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Beautiful Writers: A Journey of Big Dreams and Messy Manuscripts--with Tricks of the Trade from Bestselling Authors
by Linda Sivertsen"I own every writing book ever written, and Linda Sivertsen has done the near-impossible: given writing itself a personality . . . Her stories are cinematic, hilarious, heartfelt, and pitch-perfect—with energy and punch, so often lacking in nonfiction." —Terry McMillan, #1 New York Times bestselling author "A page-turning beach read doubling as how-to. Magic." —Jenny Lawson, #1 New York Times bestselling author, journalist, and blogger at The Bloggess "An engaging manual that offers writing advice with a big, broad, sunny worldview . . . fans of Sivertsen's podcast will devour this companion volume." —Kirkus Reviews International Impact Book Award Winner Imagine you're at a dinner party with some of the most successful authors of our time. "Book Mama" and Beautiful Writers Podcast co-creator Linda Sivertsen is the host. As she shares her story of the many hilarious, outrageous, and practical things she did to launch her bestselling writing career, your favorite writers chime in with their own anecdotes, leaving you enlightened and newly inspired. The wisdom in these pages will nourish anyone who appreciates the art of storytelling and dreams of living a creative life. Part coming-of-career memoir and writing success how-to, sprinkled with gems of celebrity author advice (taken from Linda&’s Beautiful Writers Podcast and follow-up interviews), Beautiful Writers is a love letter to reading, writing, and publishing—the book she wished she&’d had when starting out. In it, she shares—and expands on—the best of advice and storytelling from her podcast and follow-up interviews with literary greats, including: Terry McMillan Cheryl Strayed Tom Hanks Van Jones Jenny Lawson Steven Pressfield Elizabeth Gilbert Anne Lamott Mary Karr Seth Godin Abby Wambach Martha Beck Marie Forleo Lee Child Patricia Cornwell Dean Koontz Maria Shriver Dr. Jane Goodall Sabaa Tahir Tomi Adeyemi Ann Patchett Dani Shapiro Danielle LaPorte Tosca Lee Joy Harjo Deepak Chopra ?This heartwarming, how-I-made-it writing memoir from a working writer you've never heard of with inspiration and advice from the legends you love will help aspiring authors avoid common pitfalls and energize career writers with a treasure trove of writing insights from their peers—the details you don't often hear but make a world of difference. Destined to become the evergreen companion for creatives everywhere, Beautiful Writers answers the burning question: &“How do they do it—day after day, year after year, book after book?&” The paths vary wildly, but Linda&’s faith in dreams never does. &“If you have the ache, you have what it takes,&” she says. &“Writing is hard for everyone, but the results are often magical. Trust your desire. We did it—birthed our books into the world. You can too!"
Beautiful You: A Daily Guide to Radical Self-Acceptance (Second Edition)
by Rosie MolinaryEvery day, American women and girls are besieged by images and messages that suggest their beauty is inadequate-inflicting immeasurable harm upon their confidence and sense of wellbeing. In Beautiful You, author Rosie Molinary-in no uncertain terms-encourages women, whatever their size, shape, and color, to work toward feeling wonderful about themselves despite today’s media-saturated culture. Drawing on self-awareness, creativity, and mind-body connections, Beautiful You incorporates practical techniques into a 365-day action plan that empowers women to regain a healthy self-image, shore up self-confidence, reframe and break undermining habits of self-criticism, and champion their own emotional and physical wellbeing. Through accessible, doable daily actions, women and girls are encouraged to manifest a healthy outlook on life-teaching them to live large, and starting them on the path to learning to love themselves and others. Molinary steers clear of the florid affirmations and daily meditations often utilized by books geared toward personal growth, and instead delivers a hip, modern guide of inspirational thought that keeps pace with the times. Beautiful You is a practical, candid, and accessible handbook that will strike a chord with every woman who has ever faltered in her self-confidence or lost her personal brilliance-and it will make sure she never lets it happen again.
Beautiful You
by Rosie MolinaryIn Beautiful You author Rosie Molinary forcefully encourages women - whatever their size, shape, or color - to work toward feeling wonderful about themselves despite today's media-saturated culture. Drawing on self-awareness, creativity, and mind-body connections, Molinary incorporates practical techniques into a 365-day action plan that empowers women to regain a healthy self-image, shore up self-confidence, reframe and break undermining habits of self-criticism, and champion their own emotional and physical well-being. Through accessible, doable daily actions, women and girls learn to manifest a healthy outlook on life - teaching them to live large, and starting them on the path to learning to love themselves and others. Molinary steers clear of the florid affirmations and daily meditations often utilized by books geared toward personal growth, instead delivering a hip, modern guide of inspirational thought that keeps pace with the times. A practical, candid, and accessible handbook, Beautiful You strikes a chord with every woman who has ever faltered in her self-confidence or lost her personal brilliance - and it makes sure she never lets it happen again.
Beautiful You
by Chuck Palahniuk"A billion husbands are about to be replaced."From the author of Fight Club, the classic portrait of the damaged contemporary male psyche, now comes this novel about the apocalyptic marketing possibilities of a new product that gives new meaning to the term "self-help." Penny Harrigan is a low-level associate in a big Manhattan law firm with an apartment in Queens and no love life at all. So it comes as a great shock when she finds herself invited to dinner by one C. Linus Maxwell, a software mega-billionaire and lover of the most gorgeous and accomplished women on earth. After dining at Manhattan's most exclusive restaurant, he whisks Penny off to a hotel suite in Paris, where he proceeds, notebook in hand, to bring her to previously undreamed-of heights of gratification for days on end. What's not to like? This: Penny discovers that she is a test subject for the final development of a line of feminine products to be marketed in a nationwide chain of boutiques called Beautiful You. So potent and effective are these devices that women by the millions line up outside the stores on opening day and then lock themselves in their room with them and stop coming out. Except for batteries. Maxwell's plan for battery-powered world domination must be stopped. But how? From the Hardcover edition.
Beautiful You
by Chuck Palahniuk"A billion husbands are about to be replaced." From the author of Fight Club, the classic portrait of the damaged contemporary male psyche, now comes a novel about the apocalyptic marketing possibilities of female pleasure. Sisters will be doing it for themselves. And doing it. And doing it. And doing it some more. . . Penny Harrigan is a low level associate in a big Manhattan law firm with an apartment in Queens and no love life at all. So it comes as a great shock when she finds herself invited to dinner by one C. Linus Maxwell, aka "Climax-Well," a software mega-billionaire and lover of the most gorgeous and accomplished women on earth. After dining at Manhattan's most exclusive restaurant, he whisks Penny of to a hotel suite in Paris, where he proceeds, notebook in hand, to bring her to previously undreamed-of heights of orgasmic pleasure for days on end. What's not to like? This: Penny discovers that she is a test subject for the final development of a line of sex toys to be marketed in a nationwide chain of boutiques called "Beautiful You." So potent and effective are these devices that women by the millions line up outside the stores on opening day and then lock themselves in their room with them and stop coming out. Except to buy batteries. Maxwell's plan for erotically enabled world domination must be stopped. But how?
A Beautiful Young Woman
by Julian Lopez“A moving story . . . powerful, celebratory, and loving.” —Laura Cardona, La NaciónSet in the midst of Argentina's military dictatorship, a poignant and evocative debut novel about family, political violence, and the consequences of dissidenceAs political violence escalates around them, a young boy and his single mother live together in an apartment in Buenos Aires—which has recently been taken over by Argentina’s military dictatorship. When the boy returns home one day to find his mother missing (or “disappeared”), the story fractures, and the reader encounters him fully grown, consumed by the burden of his loss, attempting to reconstruct the memory of his mother. By leaping forward in time, the boy—now a man—subtly gives shape to his mother’s activism, and in the process recasts the memories from his childhood. The result is a stylistically masterful and deeply moving novel marking the English-language debut of one of Argentina's most promising writers.
Beautiful Zero: Poems
by Jennifer WilloughbyFrom love and war to Shark Week and college football, this award-winning poetry collection “makes both the marvelous and quotidian buzz with brilliance” (Matt Rasmussen).Incantatory, intimate, and incendiary, the poems of this award-winning debut are filled with explosive wit and humor like “a knife you don’t see coming.” A kaleidoscopic intelligence flows through Beautiful Zero, embracing forms of culture high and low in effort to finding meaning in the chaos.A series of poems set in a Kaiser Permanente hospital tear into the world of privatized health care while simultaneously charting a story of love in the face of catastrophe. Yet even at her most surreal, Willoughby always finds the pulsing heart at the core of the poem. She embraces what she cannot understand about both the world and herself because after all, “Nothing is as random as they say it is. / You were born the weirdo that you are.”Winner of the 2015 Lindquist & Vennum Prize for Poetry
Beautifully Broken: From the Horizon Home Series
by Samantha Baily“The reason I left the place I did is to find a home. But I also had no freedom there, and I value my liberty. I’ll not let you tell me what to do.”Etta Alby is determined never to let anyone tell her what to do again. She’s already spent her entire life being pushed around by her cruel, heartless great-aunt Gertrude Badger.But not anymore.Now the girl is on her way to Calico, a silver mining town in the Mojave desert. Little does Etta know that she may have to let down her guard and learn to trust others if she wants to thrive. Along the way to Calico, she meets Timere, a young man whose destination is the same as hers. Soon becoming friends, the two team up and head for Calico. With a determined spirit and a gift with horses, Etta is sure she has a chance to live her own life. But things don’t always go as planned.
Beautifully Broken: An Unlikely Journey of Faith
by Paige Wetzel Josh WetzelRestore your faith in love and family with one Army wife's courageous story of how she helped her husband recuperate from losing both of his legs while serving in Afghanistan.Paige received the phone call that every military wife prays will never come. Her husband, Army Sergeant Josh Wetzel, stepped on an improvised explosive device while patrolling in Afghanistan. The blast resulted in the immediate loss of his legs. His survival was uncertain, and in the days to come, this traumatic incident began an unbelievable journey of faith for them as a couple. Paige's vulnerability as she struggles physically, emotionally, and spiritually, will remind you of the power of commitment and love in the face of adversity. You will discover the bravery and grit of a woman who stood behind the battle lines but faced a battle of her own to save her marriage and her family. As a military wife, Paige had to come to terms with the priorities of the military: God, Country, and then Family.
Beautifully Cruel
by M. William Phelps“Phelps is the Harlan Coben of real-life thrillers.” —Allison Brennan Iowa housewife Tracey Pittman Roberts seemed to have it all: natural beauty, three loving children, and a fairy tale second marriage to a wealthy businessman. But beneath the happy façade was a woman who used lies, manipulation, sex, ugly allegations, blackmail—and even murder—to serve her own selfish ends. On December 13, 2001, police rushed to Tracey’s home after a shooting left her vulnerable young neighbor dead. Tracey claimed it was an act of self-defense. Nine gunshot wounds—and a decades-long trail of extortion, fabrication, fraud, and intimidation—said otherwise. Ten years after the crime, Tracey’s case finally went to trial in an explosive courtroom showdown. In a searing exploration of the criminal mind, bestselling investigative journalist M. William Phelps traces the saga of a psychopath who hid in plain sight—until her wicked ways caught up with her. “Phelps dares to tread where few others will: into the mind of a killer.” —TV Rage “Phelps is the king of true crime.” --Lynda Hirsch, Creators Syndicate columnist “One of our most engaging crime journalists.” —Dr. Katherine Ramsland “Phelps treads dangerous ground like an Amazon jungle guide—fearless, compassionate, insightful.” —Geoff Fitzpatrick, Executive Producer of Dark Minds “Anything by Phelps is an eye-opening experience.” —Suspense Magazine INCLUDES 16 PAGES OF DRAMATIC PHOTOS
Beautifully Embellished Landscapes: 125 Tips & Techniques to Create Stunning Quilts
by Joyce R. BeckerNew Ideas to Bring Your Landscape Quilts to Life! • You won't believe the realistic effects you can achieve in your next landscape quilt! • Amazing variety of techniques includes paints, markers, stamps, photo printing and artwork, threadwork and lace, sheer overlays and Angelina fibers, and so much more • Create realistic special effects for water, reflections, skies, snow, gardens, and buildings • Great ideas for landscape-inspired gifts including greeting cards, photo transfers, and small quilts Spectacular results are within your reach, when you try the techniques developed by landscape expert Joyce Becker. Play like a kid in kindergarten: special paints, fibers, and tools are easy to find and fun to use. Over 200 photos and illustrations for inspiration, plus 8 complete projects. *Important Note about PRINT ON DEMAND Editions: This title will be printed after purchase and will arrive separately from any in-stock items. Please allow approximately 2 weeks for USA delivery, with an additional 2 weeks for international shipments. Expedited shipping is not available on POD Editions. The printing quality in this copy will vary from the original offset printing edition and may look more saturated due to printing on demand by a high-quality printer on uncoated (non-glossy) paper. The information presented in this version is the same as the most recent printed edition. Any pattern pullouts have been separated and presented as single pages.
A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor
by Hank Green'Adventurous, witty and compelling' Library Journal (starred review)The hugely anticipated sequel to Hank Green's #1 New York Times bestselling debut novel, An Absolutely Remarkable ThingThe statutes disappeared the same way they appeared, in an instant. While they were on Earth, they caused confusion and destruction without ever lifting a finger. Well, that's not exactly true. Part of their impact was the untimely death of April May: a young woman who stumbled into their path and named them the Carls, gaining viral fame and putting herself in the middle of an avalanche of conspiracy theories. Now, the world is as confused as ever. Andy has picked up April's mantle of fame, speaking at conferences and online about the world post-Carls; Maya, ravaged by grief, begins to follow a string of mysteries that she is convinced will lead her to April; and Miranda infiltrates a new scientific operation . . . one that might have repercussions beyond anyone's comprehension.As they each get further down their own paths, a series of clues arrive - mysterious books that seem to predict the future and control the actions of their readers - which seem to suggest April may be very much alive . . . But there's a new threat. A growing force that wants to control our reality. Did the Carls ever really leave us, and what happens if they're here to stay? A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor is a bold and brilliant conclusion that asks whether anyone has the right to change the world forever. 'A raucous, boldly inventive tale' Booklist (starred review)'A hopeful read that provides a Black Mirror-like warning of new technology without the heavy feeling of dread' USA Today
A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor: A Novel (The Carls #2)
by Hank GreenWho has the right to change the world forever? How will we live online? How do we find comfort in an increasingly isolated world? The Carls disappeared the same way they appeared, in an instant. While the robots were on Earth, they caused confusion and destruction with only their presence. Part of their maelstrom was the sudden viral fame and untimely death of April May: a young woman who stumbled into Carl&’s path, giving them their name, becoming their advocate, and putting herself in the middle of an avalanche of conspiracy theories. Months later, April&’s friends are trying to find their footing in a post-Carl world. Andy has picked up April&’s mantle of fame, speaking at conferences and online; Maya, ravaged by grief, begins to follow a string of mysteries that she is convinced will lead her to April; and Miranda is contemplating defying her friends&’ advice and pursuing a new scientific operation…one that might have repercussions beyond anyone&’s comprehension. Just as it is starting to seem like the gang may never learn the real story behind the events that changed their lives forever, a series of clues arrive—mysterious books that seem to predict the future and control the actions of their readers—all of which seems to suggest that April could be very much alive. In the midst of the search for the truth and the search for April is a growing force, something that wants to capture our consciousness and even control our reality. A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor is the bold and brilliant follow-up to An Absolutely Remarkable Thing. It is a fast-paced adventure that is also a biting social commentary, asking hard, urgent questions about the way we live, our freedoms, our future, and how we handle the unknown.
A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor
by Hank Green'A raucous, boldly inventive tale' BOOKLIST'Provides a "Black Mirror"-like warning of new technology without the heavy feeling of dread' USA TODAYThe magnificent sequel to Hank Green's #1 New York Times bestselling debut novel, An Absolutely Remarkable ThingThe statues disappeared in an instant. While they were on Earth, they caused confusion and destruction without ever lifting a finger. They also contributed to the untimely death of April May: a young woman who stumbled into their path, naming them the Carls and gaining viral fame in an avalanche of conspiracy theories.When April's friends try to carry on with their lives, a series of clues arrive - mysterious books that seem to predict the future - and which also seem to suggest April may be very much alive . . . But there's a bigger mystery to solve.Did the Carls ever really leave us, and what happens if they're here to stay?A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor is a bold and brilliant conclusion that asks whether anyone has the right to change the world.
Beautifully Grotesque Fish of the American West (Outdoor Lives)
by Mark SpitzerFisherman Mark Spitzer takes readers on an action-packed investigation of the most fierce and fearsome freshwater grotesques of the American West ever to inspire both hatred and fascination. Through the lenses of history, folklore, biology, ecology, and politics, Beautifully Grotesque Fish of the American West depicts the environmental destruction plaguing the most maligned creatures in our midst while subtly interweaving Spitzer’s experiences of personal tragedy and self-discovery. Join Spitzer as he noodles for flathead catfish in Oklahoma, snags paddlefish in Missouri, trotline- and electro-fishes American eels in Arkansas, studies razorback suckers in Arizona, bounty hunts for pikeminnows in Washington State, attends a burbot festival in Utah, stirs up Asian carp in Kansas, and breaks the state record for the largest yellow bullhead ever caught in Nebraska. By examining freakish links in a vital chain and working with specialists in the field, Spitzer portrays a planet in environmental crisis and dispels the illusion that our actions don’t result in long-term, toxic consequences. Spitzer offers models for fisheries and provides other sources of hope in this informative epic of redemption that ultimately celebrates the wild and resilient beauty and remaining possibilities of the American West.Watch a book trailer. Visit the Where in the West is Mark Spitzer? blog series for additional reading and a look at more photographs not included in the book.
Beautifully Interrupted: When God Holds the Pen that Writes Your Story
by Teresa Swanstrom AndersonForeword by Mandy Arioto, President of MOPS InternationalTeresa Swanstrom Anderson is living the life she thought she never wanted. With an art history degree and dreams of living in Europe as a curator, Teresa had big plans for herself. She had no desire to have kids -- didn't even like them -- but after a decision to lay her exciting plans at the feet of Christ, God began changing her heart little by little. While dating the man who eventually became her husband, the two felt called to adopt from Africa. Now, Teresa's house is bursting at the seams with the loves of her life -- her husband, Ben, and their six children, four of whom were born in Ethiopia. She believes in celebrating the everyday and instilling the love of God and others in her children's hearts. She views her life as a series of redirected dreams, stumbling, falling, getting up, and wondering if she is investing her time where it matters most. Through it all, Teresa grasps joy tightly amid the craziness of everyday life. Go from dreaming about your life to living it fully with God in control. Pick up this book, grab a notebook, curl up on the couch, and open your heart to the potential of allowing your life to become beautifully interrupted. Includes reflection questions and Bible study prompts. Have you gotten so caught up in life and your well-intentioned plans that you may have accidentally planned God right out of it all? Teresa Swanstrom Anderson did just that. Her carefully laid out life changed course when she whispered to God, "Send me. Use me." Be inspired as you read Beautifully Interrupted and learn the importance of giving your plans back to God and allow Him to expand the borders of your life and heart. This book offers strategies and encouragement for living through the in-between times of waiting, as well as facing trials with grace and active faith. Become equipped to brave the storms and embrace the life-changing power of seeking God's plan first and sacrificing time and set plans in favor of something far greater.
Beautifully Organized at Work: Bring Order and Joy to Your Work Life So You Can Stay Calm, Relieve Stress, and Get More Done Each Day (Beautifully Organized Series #2)
by Nikki BoydBring peace and joy into your workspace as you learn how to declutter your office and create a stress-free work environment.Clutter and mess can distract you, stress you out, and get in the way of efficiently getting work done. That's why Beautifully Organized at Work was created to give you practical tips and tools for how to mindfully transform your workspace and get organized so you can feel better about your work and be better set up for success.YouTube star and professional organizer Nikki Boyd, author of the bestselling book Beautifully Organized, brings her expert skills to this book.Beautifully Organized at Work includes:Everything you need to know about decluttering your desk and organizing files--both in your physical and digital spaceValuable advice on how to plan your work days so you can have a well-balanced and productive week How to select the desk, chair, and lighting that are ideal for your needsInformation tailored for cubicle, co-working spaces, working from home, and moreTips on how to get your coworkers involved in creating a beautifully organized breakroom, conference room, and lobby
Beautifully Unique Sparkleponies: On Myths, Morons, Free Speech, Football, and Assorted Absurdities
by Chris KluweHi. In your hands, right now, you hold the culmination of thousands of years of human intelligence, ingenuity, and brilliance. Now put your goddamn phone down and pay attention to my book. What is in my book, you ask? (I'm really glad you asked, by the way, because now I get to tell you.)Time travel. Gay marriage. Sportsballing. Futuristic goggles that DO NOTHING.Tiny brags from my publisher, stuff like: "This is an uproarious, uncensored take on empathy, personal responsibility, and what it means to be human."Excessive brags about myself: "An extraordinarily clever, punishingly funny, sharp-tongued blogosphere star, NFL player, husband and father, one-time violin prodigy, voracious lifetime reader, obsessive gamer, and fearless champion of personal freedom."Oh, and also an essay on the Pope's Twitter account. Honestly, if that doesn't draw you in, there's no hope left for humanity. I also give my own funeral eulogy, in case you were hoping I'd go away and die now!So please, join me in the glorious art of windmill tilting by reading this "collection of rousing, uncensored personal essays, letters, and stories" (I have no idea why that's in quotes).Join the herd of Beautifully Unique Sparkleponies.(You know you want to.)
Beauty
by Nancy ButcherAna is nothing like her glamorous mother, Queen Veda, whose hair is black as ravens and whose lips are red as roses. Alas, Queen Veda loathes anyone whose beauty dares to rival her own--including her only daughter. And despite Ana's attempts to be plain and earn her mother's affection, she's sent away to the kingdom's exclusive boarding school. At the Academy, Ana is devastated when her only friend abandons her for the popular girls. Isolated and alone, Ana resolves to look like a true princess to earn the acceptance she desires. But when she uncovers the dangerous secret that makes all of the girls at the Academy so gorgeous, just how far will Ana go to fit in?
Beauty
by Christina ChiuAmy Wong is an up-and-coming designer in the New York fashion industry; she is young, beautiful, and has it all. But she finds herself at odds with rival designers in a world rife with chauvinism and prejudice. In her personal life, she struggles with marriage and motherhood, finding that her choices often fall short of her traditional family's expectations. Derailed again and again, Amy must confront her own limitations to succeed as the designer and person she wants to be.
Beauty
by Lisa DailyWhat's it like to be the most beautiful girl in the world?Molly desperately wants to be beautiful. And that's what she tells Dharma, the mysterious portrait artist who sketches her face at the town fair just minutes after she's humiliated in front of Hudson, the guy of her dreams. When Molly wakes up the following morning, she's the most beautiful girl in Miracle, Ohio. Babies coo in her arms, her house fills with flowers from dozens of drooling boys, and she's chosen to be a model for the hottest store in town. Best of all, Hudson finally falls for her. But Molly soon discovers that beauty--and her wish--comes with a price. She's faced with an impossible choice: Will reclaiming her true identity mean letting go of Hudson for good? .
Beauty
by Brian D'AmatoJamie Angelo is part artist and part alchemist. His plastic surgery techniques are light-years beyond modern medicine. He can transform a haggard face into a masterpiece of ageless beauty. He is not God. But he is close.To ambitious models like Jaishree Manglani, Jamie is the ultimate fantasy-a master illusionist who can turn her dream of eternal youth into reality. Until the truth about Jami's "art" and "science" is revealed, and a nightmare ensues. Because if there's no such thing as perfect beauty, Manhattan's king of beauty might just be the gatekeeper of something other than human.
The Beauty
by Claire Delacroix"I was born a woman. There are but two courses for my life -- marriage or the convent. I have chosen. " Certain that she will never wed for love, sworn to let no man possess her for her beauty alone, Jacqueline de Crevy has vowed to become a bride of God. But en route to the convent of Inveresbeinn, her party is ambushed by a knight, who snatches Jacqueline from her saddle and spirits her away with him. He is Angus MacGillivray -- not the blackhearted ravisher she fears but a valiant man of honor who has returned to Scotland seeking justice . . . and revenge. Angus has come home from the Crusades to find his family murdered and his birthright seized. Sworn to reclaim his rightful lands, he has kidnapped the stepdaughter of Duncan, chieftain of Clan MacQuarrie -- Angus's avowed enemy. But his lovely captive refuses to be the chattel -- or ransom -- of any man . . . until Jacqueline senses the yearning heart beneath Angus's embittered facade. In spite of himself, Angus has let this defiant beauty touch his very soul. And as desire flames between them, a lady fair and her battle-scarred knight will fight for a love that could banish all the sorrows of the past. . . .
Beauty
by Frederick DillenFrom award-winning author Frederick Dillen, an inspiring and deeply moving novel about the power of second chances As a corporate "undertaker" for a mergers and acquisitions firm in New York, Carol MacLean travels from factory to factory, firing blue-collar workers who remind her of her father and the kids she grew up with. She hates her job. But Carol has been biding her time: her boss has promised that one day, after she has paid her dues, Carol will get to run a company instead of having to bury it. On what is supposed to be her last assignment, Carol travels up the coast of Massachusetts to a desperate fishing town where the late lobster and day boats cluster around the inner harbor, the blue steeples of the Portuguese church stand tall on the horizon, and the last remaining fish processing plant is in its death throes. That's when she learns that she's about to be fired. To save the town and herself, Carol becomes determined to rescue the factory she's under orders to shut down. With the help of the townspeople and a roughly charming local fisherman, and by the force of her own resolve, Carol throws herself into transforming the company--but is soon faced with increasingly difficult decisions. Must she choose between the job she has always wanted and everything else? Beauty explores the ways in which one woman will risk everything--her savings, her reputation, and even a chance at love--in pursuit of her dream.
A Beauty
by Connie GaultA spellbinding and highly original novel that gives a new name to the Prairie Novel by one of the most exciting new literary voices in Canada. For readers of Alice Munro, Elizabeth Hay, and Marina Endicott. In a drought-ridden Saskatchewan of the 1930s, self-possessed, enigmatic Elena Huhtala finds her self living alone, a young Finnish woman in a community of Swedes in the small village of Trevna. Her mother has been dead for many years, and her father, burdened by the hardships of drought, has disappeared, and the eighteen-year-old is an object of pity and charity in her community. But when a stranger shows up at a country dance, Elena needs only one look and one dance before jumping into his Lincoln Roadster, leaving the town and its shocked inhabitants behind. What follows is a trip through the prairie towns, their dusty streets, shabby hotel rooms, surrounded by dry fields that stretch out vastly, waiting for rain. Elena's journey uncovers the individual stories of an unforgettable group of people, all of whom are in one way or another affected by her seductive yet innocent presence. At the centre is Ruth, a girl whose life becomes changed in unexpected ways. She and the girl Elena, distanced and apart, form a strange bond that will come to haunt the decades for them both. Written in luminous prose, threaded through with a sardonic wit and deep wisdoms, A Beauty is at one time lyrical and tough, moving and mysterious, a captivating tale of a woman who, without intending to, touches many lives, and sometimes alters them forever.