Charlie Mack and her crack team private investigators have been asked to take on a seemingly impossible task—to identify and thwart an attack on the upcoming Detroit Auto Show. With a $100K incentive and the help of a dozen freelancers, Charlie and her team slowly begin to unravel a twisted plot that runs through several countries and even more bank accounts. But finding out who’s behind the deadly plot only solves half the problem, because Charlie is drawn into an intensive game of cat-and-mouse to locate dozens of hidden bombs before they can be detonated.
This exquisite collection of four short stories is bound to both chill and delight you. In "Henry's Hand," you'll see that it's sometimes hard to know where the fog ends and fantasy begins. You'll meet Jake Cullin, a very nice fellow, but you most certainly won't want to stick around when the "Soul Catcher" drops in for a visit. Then there's the dinner invitation you'll want to consider, the one where one hostess tells the other to "Wake Me When It's Over." Last, but not least, you'll join Bill and his wife as they head off for a vacation they'll never forget -- or ever want to repeat -- the one in Asbury Park, where "Someone Lies Waiting."
This is my story; I am a musician and entrepreneur who created and co-owned nightclubs, now part of the history of music and nightlife in New York City. Starting with my first club, Sanctuary, and continuing with Mission in Manhattan's East Village and ending with the highly regarded Luna Lounge, this is the first book to cover a part of the New York rock music scene that came after punk, new wave, and no wave. Musicians and bands including Joey Ramone, The Psychedelic Furs, The Jesus And Mary Chain, Ministry, Nine Inch Nails, The Sugarcubes, The Sisters Of Mercy, and Killing Joke, among others, would party together at Mission. It was the late 1980s, a time of MTV's "120 Minutes," melodic British psychedelic guitar rock, Wax Trax industrial rock records, and a dangerous but exciting Lower East Side. Moving further ahead, my story continues with the sale of the Mission and the opening of Luna Lounge in 1995, possibly the most important venue of its size in New York. Luna was the stage where The Strokes, Interpol, The National, Longwave, stellastarr*, The Bravery, The Hold Steady, and many other bands first performed before friends and early fans of the bands. Also, Luna would host free performances from Marty Willson-Piper (The Church), Black Box Recorder, Sonic Boom, and Kid Rock. This is also a narrative about Elliott Smith as he wrote out his work for the album, XO, while sitting at the Luna Lounge bar and his subsequent launch into stardom. In addition, Luna Lounge was a well known Monday night comedy spot where cutting edge comics worked new material in front of a supportive audience as part of the "Eating It" comedy series, the room where fans could see, among others, Jon Stewart, Janeane Garofalo, Jeff Garlin, Rob Cordry, Greg Fitzsimmons, Lewis Black, Jim Norton, Lewis C.K., and Marc Maron. Finally, this is the story of the forced closing of Luna Lounge, a victim of the rising real estate values which came as a result of the quality of life initiatives set out by the Republican mayors who have controlled the city for the last twenty years. More information is available at the author's website, wakeme.net.
Coming of age in Prague in the 1930s, Lena Kulkova is inspired by the left-wing activists who resist the rise of fascism. She meets Otto, a refugee from Hitler’s Germany, and follows him to Paris to work for the Republican side in the Spanish Civil War. As the war in Spain ends and a far greater war engulfs the continent, Lena gets stuck in Paris with no news from her Jewish family, including her beloved baby sister, left behind in Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia. Otto, meanwhile, has fled to a village in England, and urges Lena to join him, but she can’t obtain a visa. When Lena and Otto are finally reunited, the safe haven Lena has hoped for doesn’t last long. Their relationship becomes strained, and Lena is torn between her loyalty to Otto and her growing attraction to Milton, the son of the eccentric Lady of the Manor. As the war continues, she yearns to be reunited with her sister, while Milton is preoccupied with the political turmoil that leads to the landslide defeat of Churchill in the 1945 election. Based on a true story, When It’s Over is a moving, resonant, and timely read about the lives of war refugees, dramatic political changes, and the importance of family, love, and hope.
Love, Grief, and Healing in Hollywood and Beyond After prominent roles in Clueless; Sabrina, the Teenage Witch; and Beverly Hills 90210; Elisa's career was on the fast track. Until her show is unexpectedly cancelled, her relationship ends, and her father is diagnosed with terminal cancer. This book chronicles Elisa's journey out of despair and heartbreak, with awe-inspiring visitations, dreams, and inexplicable synchronicities that could only be her father letting her know that he's watching over her from the afterlife. Sometimes the universe sends us on a journey that we didn't know we needed. By sharing the lessons and challenges that the universe sent to her, Elisa inspires those who are learning to let go after a loss so they can live again with authenticity, humor, and hope.
This book includes real-life examples from over 70 respected organizations, small and large, representing a multitude of industries using stories to drive results. Leaders from organizations such as Microsoft, Lands’ End, Verizon, U.S. Air Force, and World Vision demonstrate the strong positive influence stories can have. No abstract theories or platitudes are conveyed here. The book spells out how Kevin Roberts, CEO worldwide of Saatchi & Saatchi, achieved sustained sales growth after several mergers and downsizings caused the organization to fall on hard times. It also shows how Erik Shaw, president and CEO of FivePoint Federal Credit Union, overcame resistance to an organizational name change, resulting in membership growth exceeding the national average.
