Ring takes you on an unforgettable odyssey through the depths of human emotion, from the hollows of grief to the heights of newfound hope. In the backdrop of a snow-covered sanctuary designed to aid the dying, Lee, a middle-aged non-binary person from the Midwest, grapples with the unbearable weight of losing their young adult daughter. Abandoning their previous life and even the comfort of a longtime spouse, Lee is driven by a quest for closure--or an end to it all.
Enter Ring, a seemingly ordinary dog with an extraordinary role. Brought by Robert, a terminally ill man preparing to make his final walk through the sanctuary's Seven Pillars, Ring becomes the catalyst for Lee's own rebirth. As Lee befriends other souls at the sanctuary, each embroiled in their own battles--from Catherine and Samu, the spiritual leaders, to Viviana, a war veteran scarred by trauma--they are nudged toward a revelation that challenges their initial reasons for coming to this remote haven.
The novel deftly weaves themes of loss, hope, and healing, set against the spirituality-infused environment of the sanctuary. It presents a compassionate view on suicide, grappling with the complex questions it raises about the value and sanctity of life. As Lee engages with mindfulness practices and meditation, the story emerges as an enlightening guide for anyone walking the fine line between despair and hope.
Don't miss this emotional journey that tackles the raw, intricate facets of grief, and leaves you pondering the restorative powers of companionship and the human spirit. Ideal for readers coping with loss, struggling with suicidal thoughts, or seeking a deeply spiritual narrative, Ring promises to resonate long after the last page is turned.
In The Uncommon Life of Danny O'Connell, the author explores the life of Danny O'Connell, a player often overlooked in the annals of baseball history due to his status as a common card in the collecting world. O'Connell's story is much more than his on-field performance; it's a tale of the human spirit, embodying dreams, disappointments, and the unnoticed grandeur of an ordinary life.
Through an engaging narrative, the book offers a window into America's pastime during its Golden Era, providing insights into a time when baseball was not just a sport but a cultural cornerstone that shaped and reflected the American experience.
The work goes beyond the statistics and perceived value of baseball cards to delve into O'Connell's life, from his upbringing in Paterson, New Jersey, through his professional career marked by significant but underrecognized achievements, to his endeavors beyond baseball, including his talents in singing, shuffleboard, and public speaking.
The narrative weaves together baseball history, the evolution of sports memorabilia collecting, and a personal journey of rediscovery, challenging readers to reconsider the worth of an individual's contributions both on and off the field.
Far from a mere sports biography, the book is an homage to the everyday heroes of baseball and a critique of reducing complex lives to mere numbers or collectible items. It is a celebration of the overlooked and undervalued, urging a reevaluation of what makes a life uncommonly extraordinary.
In the quaint yet politically charged town of Edgartown, North Carolina, two worlds are about to collide. Meet Annabelle Morningstar, an impassioned, quirky high school activist raised by her news anchor and surgeon mothers, both champions of progressive ideals. Across town, there's Gabe Delgado, the quintessential all-American boy, molded by his conservative, Cuban senator father. Edgartown is a town literally divided--the Liberal East and the Conservative North coexisting as neighbors but rarely as friends. But what happens when the two sides meet in the least likely of places: a local bookstore?
When employees at Annabelle's favorite literary haven decide to unionize, she finds her path unexpectedly crossing with Gabe's. And then they're tossed together weekly as they get special training help for their beloved cross-country competitions. With their worlds thrown into disarray, the two high schoolers must navigate their complex feelings for each other while wrestling with their polarized upbringings. Can love bloom in the crossfire of political discord?
Running Mates is not just a heartwarming coming-of-age tale. It's a deep dive into the complexities of ideological divide, a vivid portrayal of modern youth activism, and a rallying cry for empathy. As Annabelle and Gabe discover the gray areas in a world seemingly divided into black & white and red & blue, they learn that both politics and love require courage, compromise, and a touch of rebellion.
Engaging, timely, funny, and at times poignant, Running Mates serves as a mirror to our times, daring us to question, to feel, to laugh, and above all, to love despite our differences.
Wrangling the Doubt Monster: Fighting Fears, Finding Inspiration by Amy L. Bernstein is a profound exploration into the pervasive presence of self-doubt within the creative process. Bernstein, a multi-genre author and seasoned writing instructor, delves into the psychological underpinnings of doubt, illustrating how it can simultaneously hinder and fuel artistic endeavors.
Through a compassionate lens, she encourages artists to embrace doubt as a natural and potentially beneficial aspect of their creative journey. The book is structured to provide both theoretical insights and practical strategies. Bernstein weaves engaging anecdotes with psychological research, presenting a nuanced approach that treats doubt not as an adversary to be vanquished, but as a companion to be managed.
This perspective is vividly brought to life through whimsical illustrations by Mary Grace Corpus, adding a visual element that enhances the reader's experience of introspection and understanding. Bernstein's writing is both accessible and relatable, making complex psychological concepts easy to grasp. She emphasizes the importance of cognitive disinhibition, a state where unrelated ideas merge to foster innovation, and explores how cultural environments influence the prevalence and intensity of doubt among artists.
The book's free-flowing format allows readers to dip in at any point for immediate comfort or inspiration, making it a versatile tool for creative individuals. Wrangling the Doubt Monster is not just a guide; it's a source of emotional support and a call to action. Bernstein provides actionable advice for harnessing doubt to enhance creative output, advocating for a productive coexistence with this emotional shadow.
The book challenges conventional views by redefining doubt as a source of creative fuel, urging artists to see it as an integral part of their artistic process. Endorsed by notable figures like Jennie Nash, Dr. Eric Maisel, and Maggie Jackson, the book has received acclaim for its common-sense wisdom and empowering message.
It's positioned as an essential read for anyone involved in creative endeavors, offering a kind and gentle antidote to the often harsh self-criticism that plagues the artistic community. Ultimately, Wrangling the Doubt Monster stands as a testament to the resilience of the creative spirit, inspiring artists to navigate their doubts with courage and grace.
Rosemary Kennedy, younger sister of President John F. Kennedy, was lobotomized in 1941 at age 23. In 1959, she was put out of public view at a remote facility in rural Wisconsin, where, for more than twenty years, she remained unvisited by family and non-family alike, until 1962.
Elizabeth Koehler-Pentacoff (Liz) and her parents were likely the first non-Kennedy family members to visit Rosemary following her lobotomy. Liz was niece to Rosemary's caretaker, Sister Paulus, a Catholic nun at St. Colleta, and she visited Rosemary on a regular basis for the next thirty-four years. Through their friendship, Liz discovered the person many had forgotten or never known.
In 2015, ten years after Rosemary's death, Liz came forward with a fascinating book about the hidden daughter of America's royal Kennedy family. The Missing Kennedy: Rosemary Kennedy and the Secret Bonds of Four Women is truly unique. It is an eyewitness account of Rosemary's post-lobotomy years, the first published by a non-family member, and it's augmented by nearly 100 never-before-seen pictures of Rosemary after she was lobotomized.
Liz can shed considerable light on so many questions, the four biggest being:
This touching story of the intersection of two families will leave you with a unique portrait of the missing, but not forgotten, Kennedy.
A guitarist, a philosopher, and a natural-born leader with a ponytail walk onto a football field.
In the heart of a small mountain town where football reigns supreme and tradition casts long shadows, Ms. Chelsea Deal defies the norm. Amid the echoes of clashing helmets and the roar of a crowd, Chelsea, a former big-city lawyer now cast as the interim head coach for the undefeated Rabon Knights, becomes the unexpected mentor for two young players whose dreams echo her own. Palmer, a reclusive teenager brimming with untapped talent, and Ty, an old soul fighting the gravest of battles, join forces with Chelsea to overcome their differences and fight for a championship.
As the season unfolds, so do the lives of these characters as each one strives to defeat personal challenges. Chelsea, with her keen instincts and generous spirit, seeks to rewrite the rules in a town slow to accept her. Palmer, elusive and insecure, navigates the pain of a dysfunctional family and the pull of interests beyond football. And Ty, the quarterback whose bright future is threatened by a deadly adversary, searches for strength in the power of unlikely friendships.
From the smoky aroma of Southern barbecue to the indomitable spirit of a team that refuses to yield, The Playbook captures the essence of what it means to fight for every inch, every down, every dream. as a team. This story reminds us of the possibilities when we allow our instincts to take charge-when the game is no longer just a game, but a catalyst for life-altering experiences.
Join us on the field and beyond, as Chelsea, Palmer, and Ty show us that sometimes, the most profound victories don't come with a score. Sometimes, when we break through our defenses, both literal and metaphorical, we find glory in unexpected places. And, sometimes, the games aren't just played, but felt, and the characters aren't just written, but lived.
Veteran journalist and historian Steve Wiegand takes readers across the post-Civil War Wild West. Wiegand introduces--or re-introduces--us to lawmen such as Bat Masterson and Wyatt Earp and outlaws such as the Younger and James Brothers, as well as larger-than-life figures such as Buffalo Bill and George Custer. He details the stories of these real-life legends, the aftermath and legacies they left behind, and the innumerable myths frequently attributed to them. Juxtaposing their real lives with the often-outlandish accounts of their exploits, 1876 swings from lighthearted humor to cliff-hanger suspense. It also portrays how the Wild West's initial, tantalizing promise of fame and glamour often disintegrated.
But 1876 also offers readers a unique element noticeably absent from most Wild West books: historical context. Wiegand expands his contemporary spotlight on America's 100th birthday year to encompass what was going on in the rest of the country. On the very same day George Armstrong Custer was dying on a parched hill in southeastern Montana and immortalizing himself as both hero and villain, Alexander Graham Bell was at America's first World's Fair in Philadelphia, demonstrating his new invention--the telephone. At the same time Wyatt Earp was moseying into Dodge City to join the town's police force, Albert Goodwill Spalding was on a pitcher's mound in Chicago, establishing baseball as the national pastime and creating a sporting goods empire. And even as the James Boys and Younger Brothers were robbing banks, Democrats and Republicans were conspiring to steal the White House from the American voter. This book brings them all together in one place. Fueled by the author's childhood interest in cowboys, train and bank robberies, and high noon shootouts, and their portrayal in iconic TV shows, 1876 is a delightful homage to famous Wild West figures who, with media help, helped shape the American character.A thrilling rescue goes awry and becomes a desperate flight across Nazi-occupied Europe.
In this exciting sequel to the award-winning The Hunt for the Peggy C, Capt. Jake Rogers returns to the North Atlantic as commander of a U.S. Liberty ship with some of his crew from the sunken Peggy C.
But disaster strikes, and they end up shipwrecked in Ireland. There, Rogers learns from Dutch sailors that the Nazis have arrested the father of Miriam Maduro, the love of his life, and are about to deport him to a concentration camp.
Rogers and crew sneak back into Holland aboard a gun-running ship from neutral Ireland and make contact with a resistance group to help them. Everything goes according to plan until a shocking discovery leaves them stranded in Holland and forces them to flee for their lives across Nazi-occupied Europe.
They struggle to find other resistance groups and escape organizations to aid them. But informants, imposters, and double agents are everywhere. And with a huge reward on their heads, they can never be sure whom to trust.
To make matters worse, a giant Dutch bounty hunter is in hot pursuit. The utterly ruthless, one-armed, former detective is desperate for the reward. He has no qualms about beating information out of people or working with - and sometimes double-crossing - Nazi officials, French gangsters, and even a suspected serial killer.
In this deeply researched thriller, full of real historical figures, Rogers and crew make one breathtaking escape after another. Using disguises, fake documents, subterfuge, and sometimes force, they slowly make their way toward safety in Spain. But as they get close to their goal, another shocking surprise blocks their way.
To save them, Rogers comes up with one more crazy scheme. It has almost no chance of succeeding.
In the bustling heart of New York City, a young medical student's life is tragically cut short, though her heart continues to beat, holding the promise of life for another. Detective Kirk Miner is called to the scene and quickly uncovers a chilling conspiracy involving organ donations and high-stakes crime. As the investigation unfolds, Miner realizes the case is far more complex and dangerous than it initially seemed.
Enter FBI Agent Jack Mulville, who steps in to supervise Special Agent Charlotte Bloom as they join forces with Miner. Together, they unravel a web of corruption, revealing that Amy Winter's death is connected to a ruthless organ trafficking ring.
Amy Winter, a promising pre-med student, is found dead under mysterious circumstances. Her death triggers an investigation that pulls Miner, Mulville, and Bloom into a labyrinth of deceit and desperation. As they dig deeper, they discover that Amy's heart is not just a donor's gift but a coveted prize in a deadly game controlled by criminals willing to kill to keep their secrets hidden.
The quest for justice takes Miner, Mulville, and Bloom through the shadowy underbelly of organ trafficking, revealing the lengths to which people will go to secure life-saving transplants. Amidst the danger, they face moral dilemmas and personal risks, pushing them to their limits as they strive to protect innocent lives and dismantle a powerful criminal network.
Change of Heart is a gripping medical thriller that intertwines the intricacies of modern medicine with the relentless pursuit of justice. Cristina LePort, M.D., masterfully combines her medical expertise with edge-of-your-seat storytelling, delivering a novel that will keep you turning pages long into the night.
Dr. LePort is an accomplished physician with a passion for weaving medical knowledge into thrilling narratives. Her extensive background in medicine lends authenticity and depth to her stories, making the Miner & Mulville series a unique blend of fact and fiction.
Living the Practice Volume II: The Warrior of Love by Rohini Ralby is an in-depth exploration of spiritual growth and self-discovery. The text addresses the journey of overcoming the shrunken self-a false self-concept constructed by ego, societal expectations, and personal history.
This shrunken self is depicted as a barrier that prevents individuals from accessing their true nature, which is inherently expansive and connected to a universal consciousness. Ralby argues that true spiritual awakening involves a rigorous process known as sadhana. This practice entails disciplined spiritual exercises that help practitioners gradually dismantle their false identities and awaken to their true selves. The book extensively discusses various aspects of this spiritual work, including emotional maturity, overcoming psychological obstacles, and the importance of genuine self-reflection and sacrifice.
Throughout the text, Ralby interweaves her personal experiences with philosophical insights and practical advice, making the journey accessible and relatable. She uses various metaphors, such as the natural process of apoptosis, to explain how individuals must initiate an internal process of self-destruction to renew and revitalize their spiritual lives. This process is necessary to prevent the spiritual equivalent of a cancerous growth, where the false self proliferates to the detriment of the individual's true well-being.
The book is rich with poetic expressions and artwork that reflect the emotional and existential themes discussed. These artistic elements serve not only as aesthetic complements to the text but also as integral components of the teaching, illustrating the intertwining of beauty, pain, and growth in the spiritual path.
Living the Practice also emphasizes the role of a guru or spiritual guide in the journey toward enlightenment. Ralby describes how the guidance and grace of a guru can facilitate the awakening process, helping the practitioner navigate the complexities of their inner world and the challenges of spiritual practice. The guru's role is likened to an external force that catalyzes internal transformation, providing both support and necessary challenges.
Ultimately, the book presents the spiritual path as one of profound transformation that requires courage, discipline, and a willingness to face one's deepest fears and flaws. It calls on the reader to become a warrior of love, battling against the limitations of the shrunken self and striving towards a state of unconditional love and spiritual freedom. The warrior of love is depicted as someone who not only seeks personal liberation but also works to spread love and understanding in the world.
Living the Practice Volume II: The Warrior of Love is a call to spiritual action, offering readers a detailed map to navigate their own spiritual journeys. It challenges readers to question their perceived limitations and to embrace a journey of profound transformation that transcends the individual and impacts the collective consciousness. Through its rich narrative, philosophical depth, and practical guidance, the book serves as both a meditation on and a manual for living a spiritually enriched life.
An epistolary novel with a twist, Please Write chronicles the correspondence between Vivienne, the alter ego of a recently widowed Cleveland artist, and Zippy, a mixed-breed terrier rescued off the streets of Baltimore. Their letters change and enrich their lives as well as that of Zippy's owner, Pamela, a harried journalist whose life is unraveling.
Combining the canine viewpoint of A Dog's Purpose with the poignant style of The Guernsey Literary Potato Peel Pie Society, Please Write, with Disney-like charm, delivers a distinctive account of coping with heartbreak and loss through the power of imagination and love.
This fall, the Hippocratic Oath promise Do no harm takes on a whole new meaning in the nail-biting new medical thriller DISSECTION by debut author Cristina LePort, MD (Bancroft Press/ October 20, 2022; $27.95), perfect for fans of Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp novels and Robin Cook's medical thrillers.
In DISSECTION Dr. LePort tells the story of DC heart surgeon Dr. Steven Leeds, who is suddenly besieged by a handful of complicated heart attack and stroke cases, all caused by a rare arterial injury―a dissection. All the victims have first received cards announcing: Your heart attack/stroke will arrive within one hour! Private detective Kirk Miner and FBI agent Jack Mulville investigate, and they immediately suspect Leeds' former lover, Dr. Silvana Moretti, a brilliant research scientist who harbors a grudge against all the victims.
When prominent people in the U.S. government begin to receive the same threatening cards and almost immediately experience these same deadly cardiac emergencies, it falls to an unlikely team of three―the headstrong FBI agent, the gifted private investigator, and the conflicted heart surgeon―to find the actual perpetrators and foil the catastrophic plot before it's too late.
Says Dr. LePort, At medical school, I specialized in Internal Medicine, and had been practicing for over 17 years when, one day, while attempting to get into a Cardiology fellowship, I started to listen to Ayn Rand's lectures The Art of Fiction. I was inspired to write a novel and I became addicted to the feeling of entering a world where I could make anything happen.
FOR TEN YEARS, they exchanged notes, letters, faxes, and phone calls. Stephen Sondheim would contact him, and Paul Salsini, the founder and editor of The Sondheim Review, would respond. And vice versa.
Now, Salsini, a Milwaukee journalist, has described his unlikely long-distance relationship with the fabled composer/lyricist in Sondheim & Me: Revealing a Musical Genius. The memoir includes the dozens of notes that Sondheim sent Salsini about articles in the magazine. It was clear that, at least at the start in 1994, he read every word of every issue, and often his comments were what Sondheim called emendations, pointing out a typo, a wrong first name or a misreading of a scene.
There were a few disagreements; Sondheim was furious about the magazine's review of one of his shows and called to loudly complain. After the magazine published his lyrics for a high school show, he wrote to object vigorously to your reprinting my juvenilia.
But mostly there was a good working relationship, and Sondheim's responses were encouraging and sometimes enthusiastic. Congratulations on another good issue! Keep up the good work! Sondheim & Me also includes numerous reports of talks, forums, and Q&As in which Sondheim revealed his process for composing, his inspirations, his comments on his shows (the original film of West Side Story isn't any good, the first act of Sunday in the Park with George is a stunt, the film of A Little Night Music is dreadful).
The magazine reported on the openings of Passion, Saturday Night, and the troubled Mizner musical. And the decade also saw the Broadway revivals of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Company, Follies, Into the Woods, and Gypsy. Besides all that, there was the $10 million Kennedy Center Sondheim Celebration with a repertory of six of his musicals.
It was a remarkable decade for Stephen Sondheim, and Paul Salsini and The Sondheim Review were there to report it all. Almost none of the book's material has been seen by the general public--at its height, The Sondheim Review had but a few thousand subscribers.
To thoroughly understand the great, revolutionary artistry of Stephen Sondheim, Sondheim & Me is indispensable. In what may be something of an exclusive, the book also contains an extensive, detailed chronology of Sondheim's life, his works, and the many tributes he received. Sixty-four pages of photos of Sondheim productions, along with many TSR covers and the notes Sondheim wrote, enhance this illuminating, groundbreaking book.
Rosemary Kennedy, younger sister of President John F. Kennedy, was lobotomized in 1941 at age 23. In 1959, she was put out of public view at a remote facility in rural Wisconsin, where, for more than twenty years, she remained unvisited by family and non-family alike, until 1962.
Elizabeth Koehler-Pentacoff (Liz) and her parents were likely the first non-Kennedy family members to visit Rosemary following her lobotomy. Liz was niece to Rosemary's caretaker, Sister Paulus, a Catholic nun at St. Colleta, and she visited Rosemary on a regular basis for the next thirty-four years. Through their friendship, Liz discovered the person many had forgotten or never known.
In 2015, ten years after Rosemary's death, Liz came forward with a fascinating book about the hidden daughter of America's royal Kennedy family. The Missing Kennedy: Rosemary Kennedy and the Secret Bonds of Four Women is truly unique. It is an eyewitness account of Rosemary's post-lobotomy years, the first published by a non-family member, and it's augmented by nearly 100 never-before-seen pictures of Rosemary after she was lobotomized.
Liz can shed considerable light on so many questions, the four biggest being:
This touching story of the intersection of two families will leave you with a unique portrait of the missing, but not forgotten, Kennedy.
High stakes, breathless suspense, and real insider authenticity―a terrific debut.
-- LEE CHILD, New York Times Bestselling Author AND 2020 BOOKER PRIZE JUDGE
With a terrifying premise and riveting medical details, DISSECTION moves at a frantic pace.
-- TESS GERRITSEN, NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR
Private detective Kirk Miner and FBI agent Jack Mulville investigate, and they immediately suspect Leeds' former lover, Dr. Silvana Moretti, a brilliant research scientist who harbors a grudge against all the victims. Then when prominent people in the U.S. government begin to receive these same threatening cards and almost immediately experience these same deadly cardiac emergencies, it falls to the unlikely team of three--the headstrong FBI agent, the gifted private investigator, and the brilliant but conflicted heart surgeon--to find the actual perpetrators and to snuff out a catastrophic plot that only the medically astute can divine.
Dr. Cristina LePort's story is vaguely reminiscent of the artfully nightmarish scenarios in Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp novels, combined with the fast-paced tempo of Robin Cook's medical thrillers. Her Dissection features page-turning suspense, action-packed climaxes, and thoughtful character development, set against a believable backdrop of medical science informed by her long career as a cardiologist. Her style, though accessible, is more sophisticated than superficial, and, with strong protagonists on both sides of the gender divide, appeals to both male and female readers.
DISSECTION is a taut thriller with complex characters that combines cutting-edge medical technology with horrific yet still believable terrorist plots.
DISSECTION represents her brilliant print debut.
In the turbulent times of a young man's high school experience, one must find his way, make himself known to his peers, and most of all, establish himself in the oftentimes hostile world he is trapped in. JFK & the Muckers of Choate takes a look at John F. Kennedy's time in high school at Choate, a preppy, Waspish, all-boys boarding school.
As a Catholic at a time when anti-Catholic sentiment was rampant, JFK finds that his four years in this Connecticut institution are much more jagged, complicated, and high-stakes than he expects. Why? It turns out that the future president actively defied Choate's sometimes authoritarian rulers and, in his own personal rebellion, associated himself with, and led, a number of similarly-minded iconoclasts who wind up as his closest companions, both then and afterward.
JFK's chaotic and adventure-filled high school days, as narrated by JFK himself, not only tell us a great deal about an important, yet largely unchronicled, stop on his rapid journey to the presidency, but, because it's entirely based on real events, offer us a thoroughly enjoyable and illuminating look at a charismatic American icon whom most readers will adore, many for the first time.