Suitcase of Memories

I was destined to be a peacemaker. Doesn’t every family have one?

My family, with its traditional values, loving grandparents, and family heirlooms, has always provided a comfortable base and a home. My expectations were that my home and family would be safe, cozy, and unwavering.

What of words translated by a peacemaker, certain it was for me too? No protests, make a loving family, keep the peace. I was convinced it would be mine.

What of words from love, prideful of my values, celebrating my accomplishments, joyful for my happiness, and hopeful for my future?

Seasons change, years pass. I remember joyous moments of splendid solace with so much hopeful anticipation. I’ve learned one can search for serendipity, but it cannot be contrived. I remain hopeful beyond possibility.

What of words of hurtful intention—stinging, humiliating, torturous, and demeaning, as intended?

I am the peacemaker.

I must not be defeated.

Seven Brief Lessons on Computing

Have you ever looked down at your phone and wondered, “What’s going on in there?” If you’ve ever wondered how modern computers and digital devices work, Seven Brief Lessons on Computing takes you through an entertaining and educational journey of mankind’s desire to count, compare, and compute our world.

My Time with Astronauts

In this candid, courageous, and often unexpectedly funny memoir, Faby Kushner invites readers into a world of rocket launches, astronaut encounters, and the delicate art of rationing shrimp at cocktail parties.

But behind the glamour of shuttle missions, personal ties to space icons, and visits to NASA lies a deeper story, one shaped by challenge, reinvention, and quiet resilience. Faby faced unrelenting workplace gossip, the pain of divorce, and moments when life knocked her flat. And yet, through each setback, she rose, rebuilding her life piece by piece, discovering not just how to survive, but how to thrive.

This isn’t a story of perfection. It’s a story of perseverance. Of daring to believe that the best chapters might still lie ahead.

If you’ve ever found yourself staring down a version of life you didn’t ask for, this book offers more than just a glimpse of hope; it’s a witty, heartfelt reminder that reinvention is always possible, and joy can reappear when you least expect it.

Nuworld Botanicals DIY Raw Skincare Recipes 2

Nuworld Botanicals DIY Raw Skincare Recipes 2 features simple, quick, and effective recipes you can easily create in your own kitchen. Perfect for DIY enthusiasts looking to experiment with vitamin-rich superfoods and natural ingredients for healthy, glowing skin, this book offers a practical guide to crafting high-quality skincare products.

Inside, you’ll find a handy how-to guide on natural plant-based AHAs and antioxidants, along with a superfood color guide for product inspiration. Whether you’re creating skincare for personal use or building a business, Natalie’s recipes are tested, proven, and retail-ready.

Conflict & Peace: At Home with Jesus

Those of Christian faith and those without all carry personalized perceptions about Jesus of Nazareth – some form of god and/or man who sojourned briefly on earth 20 centuries ago. Perspectives vary wildly. But few, whether of Christian or non-Christian persuasion, feel comfortable characterizing this Jesus as one who brashly declares that he came not to bring peace on earth… but rather division.

In this book, author Eric Hovee traces a seemingly never-ending Christian dialogue and practice that may espouse peace but often engages in conflict. The author explores this interplay through the lives, beliefs, and practices of 12 pioneers who helped shape Christianity as it has been handed down to us today. We begin with the contrasting perspectives of the four gospel writers – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John – and continue with pivotal, yet sometimes conflicted, early church leaders such as Paul, James, Peter, Thomas, and Mary Magdalene. The journey then skips forward three centuries to the Roman Emperor Constantine, who sought to marry church and state, before moving another millennium ahead to Martin Luther, who sought to radically reform it all, and finally circles back to our starting point: Jesus, as the one who intended it all.

How best to experience conflict, and yet find peace? Every day and through every phase of human existence, there is an opportunity for resolution and partnership, in step and at home with Jesus. We seek a Jesus who consistently demonstrates that, just when we think we have the answers, new questions arise. When we feel we’ve run the race, we find we’ve only just begun.

When There Are Two Patients in One Body

In When There Are Two Patients in One Body, an experienced Labor and Delivery nurse shares a collection of birth stories, some joyful and others harrowing, that reveal profound life lessons from one of the most intense human experiences. While babies arrive either by vaginal delivery or caesarean section, each birth unfolds uniquely, whether as a momentous and thrilling event or an unexpected and life altering ordeal.

This book follows the author’s career, presenting a chronological journey through a diverse array of births, from routine and uneventful to tragic, each story interwoven with her personal reflections. Readers are drawn into the delivery room to witness the intimate details and drama of the birthing process, revealing the complexities of patients’ lives and circumstances.

As these stories unfold, readers gain insight into how factors such as healthcare access, race, culture, socioeconomic status, and education profoundly shape each birth experience. Beyond the joys and challenges, the author reveals that being a Labor and Delivery nurse is far more than just ‘a great job where you get to cuddle babies.’ It is a vocation that demands resilience, empathy, and an unflinching dedication to supporting patients through life’s pivotal moments.

Endorsement:

“Twenty-six years ago I was a brand-new intern on labor and delivery. The nurses rightfully didn’t trust us newbies.

Over the next four years, I became an OB/GYN under the direction of the attending doctors and hands-on nurses. In our first two years as fledgling doctors, we quickly learned that the nurses knew more than we did, and could make or break our experience. As we became part of the team, we all supported one another through the best days and the worst, for our patients and for us. I still hear some of their voices and advice.

Steph’s is one of them. Her stories are written just as they would sound over a beer or cup of coffee.”

– Jeanette Thomas, MD. Author of the blog Healing Is Hard. (www.healingishard.net)

Todor Todorov Karagochev

The pages of the novel resurrect before the reader the events of a hundred years ago from 1912 to 1925 in the Balkans, in particular, in Bulgaria during the two Balkan wars, the echo of which was the Great War, which drew all countries and continents into its orbit and gave birth to a lost generation.

Three wars led to dramatic events in Bulgaria: a coup d’état and the establishment of despotism, against which the heroes of the country rise to fight. Brave, fearless, daring, elusive, they defy the executioner’s power and prepare the people for the uprising to overthrow the junta. The noble at heart and free spirited, they wage a heroic battle for freedom, risking their lives to save the life of another.

It is a hymn to the beauty of nature of the Balkans. It is a wide panorama of life of the era and society. It is based on real events. It is dedicated to the memory of Alexander Stamboliysky, it is dedicated to the memory of all the freedom fighters of all the times and countries.

Sex

Sex is not just a biological drive; it’s a powerful force that has shaped human evolution, relationships, and social dynamics for millennia. From ensuring the survival of our species to influencing social norms and cultural beliefs, sexual behavior plays a crucial role in our lives. Darwin’s theory of sexual selection highlights how humans, driven by the need to choose the right mate, have shaped the course of evolution. But sexuality has always been a subject of conflict. Religious and regulatory institutions have worked tirelessly to control it, often turning sex into a “problem” rather than understanding its vital role in our development. These efforts have reached deep into our personal lives, attempting to regulate even the most private aspects of human existence.

This book delves into the complexities of sex, exploring its impact on human psychology, mental health, and social order. It looks at how centuries of influence and restriction have left an imprint on our collective unconscious, embedding themselves into the very fabric of our being. By understanding sex through the lens of science rather than restriction, we can uncover a deeper truth about its role in human life. Drawing from evolutionary psychology, sociology, history, and beyond, this book offers a fresh perspective on a subject that has been both celebrated and censored. The journey of understanding sexuality, and its place in human progress, is far from over. This book serves as a preface to the conversations and deeper research that must follow.

Brancusi Biography

Constantin Brancusi, the renowned sculptor from Romania, found a special place in the hearts of many Americans. Among his admirers were prominent collectors such as John Quinn, the Arenbergs, the Meyers, the Speisers, Katherine Dreier, Mary Harriman Rumsey, Peggy Guggenheim, and others. These individuals not only collected his works but also developed personal relationships with the artist, drawn to his unique approach to art and life.

Brancusi’s interactions with American collectors were marked by mutual respect and admiration. His presentation of his sculptures, his adept negotiation skills, and his unwavering dedication to his craft earned him a reputation as a master artist among his American patrons. His innate tradesman’s spirit, shaped by his upbringing in the Oltenia region of Romania, added an authentic and grounded quality to his work that resonated deeply with his American audience.

What truly captivated Americans was Brancusi’s pragmatic philosophy, which was firmly rooted in his ancestral faith, traditions, customs, education, life experiences, and extensive readings. His aphorisms, reflecting his profound insights into art and existence, were widely circulated in publications and exhibition catalogues, further solidifying his status as a visionary artist and thinker.

Despite his humble origins, Brancusi developed a deep affection for America and its culture, and this sentiment was reciprocated by his American admirers. Throughout his lifetime, he held a special place in the American art scene, with eight personal exhibitions organized in his honor. The first seven took place in the United States, where his sculptures captivated audiences and critics alike. The eighth exhibition, held in Romania shortly before his death, marked a poignant homecoming for the artist and served as his first major showcase in Europe.

Brancusi’s enduring legacy in America is a testament to the lasting impact of his work and his personal connections with American collectors. His ability to bridge cultural divides through art and his profound understanding of the human experience continue to inspire generations of artists and art enthusiasts around the world.

What Will the Neighbors Think?

There are so many people who still suffer, just like we did so many years ago. They suffer from feelings of pain and fear that people won’t like them or accept them because they are different. They suffer because they are born a different color or religion from the majority. They suffer if they think they are not smart enough, good enough or successful enough. They suffer from the fear of not fitting in, or not being liked. They ask themselves over and over again, “What will the neighbors think?”

And then of course are lesbians, gays, transvestites, and transgenders. Although we have come a long way, there are still many who suffer the pain of being different, many who are still hiding their homosexuality or religion for fear of what people would think.

This book is for all the people who still fear…

WHAT WILL THE NEIGHBORS THINK?

So they will therefore have the courage to…

SAY YES WHEN THE WORLD SAYS NO.

Around the World Not Counting Days

Having graduated without distinction in 1958 from Fresno State College, 22-year-old John Kessell had no job interviews lined up, no letters of acceptance from grad schools, so the natural course seemed what’s called these days a “gap year.” Why shouldn’t he travel to Australia, his father’s native land, and get to know his Aussie kin?

When these generous Australians refused to let the young American spend any money, he still had so many unspent travelers’ checks that he was able to trade his round-trip Sydney-San Francisco for a one-way Sydney-Gibraltar. Why not go on around the world, not his original plan?

John Kessell had no idea in 1958 what sailing on an ocean liner from San Francisco to Sydney might be like. Those were still the days when people took a boat to get somewhere, not just an over-hyped “cruise” on a floating amusement park. So let’s step back sixty-five years, retrofit our passports, and join John on a boat to somewhere!

Sister Water, Brother Sultan – Francis of Assisi

Francis of Assisi (1182-1226) is considered the patron saint of ecology because of his love of all creation - “Be praised, my God, for Brother Sun, Sister Moon, Sister Water, Sister Mother Earth...”

From kissing a once-feared leper to forming a deep friendship with Sultan Malik al-Kamil during a horrific war between Muslims and Christians, Francis invites us to live “perfect joy!”

“Sister Water, Brother Sultan is a warm and deeply loving introduction to the life of Francis of Assisi and a useful devotional resource for all practitioners of spiritual nonviolence.”

- Rabia Terri Harris, Muslim editor of Fellowship, a multi-faith magazine of peacemaking published by the Fellowship of Reconciliation, USA.

“Very powerful while being very accessible to virtually anyone.”

– Jeff Feldman, hermit.

“This is a greatly needed book for all in the world today, so impacted by violence of many kinds. It is also an essential companion to all who desire deep spiritual growth.”

– Mary-Ellen Francoeur, Sisters of Service, Pax Christi.

“I have come to know Leonard as one of the greatest teachers of nonviolence of our time. He brings the mystical mind of a contemplative master to his work.”

– Gregory J. Gillis, retired secondary schoolteacher.