Bøger udgivet af Strategic Book Publishing

This collection of contemporary verse by Arnold de Vos reflects on his experiences as an international migrant poet. Deeply moving, the poems reflect on the human experience and the relationship of man with his environment and with God.In the author's own words:The virtually conflicting rapport with the reader often causes me to escape into remote ages and cultures, in which the poets dealt with issues that are consonant with mine: the homoerotic relation, the transposition of the bipolar tension in the man-God relationship.Particularly fascinated by the Sufi poetry of Arabian-Persian derivation, I have attained an understanding of the Middle-Eastern world by assimilating the writings of Annemarie Schimmel, the refined Islamologist departed in 2003. Years spent in Tunisia have contributed to my cultural enrichment as a poet who wholeheartedly prizes poverty in all of its forms as the only means for sublimating the ills of the individual and of the world.Born in Holland, Arnold de Vos lived for many years in Tunisia and currently resides in Italy. He has written in Dutch, English and French, and now his poems spring forth in Italian. Nakedness Is Your Priestly Robe is a prolific and almost automatic outpouring from his soul.

Nostradamus, the popular name for Michel de Nostradame, was a 16th-century physician, astronomer, and astrologer. He is best remembered as the prophetic writer of predictions of the future that quite often came to pass. Nostradamus: Time Traveler takes us back in time to meet some of history's most famous and influential figures. Encounter Cleopatra, Julius Caesar, Napoleon, Genghis Khan, and Alexander the Great, as they negotiate bloodthirsty battles, sexual affairs, and the ultimate power struggles. For every famous name in the book, readers will witness the event or challenge they had to overcome in order to be solidified in history. Nostradamus becomes an eyewitness to these historical events, both past and future, and then travels back to his own time in 16th-century France, where he pens his accurate predictions. With one foot planted in history and the other in science fiction, Bud Seligson writes an entertaining tale that will captivate both history buffs and those fascinated with time travel. Discover how one action can affect so much more with truly rippling effects.

There is a farm way out in the countryside that has all the normal things a farm has -- land, trees, fields, a family and an assortment of animals. But what's unusual about one of these animals -- a goat named Nibbles -- is that he'll eat anything! Goats are known for chewing this and chewing that, but Nibbles devours everything -- from grass to car parts! Nibbles' best friend is a young boy who loves the fact that his goat will eat anything, but his Mom and Dad aren't too keen on the fact. Mom and Dad are determined to make sure Nibbles stops eating the things he shouldn't. How will they keep Nibbles from nibbling everything in sight? Bronwyn Heeney writes a delightful story filled with colorful, charismatic characters and whimsical narration that is certain to be a favorite among toddlers. Bronwyn Heeney has been a writer for over 30 years. Ms. Heeney is currently working on her second children's book and lives with her family in Australia. Publisher's website: http://sbpra.com/BronwynHeeney

In book two of this enthralling science fiction series, the Thalin brothers and their families must survive battles raging around their walled city. Their continuing family saga began in book one, To Rule a World. This story begins as the brothers have just settled into a peaceful period when a new threat arises, and the search for a culprit is unsuccessful. In a lesson for the young, these are the words of wisdom: "Druids and wizards are different as night and day in philosophy but are similar in abilities. One is really no different than the other in battle, but in healing and life in other times the druid has the advantage." In a twist of fate, a Thalin grandchild named Christof is able to wield a sword that could not be held by anyone else. Does this mean that peace can be restored in their world of Dracos? (About the Author) Born in New York City, Steven Herzman moved to Florida when he was young, and now resides in Spring Hill, Florida. A bladesmith by trade, the author makes tools and products from steel and iron. "This is the second book of the first series. The Saga of Dracos is from the viewpoint of the Thalin family. There will also be spinoffs from the first book to give the tales of the other races." He hopes to write a total of twelve volumes.

Philosophy/Ethics The 'sacrifice of the intellect' is today mostly either a convenience or a contrivance. The marketeer assuages the consumer by her own feigned idiocy, the parish pirate invites the listless into his own fraudulent faith. It is exceedingly rare, in my estimation, to discover an authentically latter-day saint. But the ignominious fate of faith in our own time is mimicked by the corresponding downfall of reason, which in its turn is mostly used to calculate social control, warfare, or at best, economic trends. Could it be, for the first time in the history of human consciousness, that both reason and faith, in the face of their respective sacrifices, need one another more than ever, the separated siblings and estranged lovers that they are? That we live inside the question of our own existence should not be seen as a too-cunning conundrum, generating only misery and angst, pathos and melancholy. Rather it is the very thrownness of being which we are; resolute in our being-ahead, caring in our anxiety, concernful in our running along. Who better to respond to such a question that, though it bears the historicity of existence alone, marks us in our essence with a history of ontology that is shared and which constitutes our specific nature? (From the book) "Though it is not directly a part of my job as a critical philosopher, offending as many people as possible as succinctly as possible is a commonplace effect of my work." So Loewen opens 'The Return of the Martyr,' a wickedly funny and equally perceptive critique of the moral panics surrounding the issue of gender identity and other fashionable faux pas. And this is merely one of the over twenty singularly insightful essays collected here for the first time. Nothing is beyond a reasoned and rational reproach, and each piece serves as a role model for the rest of us to take up the torch of a truly transformative ethics." (From the publisher)

Bitter/Sweet: Surviving the Struggle Within describes my efforts to face the fears and pain of love and self-love, sickness and health, death and spirituality, and forgiveness. It also expresses my hope to find the answers to life's questions. First I had to acknowledge self, because without self-acknowledgement, every obstacle will magnify. In understanding what makes me tick and how my past could hold me back, I learned to love myself, which allowed me to find true love. Bitter poisons that once flowed through my veins, are now replaced with the sweet taste of honey. My agonies, frustrations, and pain took me on one excursion after another. The only true journey toward growth and fulfillment is tunneling through the many avenues of self. I had to go within before I could move forward. I had to master this expedition. No matter what I seek, everything I need is already inside me. Am I important enough to myself to go within and search for what I want and need? It is what I choose to accept about my life that will make it "Bitter" or "Sweet." And I realize that I am not alone. Everyone experiences pain and discord. I hope my words reach others so they too can rejoice. I have learned to celebrate the child within to overcome past hurts and all the old "Bitter/Sweet" experiences. This chronicles where I have been, where I am today, and what I have accomplished. (About the Author) First-time author Brenda Stubbs grew up in Ohio, as one of eight children in a home with no running hot water, an outhouse, and a potbelly coal stove. She is now a life coach.

Enter the land of Sarvania, where all is well until a great earthquake unleashes from an underground tomb the ancient evil of a vampire emperor. Sworn to take revenge against those responsible for his imprisonment, the emperor unleashes his army of demons and vampires against the people of Sarvania, covering the land in darkness. But with his return, a prophecy is being fulfilled. Thorn, a child born with the mark of the mighty dragon, will one day grow up and learn to wield the mighty Blade of Shovac. Thorn will lead the Sarvanian army against the vampire emperor and his demons. Thus the fantasy adventure Thorn and the Blade of Shovac takes flight. Along with his companions and other mystical creatures from across the land, Thorn must find the strength to wield the mighty sword and destroy the evil of the vampire threat.Author Bio : Inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien, Chad Lynch's next book is a sequel titled Thorn and the Eye of Shadizar. He lives in Oakland City, Indiana.

Eight-year-old Jason isn't happy at all with his birthday present from his aunt.Why would she give him an old, ugly stuffed animal? Jason is very disappointed and later that day, he finds an old mysterious coin wedged in a crack of his bedroom floor. On the coin, is a figure that begins to speak to Jason. Czar is a wise man who regales Jason with fascinating stories of historical significance, including ones of his family from several generations past, as well as a very important family secret.What connection does the coin have to his aunt's gift and what lessons does Jason learn about the true value of giving?This charming tale, based loosely on real-life events, expertly captures the importance of valuing friendship and family above the temporal and tangible. Wheatley's Jason and the Golden Coin incorporates exciting stories about past wars and revolutions with important concepts about gratitude, respect, and forgiveness. Young readers will eagerly anticipate the next sequel to Jason's adventures.Monika Rossa Wheatley is a writer and artist. Ms. Wheatley is currently writing a series of Jason books and lives in Tucson, Arizona.www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/JasonandtheGoldenCoin.html

Political upheaval in Munuka degenerates into a gruesome insurgency between the People's Revolutionary Army (PRA) and the government forces. The loss of lives and countless attempts on the lives of survivors define the daring novel, The Seeming End of Hope. Some things in life are hard to imagine. None of the survivors of this conflict ever imagined that victory would come their way. The story intertwines life and death in a balance where the emphasis is more on the side of death, hence the title of the book. (About the Author) Charles Kisembo was born in 1959 at Kahunge, Tooro Kingdom, presently the Kamwenge District in western Uganda. He attended primary at Bishop Balya School Kyabenda. In 1974, he joined Nyakasura School. He obtained bachelor's and master's degrees in history at Makerere University. In 2007, he earned a master's degree in defence studies at Kings College London (KCL). He has 38 years of military experience and is currently a Ph.D. candidate at Warnborough College, Ireland.

Math teacher Michael Carter is not a happy man. His daughter, Jessica, has gone missing. Then his wife dies from Hodgkin's Disease. Alone and depressed, he doesn't believe he can ever love another woman. Michael must overcome obstacles if he is ever to find happiness again. At the beginning of the new school year at Primrose Junior Secondary School in Halifax, Nova Scotia, a girl named Elizabeth is in Michael's math class. She can't get along with anyone. Like Michael, she is also unhappy and seems troubled. Teased by other students, Elizabeth has a poor home life. She is removed from her family and placed in a foster home. Michael's life is starting to take a turn for the better. He meets a woman named Alison at a local coffee shop and they share some fun adventures. But she has troubles of her own, suffering in an abusive marriage. The two fall in love, and then something strange happens ...Author Bio : First-time author Laura Ann lives in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada. When not spending time with her family and enjoying music, she is working on her second novel, The Perfect Sister.

What do you get when an inquisitive and trusting brown field mouse meets a small, brash green caterpillar eating machine? An unlikely but lasting friendship! How Harry Found the Meaning of Friendship is a sweet children's book with creative illustrations that tells the tale of two active and energetic creatures, each with their daily agendas to gather food and survive. What will they learn from each other-from life-from friendship?There's Harry, the mouse whose daily routine includes collecting seeds and berries. On his outing to collect his fill, he accidentally discovers Fluffy-one hungry and busy caterpillar whose sole function is to eat and grow, until morphing into a butterfly.The story takes the reader through the happiness of discovering and forming a new friendship, to the sadness and desperation of losing that friend, and finally to the joyous reuniting of friends with the realization of finding the true meaning of friendship.Author Mel Stave was born in Kansas City, Missouri and moved to Southern California in 1960. He has been a teacher and educator since 1975. He is currently the coordinator for the Communications Technology Magnet Center at Ulysses S. Grant High School in the Los Angeles Unified School District. He resides in Calabasas, California with his wife, Karen, and their dog, Sparkie.

Synopsis:Jaws of Death is as profoundly enthralling as it is nerve-racking. While a piece of literary ingenuity, it draws from the ossified facts of the history of the aggrieved people of former British Southern Cameroons through the lens of a returning academician. The brilliance of the novel shines from the author's ability to feed the mind with uncanny palpability; the ABCs of the historical aberration that led to the conflict in Cameroon as she faces the destiny of identifying the soul of the nation. The novel is an 'unputdownable' piece, and reads like a beautiful symphony; the gory details notwithstanding. This is a must-read piece." - Lambert Mbom, critical thinker and professional journalist Jaws of Death is a dramatic narrative sodden with suspense, the family saga of an expectant husband with his young son, waiting for his wife to arrive from abroad just to receive her call from jail. The emotional and psychological trauma so devastating, that, if literary writing was to address topicality, this would be it. A great narrative, really great, heart-throbbing, powerfully engaging, deeply enthralling and exhilarating." - JK Bannavti, author of Leopard Watch, Rock of God, and The Reapers & Freed into Jail (About the Author) Born in Cameroon, Victoria Meye holds bachelor's, master's, and Ph.D. degrees in African literature from the University of Yaoundé I, and a diploma in education from Higher Teachers' Training College Yaoundé, Cameroon. An educator, literary critic, and child advocate, Meye taught African Oral Literature, Literature of the African Diaspora, and African Literature of the Postcolonial Society in the Department of African Literature and Civilizations at the same university. Her areas of interest include African Oral Traditions, Gender and Feminist Literature, Cultural Studies, Eco-culture, and Multidisciplinary Studies.

A novel for our times: Fax and His Adventures to Prevent Climate Change. The world needs a hero ... The world needed someone that is strong. Someone that is assassination proof. Someone to tell the leaders of the world the truth and wouldn't lie or be manipulated. The world needed someone to take what it was causing the climate to change and stop it before it got out of control. The world needs Fax. Helped by an assistant professor named Kyle, Geology Professor Woodrow Malarky, and Methie, a conscious being who lives at the heart of the Earth, Fax determines that intelligence shouldn't be allowed to destroy intelligence. After all, that wouldn't be very intelligent, would it? (About the Author) A native of Bristol, England, L C J Emery has ideas to help the world. "What inspired me to write this book is my frustration with the world's attempt to combat climate change. I said to my daughter what is needed is a modern-day avenger to fight climate change. So, I thought Fax could do it."

Jason and the Poetry Contest is the second children's book in a series. The first story was Jason and the Golden Coin. Eight-year-old Jason and his friends are excited about a poetry contest at their school. Two of Jason's friends, Alice and Diana, enter the contest. But Diana cheats by stealing an idea, and wins the big prize, which is a trip to Disneyland. Jason is a close observer and discovers with help from the Czar, his friend and mentor from the first book, that a lie took place during the contest. Partly due to Jason, the truth comes out that Alice would have won the trip if the competition was fair. Diana confesses to cheating, and realizes that her first choice between right and wrong was the wrong choice. It turns out both girls get to go to Disneyland, because Jason and the Poetry Contest is also about forgiveness. Author Bio:Monika Rossa Wheatley is a fine artist, writer, and a mother of five grown children. She lives with her husband in Tucson, Arizona. Publisher's website: http://www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/JasonAndThePoetryContest.html

Let's boldly approach the Throne Room and talk to God about what He loves to hear . . . His Word! This 32-day book of prayers will get you on the path of speaking Heaven's language. Once you learn and understand how to pray the Word of God, you will never again get tired, bored, or not have enough to talk to God about. The book will change your mindset on how you relate to your Heavenly Father. It will expand and deepen your spiritual intimacy with Jesus through praying His Word. As believers, we are God's legal representatives on Earth; therefore, it is our heavenly duty to speak and release some of heaven's goodness into history. This means that our language must not be the same as the world if we desire to make an impactful difference in the world! The Word of God is powerful, and it will penetrate and pierce every force of darkness. The Lord's Word is forever established in Heaven; it is up to believers to establish it on Earth! Let's partner with God and put our voice to the Word of God and watch Him come for His Word! (About the Author) Toni Allen is a servant of the Most High God, an Evangelist, a radio and TV host, founder and CEO of Lord, Make Me a House of Prayer Ministries, and the author of Lord, I Shall be a House of Prayer! She is also an administrative manager for the City of Cleveland, Ohio.

Some lessons can only be learned in a storm! Under the conviction of the Holy Spirit, author Steve Moultrie shares in intimate detail the collapse of his family automobile dealership and the painful broken relationships that ensue. He vividly details the depth of his pain so that readers can fully appreciate the sustaining nature of God's grace and hope available through a relationship with Jesus Christ. All of us are either in the midst of a storm or very close to someone who is. This book provides practical measures to survive a storm and grow! (About the Author) Steve Moultrie was born and raised in Albertville, Alabama, and now lives in nearby Guntersville. His inspiration for writing this book: "As Christians, we are called to use our pains to further the Kingdom, no matter how difficult it is to share."

Education, Philosophy This is a book very much of the moment. It presents a third way of teaching ethics for a modern world rife with the forces of suppression. Critiquing both neo-conservative and "neo-liberal" fashions, it puts forward in their place a pedagogy inspired by art and based on interpretation theory, dialogue, and dialectic. A Pedagogy for the Suppressed encompasses the broadest and deepest issues of our times, linking them to an authenticity that includes a basic understanding of the historical mutability of human "nature." "Written as if the author were addressing the reader in an intimate series of five dialogues, the book reads as a discussion. References are kept to a minimum and philosophical distinctions are explained in plain language. No person with a high school education would be puzzled by the literacy level. Examples are taken from the author's extensive and varied fieldwork amongst historical reenactors, the dying or death-defying, UFO believers and cult members, and his three-year work with families and teens as an ethics consultant. In short, philosophy engages reality in the context of a more authentic experience of both teaching and learning." - Lynn Eddy, VP of Acquisitions, Strategic Book Publishing

Baxter Bunny's Special Pie is a charming tale of honesty and of learning lessons from your mistakes.The book begins: Mama Bunny had been baking all day. The fair was tomorrow, and her pies were always winners. This year she was entering her famous strawberry pie. All the bunnies in the land agreed. Mama's pie would win again.But there was someone who didn't want Mama to win. Down the road lived Baxter Bunny.He was always trying to beat Mama in the baking contest but never could. His pies could never come close to Mama Bunny's pie. This is going to be the year I am going to find a way to beat Mama in the contest, no matter what I have to do, thought Baxter.Since Baxter's pies can't compete with Mama Bunny's pies, how can he possibly win? He decides to steal hers and submit it at the fair as his own. Baxter is in for a surprise! He learns the hard way not to take what's isn't yours. About The Author: This is the fourth book by Maureen Julie McGrath and her third book for children. She grew up in Granada Hills, California, and now resides in Ventura, California. She says, "I'm passionate about anti-bullying and writing books with wonderful moral messages, which children need now more than ever."

Tom Ryan Jr. is locked up in the Alzheimer's Unit of Peaceful Harbor Nursing Home. His father, Tom Ryan Sr., died on the 8-by-10-foot Astro Turf in the recreation room of the same nursing home. Sadly, Tom Sr. passed along the Alzheimer's gene to his son, who also wheels himself to that very same plastic green turf every day, as he goes through the identical transformation his father did. Tom Jr. believes his only lucid thoughts about people, places, and stories are about his life on the golf course. Still Lost is a story filled with sarcasm, yet at the same time it is tragic, dark, and redemptive. It tells of the lonely ride taken by the Alzheimer's-afflicted narrator. The author wrote this novel as a sequel to Lost in Love Grass, published in 2010. He has also written a trilogy of children's books: Bogey the Wonder Squirrel, Dogs Can Fly, and The Miracle of Helen the Rabbit. (About the Author) Retired from the insurance industry, Steve Rogers grew up in the small coastal town of Tiverton, Rhode Island. He now resides in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts. "I use both locations in my book, but not the actual names of the towns. It is my fifth book published by Strategic."

Have you ever seen a "work of art" worth millions, which looks like something your child just brought home from school? The dual perspective of "Beauty Is in the Eye of the Beholder" and just a little bit of "The Emperor's New Clothes" is evident in this clever artwork story of a child who paints a fingerpaint print in class and then loses it in the wind on the way home. Illustrated from the point of view of a child, whose identity is left to the imagination of the reader since all of the illustrations are what the child sees, the fingerpaint print is interpreted by official "judges" as well as by bystanders. Should people be influenced by what others see, or use their own self-esteem to make their own judgments? This coloring book version allows children to illustrate their own version of the book, and even to create a "masterpiece" of their own! This is the fourth rhyming children's coloring book by this award-winning author, whose other bestselling books include David's ADHD, My Little Angel, The Golden Rule, Mice & Spiders & Webs...Oh My!, Manner-Man, Gimme-Jimmy, The Magic Word, Peter and the Whimper-Whineys and Santa's Birthday Gift. About The Author: Former teacher Sherrill S. Cannon has won over 100 awards for her previous rhyming books and coloring books, and is also the author of 7 published and internationally performed plays for elementary school children. She has been called "a modern day Dr. Seuss." - GTMA Review

Once the first Buffalo broke through to the hive, it was swarmed all over with Keef. The other Buffalo then broke from their single file and made their way to the side of the first. They were swarmed over as well. The Keef moved up their legs, onto their backs, into their shaggy manes and over their tail ends. The Keef swarmed everywhere, hundreds of them for each of the Buffalo, crawling, biting, chewing, and attacking the Buffalo until the Buffalo were not there, only a swarm of a moving black mass. Still, the Buffalo moved on. All three dropped a little from view as they descended into the hive. We were above them and could still see them. The hive was enormous, so enormous it must have contained millions of Keef. The first Buffalo to reach the hive kept on in a straight direction, the two on each side began to fan out, appearing to seek the edges of the hive. Then the first one dropped.Author Bio: John L. Mitchell, Jr. has worked a multitude of jobs and has a sense of humor about most things. He was formerly in a perpetual state of financial benthos, the result of a somewhat deranged infatuation with a hypothetical inner genius that has yet to yield anything of substance. He hopes you enjoy reading this apologue he scratched together. The author currently resides in beautiful Rocky Boy, Montana.

THEME: The vocational archetype stands behind the character of the teacher's personality, focusing lessons on both the intellectual and personality development of students. Teachers discover the vocational archetype in themselves through trial and error. The teacher-student relationship in the autonomy of the classroom inspires the mind and nurtures the character of the soul. However, consciousness of mind and soul are different. Soul consciousness has an imagistic nature that can see the spiritual archetype that stands behind the individual personality. The child archetype is depicted in many cultures as the "divine child." The archetype of the adolescent is the hero. The vocational archetype of the teacher is expressed in personality and character, nurturing the archetypal characteristics in the personalities of the students. However, many teachers have lost touch with the archetypal characteristics of their vocation and must seek the vocational archetype on their own, through trial and error. This book is a portrait of one teacher's process of seeking the vocational archetype. Experiences with students are a major part of the process. The other part is to find and defend a classroom philosophy that evokes the teacher archetype in front of the students, their parents, and the administration. The author will inspire, encourage, and empower teachers who are seeking the vocational archetype in themselves, and give voice to the vocational archetype in our school communities and in our culture. (About the Author) Robert Mitchell retired after 27 years as a secondary classroom teacher in multiple subjects in both public and private schools. He now writes, lectures, and gives workshops on education, child development, and democracy. This book precedes a second book on the K-12 curriculum.

My Alien Origin is an intriguing fish out of water story from outer space. An alien named Lyrad has his mind magically transferred inside the mind of a dying human baby boy named Daryl. The alien grows within his young black host's body and experiences the true meaning of family, and he adjusts to sharing his consciousness with the black child, who miraculously has survived. Lessons are learned by Lyrad as he is confronted by the budding Civil Rights movement in New York City. As Lyrad discovers firsthand the meaning of the words discrimination and prejudice, Daryl comes to understand the meaning of despair and hopelessness. Together they learn to find happiness despite their despair, the way black folks have done for generations. (About the Author) Like the character in the book, Daryl Elmore was born in Harlem and later migrated to the lower east side of Manhattan. "Growing up on the Lower East Side showed me the meaning of the phrase 'The Melting Pot.' It was the only place in New York where you could find good soul food, Chinese food, pizza, or knish in the same neighborhood." This is the author's first book, and he is working on the sequel. "I wanted to tell a story of life in New York during the sixties, seventies, and eighties. The tremendous political and scientific advances that all Americans endured were incredible. It was an incredible era to grow up in and I felt it was being overlooked."

In Assisi, Italy, a young nun hides an unforgiveable act. In America, Victoria Lange is raised by a single mom who keeps the past secret from her daughter. On her own after her mother's death, Victoria studies obsessively to become an architect.At graduation, Victoria is out of money and ready to accept a good position, when her roommate, a rich native Italian, convinces her to spend the summer at her luxurious home in Italy. "See my Roma, maybe discover your mother's origins?"Victoria's summer turns into a fast track of revelations. Being naïve, she falls into a trap. A future she could barely imagine opens-if only she can right her fateful mistake. (About the Author) Antoinette is also known as "Toni" Dietkus, author of Riding Shotgun in an 18-Wheeler, an illustrated journal, available from Strategic Book Publishing and www.etsy.com/shop/toniZart. Ghosts of Winter, historical suspense by Antoinette Dietkus, will be available in 2023 from Pegasus Publishing UK.

The delightfully illustrated children's story Finch and Robin is about two diverse friends who really enjoy life. There's a lesson to be learned in Finch and Robin's story. The two just happen to be birds. "Both were just little baby birds when they first met and instantly developed schoolyard relationships. They were told early on by their elders, 'Finches stay with Finches. Robins stay with Robins.' " Although the two are different, they have a lot in common. The two good friends start each day together going through the same routine. They love visiting The Koolaid House, The Castle, and a cave decked out for comfort. Of course, there are opportunities to meet other woodsy creatures where they both live in the Lake of The Ozarks. The author's previous books include Itty, Bitty, Stella, The Happy Barnrat; Pity's Porch; Pity and the Princes; Pity's First Christmas and the Magnificent Evergreen Tree; Iggy's Island; Iggy's River; The Sweetest Meow; L'tl Bear; The Fisherman's Net; Three Men and Their Boat; and Two Men and Their Catch. She is currently writing The Chase and The Secrets of the Cobweb House. (About the Author) In each of Texas native Deborah K. Crawford's books, she likes to include a life skill or a lesson to be learned. "I'm a Texas gal and I have Texas close to my heart. I moved most of my life, and finally landed at the beautiful Lake of the Ozarks" in Missouri, where this story is set. Some of her other books take place in Mexico, where she spends four months each year. "Thank you to my husband, Scott Crawford, and son, Ryan Crawford, for their continued support in my writing for 20 years."

Spotty the parakeet is a detective in the community of Bird Villa. He solves many problems, including defending rascal chipmunks, fighting a cruel cat and some rabbits, and finding out who murdered two important birds that everyone loved. When there's a food problem between the rabbits and the birds, Spotty makes sure he finds enough food for everyone over the winter vacation. Spotty learns to stay away from suspicious animals, and to expect the unexpected. (About the Author) Thirteen-year-old Kialiana Cruz has dreamed of becoming an author since she was five. "I was diagnosed with PDD-NOS, and so I had trouble with knowing what to say, how to say it, and when to say it at the right time." Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified is a subtype of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). "I grew up in Connecticut, a very diverse place, where you can either choose to fail or succeed in life. I chose to succeed. My mother always told me that I can do anything I put my mind to, and that the only person who can hold me back is myself. Words to live by." The eighth grader plans to write a book series.