Mettle and Metal

The Steel Orchestra is Trinidad and Tobago’s musical gift to the world. This is the story of how steelpan music was made possible out of the fire deep within the belly and bowels of those who lived it passionately. The whole world has now been gripped by the power of this distinctive and powerful musical form.

Miss Sweetblack's Cupcakes

In the 1950s, the cupcake was a very fashionable cake made by housewives to celebrate family events. Despite its success at the time and its incredible cuteness, the cupcake has gone largely underappreciated. It has come to be seen as a simple household pastry. And although it is finally integrated into certain establishments specializing in cake design, unfortunately it still suffers from a rather bad reputation. It is certainly considered aesthetic — cute, even — but also too fatty, too sweet, and without real taste, sophistication, or refinement.

Here is a book that will deconstruct all your received ideas about the cupcake and make you see and appreciate them like real pastries; those you like to see in French patisseries or restaurants, presented in lovely and delicates plates. Yes, the time has come finally to elevate cupcakes as integral part of pastries thanks to the recipes of the one and only pin-up pastry chef, Miss Sweetblack!

Modern-Day Palmistry

Palmistry can tell you many things about yourself, others, and the world around you.

Discover:

• - if you will marry
• - how many kids will you have
• - what kind of person would suit you as a partner
• - your career path
• - what kind of work would give you the most satisfaction
• - how to get the most happiness and success out of your life.

All of this and more inside of Modern-Day Palmistry!

Mourning Bands On

Mourning Bands On is an accessible journey into the hypersensitive world of today’s American law enforcement. The reader is brought into the law enforcement world through an introduction to the history, function, and development of the American police model. With an understanding of policing’s role in American society, the reader is then immersed into the raucous and contentious cultural upheaval which American policing is currently experiencing.

Using well-known examples, the reader is challenged to consider how American culture is affected by critical incidents and the portrayal of those events in our media intensive world. The reader will review the cases in the deaths of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd, as well as others. The cases are presented as a narrative of events supported by the findings and legal conclusions of the U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation. Each incident is reviewed with a view of how the incident effected American society and brought change to American culture and thus policing.

The reader will experience how American policing has changed through legislative, societal, and cultural pressure resulting from the reviewed critical incidents. With an appetite for more, the reader is encouraged to further explore the relationship between societal norms and American policing.

The work concludes with a final challenge to the reader. How do we, as a society, reform American policing to move forward after this unprecedented period of cultural change? The author offers several possible reforms to enact, what can you add to the conversation?

Move Forward

Move Forward is a guide for those feeling uncertain about their future. The constant demands of the world can leave us feeling drained and disconnected from our true selves. This book offers a new approach to finding hope and purpose, helping readers rediscover their strengths, passions, and dreams. Through practical strategies and a unique STAR pathway, Move Forward empowers readers to take control of their lives and create a fulfilling future.

My Diary from 1949

In March 1949, DanguolÄ— RudokaitÄ—-RaudonikienÄ—’s family were among the unfortunate ones who were exiled from Lithuania to the remote settlements of the Soviet Union. Her diary depicts the journey from their beloved homeland to an unfamiliar place in Eastern Siberia through the eyes of an 11-year-old girl. She writes about the horrifying journey on trains used for cattle. These trains did not have any windows. The conditions were gruesome and beyond unsanitary. They were often deprived of food and water for days at a time. DanguolÄ— portrays their journey with lots of emotions: happiness was replaced by fear, joy was replaced by sadness, and hope was replaced by despair. She continued writing her diary for a year, describing events, her feelings, and the life of people in Eastern Siberia. The epilogue is a short summation of the events from the ten years DanguolÄ— spent in Siberia (names, places, and events are authentic). 

My Father Called Me Bobby

"Not only a memoir, but a love letter to rich and memorable relationships that gives hope that there can be sweetness after loss, humor in remembrance, and stories to hold our joys past and present."

– Melissa Febos, author of Whip Smart, Abandon Me, and Girlhood.

My Father Called Me Bobby is an intriguing memoir detailing Bobby’s experiences growing up in an Italian family in the ’50s and exploring the sexual revolution a few decades later. The first-person narrative welcomes readers into his childhood and his initial experiences with God, faith, and religion, all tied in with the influences and antics of his Italian family. His initial decision to join the seminary and become a priest will not come as a surprise. Determined to be a priest, he spends almost four years in the seminary until the sexual revolution of the 60s turns his world upside down and he leaves the Church. He begins to experiment with his sexuality with women and then with men during one of the most infamous times in New York City. His descriptive writing style paints a vivid picture for his readers, allowing them to relive his experiences at his side, maintaining their attention page after page. His relationship with Beryl will warm the hearts of the readers and as events unfold, will shake them to their core. My Father Called Me Bobby will remind readers to live their lives to the fullest – full of love and passion and laughter – and is sure to leave readers enthralled until the very last page.

My Mameleh: A Memoir

It was late, dark and cold. The little band of travelers were huddled together on the bench of an old train hoping to escape the tightening Nazi noose. Suddenly, they heard the conductor’s loud voice, “Vos papiers, s'il vous plaît!” (Papers, please!). My mother’s identity card had been stamped not once, but twice with the word, “Juif.” She knew that her life and that of her friends now rested in the palms of a stranger, a government official whose job it was to hand them over to the Germans. 

This is one of the many miraculous escapes found throughout this book. It is a story of survival, not just from the Holocaust, but from old world poverty, broken love and a tenuous peace in order to finally achieve the “American Dream.” 

My Observations III

These observations were made during the author’s twenty-five years with Recovery Acres Society, a special care facility for people with drug and alcohol problems. This includes fifteen years as a board member – including six years as board chair – and ten years as executive director.

During that time, the facility was able to help hundreds of men, women, and families recover from addictions. It was a real privilege for the author to be a part of the facility and a privilege for him to share these observations with you.

My Rhythm in Life with Hic-Cups

This life story is intended to inspire the reader to start thinking about their own life and how much life means.

A life with tragedy, happiness, and contentment. A journey of endurance and strength, of survival and fulfillment. An “itch” that turned into a two-year commitment with hopes of sharing a life of real stories – with real people – real emotions and real possibilities.

True and amusing stories that will keep you entertained. You will read that you don’t have to be rich, famous or powerful to live a meaningful life. Be the best you can be with family, friends and with others you choose to be with.

My life, the first sixty-nine years.

Necessary Chances

Contained in this book are 50+ stories of actual events told exactly how they happened to the author. The stories span more than 30 years in the field of law enforcement. They cover everything—from answering the phone to murder investigations. The author’s truest intention is to tell the stories so that people might better understand the day-to-day life of a police officer. As often as possible, the stories are told in a humorous manner because we all deserve to laugh. The author hopes that this book might inspire one good man or woman to take up the shield. In today’s world of miscommunication and misunderstanding, the author hopes that somehow, somewhere, a dialogue might open that wasn’t there before.

Never Take No for an Answer

Embarking on a new business venture can be a daunting and unpredictable journey, much like rolling the dice in a game of chance. In 1967, two bold young men, Les Marino and Kenny Anderson, fearlessly stepped into the world of Heavy Construction, boldly declaring that they would one day become the largest contracting firm in the world. Oblivious to the challenges that lay ahead, they hung their shingle on the door of a modest one-room office in Cambridge, Massachusetts, unaware that their audacious prediction might actually come true in the not-too-distant future. The path to success was far from a smooth highway; instead, it resembled a treacherous, winding trail through a dark and perilous jungle. Armed with perseverance, dedication, hard work, and humility, Les and Kenny navigated the obstacles, eventually finding their way to the proverbial yellow brick road and the success they had envisioned.

This book takes you on a captivating journey, detailing the trials, tribulations, and triumphs that shaped their remarkable story. Join them on this thrilling ride, but be sure to fasten your seatbelt securely, as the road ahead is filled with unexpected twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Discover how two determined individuals transformed their dream into reality, and learn valuable lessons that can be applied to your own entrepreneurial endeavors.