Bücher veröffentlicht von Dorrance Publishing

Surviving an Alcoholic Marriage and Living to Tell About It is a true story. Susan Merrifield details her long, difficult relationship with an alcohol-abusing husband. Through her journey, Merrifield provides advice to others who might be in a similar situation, hoping they will learn from her experience. This book does not necessarily give us a happy ending or a complete storyline that we so often crave. Instead, Merrifield follows a winding path that refuses to flirt with magical realism. As we learn Merrifield's personality, and the obstacles that stood in her way, we come to respect the everyday triumphs that defined her long, difficult relationship with a man controlled by the bottle.About the AuthorSusan Merrifield lives in Seguin, Texas, with her three kittens and the man she finally met that she thought only existed in fairytales. She is currently traveling and enjoying her life. She has also written a book called Fifth Life and is working on her third novel.

At age 52, Dr. Cal Boyd is the "go to" gastroenterologist in the West San Fernando Valley. At the top of his game his life unravels when he discovers that his friend Sheldon Weinberger's pain clinic is a pill mill that diverts prescription medications to the drug trade. Sheldon's falsified complaints to the hospital executive committee cost him his practice and his marriage. Carol Hendricks, the nursing director of the GI lab, a former "flame," refuses to cooperate with the frame-up and is forced to quit. Despite his struggles Cal reconnects with her and helps pursue her runaway daughter in Northern California. The hospital's attorney is murdered after he threatens to "blow the whistle" on Sheldon's sweetheart deal to sell the hospital and CareBest Medical Group to a for profit chain for millions of dollars. When Cal discovers the secret to Sheldon's power his life spirals downwards, but he also faces the wrath of Sheldon's nephew, Dr. Richie Comstock, a poly-pharmaceutical addict, who wants to destroy Cal and take away everything he loves. An attempted intervention on Richie's addiction triggers the conflict. Ironically, Cal has been in recovery and understands Richie's vicious behavior, the ugly side of addiction. He will stop at nothing to ruin Cal's life. It is a story of deceit, greed, jealousy and spite. Can Cal restore his life? Will Sheldon's greed or Richie's craziness relent? Can he help Carol find her runaway daughter? About the AuthorHenry Rex Greene is a retired physician living in Florida with his wife Mary Jo and two Bichons. He practiced in Los Angeles for 25 years and was recognized as one of LA's best doctors. He also was active in professional leadership roles in his career. He has written three novels of medicine during the tumultuous sixties-seventies: The Class of 1969, Thirteen Months a Year, and Stone Mother. His hobbies are writing, gardening, and politics.

The older woman and her potted plant are intrinsically linked in this autobiographical tale of illness and rejuvenation. As the older woman finds herself suffering ailments of the stomach, the potted plant falters and begins to wilt. Caring for her own wellness, the older woman must discover how to bring health and life back to the plant, for she sees the plant as a mirror-if it dies, surely so will she. Life is a special gift from our creator, God. He is the only one able to give such a gift, the gift of life, but there is a very thin line between death and life, even everlasting life.About the AuthorPernell Reid Grant, RN SCM; BSN; Pearl, Pearly was born in Jamaica and lived in the U.K. before immigrating to New York City in the USA. She is a retired nurse and holds a BSN degree as well as a certificate in midwifery. She lives in New York with her husband and a potted plant.

When young students dream of becoming lawyers their imaginations conjure up thoughts of defending society's least fortunate and the unjustly accused. Author Richard Siracusa has lived that dream, for better or worse, as a sole practitioner with the freedom to make his own mistakes. A rare occurrence in today's institutionalized world, lawyers like Siracusa are a dead and dying breed-dinosaurs roaming the halls of justice, moving toward inevitable extinction. Stranger Than Fiction: A Criminal Defense Attorney's Memoir, New York, New York is an anthology of the murder and mayhem that existed in the streets of New York City over the last thirty-five years of the twentieth century. His career features a series of strange and compelling stories, mostly taken from the twenty-six murder trials which he has tried to verdict. Why did he do it? Follow along as Richard Siracusa recounts his adventures. About the AuthorRichard Siracusa was born and raised in Auburn, New York. He attended Villanova University and received a Bachelor's of Science degree in 1964. Continuing his education, Siracusa took graduate courses in Psychology before entering the Marine Corps, and he received an honorable discharge in 1967. Receiving a Juris Doctorate from the New York Law School in 1974, he became a member of the bar in both New York State and the District of Columbia, holding offices in both jurisdictions. Unmarried and without children, Siracusa lives on the upper west side of Manhattan and has maintained an apartment in Washington, DC. Siracusa has traveled extensively and attended performances at most of the famous opera houses of the world. A few of his greatest experiences: exploring the temples of Angkor Wat in Cambodia, traveling through Greenland via dogsled, and boating through the Amazon jungle. Siracusa has run ninety-two full marathons on five continents, including Antarctica, and this year (2017) will mark the running of his twenty-seventh consecutive New York City marathon. Stranger Than Fiction: A Criminal Defense Attorney's Memoir, New York, New York is the author's first memoir. Presently, Siracusa is completing a manuscript about the confessed central park jogger rapist who was his most notorious client.

An active volcano has its own periods of dormancy and eruptions - beyond the control of its victims. The tyrant's rule supposedly ended after the death of the military ruler in 1988. But, the people are still trying to find the ways to explain his impact on the culture and history of the nation. Despite the enormity of the loss of a generation, this is a country that still advocates a manipulator of the worst kind. Like an epic poem, Pariah preaches love for humanity and God. It is a depiction of love bond within blood and beyond. It is a reflection on friendship and the story of an era, and how a nation keeps on living. About the Author Author Javed Iqbal Sheikh was born in September, 1965. He serves as a member of the district judiciary of the province of Punjab (Pakistan) since 1997, and presently, works as an additional district and sessions judge. Prior to that, he practiced as lawyer for the period of six years. Sheikh's experience as district judiciary judge has taught him to value the blessing of a happy family. He is a happy husband and father of four. He has a passion for writing and poetry. The miseries people face in their lives has made him love his family and fellow humans even more.

360 Degrees of Love is a romance novel with strong themes of spirituality, religion, perseverance, and destiny. Reata La Rue and The Man are the novel's main characters. They meet and it is true love. They were not ready for each other the first time they met, and became separated due to circumstances beyond their control. As fate would have it, twenty years later they finally do entwine their destinies again after a chance meeting in California. The solitary trails that they took over the previous years have brought them back around 360 degrees and back into each other's arms as they continue together on their journey on the trail of what is now a trail of 360 Degrees of Love. Seeing each other again some twenty years later, they found that their love for each other was even stronger, more mature, more magnetic. Their renewed love for each other took on the force and effect of an "atomic love connection," best described as something in the "Twin Flame" and or "Soul Mate" realm. Their love is a beautiful thing to behold. Follow them closely as they continue along the final trail together, but this time with 360 Degrees of Love.

Young people search for fulfillment in a variety of ways. Many will do whatever it takes to be popular, rich, or famous. If you're a young person, what will your life look like? What if you knew that before you were even born, there was a journey designed for you to follow, one that was handcrafted for you specifically? In Belief - Faith - Trust - Hope: The Ultimate Journey for the Youth of Our World, you will learn more about this journey. It won't be an easy road, but the treasure you will find will definitely be worth it. This book will help you get the most out of this journey by helping you see the four actions that will be required of you: believe; have faith; humbly trust; and provide hope to others. So grab this book, sit back, and enjoy finding yourself through losing yourself in God. About the AuthorFor more than two decades, M.R. Sobers has dedicated much of his life to mentoring the youth of his community in various forms. He has been a coach in various sports, including Basketball, Baseball, and Football. He has also sat on the Executive Board of the South Brunswick PAL, encouraging boys and girls to become exceptional student athletes. Aside from sports he has also supported young men in the Princeton Alliance Church youth groups. To say the least, he has taken every opportunity to show the youth of his community that every young person can fit into society and thrive while building a satisfying and encouraging relationship with God. M.R. Sobers resides in New Jersey with family.

The theme of this book is love and the struggles that come with it. Within these thirty-four poems, you'll find heartache, lust, loss, sensuality, and joy. MizzGee's poetry drips with emotion and pounds across the page like heartbeats, rhythmic as a bass line. Love, Lust, and the Inbetween will remind you that love is not just something created to be used-love itself is a great piece of art.About the AuthorGellisa Martin ("MizzGee") started writing in the eighth grade through journal entries and school reports. As time went on, she began to write more, focusing on poetry. She is also the author of Pieces of Me: Rooted in this Life, another book of poems. She lives in New Jersey.

After waking up from a coma, Sam found that his life had changed forever. During a car accident, he had suffered brain trauma and would have to go through years of rehabilitation, separation from his family, and the uncertainty that came with not truly understanding the extent his injury. Yet through it all, he remained positive and faithful, trusting in God to give him strength and bring him to a better place. About the AuthorThe author is an avid golfer. He developed a love for the game while at Tangram Rehabilitation Network in San Marcos, Texas, and has had the opportunity to meet professional golfers such as Lee Trevino and Chi Chi Rodriguez. He now resides in New Hope, Pennsylvania, where he's turned his passion for the sport into a career at a local golf course. To this day, he continues to let positive thoughts and his faith in God guide him.

In Uncontrolled Environment, Elaine Taylor takes readers to post-World War II Oklahoma, where kids chased popsicle sticks through flooded streets and enjoyed penny candies in the rural sunshine. But, as Taylor shows us, even these golden memories are tainted by violence. Her book walks readers through uncomfortable assault and shows the ruined lives and tortured souls that result from sexual violence and racial discrimination. Uncontrolled Environment is a difficult but important exploration of women who survive these assaults. Their stories become the lighthouse for others looking for answers, peace, or validation. Taylor writes, "Black and White, wealthy and poor, workplace 'sexual' harassment is degrading and offensive. It hurts and destroys lives, young and old. It is illegal."About the AuthorElaine Taylor lives in Washington State with her significant other, she is currently in recovery receiving therapeutic counseling for her traumatic experiences, it is her belief when one receives behavioral healthcare, it's the road to recovery, recovery is an on-going process while the goal is to strengthen the individual fragile, and shattered mental health. Her hope is to gain back self-respect, self-direction, and make it a responsibility to share her story with others that are in the process of recovering from traumatic experiences. When she is not writing, she enjoys spending time with family, attending theater, reading books, and listening to music, Diana Ross oldies but goodies.

In 2005 the Louisiana education board took over 107 of New Orleans's 120 schools due to performance scores below the state average. Most of the schools were converted to charter schools. Although this takeover was perceived by the public to be a great success, Dr. Barbara Ferguson, a product of the New Orleans public school system herself, looks at the inequalities that resulted from the takeover. While public schools were required to educate all at-risk youth, the charter schools were able to expel or remove many of them, denying opportunities to many young people. Dr. Ferguson provides recommendations for how to move forward by keeping what works and focusing on implementing policies based upon sound research on how students learn.About the AuthorDr. Barbara Ferguson had a long career in education, including as a teacher, an elementary principal, a high school principal, and a superintendent. She has a doctorate in education, as well as a juris doctorate. As an elementary school principal, she took one of the lowest performing of eighty-five elementary schools in New Orleans and helped it get into the top ten. She also worked as the Assistant Superintendent for Research and Development in the Louisiana Department of Education, and as a Deputy Secretary in the Department of Labor. She has two children: one is an elementary school principal and one is a physician.

In this guide for budding business entrepreneurs, Gary W. Smith details his personal experiences and his inherent drive for success that allowed him to take the risks involved in developing a new business. He details his entire journey, from humble beginnings to eventually running his own business. Readers can journey alongside Smith as he both makes winning business decisions and human business mistakes. Smith describes the peaks and valleys of running a business and equips his reader to prepare for the most unpredictable aspects of business management. This book serves as an invaluable guide for anyone seeking to develop and execute his or her own business plan. About the AuthorGary W. Smith began writing this book for the purpose of creating a written record of his life for his family. When he began to record his adventures, he thought they might serve as a beneficial and practical guide to new business founders. Smith founded Printed Circuit Manufacturing, a journal detailing the activities of the printed circuit industry worldwide. In addition to his success in business, Smith is a pilot and father to his five children, and grandfather to his nine grandchildren.

My name is Erroll J. Sweat and I was born in Six Ward of Houston, TX., and am a Design Engineer for a company that serves the Oil and Gas Industry. Over the past 15 years I have been reverse engineering OEM parts and I love the wide range of skill-sets that accompanies it.I'm actively involved in both my church and my home community, where I serve others with a glad hands and a godly heart. One of my greatest physical passions is playing golf with my friends on a regular basis. Roslin and Jaylin have been a great support system and they have cheered me along the way. I could not be all that I have longed to become without their love and prayer investments. I'm becoming an inspiring writer and long to build a portfolio with a number of additional reads to come. "I Messed Up, But the Church Let Me Down" is my first, but it won't be my last. Currently, I'm contemplating two additional books entitled, "Parallel Love Lanes" and "What's Your Score in The Game of Life?" respectively. One chronicles a true to life story of two marriages as one is manufactured by man and the other is managed by his Maker. The other takes a page out of the game of golf and parallels it to life.Lisa Brown, "OH MY GOD!!! You did an AMAZING WORK!!!! I got teary-eyed a few times. Your writing is so engaging which made for fast reading. I love how it flows from one chapter to the next. I especially appreciate the sentence/phrase/question that introduced each chapter section."Kimberly Williams, "This is great work! You were very telling and very forthcoming. I liked that. That was awesome! I loved your descriptions of events, too. Your chapter topics are on point. I can tell you placed a lot of time and thought into this book and you get an 'A' for that!

In this heartwarming historical educational piece, Tom Walker gives readers a glimpse into the world of public special education, with its many rewards and challenges. He shares insight into the way it grew via trial and error - and a lot of patience, compassion, and good humor, from its infancy in the 1970s up through the 1990s. When Walker started teaching, he began writing down funny things that happened in the classroom. One day, he was reading with Stephanie, one of his students. She became tired and irritated. She looked up at him and said, "Walker, put a sock in it." She had a frontal lisp, and instead of saying sock, she said "thock." Walker hopes his book will reflect some of the humorous as well as encouraging times he experienced in and out of the classroom over those two decades.About the AuthorTom Walker was raised in rural southern Utah in a small railroad town with a population of about 1,500. He attended public school and loved it. His second grade teacher was Mrs. Brown, whom he loved. From that time forward, he always wanted to be a teacher. After high school, Walker joined the Army National Guard prior to the Vietnam War. He graduated college majoring in education with a psychology emphasis. His first teaching job came in 1970 with a contract to teach students with severe disabilities. These students came from several communities in southern Utah and lived in a group home. They ranged in ages from five to twenty-one, with a wide variety of disabilities. He taught special education for twenty years and saw a great number of changes in procedures and services. He finished his education career in administration in an attempt to continue making positive changes for students with disabilities. Walker's wife, Carol, is also an educator, serving preschool students with disabilities. She recently retired after teaching for thirty-three years. They have four amazing children, two of whom are educators. It's been a wonderful life.

Lovelin Khan, a bestselling author of time travel romance novels, needs a vacation. Crippled by writer's block and annoyed by the selfishness of the people around her, she makes plans for an exotic escape. A change of scene could ignite some fresh ideas - or maybe more dreams of a gorgeous, mysterious man. Dr. Kaelyn K. Stonebridge, the most brilliant geneticist in the world, needs a vacation. He's lived his whole life in the Underground, a top secret multi-government controlled underworld research facility a mile beneath the Pacific Ocean. Here, the most brilliant scientific minds live and work in secrecy, desperate to save the planet. But when genetic experiments have unexpected results and unusual number of deaths occur, Dr. Stonebridge can only find solace in his dreams of a beautiful, enticing woman. Blending science fiction and romance, ancient Egypt and the modern world, action and humor, Book One - The Birth is the thrilling beginning to the The Soulmate Prophecy trilogy.About the AuthorYasmina Haque graduated from Michigan State University with a Master's Degree in Economics and Management. She has recently retired after twenty-three years in the medical profession. She lives in Rochester Hills, Michigan, with her husband, three daughters, dogs, and a cat.

A young girl, who has just graduated from college, returns home for her father's funeral. During the reading of the will, she learns that she has inherited her great-grandmother's house in a rural village. Nothing has been touched since her great-grandmother's death. While restoring the house, she meets the love of her life, and also finds out about the family she never knew. This mysterious, enchanting new romantic novel expresses the hope that readers will realize that life can often repeat itself, and that learning about our past can enrich our future. About the AuthorJosanne Wilson is married and has five grown children and one granddaughter. Marguarite's Memories takes place in Sinclairville, New York, a beautiful quaint village near her hometown. She loves writing about places that are friendly and welcoming, and that she has a great interest in. She enjoys all kinds of craft making and reading.

So much to love and yet now I can seefeelings felt so long agoas once morewings begin to spreadBut nowthe eyes I looked up to so long ago now look to me for love and trustI will not fly awayThe collection of poems in Bitter Sweet is just that. We have all experienced pain, heartache, and hopelessness. But out of those experiences, we have gained insight and hope. Join author Linda Tofanelli as she takes us on a journey of all of the bittersweet intricacies of life-love and pain, beauty and ugliness, fortune and loss, and war and peace. We are all reminded to see the beauty in every aspect of our lives. About the AuthorLinda Tofanelli, a California native having an interest in poetry, began writing about people in the world news and individuals who have had an impact on her life. She also assisted Vincent Cangello, M.D., editing his medical articles written for the Healthcare Reform Education Institute. Linda started her working career with the Western Pacific Railroad in San Francisco, where she met her husband, Ron. Prior to the railroad, she worked for Sherwood Medical and Aetna Healthcare, taking time off for the births of her two sons, Jeff and Chris. The poignant and most crucial times in Linda's life were the losses of her loving family members and her most treasured are her two sons and two grandchildren, Madigan and Maxton.

Saying Sonja Rongstad has had a rough journey through her life is an understatement. Her grandfather, Granville Rongstad, had twenty-seven known children. They were all severely abused, physically, mentally, and sexually. His wife, Sonja's grandmother, was basically his slave. Similarly, Sonja's own father unfortunately followed in his father's footsteps, abusing Sonja for as long as she can remember. A series of short, abusive relationships with men also followed Sonja all through her adulthood. But through it all, her faith in God never wavered. Breaking the Chains is Sonja's life journey, trying to overcome the abuse and find happiness in an otherwise dark and hopeless world. We learn that we may never forget our past, but we can learn to leave it there.About the AuthorAbout the AuthorSonja Rongstad owns a few businesses in her home state of Florida. She has two sons and a granddaughter. Sonja considers herself blessed to have broken the chains to save her children so they can know normalcy in their lives.

Jesse Clayborn has a gift-some might say a divine gift. A sudden and mysterious fire leaves a little girl struggling for life and puts Jesse's gift to the test. But the fire is only the beginning . . . Soon Jesse finds himself in stranger and stranger circumstances, with visitors from alternate timelines and utopian futures, and careening across dimensions with his best friend's younger brother, Bobby. Can the two find a way to defeat a foe who can bend the rules of Time and Space? Or will evil forces from a darker timeline prevail-and use Jesse's gift for their own nefarious ends?About the AuthorJerry Hinson was born and raised in Gibson County, Tennessee. Fate and the Sacrament is the first of three books he has written. The two novels have been published-Fate and the Sacrament and Forever My Soul Complete. The third, a collection of short stories titled No Purchase Required, will debut in 2018.

"You're a what?" As a nonprofit lawyer, Bruce R. Hopkins has heard that reaction more than a few times, but it still makes him smile. A practicing lawyer for more than five decades, Hopkins is a nationally recognized leader concerning the laws and regulations pertaining to nonprofit organizations. These organizations face a dizzying number of requirements both for gaining recognition of tax exemption from the IRS and filing annual information returns to continue to justify that status. Lucky for them, lawyers like Hopkins are there to help. A Nonprofit Lawyer is one part crash course in nonprofit law and one part autobiography, telling the story of how Hopkins initially stumbled into nonprofit law and how he has become a prolific author and speaker on the subject while also maintaining a busy practice. Anyone interested in specific applications of nonprofit law or just looking for an interesting read about a passionate specialist will find plenty to like in these pages.About the AuthorBruce R. Hopkins concentrates on the representation of tax-exempt organizations, practicing with the Bruce R. Hopkins Law Firm, LLC, Kansas City, Missouri. He is the Professor from Practice at the University of Kansas School of Law. He has authored or coauthored over 40 books on nonprofit law subjects, including The Law of Tax-Exempt Organizations, Eleventh Edition; The Tax Law of Charitable Giving, Fifth Edition; The Law of Fundraising, Fifth Edition; Beware the Commerciality Doctrine and Other Nonprofit Law Poetry; Ultra Vires: Why the IRS Lacks the Jurisdiction and Authority to Regulate Nonprofit Governance; Bruce R. Hopkins' Nonprofit Law Dictionary; Nonprofit Governance: Law, Practices, and Trends; and Tax-Exempt Organizations and Constitutional Law: Nonprofit Law as Shaped by the U.S. Supreme Court. He writes a monthly newsletter, the Bruce R. Hopkins' Nonprofit Counsel. He is listed in the Best Lawyers in America, for Nonprofit Organizations/Charities Law, 2007-2018. He earned his JD and LLM degrees at the George Washington University, his SJD degree at the University of Kansas, and his BA degree at the University of Michigan. He is a member of the bars of the District of Columbia and the state of Missouri. See www.brucerhopkinslaw.com.

Eighteen-year-old Denis bravely lives with St. Louis refugees, determined to escape the reaches of evil leader Blaise. He has lost his parents and his home. Instead of thriving cities and a surplus of resources, his planet offers nothing. Earth is quite different now - a harrowing meteor shower hit twenty years before and destroyed everything. The planet is barren and burnt, and it seems it will remain this way forever… until Denis stumbles upon a place called Kalafah, also known as Magic Earth. There, he befriends Matea, a beautiful semi-angel who might be humanity's last hope. Matea possesses magic powers, and she can bring new plant and animal life back to Earth, making the planet green, beautiful, and healthy once again. However, the group quickly realizes that saving the planet won't be an easy mission. Blaise's evil thugs continue to hunt Denis and his group of friends, determined to steal Matea and her powers away. Blaise intends to make her his wife and her queen, so he can control the future of Earth. Having fought so hard to defeat Blaise and his men, Denis and the refugees refuse to let this happen. They are determined to rescue Matea, and with her, they just might save the fate of the entire planet. About the AuthorBorn in Cordoba, Argentina, Otto Accastello has always loved art and literature. After finishing high school, he began studying law and published a comic strip in his hometown. For a brief time, he lived in California and taught ski lessons to children. Now he works as a lawyer in Argentina, as he continues to write stories and his comic strip Favio & Emilio.

Patterson Keller Jr.'s Slapping Leather is a modern-day Western. Inspired by Spaghetti Westerns and The Wild Bunch, this novel brings readers into the life of those living in the infamous American region where justice is taken into one's own hands.About the AuthorAuthor Patterson Keller Jr. was born in Wyoming on July 10, 1966. He graduated from Rocky Mountain College with a bachelor's degree in history. He served for four years in the United States Navy as an intelligence specialist and worked in the Navy Reserve for several years as reaching the rank of E-5. Keller Jr. attended the New York Film Academy's one year screenwriting course in 2008.

Annie Loney gives a peak of what it is like to be a Major League Baseball player's mother. This book is not only of interest to fans of baseball, but also to mothers. Loney shares her own problems and difficulties in life that has made her a stronger person. She also shares stories about her son and how he became a professional baseball player. This story is an example of strength and the struggles a person goes through to gain the happiness they deserve.About the AuthorAnnie Loney is a mother and wife. She was in the business world for ten years until her son was born. Loney then joined the field of teaching, which she still currently enjoys. She is the mother of a Major League Baseball player. Loney would like to pass on her family's history to future generations. Her life story is an example of how the times are changing.

When the lead singer from a successful German band meets a mysterious woman, there can only be trouble around the corner. Will keeps mostly to himself, but when he meets Melissa, he is dragged into a world in which he isn't prepared. Amidst a new and exciting relationship, Will enters a dangerous world of drugs, and not everyone makes it out alive.About the AuthorHelen Mulligan was born in Russia and studied in Frankfurt, Germany. The idea for Scorpion came to her when she was thirteen. After moving to the U.S., she worked to improve her English. She enjoys writing and reading fiction and hopes to write more in the future.

Clouds are the perfect way to fuel a child's imagination. In this fanciful book for children, a little boy discovers whimsical objects by gazing into the clouds. Author M. L. Bruce hopes that the children reading this book will be inspired to use their own imaginations by searching the sky to see what they may find. This seemingly simple exercise is not only fun, but also trains young minds to use critical thinking skills throughout their lives.About the AuthorBorn in Kentucky, M. L. Bruce now lives in Texas, and has also travelled extensively abroad. Her love of children is shared not only with her children and grandchildren, but also through her current work as a substitute teacher. She loves to enjoy nature. Swimming, water sports, biking, gardening, and, of course, taking pictures of clouds are a few of her favorite hobbies.

The Train in My Backyard is an endearing children's story of a young boy's Grandfather sharing fond memories of the trains that would pass his backyard. The loudness and the contents have forever found a special place in his heart.About the AuthorYolette Reidy is a first-time author and the mother of three amazing children: Brian, Brittany and Bo. She and her husband of twenty-eight years, along with Bo, reside in Severna Park, Maryland, where they share a house with three cats and their adopted dog, Xander. Reidy loves to read and also enjoys gardening and decorating. Publishing this book has fulfilled a personal goal that she has always had for herself and she hopes that her story, born in a backyard in Northeastern Pennsylvania, will spark a happy memory for whoever reads it.

The conclusion to author Richard Neil LaBute Jr.'s exciting trilogy, following The Search and From Across the Waters, takes us to Japan, where young liberal heirs to centuries-old fiefdoms unite to bring about the end to the Tokugawa Shogunate. The two-hundred-fifty-year reign of Tokugawa military rule is over. The Restoration has brought the Meiji Emperor out of the secluded confines of Kyoto and back to the center of government and power in old Yedo, now Tokyo. The Sonno Joi, revere the Emperor, expel the barbarians movement has succeeded, yet failed. The Shogun is gone, but the hated bakufu, Tokugawa-era government bureaucrats, remain. Japan as a nation quickly sheds its medieval past, rapidly emulates, then seizes a place at the table of modern nations, much to the dismay and expense of its neighbors-north, south, west, and ultimately the United States and its possessions to the east. In Europe, Prussia, with the help of Bavaria, cements together a Germanic nation, as France tends to its colonies on many continents. The three-hundred-year-old Romanov Russian Empire teeters on the brink of disaster and revolution. Equally decrepit empires of the Ottoman Turks, Austro-Hungarians, and Ching Dynasty of China also near their end. The riddance of imperial overlords, national identity, and the power of the proletariat are themes du jour, of the day. About the AuthorRichard Neil La Bute Jr. was born in Michigan and raised in Washington State in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. His writing reflects his lifelong interest in history and linguistics, as well as seven years' active and three years' reserve service as a regular in the United States Marine Corps. Since 2000, he has been engaged in animal husbandry and organic/sustainable farming in central Minnesota, in addition to flying corporate aircraft and volunteering for air ambulance part time. Having traveled, worked, and/or lived in over one hundred countries, including ten years spent in Japan, Mr. La Bute currently resides with his wife of thirty-three years, Yoko, on a small farm near their two daughters and three grandchildren.

Leadership and Development Crises in Africa: A New Approach to an Old Challenge is a book written to unearth the immediate and remote causes of the problems in Africa's political and economic landscape. It asks and tries to answer these two critical questions: Why do we experience bad leadership and why is there a very low level of economic development in Africa? It uncovers the various internally generated, as well as externally exerted, challenges that have kept Africa in its current state of instability and underdevelopment, and proffers an incredible solution in a simple and pragmatic manner. This book presents and represents a veritable tool for the African Union in its responsibility of repositioning the African continent for greater global relevance. It is a must-read for the political class in all nations of Africa and around the world, scholars of History and Political Science, and all those who are genuinely involved in the struggle for the enthronement of good governance in a continent that is often characterized by hunger, disease, instability, and hopelessness. It is the foundation for a new order in Africa's political leadership and economic development.About the AuthorVictor O. Okocha is an author, teacher, management consultant, social counselor, and political advisor. He is a Nigerian and a resident of the United States of America. While in Nigeria, he was a member of the South-South Movement for Good-Governance and later became the Director of Research & Training at the Centre for Public Affairs Research & Development (CENPARD). CENPARD is a Pan-African, non-profit, and non-governmental organization based in Abuja, Nigeria, with the main objective of contributing to institutional reforms in Africa. In 2011, Victor received a continental award as a 'Reform Ambassador' and carries with him a burning desire for the emancipation of Africa from its current leadership and development crunch. He can be reached at obivic.okocha@gmail.com.

In this memoir, author Chislene Lora shares stories and insights from her experiences of trauma, pain, and courage. Lora identifies root causes of low self-esteem, how it reveals itself in unhealthy relationships, and strategies to overcome it. She reflects on childhood memories, reveals how they shaped her, and describes how learning from hardship has led to a life of purpose and fulfillment. She wrote her story to inspire women to believe in themselves, face their demons, and persevere to achieve their dreams. About the AuthorChislene Lora is passionate about motivating women towards healthy self-esteem through positive thinking and self-care. She holds a master's degree in mental health counseling and is currently pursuing a PhD in psychology and mental health. The child of U.S. immigrants from the Dominican Republic, Lora was born, raised, and lives in New York City. She is the mother of two adult children and one child. She regularly reads the Bible and attends church and enjoys watching movies with her family and helping people any way she can.

Henry Hare and Benjamin Badger are good friends who enjoy helping others. One day a great storm is brewing in Plum Hollow. Out of concern, Benjamin and Henry hurry to make sure all of their other friends are okay. Henry Hare and the Great Storm of Plum Hollow is a story of great friendship. We can all learn from Benjamin and Henry that helping others is one of the most important things we can do for them!