Betrayal

Corporate greed, insider trading, money laundering, skull-drudgery, espionage, rampant, and illicit relationships abound in the hostile environment of retail appliances and consumer electronics. A disgruntled executive, passed over for promotion, has devised a diabolical strategy to confuse the competition. Is a double agent systematically directing much of this confusion? To paraphrase Sherlock Holmes: “Quick, Watson … the game is afoot!”

The Presidential Doughnut Hole

The Presidential Doughnut Hole is a fictional account of a U.S. presidential election in which the nation is suddenly faced with a tragedy that leads to a political crisis not addressed by the Constitution and its amendments. The story details the political maneuvering and intrigue of four individuals, all competing for the highest office in the land. Their campaigns are affected by unexpected world events and become the target of plots by unscrupulous outsiders wishing to affect the election's outcome. All three branches of the nation's government—executive, judicial, and legislative—become enmeshed in a political process never before imagined. This book is a cautionary tale of a crisis this country may one day face if our elected officials do not plug this presidential doughnut hole in our Constitution.

Our Lives

This book is not written for today’s poets, pundits and professors. It is written for the mature people who have known, understood and experienced the love as only two passionate humans together can. If Lady Luck has smiled upon you, you have hit the jackpot. The right person makes all the difference. These poems are the expression of such fortune.

This one is written, as simply as I can, for those who have tenaciously clung to each other through all their ups and downs and are still smiling, laughing, hugging, bantering, and, most importantly, still cooing. Those who have made their lives a love song, through all the unsavory political, social, and emotional upheavals that eternally surround us.

This book covers a gamut of everyday interactions between mates, touching on sarcasm, banter, laughter, and even her experience of a simple trip to Home Depot. It is like an ice cream flavor you haven’t yet tasted.

Love Lessons from a Bullied Child

School is rough for everyone, but for plump, reserved, and introverted me, it seemed like a daily battle, forever warding off the cruel arrows and personal assaults of others. My days were spent hoping each would be better than the one before and each new upcoming school year would “right” the wrongs of previous years. However, my true fight was not with my bullies but with myself, especially with the parts of me that focused on not being enough for others instead of being enough for myself.

Meet me through school scenarios, which are sometimes funny and sometimes sad, as I struggle for self-worth, happiness, and acceptance. Then, know me as an adult talking to that child that was me and providing a comforting and encouraging perspective on the events that happened to me in school. Bullying and cyberbullying are happening in epic proportions all over the world; you are not alone. But there is hope, and it is my hope that you find it in these pages.

Finite Element Analysis

There are several objectives in this book. These include teaching the history, basic principles, and the theory of finite element analysis. The students will be introduced to applications of finite element analysis to real-world applications. These applications include, but are not limited to, analysis of thin shells, fracture mechanics, analysis of reinforced beams and columns, stress analysis, earthquake analysis of structures, buckling, seepage under a dam, a medical example, registration of MRI and PET scans, and a finite element analysis of the Golden Gate Bridge. These examples come from my own personal work experiences, research, and technical publications authored by me and persons instrumental in the development of the finite element method.

James A. Mandel, P.E., is a registered professional engineer. He designed bridges on the interstate highway system. He also did the structural design of the Gemini Ballute. He was a full-time professor in the department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Syracuse University from 1967 to 2008.

Beauty Town

Shaunyece Darling has made a fun and heartfelt way to teach children starting from a young age the importance of the “Golden Rule” and respecting others.

Shaunyece is a big dreamer who strongly believes that dreams can come true as long as you put in the work to bring them to light. Always remember to stay honest and true to yourself and your higher power first and foremost, because then—and only then—will you learn how to treat others the way you want to be treated.

Within these pages, you will soon meet Sam. With the help of Sally and Susie, the 3 girls teach the people of Beauty Town the importance of the Golden Rule. They show that no matter how beautiful you look outside, being mean to others is an ugly thing that reflects from within. So always make it a point to be polite and honest.

The Borrowed Ballet Slippers

Imagine a magical world of fairies, where every day brings a new adventure. Sea Breeze Forest invites readers to a place where they are free to explore, make mistakes, and learn along the way. With new places to uncover and exciting experiences to try, the spirit of adventure fills the air for every young fairy.

Sassy is a curious and spirited fairy who is discovering just how magical and exciting the world can be. Inspired by her older sister Lovey, Sassy dreams of trying new things and following in her sister’s footsteps. But she soon learns that the most important magic is the kind you find within yourself, and that being honest is the true key to happiness.

A Big Halloween Surprise

You are invited to a Halloween party!

Josie, the perky little Yorkshire Terrier, is going, but she has so much to do. Will she be ready in time? She must call her friend Blackie, a black cat who prefers to stay home on Halloween. But will he help her?

In A Big Halloween Surprise, author Alyson J. Pearl weaves a delightful story about Halloween, but with a twist! Not everyone has to like Halloween and all the excitement that goes along with it, but young readers will learn about something even more important than pumpkins and costumes—how to be a good friend. See you at the party!

Two Lives

Two Lives tells the story of Mark Stone and Maxim Riche, two men born in the same year, living in separate worlds.

Mark grows up in the Bronx and Brooklyn, New York, facing hardship and heartbreak from an early age. Maxim is raised in luxury in Paris, surrounded by love, privilege, and elegance. Their lives unfold in stark contrast: one shaped by struggle and sacrifice, the other by ease and success.

As time passes, both men follow their own paths of love, family, and ambition. But beneath the surface, a deeper connection begins to emerge—one that will eventually bring their worlds together in an unexpected and life-altering way.

Grit & Gratitude

Adnan Adnan’s journey along the historic Camino de Santiago transformed a personal pilgrimage into a masterclass on self-realization. The strenuous journey demanded grit and gratitude, revealing a practical, twelve-part framework for making a dream a reality.

Through twelve profound experiences—from recognizing a dream and finding focus to understanding the power of routine and the function of boredom—the author maps the journey from dreamer to doer. This transformative spiritual map asks the essential questions:

How to recognize a dream? How to stay focused? What is clear thinking? What is the power of routine? How to find escape velocities? Is willpower a lifestyle? Why do the difficult tasks? What is the function of boredom? Are there other forms of meditations? Why rest? What does fasting symbolize? Why is enough, enough?

If you are in possession of a dream, you are in possession of courage. Discover who you are.

Memorable, provocative, and fearless, Grit & Gratitude: The Perseverance Powerhouse will show you the way to your own discovery.

“Gritty. Magical. Powerful. This work of art reminds us of the root of our personal power, which we often only discover when everything else is taken away.”

– Lisa Francesca, author of The Wedding Officiant’s Guide: How to Write & Conduct a Perfect Ceremony

The Walls of Villa Fatema

The Walls of Villa Fatema follows the unexpected journey of an American girl who finds herself a guest in a traditional Moroccan family’s home in Casablanca, the port city made famous by the classic film starring Humphrey Bogart.

By turns humorous and unsettling, this memoir by Avery Russell captures Alice’s struggle to navigate – and sometimes ignore – the complexities of a sex-segregated society.

Rich in detail and cultural insight, the book offers an intimate glimpse into the lives of women in 1960s Morocco and explores the tension and fascination that arise when two very different worlds collide.

Mr. Higgins Comforts a Family

A loving family finally adopts Mr. Higgins. As Thelma, his adopted sister, succumbs to illness, Mr. Higgins learns how his big feelings of loss can bring him closer to his new family. Mr. Higgins Comforts a Family is about consoling individuals in need.

Also available:

A Home for Mr. Higgins

Mr. Higgins Takes a Stand

Mr. Higgins to the Rescue

About Mr. Higgins:

In 2014, authors David Preece and Jim Webber adopted a shy, nervous, and slightly suspicious mid-life black Scottish terrier. “Mr. Higgins”—the dignified name he arrived with—slowly blossomed in his new forever home. Though still cautious with strangers, he grew into a loyal, affectionate companion who returned love in his own steadfast way, all while keeping his dads on a strict daily routine.

Not one for pats on the head, Higgins prefers a gentle touch along his sides and the comfort of burrowing into a cozy space. He delights in walks, other dogs, treats, and—as a natural-born outfielder—an enthusiastic game of fetch. His quirks, courage, and quiet resilience inspired the stories that now bear his name.