Search results for ""Author Melinda"

As severe environmental degradation, breathtaking inequality, and increasing alienation push capitalism against its own contradictions, mythmaking has become as central to sustaining our economy as profitmaking. Enter the new prophets of capital: Sheryl Sandberg touting the capitalist work ethic as the antidote to gender inequality; John Mackey promising that free markets will heal the planet; Oprah Winfrey urging us to find solutions to poverty and alienation within ourselves; and Bill and Melinda Gates offering the generosity of the 1 percent as the answer to a persistent, systemic inequality. The new prophets of capital buttress an exploitative system, even as the cracks grow more visible.

Read more less

Praise for Money & Happiness "Laura Rowley makes us all understand the money-happiness connection in our own lives so that we spend our time and our efforts wisely. She gets to the heart of why money can bring feelings of stress, joy, and freedom, and Rowley offers insight that every reader can use to make smarter decisions that will lead to living a rich life in every possible definition of the term." --Lucy Danziger, Editor in Chief, Self magazine "This is a wry and companionable guide to getting your finances in better sync with your values, and who wouldn't be enriched by that?" --Melinda Henneberger, Contributing Editor, Newsweek "Money and Happiness takes cold, hard, financial information and warms it up through the voice of your best friend. You'll find out how to achieve your life dreams, and avoid money nightmares. The cost of this book may be the best investment you'll ever make." --Kevin McKinley, CFP, author of Make Your Kid a Millionaire and host of public radio's On Your Money "Let Laura Rowley guide you to a rational and rewarding life by helping you re-order your approach to your financial well-being. This book covers all the dimensions you need to know about how to plan properly for your reality. She teaches that you need not be loaded to be happy. And she shows you how to set, then achieve, your goals. For your sanity, Rowley is a welcome antidote to the wave of materialism washing over our culture." --Allan Dodds Frank, Bloomberg Television

Read more less

We are the ones who came after the comet. We survived the great wave that covered the world. We are the chosen.The first in a breathtaking and unique series, packed with magic, prophecy, and a thrilling competition, for fans of Melinda Salisbury and Victoria Aveyard.Aula and Joomia have been chosen to decide the fate of their people. On their eighteenth birthday, the girls will compete in a mysterious and dangerous trial to prevent a war between their two nations.Now, with just a year left, Aula and Joomia must prepare. There's no time for friendship, no space for love. But how can you train for a deadly challenge you know nothing about?Only one girl will claim Ariadnis's final prize. Only one will survive.

Read more less

Technology moves fast - so where will it have taken us by 2050? How will it affect the way we live? And how far are we willing to let it go? In Megatech, distinguished scientists, industry leaders, star academics and acclaimed science-fiction writers join journalists from The Economist to explore answers to these questions and more. Twenty experts in the field, including Nobel prize-winner Frank Wilczek, Silicon Valley venture-capitalist Ann Winblad, philanthropist Melinda Gates and science-fiction author Alastair Reynolds identify the big ideas, fantastic inventions and potentially sinister trends that will shape our future. Join them to explore a brave new world of brain-computer interfaces, vat-grown cruelty-free meat, knitted cars and guided bullets. The writers predict the vast changes that technology will bring to everything from food production to health care, energy output, manufacturing and the military balance. They also consider the impact on jobs, and how we can prepare for the opportunities, as well as the dangers, that await. Thought-provoking, engaging and full of insight from the forefront of tech innovation, Megatech is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand tomorrow's world.

Read more less

The first trilogy of the WILD CARDS series comes to a shocking conclusion in this superhero epic edited by bestselling author of GAME OF THRONES George R. R. MartinAmidst the fun and festivities of Wild Card Day there is an evil mind lurking, who hopes that the celebrations will go off with more than a band. The streets of New York have erupted in celebration of Wild Card Day - the annual event held every September 15th to remember the dead and cherish the living. It is a day for fireworks, street fairs and parades, for political rallies and memorial banquets, for drinking and fighting in the alleys. With each passing year, the festivities become larger and more fevered. And this year - 1986, the fortieth anniversary - promises to be the biggest and best Wild Card Day ever. The media and tourists have discovered the celebration, and taverns and restaurants expect record-setting. But lurking in the background is a twisted genius who cares nothing for the fun and festivity. The Astronomer has only one concern: destruction ...Featuring plotlines and writing from George R. R. Martin, John J. Miller, Lewis Shiner, Melinda Snodgrass and more, this novel wraps up the opening WILD CARDS series, while also setting the stage for future adventures.

Read more less

An explosive romantasy YA, perfect for fans of The Hunger Games and Lore. "A thrilling, fast-paced, and brutal tale of revenge, loyalty, courage, and friendship. Avery has created a world that is merciless in its cruelty and trickery, and a cast of gods who revel in causing chaos, but Ara, a heroine full of heart, is more than a match for even the wickedest of them." - Melinda Salisbury, bestselling author of Her Dark Wings Every Lunar Eclipse signifies the beginning of The Immortal Games: an epic set of games played by the Gods of Olympus, with randomly-selected humans as their Tokens. The stakes are high; the Gods covet entertainment and glory above all else, for the Tokens, it's about survival. 17-year-old Ara wants revenge. Revenge on the Gods for allowing her older sister to die in the Games. She's determined to be selected as a Token and find a weapon powerful enough to kill a God. But when she's plucked from the clutches of death by Hades, God of the Underworld, the odds are stacked against her. Hades is the outcast of the Gods, and the only one who has never won the games. But he soon realises that Ara does not fear death, just as she does not fear him, and when a wager with Zeus and Poseidon puts both their futures at stake, the games take on a new meaning. With each challenge, the games become more brutal. Can Ara put aside her rage and survive? For fans of Circe, Ariadne and The Silence of the Girls. Perfectly plotted Greek Mythology and Astrology makes this the perfect YA for BookTok. Cover stunningly illustrated by Instagram star, Tom Roberts.

Read more less

In See How We Roll Melinda Hinkson follows the experiences of Nungarrayi, a Warlpiri woman from the Central Australian desert, as she struggles to establish a new life for herself in the city of Adelaide. Banished from her hometown, Nungarrayi energetically navigates promises of transformation as well as sedimented racialized expectations on the urban streets. Drawing on a decades-long friendship, Hinkson explores these circumstances through Nungarrayi's relationships: those between her country and kin that sustain and confound life beyond the desert, those that regulate her marginalized citizenship, and the new friendships called out by displacement and metropolitan life. An intimate ethnography, See How We Roll provides great insight into the enduring violence of the settler colonial state while illuminating the efforts of Indigenous people to create lives of dignity and shared purpose in the face of turbulence, grief, and tightening governmental controls.

Read more less

Authors Jeff Anderson, Travis Leech, and Melinda Clark lead a vibrant approach to grammar instruction in Patterns of Power, Grades 6-8: Inviting Adolescent Writers into the Conventions of Language. Here, young, emergent writers are invited to notice the conventions of the English language and build off them in this inquiry-based approach to instructional grammar. The book comes with standards-aligned lessons that can be incorporated in just 10 minutes a day. Patterns of Power’s responsive, invitational approach puts students in an involved role and has them explore and discuss the purpose and meaning of what they read. Students study short, authentic texts and are asked to share their findings out loud, engaging in rich conversations to make meaning. Inside you’ll find: Ready-to-use lesson plan sets that include excerpts from authentic and diverse mentor texts curated for grades 6-8 Real-life classroom examples, tips, and Power Notes gleaned from the authors’ experiences that can be applied to any level of writer Resources, including a Patterns of Power Planning Guide and musical soundtracks, to use in classroom instruction or as handouts for student literacy notebooks Patterns of Power, Grades 6-8 provides a simple classroom routine that is structured in length and approach, but provides teachers flexibility in choosing the texts, allowing for numerous, diverse voices in the classroom. The practice helps students build cognitive recognition and provides a formative assessment for teachers on student progress. With these short lessons, students will gain confidence and move beyond limitation to produce effortless writing in your class and beyond. The Patterns of Power series also includes Patterns of Power, Grades 1-5: Inviting Young Writers into the Conventions of Language; Patterns of Power en Español, Grades 1-5: Inviting Bilingual Writers into the Conventions of Spanish; Patterns of Power, Grades 9-12: Teaching Grammar Through Reading and Writing; and Patterns of Wonder, Grades PreK-1: Inviting Emergent Writers to Play with the Conventions of Language.

Read more less

“VERDICT: Waters’s first novel is an engrossing mix of small-town lack of privacy, quirky friendships, feisty women, and several plot twists that truly do surprise . . .” —Library Journal “The Dead Won’t Tell is a remarkable and impressive debut.” —Kris Calvin, award-winning author of Under A Broken Sky No secret is buried deep enough. When Abbie Adams, a historian-turned-journalist, is hired to investigate a cold-case murder from 1969, she jumps at the chance. But soon after she begins researching the case, she realizes that Frank Wexler, the faculty advisor who tanked her thesis and a member of a powerful family in town, is connected to the crime and is definitely not talking. As Abbie tracks down the remaining living witnesses, she slowly pieces together the events of that fateful night, and yet is not a single step closer to solving the case. Were the police back then told to stand down? To cover up the crime? When her witnesses suddenly wind up dead, it becomes clear that Abbie has stumbled upon a sensitive truth that threatens to tear the fabric of the southern town apart. The killer could still be out there, and now he could be hunting her.For fans who enjoy Melinda Leigh’s Drown Her Sorrows, A Flicker in the Dark by Stacey Willingham, The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James, and All Good People Here by Ashley Flowers.

Read more less

'Thrilling! The Hostage is an intense, white-knuckle ride from start to finish' LAURA GRIFFIN'An action-packed, don't-blink-or-you'll-miss-something kind of novel, which makes it impossible to put down once you've started reading' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader review'This was my first book by Melinda Di Lorenzo and I definitely will be looking out for her books in future, it was outstanding' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader review'A captivating, action packed thriller that didn't let up from the beginning to the end and kept me riveted long into the night' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader review'Riveting read - could not put it down!' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader review'I read a ton of romantic suspense but this book was fantastic! This story had so many twists and turns! I didn't figure out any of them. Definitely worth the time to read!' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader review'High energy, exciting and edge of your seat suspense' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader review'An amazing story that sucks you in on the first page' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader reviewHe was the last person she expected to save her life . . . Air Force One meets The Fugitive with a thrillingly romantic spin in Melinda Di Lorenzo's gripping suspense novel. Perfect for fans of Nora Roberts, Melinda Leigh and Debra Webb. .................................Surviving the plane crash was the easy part. After losing someone close to her, nurse Joelle Diedrich needs a change of scene. But stepping in as a last-minute medical escort on a prisoner transfer flight results in a bigger one than she bargained for. Waking in the wreckage of a crash, Joelle swiftly gathers that no one else on the plane was what they seemed. And if she wants to make it out of this alive, she must place her trust in the only survivor who's not trying to kill her: Beck, the convicted murderer who was being transported. Fleeing with Beck presents more than one danger - not only that of simple survival across treacherous terrain, but by making Joelle a target in a ruthless plot. As the threats multiply and Beck and Joelle grow closer, Joelle has to ask herself just how much she's willing to risk for a man she's just met, and figure out whether Beck will risk the same for her . . ..................................Readers are gripped by The Hostage!'The anticipation is taut, the surprises are many, and the twists come to skew what one might think one has figured out. It is an exciting, romantic, suspenseful read with a very satisfying ending'A captivating, action-packed thriller that didn't let up from the beginning to the end and kept me riveted long into the night . . . Highly recommend!''A good mystery romance with a twist I couldn't have predicted''All this book was missing was Nicolas Cage - it definitely gave me some serious Con Air vibes - but with way more romance . . . I highly recommend this as a action suspense romance''Fast-paced and entertaining''I enjoyed this book, particularly the relationship between Beck and Joelle and their amusing dialogue! It reminded me of a mix between Con Air and Romancing The Stone'

Read more less

Tells the heart-wrenching story of a family torn between emigration and immigration and paints evocative portraits of the former Yugoslavia and modern-day Switzerland. In this novel, Melinda Nadj Abonji interweaves two narrative strands, recounting the history of three generations of the Kocsis family and chronicling their hard-won assimilation. Originally part of Serbia's Hungarian-speaking minority in the Vojvodina, the Kocsis family immigrates to Switzerland in the early 1970s when their hometown is still part of the Yugoslav republic. Parents Miklos and Rosza land in Switzerland knowing just one word-work. And after three years of backbreaking, menial work, both legal and illegal, they are finally able to obtain visas for their two young daughters, Ildiko and Nomi, who safely join them. However, for all their efforts to adapt and assimilate they still must endure insults and prejudice from members of their new community and helplessly stand by as the friends and family members

Read more less

An intriguing proposition. A web of passion and deception.If you love Melinda Leigh, Laura Griffin and Linda Howard, you'll be gripped by Rhyannon Byrd's passionate and exciting romantic thriller, London Affair.Preorder Rhyannon's next explosive romantic thriller, filled with passion...and murder, New York Scandal, now! Just search: 9781472281333 Readers give Rhyannon Byrd 5 stars!'Amazing story and action, as always''Addictive and enthralling''Had me from the first page''Fantastic...interesting and gripping''Love all her books'American art-history graduate Emmy Reed is in London, hoping to land her dream job by getting an exclusive scoop on a famous reclusive artist. When fate throws her into the path of millionaire playboy Jase Beckett, Emmy is determined to turn down his proposal to be his date for a family wedding. That is, until she discovers that her sought-after artist is his grandfather.Tired of the game-playing women in his circle, Jase finds Emmy refreshingly fascinating. And as the weekend progresses and they work together to survive his insufferable family's devious scheming, Emmy and Jase find themselves drowning in an intoxicating sexual chemistry that leaves them both desperate for more...and reeling emotionally.When their stunning weekend is over, neither is ready to let go. But dark secrets surround the Beckett family - can their fledgling relationship survive the damaging and dangerous revelations to come?*London Affair brings the serial parts, The Weekend, The Chase and The Confession, together for the first time*'London Affair is signature Rhyannon Byrd - exciting, sexy, and romantic. Byrd brilliantly crafts a steamy love story with a couple that dazzles, and I couldn't put it down!' Virna DePaul, New York Times bestselling author'From London to the English countryside, Jase and Emmy burn up the sheets in...Rhyannon Byrd's London Affair' P.T. Michelle, New York Times bestselling authorLooking for more sexy reads from Rhyannon Byrd? Check out the steamy Dangerous Tides titles: Take Me Under, Make Me Yours and Keep Me Closer.

Read more less

An original and insightful roadmap on how to become a more inclusive and empathetic leaderAll of us can be better allies for each other, creating stronger and happier workplaces together. Allyship is about understanding the imbalance in opportunity and working to correct it. How to Be an Ally reveals that the key to true inclusion, equity, and diversity is allyship.Drawing from her experience as a strategic advisor for tech companies, startups, tech hubs, and governments around the world, Melinda Briana Epler provides valuable insights on how business leaders can create a more equitable workplace by leading the change. You’ll learn how to implement big and small changes to build a diverse team and ensure everyone on your team is included, heard, understood, and acknowledged. Building on that inclusion, you’ll be able to grow a stronger, more successful organization. Original and insightful, How to Be an Ally humanizes diversity and inclusion, and facilitates greater empathy and understanding between people of all backgrounds, teaching us that each of us can learn to understand the imbalance in opportunity, work to correct it, and help create a better workplace for ourselves and our colleagues.

Read more less

An Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestseller. Shocking evidence hits close to home for attorney Morgan Dane and PI Lance Kruger as Melinda Leigh’s multimillion-copy bestselling series continues. Private investigator Lance Kruger was just a boy when his father vanished twenty-three years ago. Since then he’s lived under the weight of that disappearance—until his father’s car is finally dredged up from the bottom of Grey Lake. It should be a time for closure, except for the skeleton found in the trunk. A missing person case gone cold has become one of murder, and Lance and attorney Morgan Dane must face the deadly past that’s risen to the surface. For Lance, the investigation yields troubling questions about a man he thought he knew. But memories can play dirty tricks. For Morgan, uncovering each new lie comes with a disquieting fear that someone is out there watching, because someone is killing every witness tied to this decades-old crime. Morgan and Lance follow in the shadows of a relentless killer and walk right into the cross fire.

Read more less

In Seeding Empire, Aaron Eddens rewrites an enduring story about the pastand futureof global agriculture. Eddens connects today's efforts to cultivate a Green Revolution in Africa to a history of American projects that introduced capitalist agriculture across the Global South. Expansive in scope, this book draws on archival records of the earliest Green Revolution projects in Mexico in the 1940s and 1950s, as well as interviews at development institutions and agribusinesses working to deliver genetically modified crops to millions of small-scale farmers across Africa. From the offices of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to the halls of the world's largest agricultural biotechnology companies to field trials of hybrid maize in Kenya, Eddens shows how the Green Revolution fails to address global inequalities. Seeding Empireinsists that eradicating hunger in a world of climate crisis demands thinking beyond the Green Revolution.

Read more less

Bronze Medal Winner in the Picture Books, Early Reader category of the 2015 Foreword Reviews' INDIEFAB Book of the Year AwardsOnce upon a time there was a Princess. She had everything a little girl could ever want, and she was happy. That is, until the fog came... The Princess and the Fog is picture book to help sufferers of depression aged 5-7 cope with their difficult feelings. It uses vibrant illustrations, a sense of humour and metaphor to create a relatable, enjoyable story that describes the symptoms of childhood depression while also providing hope that things can get better with a little help and support. The story is also a great starting point for explaining depression to all children, especially those who may have a parent or close family member with depression. With an essential guide for parents and carers by clinical paediatric psychologists, Dr Melinda Edwards MBE and Linda Bayliss, this book will be of immeasurable value to anyone supporting a child with, or affected by, depression, including social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, counsellors, arts therapists, pastoral care workers and school staff, as well as parents and carers.

Read more less

Gustafson Guthrie Nichol (GGN) is a landscape architecture firm based in Seattle, Washington. GGN was founded in 1999 by Jennifer Guthrie, Shannon Nichol, and Kathryn Gustafson, and it is world-renowned for designing high-use landscapes in complex, urban contexts. GGN: Landscapes 1999-2018 is the first book devoted to their ground-breaking work. It surveys some of their most important achievements including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Campus in Seattle, Washington; the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC; the Lurie Garden at Millennium Park in Chicago, Illinois; and the Venice Biennale in Italy. Packed with practical design lessons and inspiration, this is a must-have resource for design students and professionals, and fans of beautifully designed public spaces.

Read more less

From NATIONAL BOOK FOUNDATION 5 UNDER 35 HONOREE and FLANNERY O'CONNOR AWARD WINNER Melinda Moustakis, a debut novel set in Alaska, about the turbulent marriage of two unlikely homesteadersA beautiful novel, quiet as a snowfall, warm as a glowing wood stove...Admirers of Marilynne Robinson and Alice Munro are bound to appreciate. -NPRSpare and exquisite, tough and lovely. The sentences build on themselves, becoming expansive and staggering in their sweep. -The New York Times Book ReviewAnchorage, 1956. When Marie and Lawrence first lock eyes at the Moose Lodge, they are immediately drawn together. But when they decide to marry, days later, they are more in love with the prospect of homesteading than anything else. For Lawrence, his parcel of 150 acres is an opportunity to finally belong in a world that has never delivered on its promise. For Marie, the land is an escape from the empty future she sees spinning out before her, and a

Read more less

A GUARDIAN SCIENCE BOOK OF THE YEARSHORTLISTED FOR THE 2020 ROYAL SOCIETY INSIGHT INVESTMENT SCIENCE BOOK PRIZELONGLISTED FOR THE 2020 FINANCIAL TIMES AND McKINSEY BUSINESS BOOK OF THE YEARAn urgent analysis of global gender inequality and a passionately argued case for change by a pioneer in the movement for women's economic empowerment. 'A compelling and actionable case for unleashing women's economic power.'MELINDA GATES'Passionate and timely . . . in a world where so many of us stick to criticising the status quo, it's heartening to read someone willing to offer viable solutions.'CAROLINE CRIADO-PEREZ, OBSERVER (author of Invisible Women)The Double X Economy is an urgent analysis of global gender inequality and a fervently argued case for change by a pioneer in the movement for women's economic empowerment. Drawing on decades of statistical evidence, original research and global on-the-ground experience, Linda Scott outlines a revolutionary, actionable plan to remove economic barriers against women, and in the process combat humankind's most pressing problems.'One of the most objective, data-led, rigorously scientific and morally persuasive books of the year.'GUARDIAN (Books of the Year)'Shocking.' ADAM RUTHERFORD, BBC INSIDE SCIENCE'Scholarly and impassioned.' FINANCIAL TIMES'Essential.' TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT'Powerful.' NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW***The Double X Economy published in 2022 in paperback under the title The Cost of Sexism.

Read more less

As the world’s billionaire class reaps record profits and global inequalities further divide nations and communities, this anthology compiled by renown activist Dr. Vandana Shiva pulls back the curtain on how ruthless capitalistic exploitation branded as philanthropic altruism forges a direct path to global destruction. Philanthrocapitalism and the Erosion of Democracy: A Global Citizens’ Report on the Corporate Control of Technology, Health, and Agriculturedetails how global philanthrocapitalist organizations like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and affiliated entities effectively monopolize and privatize common land for food production in a manner that jeopardizes public health around the globe.Through various initiatives, sub-organizations, development schemes, and funding mechanisms, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s empire in particular weaves an intricate network of power and influence designed to ensnare local communities and traditions in an unwavering pursuit of profit and market expansion.Philanthrocapitalism and the Erosion of Democracycalls to account problematic initiatives that serve to corrode the integrity of democratic institutions, often under a banner of future-oriented innovation. This book lays bare the destructive power of overly capitalistic systems that enable mass human suffering and environmental catastrophe via the entanglement of private investment and public policy.This democratic emergency is analyzed in detail by leading experts and civil society movements’ leaders, such as: Dr. Vandana Shiva, Farida Akhter, José Esquinas Alcàzar, Nicoletta Dentico, Fernando Cabaleiro, Seth Itzkan, Dru Jay, Satish Kumar, Jonathan Latham, Aidé Jiménez-Martínez, Chito Medina, Zahra Moloo, Silvia Ribeiro, Adelita San Vicente, Ali Tapsoba, Jim Thomas, Timothy A. Wise. International organizations and national movements who also participated include ETC Group, Community Alliance for Global Justice/AGRA Watch, Soil4Climate, Bioscience Resource, GM Watch, Naturaleza de Derechos – Argentina, Masipag – Philippines, Terre à Vie – Burkina Faso, UBINIG – Bangladesh.

Read more less

“Encouraging…Uplifting...Meeting apparently insurmountable goals requires thinking big…this will inspire.” —Publishers Weekly “Raj Shah has written a practical guide to making the world a better place. He knows what he’s talking about, because he’s done it himself. Anyone who wants to make a change in the world, or their own lives, will benefit from this book.” —Bill Gates, Cochair, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Rajiv J. Shah, president of the Rockefeller Foundation and former administrator of President Barack Obama’s United States Agency for International Development, shares a dynamic new model for creating large scale change, inspired by his own involvements with some of the largest humanitarian projects of our time.Rajiv J. Shah is no stranger to pulling off the impossible, from helping vaccinate 900 million children at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to a high-pressure race against the clock to stop the spread of Ebola. His secret? A big bets philosophy—the idea that seeking to solve problems rather than make incremental improvements can attract the unlikely partners with the power and know-how to achieve transformational change. Part career sweeping memoir, part inspirational playbook, Big Bets offers a master class in decision-making, leadership, and changing the world one bet at a time. Shah animates his strategic insights with vivid behind-the-scenes stories, memorable conversations with household names that helped shape his approach to creating change, and his own personal growth as an Indian-American from an immigrant family looking for a way to belong. He distills his battle-tested strategies for creating change, arguing that big bets have a surprising advantage over cautious ones: a bold vision can attract support, collaborations, and fresh ideas from key players who might otherwise be resistant. Throughout the book, Shah traces his unlikely path to the Rockefeller Foundation across a changing world and through some of the most ambitious, dramatic global efforts to create a better world.

Read more less

“Any time you see Melinda Leigh’s name on a book cover, you know you’re in for a sexy, sinister, twist-ridden read.” —USA Today Curator Dr. Louisa Hancock left behind Maine and her troubled past for Philadelphia and a job at a prominent museum. Just when it seems that Louisa’s new life is safe from her dark secrets, the body of a museum intern is found—the victim of a brutal and baffling murder. Louisa realizes this is no random crime. And when another intern goes missing, the abduction is linked to the only man who has ever tempted Louisa’s heart—Conor Sullivan, the owner of a Philly sports bar. Louisa’s past has taught her to be wary, but her heart refuses to believe Conor is guilty. Now Conor and Louisa must dodge a police investigation as they race to find the real killer before another girl turns up dead. In their darkest hour, they find themselves drawn to each other. But trusting Conor could be deadly, especially as the evidence against him mounts…and as a merciless killer targets Louisa as the next victim.

Read more less

Melinda Curtis brings the spice for the holidays with this small-town romance featuring a woman who must maintain a secret identity and the man who begins falling for her.This holiday season, kindergarten teacher Mary Margaret Sneed never imagined she'd be unwrapping...herself. But a burlesque side gig is the young widow's only hope of paying off her late husband's substantial debt. With her reputation and career on the line, she performs in disguise, under the stage name Foxy Roxy. But her secret identity is threatened when Roxy's biggest fan turns out to be Mary Margaret's biggest crush -- the handsome-as-sin mayor of Preston!Newly divorced single dad Kevin Hadley is prepping to make the jump from mayor to state assemblyman. He knows he should be settling down with someone quiet and practical, someone like Mary Margaret Sneed. The last thing Kevin needs right now is a steamy scandal. But he just can't stop thinking about Foxy Roxy...and if Preston's matchmaking Widows Club has their way this Christmas, Kevin won't have to...Includes a bonus novella by Hope Ramsay!

Read more less

Exhausted by her job as a political press secretary, Melinda Roth found the courage to escape. Her goal: a simpler life in rural Illinois that would let her pursue her passion for writing. But then real life intervened. A fire at a neighboring farm and a misinterpreted gesture of kindness transformed her into the reluctant caretaker of a homeless menagerie of animals. Roth, coauthor of the New York Times-bestseller From Baghdad with Love, writes vividly, movingly, and often humorously of the chaos that descended into her life. One of her new tenants was a wild mustang, broken but not bowed, his restless spirit propelling him to escape the fences and pens that enclosed him—a far different life than before he was violently captured by a government-sponsored "round-up." Ultimately these two fiercely independent characters each provide the catalyst for the other's life-changing and life-affirming decisions. Mestengo is a captivating, emotional account that taps into readers' love of animals: Marley and Me meets The Horse Whisperer. An entertaining and delightful read, it is a cinematic, sometimes tense, but always beautiful story of the power of healing.

Read more less

The French philosopher Gilles Deleuze was one of the most innovative and revolutionary thinkers of the twentieth century. Author of more than twenty books on literature, music, and the visual arts, Deleuze published the first volume of his two-volume study of film, Cinema 1: The Movement-Image, in 1983 and the second volume, Cinema 2: The Time-Image, in 1985. Since their publication, these books have had a profound impact on the study of film and philosophy. Film, media, and cultural studies scholars still grapple today with how they can most productively incorporate Deleuze's thought.The first new collection of critical studies on Deleuze's cinema writings in nearly a decade, Afterimages of Gilles Deleuze's Film Philosophy provides original essays that evaluate the continuing significance of Deleuze's film theories, accounting systematically for the ways in which they have influenced the investigation of contemporary visual culture and offering new directions for research.Contributors: Raymond Bellour, Centre Nationale de Recherches Scientifiques; Ronald Bogue, U of Georgia; Giuliana Bruno, Harvard U; Ian Buchanan, Cardiff U; James K. Chandler, U of Chicago; Tom Conley, Harvard U; Amy Herzog, CUNY; András Bálint Kovács, Eötvös Loránd U; Patricia MacCormack, Anglia Ruskin U; Timothy Murray, Cornell U; Dorothea Olkowski, U of Colorado; John Rajchman, Columbia U; Marie-Claire Ropars-Wuilleumier, U Paris VIII; Garrett Stewart, U of Iowa; Damian Sutton, Glasgow School of Art; Melinda Szaloky, UC Santa Barbara.

Read more less

The Wild Cards series reboots with new authors, new heroes and a new directionIn 1946, an alien virus that rewrites human DNA was accidentally unleashed in the skies over New York City. It killed ninety percent of those it infected. Nine percent of those who survived mutated into tragically deformed creatures. And one percent gained superpowers. The Wild Cards shared-universe series, created and edited since 1987 by NEW YORK TIMES No.1 bestseller George R.R. Martin along with Melinda Snodgrass, is the tale of the history of the world since then - and of the heroes among that one percent.Now it is time for a new generation of heroes - and writers - to pick up the baton.Twenty-eight extraordinary people - Aces, people who have contracted the deadly Wild Cards virus and lived - sign onto a reality TV show. These young heroes have never really been heroic, but each has a superhuman skill.Initially divided up into four suits while competing in staged contests as only LA-LA land could dream up, the losers are voted off the show until, at last, the greatest American Hero will be left standing. As the weeks go by, those remaining in the competition are stunned by sickening events in the Middle East. Their inane challenges look silly when compared to those unpowered people risking their lives. Will this group of over-privileged and under-informed 'celebrities' be able to make a real difference to the world? And how many of them really care?

Read more less

Rising inequality is the defining feature of our age. With the lion’s share of wealth growth going to the top, for a growing percentage of society a middle-class existence is out of reach. What exactly are the economic shifts that have driven the social transformations taking place in Anglo-capitalist societies? In this timely book, Lisa Adkins, Melinda Cooper and Martijn Konings argue that the rise of the asset economy has produced a new logic of inequality. Several decades of property inflation have seen asset ownership overshadow employment as a determinant of class position. Exploring the impact of generational dynamics in this new class landscape, the book advances an original perspective on a range of phenomena that are widely debated but poorly understood – including the growth of wealth inequalities and precarity, the dynamics of urban property inflation, changes in fiscal and monetary policy and the predicament of the “millennial” generation. Despite widespread awareness of the harmful effects of Quantitative Easing and similar asset-supporting measures, we appear to have entered an era of policy “lock-in” that is responsible for a growing disconnect between popular expectations and institutional priorities. The resulting polarization underlies many of the volatile dynamics and rapidly shifting alliances that dominate today’s headlines.

Read more less

A compelling fantasy adventure with a strong feminist message, for fans of Melinda Salisbury and Victoria Aveyard.Less than a year since their cities were joined, the people of Athenas and Metis are still arguing. When the island is invaded by Vulcan, whose resource-ravaged, overpopulated island wants to claim Chloris as its own, Etain's new leadership is compromised. The only way she can restore her people's confidence and save her island is to take up a sea quest to retrieve a magical item from a volcano. Alongside her brother Taurus, Etain sets sail for the volcano. But they soon discover there is more to the quest than they realised.It's up to Etain to be the leader she is destined to be. Should she fight, or should she try to unite?'Impressive and thought-provoking - this is a skilfully constructed fantasy adventure with strong, distinct central characters and an ending that will have readers desperate for the next episode.' LoveReading4Kids on Ariadnis

Read more less

The Times and Financial Times Book of the YearA revelatory model that explains how we buy, sell, work and live.'Absolutely brilliant.' Daniel Kahneman, author of Thinking, Fast and Slow___Meet the business anthropologists seeking to explain how we buy, sell, work and think.From supermarkets to factories, trading floors to tech firms, their methods are revealing the hidden codes that define our lives.The result is a wholly new way to see human behaviour: anthro-vision.__One of the World's Top 50 Thinkers - Prospect'This engaging book argues why more businesses (and people) should look to anthropology if they want to succeed.' Books of the Year, The Times'Will turn your world upside down in the best possible way. Fun, profound and bursting with important insights.' Tim Harford'A terrific piece of work.' Thomas Friedman'Anyone working to rebuild a more equal world will benefit from Tett's well-argued case that to solve twenty-first-century problems, we must expand our fields of vision and fill in old blind spots with new empathy.' Melinda Gates'Tett provides readers with a new intellectual framework - grounded in her deep understanding of anthropology and her path-breaking journalism - that can fundamentally transform how we approach solving society's most wicked problems . . . I cannot recommend it highly enough.' Mariana Mazzucato'In a world of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity, we need an antidote to tunnel vision, argues Gillian Tett. That antidote is Anthro-Vision . . . Admirers of her journalism will love this book, but they will also learn a great deal from it.' Niall Ferguson'A timely call for decision-makers to wean themselves off their dependency on big data and embrace the full complexity of human life.' Financial Times

Read more less

Praise for Marketing for the Mental Health Professional: An Innovative Guide for Practitioners "This book is packed with useful strategies that have worked for years and years in the business world. People who follow the advice here are going to go places." —Dr. Thomas Phelan, Psychologist and bestselling author of 1-2-3 Magic "David's book is brilliant! He guides us through our own resistance and the unquestioned beliefs we have held around marketing, money, and our profession. Not only have I received a long-overdue education, David has inspired in me the creativity, courage, and confidence to create my own vision." —Melinda Edwards, MD, Psychiatrist A hands-on guide to building a successful mental health practice There is real opportunity for growth, advancement, and overall success within the mental health profession. Marketing for the Mental Health Professional helps you acquire and apply the powerful, proven sales and marketing techniques and strategies needed to create and cultivate a thriving mental health practice. Filled with real-life stories and helpful tips, this book provides you with the tools to build your practice, including guidance on: Using customer-based selling to create a thriving practice Developing effective strategies for engaging clients, building credibility, and earning loyalty Identifying true prospects that will lead to long-term success Using power, influence, and persuasion to help grow your practice Creating an impression and being remembered Using Internet technology to start a conversation and build relevance A practical guide for professionals looking to achieve long-term success in the field, Marketing for the Mental Health Professional proposes a different way of thinking about the profession. It leverages and incorporates key business, sales, and marketing principles that "best in class" organizations and sales/marketing professionals use to generate an increase in market share, financial wealth, and overall achievement.

Read more less

Get expert advice on marketing, selling online, accounting, and more—all tailored to the current economic climate—in this new, updated edition of the go-to resource for hopeful entrepreneurs.America’s #1 small business expert is back with a brand-new, updated, and expanded edition of her essential handbook, Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months. Using her years of entrepreneurial experience, Melinda Emerson guides you through the process of opening your own business with step-by-step instructions for leading effectively, developing a winning marketing plan, setting a budget, and maintaining your business once it’s up and running. She also offers new strategies for social media techniques, customer engagement, selling online, and more. This new edition of Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months can help you build your business and invest your time (and money) where you need it most in order to succeed in today’s market. With Emerson’s expert business advice, you can finally follow your dreams and be on your way to becoming your own boss!

Read more less

Transgender Students in Elementary School offers guidance to educators who want to provide a supportive school culture and climate for transgender and gender-expansive students. The book provides recommendations for creating learning environments that facilitate all students' sense of belonging and reduce the constraints inherent in binary gender norms. Through this book, teachers and school leaders can deepen their understanding about why they need to make schools gender-inclusive and how to make it happen. Focusing on case studies of five schools, Melinda M. Mangin provides real-life quotes and vignettes that candidly illustrate the learning curve of leaders, staff, and families. These stories demonstrate both the successes and challenges of creating affirming school environments for transgender and gender-expansive students. Mangin argues that while educators are powerfully motivated by the desire to meet the needs of the transgender children in their care, change should not be limited to one-time efforts to meet one child's needs. Rather, the focus should be on creating a comprehensive school culture in which children of all gender expressions and identities can thrive.

Read more less

Establish a magickal spiritual practice and conjure the life you desire one day at a time with this excellent grimoire. Your Magickal Year is like always having a wise witchy friend by your side. Within these pages you will find all you need to know to help you live your best magickal life, even if you are a complete novice in the metaphysical arts. Tarot priestess Melinda Lee Holm details the core guidance you need to align your life with the natural flow of energy in the Universe. She gives you the basics of magick, simple Tarot spreads that anyone can master and learn from, rituals to follow for each full and new moon and a guide to key astrological dates, including the sun’s and moon’s transits through the signs, moon cycles, the solstices and equinoxes and other major astrological events. You’ll also learn how to personalise your rituals for your specific needs and discover tips throughout on integrating magickal intention into everyday life through food, personal care and more.

Read more less

Rising inequality is the defining feature of our age. With the lion’s share of wealth growth going to the top, for a growing percentage of society a middle-class existence is out of reach. What exactly are the economic shifts that have driven the social transformations taking place in Anglo-capitalist societies? In this timely book, Lisa Adkins, Melinda Cooper and Martijn Konings argue that the rise of the asset economy has produced a new logic of inequality. Several decades of property inflation have seen asset ownership overshadow employment as a determinant of class position. Exploring the impact of generational dynamics in this new class landscape, the book advances an original perspective on a range of phenomena that are widely debated but poorly understood – including the growth of wealth inequalities and precarity, the dynamics of urban property inflation, changes in fiscal and monetary policy and the predicament of the “millennial” generation. Despite widespread awareness of the harmful effects of Quantitative Easing and similar asset-supporting measures, we appear to have entered an era of policy “lock-in” that is responsible for a growing disconnect between popular expectations and institutional priorities. The resulting polarization underlies many of the volatile dynamics and rapidly shifting alliances that dominate today’s headlines.

Read more less

''Griffin''s characters leap off the page, and she throws myriad twists, turns, and red herrings into her taut plot as it rockets to a heart-pounding finale. The result is a high-stakes romantic thriller that''s sure to please'' Publishers WeeklyWith her signature breathless pacing and suspenseful twists and turns, ''Laura Griffin never fails to put me on the edge of my seat'' USA TODAYIf you love Karen Rose, Melinda Leigh and Lisa Gardner, you''ll be gripped by Laura Griffin!.......................Can she find the truth in a growing web of lies?Detective Nicole Lawson is fed up with her job and non-existent love life, especially when her first date in months gets cut short by an urgent call from the chief of police. A body has been discovered at Lighthouse Point, and news of the homicide quickly reverberates through Nicole''s hometown.Leading the investigation is Emmet Davis, a veteran detective and Nicole''s f

Read more less

Reclaim Your Fire "Teaching with Fire is a glorious collection of the poetry that has restored the faith of teachers in the highest, most transcendent values of their work with children....Those who want us to believe that teaching is a technocratic and robotic skill devoid of art or joy or beauty need to read this powerful collection. So, for that matter, do we all." ?Jonathan Kozol, author of Amazing Grace and Savage Inequalities "When reasoned argument fails, poetry helps us make sense of life. A few well-chosen images, the spinning together of words creates a way of seeing where we came from and lights up possibilities for where we might be going....Dip in, read, and ponder; share with others. It's inspiration in the very best sense." ?Deborah Meier, co-principal of The Mission Hill School, Boston and founder of a network of schools in East Harlem, New York "In the Confucian tradition it is said that the mark of a golden era is that children are the most important members of the society and teaching is the most revered profession. Our jour ney to that ideal may be a long one, but it is books like this that will sustain us - for who are we all at our best save teachers, and who matters more to us than the children?" ?Peter M. Senge, founding chair, SoL (Society for Organizational Learning) and author of The Fifth Discipline Those of us who care about the young and their education must find ways to remember what teaching and learning are really about. We must find ways to keep our hearts alive as we serve our students. Poetry has the power to keep us vital and focused on what really matters in life and in schooling. Teaching with Fire is a wonderful collection of eighty-eight poems from such well-loved poets as Walt Whitman, Langston Hughes, Billy Collins, Emily Dickinson, and Pablo Neruda. Each of these evocative poems is accompanied by a brief story from a teacher explaining the significance of the poem in his or her life's work. This beautiful book also includes an essay that describes how poetry can be used to grow both personally and professionally. Teaching With Fire was written in partnership with the Center for Teacher Formation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Royalties from this book will be used to fund scholarship opportunities for teachers to grow and learn.

Read more less

Return to the early days of the Wild Cards series, as a group of super-powered Aces set off on a fact-finding tour of the worldEver since the Wild Card virus spread across New York, people have changed - some becoming superpowered 'Aces', some distorted and bizarre 'Jokers'. But the effects of the virus have spread, and all across the world new mutations are popping up.Sent by the UN on a world tour, tasked with investigating and recording the spread of the virus - and the reactions of the world - a group of Aces will discover that no matter where in the world they are, one thing will remain the same. Humanity is capable of kindness, acceptance and tolerance. But not all of the time ...Featuring stories by George R. R. Martin, Melinda M. Snodgrass, Stephen Leigh, Walter Simons and many more, this volume also contains two new stories by Carrie Vaughn and Kevin Andrew Murphy never before published in the UK.

Read more less

With her signature breathless pacing and suspenseful twists and turns, Stone Cold Heart demonstrates why 'Laura Griffin never fails to put me on the edge of my seat' (USA TODAY).The New York Times bestselling author 'delivers another top-notch thriller' (RT Book Reviews) in her beloved Tracers series, about a leading forensic anthropologist who uncovers eerie clues in a high-stakes case that threatens to deliver her to the doorstep of a cold-blooded murderer. Perfect for fans of Karen Rose, Alexandra Ivy and Kendra Elliot.When local rock climbers stumble upon abandoned human bones in a remote Texas gorge, Sara Lockhart is the first to get the call. She has a reputation as one of the nation's top forensic anthropologists, and police detective Nolan Hess knows she is just the expert he needs to help unravel this case. Although evidence is scarce, Nolan suspects the bones belong to a teenage climber who vanished last summer.But as Sara unearths strange clues, she finds chilling similarities to a case from her past - a case that now threatens to rock Nolan's community. While Sara digs deep for answers, the stakes rise higher as another young woman disappears without a trace. Investigators work against the clock as Sara races to discover the truth, even if her harrowing search brings her face to face with a stone-cold killer.Raves for Laura Griffin:'Desperate Girls is a nail-biting read from the very first page to the final, shocking twist. I could not put this book down' Melinda Leigh'Griffin pulls out all the stops in a phenomenal twist ending that will leave readers stunned' Publishers Weekly

Read more less

Introduction to Solid State NMR Spectroscopy is written for undergraduate and graduate students of chemistry, either taking a course in advanced or solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy or undertaking research projects where solid-state NMR is likely to be a major investigative technique. It will also serve as a practical introduction in industry, where the techniques can provide new or complementary information to supplement other investigative techniques. By covering solid-state NMR spectroscopy in a clear, straightforward and approachable way with detailed descriptions of the major solid-state NMR experiments focussing on what the experiments do and what they tell the researcher, this book will serve as an ideal introduction to the subject. These descriptions are backed up by separate mathematical explanations for those who wish to gain a more sophisticated quantitative understanding of the phenomena. With additional coverage of the practical implementation of solid-state NMR experiments integrated into the discussion, this book will be essential reading for all those using, or about to use, solid-state NMR spectroscopy. Dr Melinda Duer is a senior lecturer in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.

Read more less

The past 50 years have seen a tremendous arts boom in Seattle, which has given the city not only internationally recognized classical music institutions but also great performance halls to showcase their work and that of visiting artists. From Igor Stravinsky’s presence as guest conductor at the World’s Fair in 1962, to Speight Jenkins’s masterly production of Wagner’s Ring cycle, to the work of benefactors such as Jack and Becky Benaroya, Seattle is deservingly well known as a city of the musical arts. In Classical Seattle, Melinda Bargreen documents the lives of prominent figures in the local classical music world. Informed by Bargreen’s experience as a music critic and drawing on interviews she conducted over several decades, the 35 biographical profiles presented here illuminate the conductors, performing artists, composers, arts organizers, and arts leaders who have shaped Seattle’s classical music community and made world-class performances possible. Among the individuals featured are University of Washington virtuosi, Seattle Symphony maestros and musicians, and Seattle Opera directors. Classical Seattle was made possible in part by a grant from 4Culture's Heritage Program.

Read more less

Bill Gates is one of the most powerful figures of the past four decades. But the world-famous public image he has so carefully crafted is not the whole truth. In this explosive new book, Anupreeta Das (finance editor of the New York Times) takes you behind the façade. From his early years, when he was a divisive figure in the burgeoning tech industry, we see the Microsoft cofounder morph into a ruthless capitalist, only to change yet again when he fashioned himself into a global do-gooder. But as Das’s revelatory reporting shows us: billionaires have secrets and philanthropy can have a dark side. Drawing upon hundreds of interviews with current and former employees of the Gates Foundation, Microsoft, academics, nonprofits and those with insight into the Gates universe, Das delves into Gates’s relationships with Warren Buffett, Jeffrey Epstein, Melinda French Gates and others, to uncover the man behind the persona. In telling

Read more less

Tommy Kane brings together, for the first time, a collection of contemporary vegan artists whose works grapple with one of the biggest issues of our century and confront our conflicted relationship with animals. With diverse contributions, Vegan Art combines a passion for art as a language with the rebellion against animal abuse and exploitation, with the belief that art should be a mechanism for social change. The complex visual language of the book is purposefully graphic and controversial. From utopian depictions of a world that vegans are fighting for, to dark dystopian impressions and brutal, bloody mutilations of non-human animals in industrial agriculture, the project tests the potential of our humanity and asks for equality for all species. With violent imagery and references to major food corporations – such as McDonalds – the project is unflinching in its advocation of veganism and animal rights. Vegan Art engenders a sense of humility with a shared view that art has the power to move people to be informed consumers. Featuring artworks by Tommy Kane, Andrew Tilsley, Milk DoNg Comics, Dan Piraro, Melinda Hegedus, Tommy Flynn and Cynical Coyote.

Read more less

The past 50 years have seen a tremendous arts boom in Seattle, which has given the city not only internationally recognized classical music institutions but also great performance halls to showcase their work and that of visiting artists. From Igor Stravinsky’s presence as guest conductor at the World’s Fair in 1962, to Speight Jenkins’s masterly production of Wagner’s Ring cycle, to the work of benefactors such as Jack and Becky Benaroya, Seattle is deservingly well known as a city of the musical arts. In Classical Seattle, Melinda Bargreen documents the lives of prominent figures in the local classical music world. Informed by Bargreen’s experience as a music critic and drawing on interviews she conducted over several decades, the 35 biographical profiles presented here illuminate the conductors, performing artists, composers, arts organizers, and arts leaders who have shaped Seattle’s classical music community and made world-class performances possible. Among the individuals featured are University of Washington virtuosi, Seattle Symphony maestros and musicians, and Seattle Opera directors. Classical Seattle was made possible in part by a grant from 4Culture's Heritage Program.

Read more less

Shattering the popular myth that porn is harmless, the personal accounts of 25 brave women in He Chose Porn over Me reveal the real-life trauma experienced by women at the hands of their porn-consuming partners – men who were supposed to care for them. This confronting but necessary book dares to tell the truth about pornography’s destructive impact – about the men who habitually use it and the women and children who are mistreated and discarded as a result. The women in this book were collateral damage in their partner’s insatiable greed for porn. Their stories tell of the crushing of intimacy, respect, connection, love. Porn colonised their families, leaving women rejected and scarred. They were subjected to sexual terrorism in their own homes. The men, turbo-charged by pornography, were intoxicated by sexualised power. They didn’t care if they lost everything including their partners. In this haunting expose, pornography is rightfully situated as an insidious tool of violence against women. The contributors, now working to re-build their lives, found a confidante in Melinda Tankard Reist who supported them in the sharing of their experiences in these pages, and to warn other women – don’t date men who use porn …

Read more less

Many people in developing countries lack access to health technologies, even basic ones. Why do these problems in access persist? What can be done to improve access to good health technologies, especially for poor people in poor countries?This book answers those questions by developing a comprehensive analytical framework for access and examining six case studies to explain why some health technologies achieved more access than others. The technologies include praziquantel (for the treatment of schistosomiasis), hepatitis B vaccine, malaria rapid diagnostic tests, vaccine vial monitors for temperature exposure, the Norplant implant contraceptive, and female condoms.Based on research studies commissioned by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to better understand the development, adoption, and uptake of health technologies in poor countries, the book concludes with specific lessons on strategies to improve access. These lessons will be of keen interest to students of health and development, public health professionals, and health technology developers—all who seek to improve access to health technologies in poor countries.

Read more less

From Baobab Press, in coordination with the University of Nevada, Reno’s Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program, comes This Side of the Divide: Stories, the first anthology in a literary series attempting to capture the newness, vastness, territoriality and sense of transience alive in the American West. Set west of the Continental Divide, these narratives skillfully demonstrate the beauty, austerity, and danger of the untouched wilderness, delight in the mutual ease and asphyxiation of the hyper-urban and chart the interstitial spaces of the developing and the abandoned. Inhabiting the West’s richly varied landscapes, the characters in these stories provide a glimpse of the social and cultural diversity on display in these regions. Among these 15 stories, gathered from rising literary voices, a single mother struggles to maintain her individuality while raising an autistic son; a cathartic hike brings an unsuspecting widow face-to-face with her own mortality; a man injured in a train wreck questions his existence as he blindly wanders the desert; an aging cowboy rides the highways astride his magnificent horse, a final remnant of a fleeting era; Sasquatch looks for love in all the wrong places; and a divorcee tries to reconcile her present with her past, her heart with her head. Positioning the voices of emerging authors alongside acclaimed writers such as Tobias Wolff, Brian Evenson and Nona Caspers, these collected stories, at turns hilarious, frightening, and devastating, showcase the variety of identity, amalgam of voice and depth of character that make the American West such a truly brilliant, literary mosaic. Contributors include Tobias Wolff, Maile Meloy, Brian Evenson, Melinda Moustakis, Nona Caspers, Douglas W. Milliken, David Gillette, Miranda Schmidt, Michelle Willms, Andrea Lani, Leah Griesmann, Vanessa Hua, Cathy Warner, Mark Maynard, Aharon Levy, Sian Griffiths, L.L. Madrid, Kirk Wilson, Ashley Davidson, Carl Beideman, E.G. Willy, Shelley Blanton-Stroud, and Linda Lenhoff.

Read more less

Originally published in 1978 as The Beach Boys and the California Myth, this groundbreaking study was both the first full-length book on the band and the first to recognize Brian Wilson as one of the most significant and influential artists of the 20th century. Covering the turbulent family strife and internal conflicts as well as giving proper attention to the remarkable music, the book was an instant classic. An intimate look at Brian's rollercoaster of a life and career, it's told through the eyes of those who were there during Wilson's most legendary productions including Pet Sounds and Good Vibrations. Revised and updated, God Only Knows covers the decades since the 1985 edition, including Brian's first acclaimed solo album, his startling return to live performing, the landmark Pet Sounds tour, the "All-Star Tribute to Brian Wilson" (which Leaf wrote and produced) and the triumphant and miraculous Brian Wilson Presents SMiLE world premiere in London. Filled with surprising revelations, insight and behind-the-scenes detail, this indispensable book written by renowned Brian Wilson expert David Leaf also features forewords by Jimmy Webb, the Bee Gees' Barry Gibb and Melinda Wilson, Brian's wife.

Read more less

Through individual case studies involving the professions of sculptor, painter, potter, printmaker, and architect, this book addresses the question about what it meant to be an artist in Japan from the seventh century to the twentieth. How did artists go about their business? What degree of control did they exercise over their metier? How were they viewed by society? How was the image of the artist fashioned in various periods? Throughout much of Japan’s past, artists’ thoughts about their activities have remained unrecorded. Some of the essays in this volume reveal how the machine of political discourse worked to invent different views of the same artist over time. Others explore cases of later artists manipulating the names of earlier ones for professional or cultural gain, while still other essays reconstruct some of the forces brought to bear on artistic reception by the makers' contemporaries. The activities of artists whose stories are told here required the collaboration of numerous skilled colleagues, often deployed in the hierarchical structure of the hereditary workshop; they had to fight hard to gain social and economic recognition. The book also addresses issues of canon formation: by what complex process are some artists and objects singled out to communicate rhetorical or aesthetic meaning while others lapse into the background? Contributors include Karen L. Brock, Louise Allison Cort, Julie Nelson Davis, Christine M. E. Guth, Donald F. McCallum, Jonathan M. Reynolds, and Melinda Takeuchi.

Read more less