Creative Biography

Romancing the Sur tells of the passion it takes to embrace the chaos, impermanence, and wild beauty of life on the Big Sur coast. Up a dirt road, on the ridge Henry Miller called home, you'll find views of the lunar goddess, lupine blossom sorbet, and bathing in a claw-foot tub as condors soar above. There are also life-changing wildfires, sneaky rattlesnakes, and a host of marvelous eccentric characters with wisdom to share.

In the mid-1990s, fresh out of high school, Nic Brown was living his childhood dream as a rock and roll drummer. Signing a major label record deal, playing big shows, hitting the charts, giving interviews in Rolling Stone, appearing on The Tonight Show—what could be better for a young artist? But contrary to expectations, getting a shot at his artistic dream early in life was a destabilizing shock. The more he achieved, the more accolades that came his way, the less sure Brown became about his path. Only a few years into a promising musical career, he discovered the crux of his discontent.

When your mother names you after your father's affair, you might wish you were living someone else's life. For Samantha Hart, growing up on a farm in rural Pennsylvania had been no childhood idyll but rather a violent, surreal nightmare. A twisted vision of pastoral life part Faulkner part Dante. At 14 years old, she ran away in search of her father, a character she only knew as Wild Bill. Discovering he wasn't the hero she dreamt he'd be, she was on her own.

Raising Will is a heartfelt, humbling memoir written by a Texan-turned-Minnesotan mother and child psychologist. Her heart breaks for Will when he is repeatedly banned from Fun Friday in first grade shortly after he is diagnosed with ADHD. The family zigzags through an obstacle course of therapy, medication side effects, tutoring, and sleepless nights, while shining a light on Will's inherent strength - blues guitar. Listeners will surely recognize themselves in this story and find solace, laughter, and hope as they celebrate the surprising blessings ADHD can bring.

Get ready to chase your dreams after listening to this thrilling children's biography of Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda. A terrific source for a book report, Lin-Manuel Miranda: Lights Up tells the inspiring life story of the role model's transformation from a young boy with Broadway dreams to one of today's most respected artists.

A small-town teacher's kid, little sister of a genius, Amy Hallberg dreamed of escape by way of a West German exchange in 1987. The resulting friendship with her exchange sister Eva awakened a lifelong quest to understand all things German. Back home in Minnesota, Hallberg embarked on a German literature major just as the Berlin Wall fell. As Frau Hallberg, high school teacher, she hoped to impart vital knowledge (in a language she'd never mastered, in a country where she'd never truly lived).

How to Be a Writer is peppered with nuggets of practical advice for every person who is aspiring to write and be published, all told in Ruskin Bond's characteristic understated, tongue-in-cheek, humorous style. So, what is it that a person requires the most to become a writer? A love of books, of language, of life, an observant eye and a good memory, along with enthusiasm, optimism, and persistence. This book is an exclusive glimpse into the writing credo of Ruskin Bond, an author who has had an incredibly successful writing career spanning over 70 years.

George the Poet knows better than anybody the importance of understanding your surroundings. Born to Ugandan parents on the St Raphael's Estate in Neasden, north-west London, George Mpanga has always been aware of his community. It was both his teacher and his inspiration - giving him the language, the experiences, and the skills to become the person he is today. In Track Record, George unveils the power dynamics that shape our world, shedding light on the forces that restrict Black creativity and put limits on Black excellence.

In 1803, Meriwether Lewis was offered the chance of a lifetime. The president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson, asked him to lead an expedition across North America, through the Louisiana Territory and Oregon Country to the Pacific Ocean. Lewis jumped at the opportunity and called on his friend William Clark to share in the command of the exploration. The two men organized a small unit of volunteers they called the Corps of Discovery. They had little idea of what dangers lay ahead in the mysterious lands.

Jose Ibarra was born in Los Angeles, CA, raised by a Catholic family. He attended Catholic school from kindergarten to high school. Jose was inactive in the Catholic Church for many years 'til a call was made—a call that changed the course of his life. At the age of 30, he came back to the church after experiencing a break-up from a girlfriend. Now, after being active in the Catholic Church for almost seven years, he is deeply involved with the Hispanic young adult ministry and mission work with the Oblates of Mary of Immaculate.

In July 2009 Geraint (Gez) Jones was sitting in Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, with the rest of The Firm - Danny, Jay, Toby and Jake, his four closest friends, all junior NCOs and combat-hardened infantrymen. Thanks to the mangled remains of a Jackal vehicle left tactlessly outside their tent, IEDs were never far from their mind. Within days they’d be on the ground in Musa Qala with the rest of 3 Platoon - a mixed bunch of men Gez would die for.

An overnight success story…20 years in the making. This is the story of Wall Street Journal best-selling author Jeff Wheeler’s journey to publication. It’s a story of the pivotal moments that have shaped his life and his novels, some of them inspiring and some cringe-worthy, seasoned with meditations on creativity and what drives and quells it. Through sharing his own story, he also provides invaluable insights about the writing process, and the process of becoming a writer.

It’s the business of saving lives. Miracle Medicines goes behind the scenes of the pharmaceutical industry and into the high-security laboratories to tell the stories of the men and women - chemists, physiologists, medical and clinical researchers, engineers - who have chosen to toil for years in the lab in order to transform scientific theories into new lifesaving medicines. You’ll witness the day-to-day labors, victories and defeats of the dedicated professionals who are waging a war against the diseases that still plague mankind.

In 1982, Vietnam veteran John Arnold was a detective sergeant in the small town of Sanford, Maine. Working with the DEA and other law enforcement agencies, Arnold went undercover as a crooked cop, receiving kickbacks for "looking the other way" as drug dealer Michael Sanborn flew huge shipments through the local airport. Eventually Arnold met the "big boss", Richard Lowell Stratton, a Texas ranch owner whose involvement in the drug trade stretched back more than a decade.

The Creative Voice, a memoir-album, is the inspirational story of a singer, Naomi Sutherland, who loses her voice at school and goes on a quest to find it again. It tracks the journey of the human voice through its history, and shows how life has the power to shape and silence all our voices. Exploring ideas from ancient anthropology, neuroscience, the sociology of class and education, culture, psychology, philosophy and economics, Naomi shows us the power of creative originality and the importance of protecting it.

It’s a classic American success story: Cheryl Lightle, once an unemployed single mom, goes on to become the cofounder of one of the most successful direct-selling companies in the United States. Creative Memories reveals the 10 guiding principles she used to create her scrapbooking empire, teaching listeners how to use these principles to achieve success in their own lives.

Generoso Pope, Sr., an Italian immigrant, arrived in New York in 1906 with only pennies in his pocket. He got a job shoveling sand, but through his intelligence, he worked his way up to become the biggest provider of cement, just as it was becoming the key material for building. Gene Pope, Jr., was his father’s choice to inherit and run the business, but Gene’s mother and two brothers forced him out, and he found himself penniless and on his own. With a loan from his godfather, mobster Frank Costello, Gene bought the New York Enquirer. He renamed it the National Enquirer.

On January 21, 2017, millions of protestors took part in the Women's March, and many of them created a "sea of pink" when they wore knitted pink "pussyhats" in record numbers. The pussyhat swiftly found its place on the cover of Time and The New Yorker, and it ultimately came to symbolize resistance culture. Creator of the Pussyhat Project, Krista Suh, took an idea and built a worldwide movement and symbol in just two months. But like so many women, Krista spent years letting her fears stop her from learning to live by her own rules.

Homeless. Addicted. Alone. Ron Worley hit rock bottom, but climbed his way back and into money, a successful business, and fulfillment. Now, he is helping others do the same. Negative circumstances can overshadow a life of purpose. Making the brave hard choices can seem impossible. Yet, you don’t have to accept mediocrity. Your growth is your choice. If trauma and failure have set you adrift, it’s time to step up with Ditches to Riches.

From the desert sands to the stage, achieving dreams takes time, effort, and hard work. Each of us defines success differently. Whether we come from humble beginnings or not, the uphill climb into becoming ourselves is a unique journey. Renrick Palmer discovered his truths in some of the tensest situations known to man as he worked his way to the place he always knew would be home: performing on stage.