Working Backwards from the Worst Moment of My Life
Working Backwards from the Worst Moment of My Life

Author: Rob Roberge

Publisher: Red Hen Press

Published: 2010

Total Pages: 122

ISBN-13: 1597091650

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From a writer Steve Almond calls "the master of the down and out that just got worse" comes a collection of stories that live vividly in the reader's memory long after the final page has been turned. Taking place in a world of desperate people who cling to hope, but have few expectations, Roberge introduces us to a motley crew of cripples, drug addicts, former child actors, chimpanzee boxers, exterminators, and assorted criminals. These desperate, boldly original stories are distinguished by a stark prose reminiscent of Denis Johnson or Lorrie Moore, but are, ultimately, all their own--powerful, riveting, deeply felt, and darkly funny.

Orange County Noir (Akashic Noir)
Orange County Noir (Akashic Noir)

Author: Gary Phillips

Publisher: Akashic Books

Published: 2010-04-01

Total Pages: 313

ISBN-13: 193607057X

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You may be disturbed—or possibly titillated—to discover what can happen once you cross the Orange Curtain . . . “‘There’s a dark side to most places,’ even California’s sunny Orange County, Edgar-winner T. Jefferson Parker observes in his foreword to this outstanding entry in Akashic’s noir series, one of the stronger of the all-original anthologies. The crisp, often seductive prose of the 14 contributors, most of them relatively unknown, is a tribute to the critical judgment of the editor.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review Akashic Books continues its groundbreaking series of original noir anthologies, launched in 2004 with Brooklyn Noir. Each story is set in a distinct neighborhood or location within the city of the book. Brand-new stories by: Susan Straight, Robert S. Levinson, Rob Roberge, Nathan Walpow, Barbara DeMarco-Barrett, Dan Duling, Mary Castillo, Lawrence Maddox, Dick Lochte, Robert Ward, Gary Phillips, Gordon McAlpine, Martin J. Smith, and Patricia McFall, with a foreword by T. Jefferson Parker.

Stranger Will
Stranger Will

Author: Caleb J. Ross

Publisher: John Hunt Publishing

Published: 2012-12-31

Total Pages: 281

ISBN-13: 1780998058

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The child he loves. The idea of a child, he's beginning to understand, is where everything will go wrong. William works as a human remains removal specialist, removing stains left by the dead. Whether by a bloody crime scene or a quiet domestic death, William is reminded each day of the frailty of human life. As his fiancée, Julie, nears term with their first child William becomes increasingly desperate for a way to overcome his belief that to birth is to kill. But Mrs. Rose, an elementary school principal and messenger pigeon hobbyist, nurtures William’s depressive outlook and claims to have a way to prove that William’s hesitancy to accept fatherhood is not only natural but necessary. In this novel of impending parenthood, an idealistic teacher recruits a pliant protégé to join her group of Strangers – a devout collection of kindred minds who have dedicated their lives to cultivating a unique idea of perfection. But joining is easier than leaving. ,

A Crack in Everything
A Crack in Everything

Author: Vanessa Carlisle

Publisher: iUniverse

Published: 2010-09-02

Total Pages: 210

ISBN-13: 1450243932

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Get ready: while other books may show up carefully dressed, this one answers the door in her underwear. SARK, Author, Artist, Creative Fountain, PlanetSARK.com a new, exciting voice in fictionA truly impressive debut novel that announces Carlisle as a writer to watch. Rob Roberge, author of Working Backwards from the Worst Moment of My Life The characters that inhabit this sharp and witty novel are troubled, impoverished, confused, lost, sexually frustrated, and intellectually unfulfilled. Sobasically everyone I know. Mike Barker, Co-Creator and Head Writer, American Dad! saucy writing yet tender and heart-felt charactersbridges an unusual but empowering sisterhood between girls-next-door and girls-on-stripper-poles. Its about time! Jennifer Musselman, author of Own It! The Ups & Downs of Homebuying for Women Who Go It Alone Twenty-five-year-old Tamina is a sharp-witted Jersey girl living in Hollywood with a near-phobic response to mismatching colors, an addiction to pedicures, and a hectic job teaching comprehensive sex education to urban youth. Suffering the consequences of a violent assault, Tam looks for relief in romance and LAs underground erotic entertainment scene. However, when Tams young attacker unexpectedly resurfaces among a crowd of drag queens, porn stars, and musicians, Tam finally must make real choices. Fear or confrontation. Cynicism or curiosity. Silence or honesty. It would be surreal, if it wasnt LA.

Liar
Liar

Author: Rob Roberge

Publisher: Crown

Published: 2016-02-09

Total Pages: 274

ISBN-13: 0553448072

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An intense memoir about mental illness, memory and storytelling, from an acclaimed novelist. When Rob Roberge learns that he's likely to have developed a progressive memory-eroding disease from years of hard living and frequent concussions, he is terrified by the prospect of becoming a walking shadow. In a desperate attempt to preserve his identity, he sets out to (somewhat faithfully) record the most formative moments of his life—ranging from the brutal murder of his childhood girlfriend, to a diagnosis of rapid-cycling bipolar disorder, to opening for famed indie band Yo La Tengo at The Fillmore in San Francisco. But the process of trying to remember his past only exposes just how fragile the stories that lay at the heart of our self-conception really are. As Liar twists and turns through Roberge’s life, it turns the familiar story of sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll on its head. Darkly funny and brutally frank, it offers a remarkable portrait of a down and out existence cobbled together across the country, from musicians’ crashpads around Boston, to seedy bars popular with sideshow freaks in Florida, to a painful moment of reckoning in the scorched Wonder Valley desert of California. As Roberge struggles to keep addiction and mental illness from destroying the good life he has built in his better moments, he is forced to acknowledge the increasingly blurred line between the lies we tell others and the lies we tell ourselves.

Working Backwards
Working Backwards

Author: Brendan Lauritz

Publisher: AuthorHouse

Published: 2011-11-10

Total Pages: 301

ISBN-13: 1456789201

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WORKING BACKWARDS Homeless, Broke, Divorced, Alone, Reclusive, Humiliated, Embarrassed and very very unhappy. That should be a reasonable snapshot of someone who really hasn't a lot to live for. Not this little black duck. Brendan Lauritz is no ordinary deperate dot. He is a man on a mission. He's on his way back, bigtime. In this story of success that hasn't happened.........yet, Brendan takes us on a journey, an emotional rollercoaster often with hilarious consequences and outcomes. This book thingie is about working backwards from his dream and final destination. From the town of Destin-ee back to his pathetic existence in Miser-ee, Brendan has been crying out for someone to show how to make it to the town of Happy-Me, his personal nirvana. But there is no help so he has worked out the escape route himself. Brendan has created a few new strategies to help him get out of his living hell hole. NEEDSEARCH, DOTS and VIPER POISON are the new weapons he will use to fight off the ee-vil NEGOBS which are trying to block his road to happiness. See, Brendan is just like you. He wants to be happy again. With only one life and time running out Brendan has started his journey to Happy-Me. If you want easy or "just ask and you will receive" then this book thingie isn't for you. But if you want to walk with someone hand in hand, from the hell hole of hopelessness to the heaven of happiness, then start reading. Your new life has begun.....

The Healing Power of Self Love
The Healing Power of Self Love

Author: Oscar Bamwebaze Bamuhigire

Publisher: iUniverse

Published: 2009-02-06

Total Pages: 504

ISBN-13: 9781440101380

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In the field of alcoholism and drug addiction treatment, there have always been questions for which there were no satisfactory answers: Is substance abuse a problem of discipline or a disease? Why is it that most alcoholics/ drug addicts do not seek for, or receive treatment? Why is it that only 5- 10% of alcoholics/ drug addicts respond to treatment? Why do untreated addicts have a better chance at breaking the bond of addiction than addicts who get treated? Why has the incidence of recovery without the help of formal treatment continued to rise? Are the successes of Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A) nothing more than spontaneous remission? Why are some people able to quit their addiction without treatment, while others only get worse after treatment? Why does treatment have a negative effect? Why are some treatment programs more effective than others? Why has the world continued to experience a steady increase in the rate of addiction and self destruction? Why is it that 1 in 2 Americans has a diagnosable mental disorder each year, and 81 Americans commit suicide every day? Why do non-Hispanic blacks bear a disproportionate burden of disease, injury, death, and disability? Why do the most successful treatment programs for addicts have a spiritual component? Why do non white people suffer from a high rate of substance abuse and self destruction? Why does Africa have the highest rate of suicide, poverty, and disease in the world? Why are some treatment programs more effective than others? Etc. In a unique blend of psychology, psychiatry, metaphysics, medicine, orient and western religions, The Healing Power of Self Love provides answers to these and many more questions. In making its revolutionary contribution to the scientific world, it also explains how addicts can enhance their chances of recovery from addiction through the treatment programs of their choice, by utilizing the ancient tools of discipline, lateral thinking, and insight from the life experiences of the worlds greatest leaders. Even though this book was initially designed to meet the needs of alcoholics and drug addicts in treatment, it may be of great value to people who are struggling with other types of addiction, and to those who are faced with major obstacles to their self-realization or self actualization.

Work Backwards
Work Backwards

Author: Tim Duggan

Publisher: Pantera Press

Published: 2024-04-03

Total Pages: 277

ISBN-13: 064581802X

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Something's about to break, and if we don't change direction soon, it's going to be us. It doesn't matter in which industry or where, too many of us are overworked, disengaged and apprehensive about the future of work. In his life-affirming new book, best-selling author and entrepreneur Tim Duggan argues that we approach work and life the wrong way around. Fuelled by a powerful realignment that's questioning the way we traditionally think about and interact with our workplaces, Work Backwards takes us on a journey around the world from America's top universities to the streets of Helsinki, from museums in Mexico to Sydney's golden beaches to explore how and why we work. You'll discover: Why reversing your thinking can have such an oversized impact The three things you need to live a full life right now How to easily reset your life-work balance How to use tools like remote, hybrid and flexible work properly Why this is right moment to experiment with work Expert guidance from the world's leading work and happiness researchers A new army of people who are rethinking their relationship with work Learn valuable, practical tools to work better and live a fulfilled and meaningful life that takes advantage of this once-in-a-generations opportunity to reverse your thinking and reclaim your life back from work.

Paul Kelly
Paul Kelly

Author: Stuart Coupe

Publisher: Hachette Australia

Published: 2020-07-28

Total Pages: 352

ISBN-13: 0733642357

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Australia's best music writer examines the life of the Australian music legend - honest, revealing and a must-have for any Paul Kelly fan. Until now, no one has written the definitive biography of Australia's best-loved singer, song writer and poet. Taking us from Paul Kelly's family life as the sixth of eight children in Adelaide, Stuart Coupe, with Paul's blessing and access to friends, family and band mates, shows us the evolution from a young man who only really picked up a guitar in his late teens, to an Australian music icon. As Paul's music career took off he had to juggle the demands of rock'n'roll with real life and it wasn't always pretty. As Paul's manager for a time, Stuart Coupe has seen or heard it all - the good and the bad (like Paul being told by an audience member that his was the worst band ever!). The book will look at Paul Kelly's personal relationships and the impact they have had on Paul's career and his storytelling. It will also highlight his generosity to other artists, like Archie Roach. In 2017 Paul Kelly received an Order of Australia acknowledging his distinguished service to the performing arts and the promotion of the national identity through his contributions as singer, songwriter and musician. At the foundation of it all is his storytelling. PAUL KELLY: The man, the music and the life in between will give us an unfiltered examination of it all.