Told from two different perspectives, "The Cringe Chronicles" is a unique father-daughter memoir following Kristin Tougias on her teenage tribulations and strange family vacations. Kristin's father, author and travel writer Michael J. Tougias, is a bit eccentric and a true nonconformist who inadvertently adds to Kristin's woes. At the end of each chapter chronicling their misadventures, Kristin's father Michael gives his personal and humorous point of view, often quite different than his daughter's. All teenagers are at times embarrassed by the actions of their parents, but because of Kristin's father's odd lifestyle, she is in a league of her own when it comes to cringe-worthy moments. Join Kristin and Michael on this very unique father-daughter journey
Newbery Medal winner Kelly Barnhill spins a wondrously different kind of fairy-tale: In most fairy tales, princesses are beautiful, dragons are terrifying, and stories are harmless. But this isn't most fairy tales... Princess Violet is plain, reckless, and quite possibly too clever for her own good. Particularly when it comes to telling stories. One day she and her best friend, Demetrius, stumble upon a hidden room and find a peculiar book. A forbidden book. It tells a story of an evil being, called the Nybbas, imprisoned in their world. The story cannot be true--not really. But then the whispers start. Violet and Demetrius, along with an ancient, scarred dragon-the last dragon in existence, in fact-may hold the key to the Nybbas's triumph or its demise. It all depends on how they tell the story. After all, stories make their own rules. Iron Hearted Violet is a story about the power of stories, our belief in them, and how one enchanted tale changed the course of an entire kingdom. A 2012 Andre Norton Award Finalist A Parents' Choice Gold Award Winner
On May 19, 1942, a U-boat in the Gulf of Mexico stalked its prey fifty miles from New Orleans. Captained by twenty nine-year-old Iron Cross and King's Cross recipient Erich Wurdemann, the submarine set its sights on the freighter Heredia with sixty-two souls on board. Most aboard were merchant seamen, but there were also a handful of civilians, including the Downs family: Ray and Ina, and their two children, eight-year-old Sonny and eleven-year-old Lucille. Fast asleep in their berths, the Downs family had no idea that two torpedoes were heading their way. When the ship exploded, chaos ensued—and each family member had to find their own path to survival. Including original, unpublished material from Commander Wurdemann’s war diary, the story provides balance and perspective by chronicling the daring mission of the U-boat—and its commander’s decision-making—in the Gulf of Mexico. An inspiring historical narrative, So Close to Home tells the story of the Downs family as they struggle against sharks, hypothermia, drowning, and dehydration in their effort to survive the aftermath of this deadly attack off the American coast.
Are you ready to conquer your fears, unlock unshakable confidence, and silence the self-doubt that holds you back—whether on camera or in life? This book is more than just a guide to mastering your presence in front of the lens; it’s a transformative journey designed to build confidence that radiates through every aspect of your life. Whether you're a budding content creator, a professional presenter, or simply striving to overcome the paralyzing grip of self-doubt, this book is your roadmap to lasting success. Rooted in the powerful Comprehensive Inner Transformation Framework (CITF), this book goes beyond surface-level tips and tricks. It delves deep into the psychology of confidence, offering practical, actionable steps to enhance your on-camera presence while breaking free from the mental blocks that hinder your growth. Discover how to cultivate a resilient mindset, embrace your authentic self, and communicate with impact—on camera and beyond. Each chapter is packed with insightful strategies, real-life examples, and exercises designed to help you practice and perfect your skills. Recognizing that the journey to confidence is never one-size-fits-all, this book encourages you to revisit and refine your approach, ensuring your growth is both personal and profound. This book can benefit a wide range of people, particularly those who are looking to break negative habits, overcome self-doubt, or learn new skills in a more engaging and less intimidating way. Here are some specific groups that might find this style especially helpful: Professionals and Creatives Public Speakers and Presenters Students and Lifelong Learners Individuals Seeking Personal Growth Therapists and Coaches Anyone Facing a New Challenge Maybe you want to be the next Mr. Beast or CR7, why not? Unleash your true potential and become the confident, empowered individual you were always meant to be. Unlock the secrets to unwavering confidence without breaking the bank! This book is a treasure trove of coaching insights, proven techniques, and practical wisdom that would ordinarily set you back thousands in professional coaching. But now, it's all within your reach for less than the cost of a meal. Invest in yourself, save time and money, and embark on a transformative journey with this invaluable guide. Your path to success begins right here—grab your copy today and start the transformation!
“Smart, interactive solutions to help you get better at saying no while minimizing hurt feelings and maintaining relationships . . . indispensable.” —Vanessa Bohns, PhD, professor of Organizational Behavior at Cornell University and author of You Have More Influence Than You Think Break Free and Learn To Say No We’ve all been taught to seize the moment and say yes without considering the downside. No Will Set You Free empowers you to take back your life and control your own time again. “No” can come in many shapes and sizes, yet saying it can be difficult. We may think it’s selfish but this simple word is necessary to thrive in life. This informative guide helps you discover and follow your true desires, find more time to invest in those you love, and pursue your real interests. Saying no can be hard. Really hard. Author Michael J. Tougias understands. As a former people-pleaser himself, Michael wields a combination of research, personal stories, and proven methods to help us understand our actions and stop saying yes. Through his witty rapport detailing his own setbacks and triumphs, we learn how to stop people-pleasing and how to, ultimately, honor our authentic selves. Inside No Will Set You Free, you’ll Find: Studies that help us understand our urge to say yes and how to learn to say no Personal stories and anecdotes about the journey to “No”, how it relieves stress, and leads to a more productive life Steps, tips, and tricks to control your life through the power of No “By setting boundaries one can zero in on what is important. For [Tougias], that means more time for his family, his health, his hobbies of bike riding and being in nature and writing.” —MassLive
New York Times Bestseller Winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize Winner of the J. Anthony Lukas Award "Nimbly splices together history, science, reporting and personal experiences into a taut and cautiously hopeful narrative.… Egan’s book is bursting with life (and yes, death)." —Robert Moor, New York Times Book Review The Great Lakes—Erie, Huron, Michigan, Ontario, and Superior—hold 20 percent of the world’s supply of surface fresh water and provide sustenance, work, and recreation for tens of millions of Americans. But they are under threat as never before, and their problems are spreading across the continent. The Death and Life of the Great Lakes is prize-winning reporter Dan Egan’s compulsively readable portrait of an ecological catastrophe happening right before our eyes, blending the epic story of the lakes with an examination of the perils they face and the ways we can restore and preserve them for generations to come.
The Vampire Kitty-cat Chronicles turns vampire mythology on its head when Patch, a calico tomcat, is turned into breakfast--and a vampire kitty-cat--by a starving vampire. Narrated by Patch in a deliciously snarky cat take on the world, Patch struggles to find a new life, as it were. In the process, he's almost skewered with a stake by a mob with blazing torches, tried for murder, nearly crunched by a seven-foot undead guy, just about shotgunned into undead pieces, comes inches from having his tail cut off and seconds from being fried by the sun, and kidnapped twice. Oh, yeah, and turned into a (shudder) politician. On the other paw, he does hook up with that sweet Siamese, and it looks like he's on the way to winning that election . . .
"An all-new harrowing maritime tale of the sinking and rescue efforts surrounding the HMS Bounty--the actual replica used in the 1962 remake of the 1935 classic Mutiny on the Bounty--which sank during Hurricane Sandy with sixteen aboard. On Tuesday, October 24, 2012, Captain Robin Walbridge made the fateful decision to sail the HMS Bounty from New London, Connecticut, to St. Petersburg, Florida. Walbridge was well aware that a hurricane was forecast to come up the Eastern seaboard. He explained to his crew of fifteen that the ship would fare better at sea than at port, and that he thought he could sail "around the hurricane." He told the crew that anyone who did not want to come on the voyage could leave the ship and there would be no hard feelings. No one took the captain up on his offer. Four days into the voyage, superstorm Sandy made an almost direct hit on the Bounty. The vessel's pumps could not keep up with the incoming water and a few hours later, in the dark of night, the ship overturned, sending the crew tumbling into the ocean filled with crashing thirty-foot waves. The Coast Guard launched one of most complex and massive rescues in its history, flying two Jayhawk helicopter crews into the hurricane and lowering rescue swimmers into the raging ocean again and again despite the dangers. Ultimately fourteen crew members were rescued; tragically, two members did not survive. Dripping with suspense and vivid high-stakes drama, Rescue of the Bounty is an unforgettable tale about the brutality of nature and the human will to survive"--
We begin on the first day of sixth grade in the upper-class community of Roslyn. I was the biggest loser in school and struggled to stay afloat. Then one day everything changed. It was in the eighth grade when I went from being the biggest embarrassment on Long Island to the most popular kid in school. But by that time it was already too late. So began a dark trail of revenge. It was May 4th of 1999 and I was fourteen-years-old. After being shipped across many state lines, touring America's finest juvenile institutions, I find myself at the infamous and notorious Hidden Lake Academy, an academy tucked quietly in the darkness of the Appalachian Mountains of Georgia. But before being shut down in June of 2011 for 'the tragic maltreatment of troubled youth', Hidden Lake Academy was still a thriving success with seemingly no way out. But I had to escape the danger, I had to unshackle my feet, and thus my journey to freedom began... But after a major catastrophe, I end up in New England, alone, on the run, homeless, sleeping in abandoned attics filled with counterfeit money, prostitutes and danger. I had nowhere to go, nowhere to sleep, and no money to eat. I was sixteen-years-old, it was a month before 9/11 and it was the greatest time of my life. Welcome to The Drifter Chronicles, Volume One.
