The Mary Russell Companion by Laurie R. King

Mary Russell, apprentice-partner of Sherlock Holmes, has written ten “Memoirs”. The illustrated Mary Russell Companion, both Entertainment and aid to scholarship, gives chronologies, character biographies, annotations of The Beekeeper’s Apprentice, Mary Russell interviews, commentaries on Russell’s life—and recipes!

The definitive guide to the world of Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes.

The world of Mary Russell, apprentice-turned-partner of the great detective Sherlock Holmes, has long fascinated her followers. Over the course of ten Memoirs and a number of short stories, Russell has revealed much about her life—but far more has gone unexplored.

Filled with new and original material, The Mary Russell Companion helps to close that gaping chasm of ignorance. With lavish illustrations and a firm commitment to academic formalities, the Companion serves as a guide to all things Russell.

First and foremost, it is an Entertainment. Fun and informative essays alternate with the words of Miss Russell herself, with supplemental material that appears here in print for the first time.

Second, it is an aid to scholarship. Key elements of the Memoirs are brought together in one place: maps of Russell’s travels, a detailed chronology of the books, biographies of the central players (those known to Arthur Conan Doyle, those known to the world at large, and those seen exclusively in the Russell Memoirs), and reviews of this remarkable woman’s extraordinary set of skills: all that is known about Russell’s history through the first ten of her Memoirs.

In the interest of scrupulous scholarship, the first two chapters of The Beekeeper’s Apprentice are given a close and detailed series of annotations with the assistance of the Crime world’s preeminent Annotator, Leslie S. Klinger, focusing on everything from a description of gorse to an analysis of the number of times Sherlock Holmes laughs, chuckles, and expresses amusement in the Conan Doyle stories.

Beyond a compilation of facts, however, the Companion aims at context and analysis, with commentaries on many aspects of Mary Russell’s life. Is Russell a feminist? What are her thoughts about God? Why did she choose Laurie R. King as an agent to publish the Memoirs—and what does she think about their being called “novels” “by” Laurie R. King? How do Russell’s thoughts and experiences intersect with those of her literary agent, and how much did King borrow from Miss Russell’s academic work when it came to writing her Master’s Thesis?

Yes, there’s even a discreet chapter on the Russell-Holmes love life.

A floor plan of the Sussex house Russell shares with Sherlock Holmes and Mrs Hudson is joined by a review of what generations of Holmes scholars have said about its location. There are three interviews between Miss Russell and her literary agent, one of which, new for the Companion, celebrates the twentieth anniversary of the first Russell/King collaboration, The Beekeeper’s Apprentice. There are even recipes contributed by Mrs Hudson, and her musings on the comparative stimulants of tea and coffee in the Holmes household.

Until Miss Russell chooses to pen her own Companion, The Mary Russell Companion is the definitive guide to the world of Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes.

About Laurie R. King

Laurie R. King is a third generation Californian with a background in theology, whose first crime novel (1993′s A Grave Talent) won the Edgar and Creasey awards. Her yearly novels range from police procedurals and stand-alones to a historical series about Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes (beginning with The Beekeeper’s Apprentice.) Her books have won the Edgar, Creasey, Wolfe, Lambda, and Macavity awards, and appear regularly on the New York Times bestseller list.

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Supercapacitors 101 – A home Inventors Handbook by Robert Murray-Smith

The supercapacitor is an emerging technology that promises to play an important role in meeting the demands of electronic devices and systems both now and in the future. This book traces the history of the development of the technology, and explores the principles and theory of operation as well as giving some guidance on the methods for producing the materials required to construct one

This book is best used in conjunction with the youtube videos found at youtube.com/user/RobertMurraySmith where I will be happy to answer any questions you may have. The electrochemical supercapacitor is an emerging technology that promises to play an important role in meeting the demands of electronic devices and systems both now and in the future. This book traces the history of the development of the technology, and explores the principles and theory of operation as well as giving some guidance on the methods for producing the materials required to construct a supercapacitor . The use of supercapacitors in applications such as pulse power, backup sources, and others has many advantages over alternative technologies and until recently was well beyond the scope of the home experimenter. However, with the help of this book it is now possible for everyone to become involved in this exciting field of energy development.

About Robert Murray-Smith

If you want to contact me you can email me at robertmurraysmith64@gmail.com

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Falling Snow by Graysen Morgen

Dr. Cason Macauley is a high-speed trauma surgeon, quietly working in the snow covered mountains of Aspen. Adler Troy is a pro snowboarder who finds herself in the ER with a concussion from a snowboarding accident. The last thing Cason wants is to fall for a straight married girl who lives life on the edge of a snowboard. Adler doesn’t realize what’s right in front of her until it's too late.

Dr. Cason Macauley, a high-speed trauma surgeon from Denver, quietly spends two months a year in the snow covered mountains of Aspen working in the ER on a rotation between multiple hospitals in the state. She is beginning her third year on the rotation and looking forward to two peaceful, easy months when she is practically plowed by a beautiful woman on the sidewalk outside of a ski shop.

Adler Troy is a professional snowboarder who has time for nothing but the snow. When the stress builds from too many sponsor obligations and a failing marriage, she finds herself in the ER with a concussion from a snowboarding accident.

The last thing Cason wants is to fall for a straight married girl who lives life on the edge of a snowboard. Adler doesn’t realize what’s right in front of her until it’s gone, but will it be too late?

About Graysen Morgen

Graysen Morgen is the bestselling author of Falling Snow, Fast Pitch, and Bridesmaid of Honor, as well as many other titles. She was born and raised in North Florida with winding rivers and waterways at her back door and the white sandy beach a mile away. She has spent most of her lifetime in the sun and on the water. She enjoys reading, writing, fishing, and spending as much time as possible with her partner and their daughter.

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The Rhyme of the Golden Aegis (Book 1 of the Archetype Trilogy) by Xero Reynolds

On the world of Calopa, magic and steam-driven science share an uneasy balance. When a mysterious child is discovered by a simple airship crew, that balance, and their lives, are put in peril. Past horrors and new conspiracies threaten, and through it all one prize is sought above all others: the answer to The Rhyme of the Golden Aegis.

On the world of Calopa, magic and technology have an uneasy balance in the wake of two devastating wars; one ended a cruel hereditary magical empire, and the other was the cause of a technological savant named Absalohm, who betrayed the world, and nearly destroyed it. Since then, Calopa has been rebuilding, though the governments of the world have implemented laws based on the fear that Absalohm and his flagship the Golden Aegis inspired.



Bael Halran is an airship captain who's only goal in these strange and uncertain days is the safety of his crew, and avoiding trouble. While on what was supposed to be a follow-up concerning a rumor about possible profit, his crew find something else entirely: a boy with no memory, and a physical connection to Absalohm.



Unfortunately for the crew, they're not the only ones with knowledge about the boy, and they find themselves caught up in a conspiracy of powerful people whose end goal might not only prove lethal for the crew of the Silverhearth, but for all of Calopa. For whomever has the boy might just possess the answer to the greatest puzzle with the most valuable reward ever known.



The Rhyme of the Golden Aegis.

About Xero Reynolds

A bipedal whatsit afflicted with creative ADD, Xero Reynolds has applied his ever-scattered attention span to writing, illustration, music, voice acting, and more for the past decade and change. Xero currently spends his time divided between the various fictional worlds that compete for his attention, and the real life he spends with his wife in Colorado. There, if he can be pried away from his creative pursuits, you might find him biking, exploring the foothills of the Rockies, engaging in period fencing, or gleefully pursuing a plethora of proud-to-be-a-geek activities.



You can find out more, and follow along with future work news, at www.xerjester.com.

Read Xero Reynolds's Smashwords Interview

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How To Get Hired By Lockheed Martin by How2DoEverything

Lockheed Martin is one of the world’s biggest companies with over 100,000 employees around the globe, and at any given time they might have between 2000 and 3000 job openings. So why does it always seem so hard to get hired there? This 30-page guidebook will give you a foot up on the competition, and will help you land that first job at Lockheed Martin!

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The Pretender-Saving Luke by Craig Van Sickle

Saving Luke, Book 2 in The Pretender series of novels is an edge-of-your-seat thriller about a brilliant human chameleon named Jarod who, after escaping from the notorious Centre, must draw upon all of his Pretender skills in a race against time to rescue a kidnapped little boy and stop a huge disaster that could claim the innocent lives of his relentless pursuers from The Centre.

There are Pretenders among us, geniuses with the ability to become anyone they want to be. In 1983 a corporation known as The Centre isolated a young Pretender named Jarod and exploited his genius for their ‘research.’ Then, one day, their Pretender ran away…



Now comes the exciting climax to the first fully original, mystery thriller novel, The Pretender – Rebirth - the return of Jarod, Miss Parker, Sydney and the nefarious, clandestine activities of the Centre, in The Pretender – Saving Luke.



Authors Steven Long Mitchell and Craig W. Van Sickle, have encored with a return tome sure to please not only returning fans of the original TV series but also new readers unfamiliar with the world of The Pretender.



The Pretender – Saving Luke again features a brilliant human chameleon named Jarod, who uses his dazzling mind and unequaled abilities to save a kidnapped boy and thwart a deadly plot threatening the innocent lives of hundreds.



In The Pretender – Saving Luke, Jarod continues his search for the truth about who he is and to explore freedom with the pure wonderment of the man/child he is.



But much like the challenges Jason Bourne faces, seeking answers about his identity and taking care of the wrongs he’s trying to right, Jarod’s path is fraught with roadblocks from those who want to recapture him.



Leading the Centre hunt for Jarod is the sexiest woman on the planet, the complex, bitch-on-wheels, Miss Parker. Theirs is a pursuer/pursued relationship bound together by emotional ties, mutual scars and an unspoken passion for each other.



Alongside Miss P on the Centre side of The Pretender – Saving Luke, is Sydney, Jarod’s surrogate father figure and Centre psychologist who raised Jarod and nurtured his genius for the Centre’s disreputable purposes. But in The Pretender – Saving Luke, Jarod’s patience with Sydney roils with anger over lack of answers to Jarod’s past and the identity of his natural birth parents he was stolen from.



The Pretender – Saving Luke, is at once an enthralling tale of one man’s exploration of life around him, intricate suspenseful mystery and intense edge-of-your-seat thrill ride – a fast-paced read that captures and ramps up the cult hit TV series for both the loyal generation of Pretender fans and for a new generation of readers discovering what many before them already have…



There are Pretenders among us…

About Craig Van Sickle

Steven Long Mitchell

Craig W Van Sickle



Steve Mitchell and Craig Van Sickle have written, produced and/or directed over two hundred hours of prime network programming including such series as Alien Nation, Murder She Wrote, Medical Investigation, 24 and NCIS. From situation comedy to drama, comic books to mystery, science fiction to action-adventure, their career has covered a broad imaginative spectrum. Together they have also created numerous television series, most notably, NBC's The Pretender on which they served as Executive Producers for its entire five-year run of episodes as well as a series of two-hour movies.

In addition to series television Mitchell and Van Sickle have also written and produced numerous long form productions -- both mini series and MOW's as well as feature films.

In 2008 they were nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Mini-Series as the Writers/Executive Producers on Syfy Channel's, TinMan, an updated reimagining of The Wizard of Oz that, in addition to its critical acclaim, has broken ratings records both domestically and internationally.

In October of 2013 the team released their first novel, The Pretender-Rebirth and have just released the second novel in the series, The Pretender - Saving Luke, available now.

Both reside with their families in the Los Angeles area and can be contacted through their web site, ThePretenderLives.com.

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Mindfulness in Pen and Ink by Joyce Block

Mindful! Focused! Calming! Relaxing! This book is a beginning book of how to mindfully draw patterns using the Zentangle® method. The authors, Joyce Block and Don McCollum, are Certified Zentangle teachers. Included in this book are directions and pictures of the steps to create the various patterns..

About Joyce Block

Don McCollum was introduced to Zentangle® by his daughter, Kathryn. She ran across the meditative drawing website on the internet. and thought it would be a pastime she could share with her dad. During a visit home in 2009, she stayed up later every night to learn a pattern and left her rendition for her dad to see each morning. Within the subsequent year, they traveled to Boston for a Zentangle certification workshop. Don became a Certified Zentangle Teacher (CZT) in 2010. He is a retired elementary school teacher and describes himself as a lifelong learner.



Joyce Block, helping Don with a computer problem, was exposed to his Zentangle drawings. Joyce, going through the throws of unsettled retirement issues, asked Don what he had been doing to keep himself busy during his retirement. "Zentangle!" he answered, "a meditative art form." After receiving minimal instruction from Don, she went home to practice and found she needed many more patterns. With Don's help and encouragement, she learned more patterns and became intrigued with the idea that she could create pieces of art. Shortly after, she flew to Providence to become a Certified Zentangle Teacher. She is a church musician and a retired technology teacher.



Don and Joyce became enamored with the process of Zentangle. They wanted to share this art form with everyone. They team teach in elementary, middle, and high schools, retreat centers, classes for challenged youth, diabetic support groups, church groups, cancer support groups and retirement centers.

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Orange Blossom (A Flowering Novel) by Sarah Daltry

You already know their stories: Lily, the perfect princess, always living someone else’s life. And Jack, the broken boy, who had stopped believing in hope. Somehow, though, they found each other and what was one night blossomed into a love story. Now, a year later, Jack and Lily are dreaming of the future.

“I’ve never understood a year. A year was always a measurement of something bad for me. A year in my father’s prison sentence, a year since my mom’s death, a year left of school before I could get far, far away from here. Now, as I look down the end of my college career, with only a little more than a semester to go, a year seems like something magical. It has been a year since Lily chose me, since she sat with me on the old swing set and made a decision that I was worthy of her. And every minute of the entire year has been better than the last.”



You already know their stories: Lily, the perfect princess, always living someone else’s life. And Jack, the broken boy, who had stopped believing in hope. Somehow, though, they found each other and what was one night blossomed into a love story.



Now, a year later, Jack and Lily are dreaming of the future. Despite all of his promises to himself that he would never be indebted to anyone, Jack makes a new promise – this time to Lily – that he will be there for her forever. But when life unravels for them, he starts to pull away, and Lily worries he’s out of reach for good.



When Jack does the unthinkable, Lily is left destroyed. Is it possible to have a happily ever after? Does love ever really save anyone?

About Sarah Daltry

Sarah writes books.

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The Cowboy Rescues a Bride by Cora Seton

After Fila has been held captive by the Taliban for over a decade, Ned Matheson knows he needs to help her regain her courage before he can date her--let alone marry her. But when a savage twist of fate turns the tables on them, Ned will learn what it’s like to be helpless and Fila will have to find the courage she lost years ago. Can they survive long enough to find love?

Ned Matheson knows Fila Sahar has been to hell and back after being held captive by the Taliban for over a decade. She’s lost her parents, her home, and ten years of her life. Now she’s safely back on American soil, but her fears have her so hemmed in, she might as well be a prisoner again. Ned knows he can’t date her, let alone marry her, until she’s regained her courage. He’s confident he’s found the perfect solution—he’ll get her a restaurant she can call her own.



Fila cares for Ned more than she can say, and she’s grateful for the home he’s given her on his family’s ranch, but before she can give her heart to any man, she has to find the courage to reenter society. When Ned surprises her with his perfect solution—the restaurant he’s leased and renovated in her name—she doesn’t know how to tell him she can’t imagine being brave enough to ever run it. So when Ned’s father sends him out of town to check on the family’s remote hunting cabin, she’s grateful for the delay.



Ned knows his father wants to split him and Fila up, so there’s no way he’s leaving town without taking her along. But when they reach the cabin, a savage twist of fate will turn the tables on both of them. Ned will learn what it’s like to be helpless. Fila will have to find the courage she lost years ago.



Can they survive the weekend? Or will this trip be their last?

About Cora Seton

Cora Seton loves cowboys, country life, gardening, bike-riding, and lazing around with a good book. Mother of four, wife to a computer programmer/eco-farmer, she ditched her California lifestyle eight years ago and moved to a remote logging town in northwestern British Columbia.



Like the characters in her novels, Cora enjoys old-fashioned pursuits and modern technology, spending mornings transforming a neglected one-acre lot into a paradise of orchards, berry bushes and market gardens, and afternoons writing the latest Chance Creek romance novel on her iPad mini. Visit www.coraseton.com to read about new releases, locate your favorite characters on the Chance Creek map, and learn about contests and other cool events!

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Breaking the Rules of Grief, A Bereaved Mother's Journey by Shannon Harris

"Breaking the Rules of Grief, A Bereaved Mother's Journey" offers alternative ideas for grieving the loss of a child by challenging social norms and traditional expressions of grief. A raw, honest and unfiltered look at a young mother's un-approach to grief.

In "Breaking the Rules of Grief, A Bereaved Mother's Journey" Shannon Harris takes you along on her complicated story of a young mother who loses her son to cancer. Through an honest and unfiltered examination of society's stereotypes on bereavement this book offers alternative ideas for fellow bereaved parents to cope with their loss. Detailing the unspoken rules of grief as they pertain to the loss of a child, Harris tackles topics including spirituality, friendships, relationships, work, parenting and healing. "Breaking the Rules of Grief, A Bereaved Mother's Journey" empowers parents to take ownership of their pain and in doing so shines a light on the path to peace.

About Shannon Harris

I am a 35 year old mother of three, fortunate enough to pursue my passion in writing. After losing my five year old son, Anthony, to Leukemia, my life became focused on a more true and heartfelt approach to life. I enjoy helping people use their pain as a means to something greater with my life coaching practice.

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That Certain Something by Clare Ashton

Love or money? Follow the head or heart? Pia and Cate seem to be flip sides of a coin. But when they meet, they definitely have that certain something, and these questions aren't so simple after a night like theirs in a summer London. An irresistible couple, a charismatic city, a priceless supporting cast - That Certain Something is a sparkling romcom from Goldie award winner Clare Ashton.

Love or money? Follow the head or heart? Pia and Cate seem to be flip sides of a coin. But when they meet, they definitely have that certain something, and these questions aren't so simple after a night like theirs.



Pia Benitez-Smith has her head in the clouds of ideals and romance. She's a photojournalist out to prove herself with her compassionate eye and although not exactly accident prone, most days trouble seems to find her. On one such day, she literally falls into the arms of the beautiful Cate. Elegant, intriguing and classy, Cate is Pia's polar opposite. When the two dispute the importance of love versus money, Cate is adamant that her perfect night will always be an expensive one. Working class Pia can't resist the challenge and with the assistance of a beguiling summer night in London, she begins to enchant her new friend.



An irresistible couple, a charismatic city, a priceless supporting cast - That Certain Something is a sparkling romcom from Goldie award winner Clare Ashton.

About Clare Ashton

Clare Ashton grew up in Wales and lives in Oxfordshire with her partner Jayne and their toddler son Joe.



She is the author of Pennance and likes to write fiction featuring strong female characters and more than its fair share of lesbians. She loves to mix suspense, mystery, romance and darker elements too.

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Nelson Branco's SOAP OPERA UNCENSORED: Issue 95 by Nelson Branco

Daytime TV's first and only new hot e-zine: Weekly summary of soap opera's hottest news, stories, humour, gossip, blind items, fearless predictions, top stars/stories/couples/characters to watch, snark galore, review and analysis

INSIDE — INTRODUCING 2014’s SEXIEST MAN ALIVE: JAMES SCOTT! EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW ON THE SUPERSTAR LEAVING DAYS; ALISON SWEENEY’S EXIT; HIS THOUGHTS ON EJ’S ADDICTION TO SELF-SABOTAGE; AND WHY DAYS IS DAYTIME’S BEST SOAP! — GH “SHOCKER:” MICHELLE STAFFORD JOINS GH AS DONNA MILLS JUNIOR! — THE BIGGEST SUPERSTAR OF THEM ALL: EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH DEVANITY’S ANDREA EVANS! WHAT SHE REALLY THOUGHT OF THE ONE LIFE REBOOT; WHY SHE’D LOVE TO JOIN DAYS OF OUR LIVES; AND REMEMBERING SOAP ICON PAUL RAUCH! PLUS: HER NEW PROJECT! — Exclusive Interview With DAYS’ Galen Gering: Rate and Safe Are Back! — Y&R’S STEVE BURTON GIVES GH HIS BLESSING! — Daytime Emmy Awards Nominations Announced! Did Your Fave Make The List? Find Out! — EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: DID TREVOR ST. JOHN SUBMIT HIS NAME FOR AN EMMY? DID HE TURN DOWN Y&R’s ADAM NEWMAN? — MAD MEN’S JESSICA PARE’ SOAPY PAST EXPOSED! — Blind Items Return! — DAYS SHOCKING HUNK SWITCHEROO! — PLUS: NEWS, UNCENSORED QUOTES, HUMOUR, SECOND OPINIONS, AND REVIEWS!

About Nelson Branco

Nelson Branco is a TV news producer at Canada's 24-hour news network, SUN NEWS NETWORK. He's also a Toronto freelance entertainment journalist, who regularly contributes to Hello! Canada, CTV National News Channel, The National Post, The Los Angeles Times' theenvelope.com, TV Guide USA, tvguide.com, Inside Entertainment, OUT, OK!, IN Magazine, Zoomer, Entertainment Tonight, etalk Daily, and fab magazine. For over five years, he spearheaded the soap coverage for TVGuide.ca's popular and controversial daytime-TV hub. In 2009, he appeared on the CW's Daytime Emmy Awards during the red carpet show as an expert.



After graduating from Ryerson University in 1997 with a Radio and Television Arts BA degree, he moved from Toronto to New York in 1998 to take on the roles as senior news editor at Soap Opera Update. Branco first freelanced for Soap Opera Weekly as an intern in 1994, and after leaving Soap Update to help create and launch Bauer Publishing's In Touch Weekly in 2003, the Winnipeg native continued to freelance occasionally for its sister publication, Soaps In Depth. In addition, Branco has successfully helped create and launch various magazines In Touch Weekly, Hello! Canada and Canada's first celebrity magazine, Weekly Scoop, where he served as its news and entertainment director. Branco was also a producer and an on-air expert on TVTropolis series, Planet Soap. Most recently, he helped launch The Marilyn Denis Show on CTV as its managing show writer.

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Republic by Lindsay Buroker

After the notorious outlaws Amaranthe and Sicarius helped overthrow the corrupt faction controlling the empire and brought in a great war hero to lead the nation to prosperity, they finally earned their pardons—and some time off. A tropical vacation cruising around in a private submarine? Perfect. But their trip is interrupted by a summons from the new president: they're needed back at home.

After the notorious outlaws Amaranthe and Sicarius helped overthrow the corrupt faction controlling the empire and brought in a great war hero to lead the nation to prosperity, they finally earned their pardons—and some time off. A tropical vacation cruising around in a private submarine? Perfect. But their trip is interrupted by a summons from the new president: they're needed back at home. Trouble unlike anything they've ever dealt with threatens to destroy the capital city and throw the fledgling republic into chaos.



The follow-up to The Emperor's Edge series, Republic takes place a few months after the events of Forged in Blood I & II. It is a complete 210,000-word novel.

About Lindsay Buroker

I've been writing fantasy novels and short stories since I was seven. I've been finishing them since... well, that's a more recent development.



I'm a professional blogger for my day job, and I live in the Seattle area. I have two vizslas who are as spoiled as most people's kids. Occasionally they let me leave the house to play tennis, go to the coffee shop, or take a yoga class.



My fantasy short stories are available as free ebooks around the web, and my fantasy novels are up at Amazon, Smashwords, and Barnes & Noble.

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In a Heartbeat by RJ Nolan

Officer Sam McKenna has no trouble facing down criminals but breaks out in a sweat at the mere mention of commitment.



Trauma surgeon Riley Connolly tries to measure up to her family’s expectations and hides her sexuality from them.



A life-and-death situation at the hospital binds them together. But can there be any future for a commitment-phobic cop and a closeted, workaholic doctor?

Veteran police officer Sam McKenna has no trouble facing down criminals on a daily basis but breaks out in a sweat at the mere mention of commitment. A recent failed relationship strengthens her resolve to stick with her trademark no-strings-attached affairs.

Dr. Riley Connolly, a successful trauma surgeon, has spent her whole life trying to measure up to her family’s expectations. And that includes hiding her sexuality from them.

When a routine call sends Sam to the hospital where Riley works, the two women are hurtled into a life-and-death situation. The incident binds them together. But can there be any future for a commitment-phobic cop and a closeted, workaholic doctor?

About RJ Nolan

RJ Nolan lives in the United States with her spouse and their Great Dane. She makes frequent visits to the California coast near her home. The sight and sound of the surf always stir her muse. When not writing, she enjoys reading, camping, and the occasional trip to Disneyland.

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Enhancing Performance: Mental Training for Coaches, Athletes, and Parents by Dan Yarmey

This book describes the methods and mental skills necessary for optimal performance in individual and team sports. Forty brief chapters representing such topics as attention and concentration, goal-setting, imagery, mental preparation, and mental toughness are covered. The book will be of interest to coaches, college and club level athletes, high school players, and athletes' parents

About Dan Yarmey

Dan Yarmey is a University Professor Emeritus in the Department of Psychology at the University of Guelph. He was born in Toronto, Ontario Canada and attended Waterloo College and the University of Western Ontario graduating with a BA in honors Psychology. He then completed his MA and Ph.D. in experimental psychology at Western. He has taught at Wilfrid Laurier University, the University of Tennessee, the University of Guelph, and the University of Guelph-Humber. Most of his research focuses on issues related to psychology and the law, especially on the psychology of eyewitness testimony and voice identification. This book is his first contribution to the literature on Applied Sport Psychology. Sport has been a life-long passion as an athlete, coach, consultant, teacher, and fan. He has coached youth sport in football, soccer, and hockey, and most recently, high school football. In addition to teaching a course on sport psychology, he has been a sport consultant for the University of Guelph's football team and men's and women's basketball teams, and women's basketball at Wilfrid Laurier University.

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Walking The Crooked Path by Corey King

Diagnosed with an incurable, degenerative disease, a successful businessman and engineer confronts a troubled past and an uncertain future and finds an unexpected path to faith and hope.

Corey King was unprepared for Parkinson’s disease, but even more unprepared for the harsh light the diagnosis cast on buried secrets and unresolved problems from the past. This life-changing truth called everything he believed into question, and forced him to confront even deeper truths. On a crooked path from a childhood history of abuse to the cockpit of a military jet and the boardrooms and laboratories of the high-tech business world, Corey struggled to answer questions that plague all of us. Who am I? Why am I here? How do I keep going when there seems to be no hope? 'Walking the Crooked Path' is Corey’s story of confronting a devastating diagnosis with painful honesty and wry humor, but is also the more important story of forgiveness, redemption, and newfound faith.

About Corey King

Corey is a volunteer Assistant Director for the State of Texas for the Parkinson’s Action Network (PAN), a Congressional lobbying organization focused on the needs of the Parkinson disease community. He is also the past president and chairman of the board of the Alamo Area Parkinson’s Support Group and past board member of the Comal County Parkinson’s Support Group and the Lone Star Parkinson Society.



Corey is a U.S. Air Force veteran and served as a space operations and engineering officer. Following his Air Force career, Corey was a project manager and system engineer for government and commercial development projects in computer network design, large-scale database system design, and technical and operational security. He was the senior leader at a telecommunications and computer research laboratory, a vice president for a high-tech defense contractor, and was one of several principals in a computer security start-up company. His company was acquired by Symantec, where Mr. King served in senior management, sales, and marketing roles until 2006. Corey also worked with Southwest Research Institute, where he led an organization of scientists and engineers performing research and development.



He retired from his professional career in 2011, after he was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson’s disease in 2009. Since then has been active as an advocate for the Parkinson’s community, and volunteers for the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute and the US CyberPatriot Program, a high-school cyber security competition. He writes a blog about his experiences in life and with Parkinson’s, at http://cdkingcrookedpath.com.



He lives in San Antonio, Texas with his wife Amy and their dog Izzy. The children, although children no longer, come home regularly and regale their parents with wonderful stories of their achievements.

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The Robber Knight – Special Edition by Robert Thier

When you are fighting for the freedom of your people, falling in love with your enemy is not a great idea. Or is it? Ayla has to defend her castle and her people all on her own, with nobody to help her but a dark warrior she hates with all her heart.



Special Edition with extra chapters revealed.

Sir Reuben, the dreaded robber knight, has long been Ayla’s deadliest enemy. He has prayed on her and her people ever since her father fell ill, and she swore he would hang for his crimes. Now they are both trapped in her castle as the army of a far greater enemy approaches, and they have only one chance: stand together, or fall.

Welcome to “The Robber Knight”—a tale full of action, adventure, and romance.



This is the Special Edition of “The Robber Knight”, which contains secret chapters exploring Sir Reuben’s mysterious past.

About Robert Thier

Robert Thier is a German Historian and writer of Historical Fiction. His particular mix of history, romance and adventure, always with a good deal of humor thrown in, has gained him a diverse readership ranging from teenagers to retired grandmothers. For the way he manages to make history come alive, as if he himself had lived as a medieval knight, his fans all over the world have given him the nickname “Sir Rob”.



For him, Robert says, becoming a writer has followed naturally from his interest in history. “In Germany,” he says, “we use the same word for story and history. And I've always loved the one as much as the other. Becoming a storyteller, a writer, is what I've always wanted.”



Besides writing and researching in dusty old archives, on the lookout for a mystery to put into his next story, Robert enjoys classical music and long walks in the country. The helmet you see on the picture he does not wear because he is a cycling enthusiast, but to protect his literary skull in which a bone has been missing from birth. Robert lives in the south of Germany in a small village between the three Emperor's Mountains.

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Upon the Fulcrum of War by Stephen L. Nowland

Emotionally scarred from the war, Aiden Wainwright joins with his old companions and attempts to force a peaceful solution to the conflict, all the while convinced the king and his wizard have taken the ancient armour of power and seek to use it to bring a new era of tyranny to the realm. When the truth is finally revealed, events take an unexpected turn that may bring devastation to both realms.

Two years have passed since the narrow victory at Fort Highmarch, and Aiden Wainwright now commands the rebuilt fortress as Baron of Highmarch. But he finds himself helping to perpetuate a war against the neighbouring Kingdom of Tulsone, with no end in sight and a body count climbing ever higher. Two kingdoms, locked in struggle and unable to break free from the decades-long enmity which propels them toward destruction.



Scarred from his experiences, Aiden joins with some of his old companions and attempts to force a peaceful solution to the conflict, all the while convinced the king and his pet wizard have taken the shell of the ancient armour and seek to use it to bring a new era of tyranny to the realm. When the truth is finally revealed, events take an unexpected turn that could bring final devastation to both realms.

About Stephen L. Nowland

I am often astonished by the sheer amount of ideas that go through my head. I've taken it upon myself to harness as many of these as I can, weave them into stories and publish them in one form or another, for fun and profit.



I spent over fifteen years dealing with poor health, including chronic fatigue syndrome (a symptom of other stuff, but annoying nonetheless) which gave me ample time for thinking, but slowed me down in the way of actual writing.



My first novel was actually done back in aught three, but it was a derivative work that I didn't really care for so I scrapped it and started writing a new story for Neverwinter Nights, that RPG video game thing you may or may not have heard of.



The story was so successful (filled with rich, creamy character development) that I lamented that only people playing the game would ever see it. In 2009, with my health improving, I resolved to novelize the stories I'd written, in addition to developing the world in which they exist as the basis for a new fantasy world.



I consider those stories to be merely the first iteration of the saga, for my novels have evolved far beyond the original scope, in terms of detail, plot and character building. Although some claim the first novel in the series does tend to remind people of the video game, they are all true fantasy novels in their own right, and once this first saga is complete, I will be leaving behind the legacy of NWN and pressing ahead with newer, original stories conceived in my beloved world of Feydwiir.



I also paint, and you can expect to see more cover art with each title, becoming more technically sophisticated each time.

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The Year of Ancient Ghosts by Kim Wilkins

Aurealis-winner Kim Wilkins compiles five novellas (three reprinted, two original) in this strong collection. Wilkins adds fantastic elements to her depiction of ages past and present, but rather than relying on standard fantasy tropes, her stories are informed by detailed research into the periods in question.

"Aurealis-winner Wilkins (Giants of the Frost) compiles five novellas (three reprinted, two original) in this strong collection. Wilkins adds fantastic elements to her depiction of ages past and present, but rather than relying on standard fantasy tropes, her stories are informed by detailed research into the periods in question. She clearly has an affection for the Middle Ages that does not blind her to the realities; the resulting stories often highlight the unpleasant elements of that period without reveling in them. Of particular interest are “Wild Dreams of Blood,” set in the present but informed by Norse legend, and “Dindrana’s Lover,” whose protagonist, constrained by rigid social hierarchies and spiteful religious fervor, struggles to find a victory in a no-win situation. Also included are an introduction by Kate Forsyth and an afterword by the author."

-Publishers Weekly

About Kim Wilkins

Profile created by Ticonderoga Publications in accordance with Smashwords Requirements.

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Third Circle Theory – Purpose Through Observation by Secret Entourage

The Third Circle Theory is the theory Secret Entourage created to explain how the human mind evolves from birth to the stage where it can find "purpose". The theory which has proven to be the same for all the successful individuals who have not only found their purpose in life but have executed on their beliefs, and as a result established themselves as successful innovators and entrepreneurs.

The Third Circle Theory is the theory Secret Entourage created to explain how the human mind evolves from birth to the stage where it can find "purpose". The theory which has proven to be the same for all the successful individuals who have not only found their purpose in life but have executed on their beliefs, and as a result established themselves as successful innovators, explorers, educators, and entrepreneurs is now clearly defined and explained in over 160 pages.



The Third Circle Theory consists of three circles illustrating, 3 worlds, 3 perspectives, 3 visions and 3 cycles. Each circle consists of a world, a perspective, a vision and a cycle of the mind. All individuals go through the First Circle, some will evolve to the Second Circle, and very few to the Third Circle, which is why we call this theory the Third Circle Theory.

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Africville My Home by Leslie Carvery

A love story set in a small Black community in Nova Scotia in the 1950's..

A love story rooted in the community of Africville, the heart of Halifax Nova Scotia. Leslie Carvery spins a tale of fiction from stories and tales heard from her father's community. The romance of Hope Carver and Vinny Byers, the story of Nelson Carver coming of age, and the eventful destruction of the town bring the life and energy of Africville to it's legacy. This lovely tale will feel familiar as it captures the small on goings and momentous occasions of a small Black community in the 50's.

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A Sword Into Darkness by Thomas A. Mays

Gordon Lee has seen the light, but no government will believe his evidence of an approaching alien threat. Along with a bloodied naval warrior and an eccentric physicist, they will have to create the technology necessary for Earth's first space navy. It will take a miracle just to get off the ground, and an even greater miracle to save all of mankind from this unknown alien invasion!

The acclaimed, best-selling, blockbuster debut finally comes to Smashwords and the e-book retailer of your choice! Over 15,000 copies sold in its first 3 months! 4.5 stars in 170 Amazon reviews! An Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Quarter-Finalist!



“Solid adventure, intrigue and speculative space-tech, from a rising star in military science fiction.” — DAVID BRIN, Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author of ‘EXISTENCE,’ ‘THE POSTMAN,’ and ‘STARTIDE RISING’



Humanity is no longer alone in the universe. An unknowable threat approaches Earth . . . and we are completely unprepared to face what's coming.



Aerospace tycoon Gordon Elliot Lee cannot stand idly by while a mysterious alien presence from Delta Pavonis bears down upon mankind's only home. Shut out from NASA and military support, Gordon is forced to go it alone, to sow the seeds for an entirely new sort of planetary defense: a space-based naval force.



Joined by Nathan Kelley -- a bloodied naval warrior, scarred by his own actions in the waters off North Korea -- and Kris Munoz -- an avant garde scientific genius with more ideas than sense -- these three will scour the very edges of fringe science and engineering to attempt development of Earth's first space navy in time to oppose the Deltan invasion.



Beset by ridicule, government obstruction, industrial espionage, and their own personal demons, it will take a miracle just to get off the ground. But the challenges on Earth are nothing compared to what awaits them in space. Against an unknown alien enemy with vastly superior technology, a handful of human scientists and warriors must become the sword that holds the darkness at bay.



Missiles will flash, Railguns will rumble, Lasers will burn, and Defenders will die.



If they fail, our end is at hand.



“There are brilliant first contact stories, great space combat stories, and amazing stories of technological discovery. Rarely do you find all three in the same novel. Remember the name Thomas A. Mays. You’re going to be seeing it on the bestseller list.” — JEFF EDWARDS, Award-winning author of ‘SEA OF SHADOWS,’ and ‘THE SEVENTH ANGEL’



“Sharply written, suspenseful and tightly plotted, A SWORD INTO DARKNESS reads like the best Tom Clancy novels, with a science fiction heart provided by Arthur C. Clark. Can’t wait to read more from Thomas Mays!” — GRAHAM BROWN, #1 New York Times Bestselling author of ‘ZERO HOUR,’ ‘BLACK RAIN,’ and ‘THE EDEN PROPHECY’

About Thomas A. Mays

Thomas A. Mays (Tom) is an 19-years-and-counting veteran of the US Navy, working as an officer in the surface fleet aboard destroyers and amphibious ships, as well as teaching and assisting with research into electromagnetic weapons and ballistic missile defense. He has two degrees in applied physics, but his passion is writing (he tries not to let what he actually knows get in the way of telling a good story). "A Sword Into Darkness" is his first published novel, but he is working on a sequel (among other projects) and releasing an anthology of his published and unpublished military science fiction, "REMO" in April, 2014. Tom usually lives wherever the Navy tells him to (currently North Carolina), making a home with his lovely wife, three beautiful kids, and an insane Hawaiian mutt. Tom's blog, The Improbable Author, can be found at: http://improbableauthor.com/

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The Executive Guide to Facilitating Strategy by Michael Wilkinson

The Executive Guide to Facilitating Strategy provides executives and facilitators with a step-by-step resource for guiding their team through all phases of the strategic planning process – from gaining the team’s buy-in to plan all the way through organization alignment, implementation, and monitoring. The Executive Guide provides tools and strategies that deliver results!

STOP WASTING TIME DEVELOPING STRATEGIC PLANS THAT DON’T GET IMPLEMENTED!



Far too often, people experience strategic planning as a wasted activity—painful, unproductive, and irrelevant to the issues at hand. And once planning is done, the product usually gets put on a shelf, never to be looked at again.



The Executive Guide to Facilitating Strategy delivers the Drivers Model, a powerful tool to help you facilitate your organization through the development of a strategic plan from start to finish, whether you lead a corporation, government agency, non-profit organization, business unit, department, or team. The Drivers Model is a simple but dynamic process that covers the seven key principles for masterful planning, from thoroughly identifying critical issues to establishing a rigorous process for driving successful implementation.



You’ll also discover –

• The 10 common planning pitfalls and how to avoid them;

• How to facilitate your team through mission and vision creation;

• Strategies for setting measurable targets and deciding priorities;

• How to use critical success factors and barriers to focus your plan;

• Techniques for moving your values from a plaque on the wall to serving as a guide for decision-making every day; and

• A process for monitoring progress and promoting positive accountability.



The book is chock-full of tools and techniques and includes over 400 examples of mission statements, goals, guiding principles, strategies, agendas, and process checklists. Experienced practitioners will especially like the quality checks included for each component of the plan so that you can be sure that what you create is effective and thorough.



In summary, The Executive Guide to Facilitating Strategy guides you in your role as an effective facilitator of change by providing you a proven framework that you can use immediately in just about any kind of planning you may need to do.



Early Praise for The Effective Guide to Facilitating Strategy



“Great facilitation produces real commitment to solving problems and to advancing your organization. That’s why we put special emphasis on the Drivers Model as we train our next generation of leaders. This book is like having an executive MBA program in facilitating strategy at your disposal. Michael

Wilkinson is a master facilitator and a world-class teacher.”

—Mark O’Connell, Director, Advanced Leadership Program, United Way Movement



“As the leading CEO membership organization in the world, we know firsthand that when it comes to meeting tough challenges or realizing high aspirations for your business, a solid strategic framework is an invaluable asset. The Drivers Model will get you where you want to go!”

—Ruby L. Randall, President and Chief Operating Officer, Vistage International, Inc.



“I’ve used the Drivers Model in my role as the chief human resources officer for two organizations. Whether you’re in an established Fortune 500 company, an entrepreneurial startup, an organization experiencing a major turn-around or a high growth business, this executive guide provides a road map for developing an effective strategic plan while building the alignment and commitment needed for successful execution.”

—Sylvia Taylor, Executive Vice President, The Weather Channel, LLC



“After our U.S. operation used Michael and his team to guide them through strategy using the Drivers Model, we were so impressed that we have had him facilitate strategy with our Canadian division and our foreign name plate subsidiary. Comprehensive planning and focused execution has made a difference.”

—Richard G. Roy, President and CEO, Uni-Select Inc.

About Michael Wilkinson

MICHAEL WILKINSON

Certified Master Facilitator, Named “Facilitator of the Year” 2003 by SEAF



"In my career, I've seen many, many facilitators. He is the best.”



“He is hands down the most talented facilitator with whom I have ever worked.”



Comments like these are worth noting, especially when they come from Len Roberts, the former CEO of RadioShack, and Brian Gallagher, the CEO of the United Way Worldwide.



Mr. Wilkinson is the Managing Director of Leadership Strategies, Inc. – the leadership training and strategy consulting firm specializing in group facilitation. He is considered a national leader in the facilitation industry.



• Author of The Secrets of Facilitation, The Secrets to Masterful Meetings, and The Executive Guide to Facilitating Strategy.

• Board member of the International Institute for Facilitation.

• Founder of the National Facilitator Database.

• One of the first five Certified Master Facilitators in North America.

• Named Facilitator of the Year in 2003 by the Southeast Association of Facilitators.



Active in both the private and public sectors, he has provided leadership training and strategy development assistance to such diverse organizations as The Coca-Cola Company, Unisys, Sears, EPA, CDC, the Georgia Society of Association Executives, and the United Way.



Mr. Wilkinson is a much sought after facilitator, trainer and speaker, both in the U.S. and around the globe. He has completed international assignments in Bangkok, Brisbane, Glasgow, Hamburg, Helsinki, Hong Kong, Istanbul, London, Melbourne, Milan, the Netherlands, Oxford, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sydney and Wellington. Past participants have commented that his dynamic presentation style, combined with his unique insights, make for an intense, power-packed session.



Prior to Leadership Strategies, Mr. Wilkinson spent six years with ADP and eight years in the information technology practice of Ernst & Young's Manage¬ment Consulting Group. He is a High Honors graduate from Dartmouth and resides with his wife and two children in Atlanta, Georgia.

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The Second Chance by Joana Starnes

Soon after the Netherfield ball, a troubled Mr. Darcy decides to walk away from a most unsuitable fascination. But heartache is in store for them all, and his misguided attempts to ensure the comfort of the woman he loves backfire in ways he had not expected...

Soon after the Netherfield ball, a troubled Mr. Darcy decides to walk away from a most unsuitable fascination. But heartache is in store for them all, and his misguided attempts to ensure the comfort of the woman he loves backfire in ways he had not expected...



Why is it that the worth of a true blessing is never felt as keenly as when it seems to have become quite out of reach? In this tale of ‘Pride & Prejudice’ meets ‘Sense & Sensibility’, Mr. Darcy is compelled to reflect on this very question, as he struggles to come to terms with the effects of his wrong choices, and fervently hope for a second chance at finding happiness.



“Well, Sir, what shall it be? The joy of music or of the printed word?” she asked, in a manner so highly reminiscent of their past interactions as to make him almost giddy with renewed hope.

“The joy of you! My greatest folly was to ever walk away from it!”

About Joana Starnes

Joana Starnes is the author of ‘From This Day Forward - The Darcys of Pemberley’ - a ‘Pride and Prejudice’ sequel - and ‘The Second Chance’ - a ‘Pride & Prejudice’ ~ ‘Sense & Sensibility’ Variation, previously known as ‘Steady to His Purpose’.



A medical graduate, in more recent years Joana has developed an unrelated but enduring fascination with Georgian Britain in general and the works of Jane Austen in particular, as well as with the remarkable and flamboyant set of people who have given the Regency Period its charm and sparkle.



Joana lives in the South of England with her family.

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Saving Scotty by Annie Jocoby

Scotty is reeling from Nick's betrayal. But her feelings over seeing Nick with Portia do not compare to what happens to her when she gets into the clutches of Mr. Lucas. With time running out, Nick is desperate to find her. Even if he does, however, the odds are still stacked against the couple. Scotty must learn to trust Nick if they are ever to make it work. But is she still just too broken to?

Scotty is sure that she was betrayed by Nick, so she wants nothing more to do with him. Unfortunately, her life is endangered by Mr. Lucas, as she is abducted by him and spirited away to an island far away from New York City.



Nick begins a desperate search for Scotty, knowing that every minute that Scotty is in the hands of Mr. Lucas is another minute that she is horribly suffering. But can he find her before too much damage is done? And can he convince her, once and for all, that he did not betray her?



And, in the end, can he finally convince her to truly trust him? Or is she still just too broken?

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