Christmas Past' (excerpt) ... Please send us more! This is wonderful."

Bonnie Selway, reader, Manhatten Beach, CA.

"It isn't fluff. There's a real moral dilemma here (Ghosts of a Christmas Past)."

Dennis Phillips, founding editor of Littoral Books, senior faculty at Otis College of Art & Design, Oxidental College, and Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA, and author of nine books of poetry and prose.

"Good writing must in some way stir profound reflection about life. I find this evident in your book... IOU 1 suggests our interconnectedness."

Stanley Kienzle, street minister, Pasadena, CA.

"A real page-turner. I had no idea where you were going with this but had to find out... A work of art (Ghosts of a Christmas Past)."

Keven Cloud Brechner, illustrator, owner of Time River Prods., & station manager at PCAC Studios.

"Thanks for sending good work our way!"

Frank Van Zant, poetry editor, Sport Literate, Chicago, IL.

“This is a delicate premise that could have gone awry but was held in balance by the excellent execution. This storyline (Eyes of the Snake) has no holes that I can see. I never asked why a character did what they did. It all fell into place with a pace and tension that kept me involved. The set up, follow through and resolution were all well handled. Great story.”

Reader’s Report, Festival Films Ltd,. Vancouver, Canada.