Creative Biography

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.

Ten years ago, when Chris Duffy was an exhausted fifth grade teacher, he taught the funniest person he's ever met: 11-year-old Gary C. Gary was the school newspaper's official food critic, blasting cafeteria pizza for looking like cardboard and alleging that the baked beans weren't "beany" enough. These days, Duffy is a comedian and the host of a podcast with millions of listeners, but he's never forgotten the joy of laughing with Gary during that bleak Boston winter. Gary taught him that a life without a sense of humor isn't much of a life at all.

In Welcome to the Jungle, proven corporate leader, senior executive, author and entrepreneur, Teena Hostovich, shares her journey from reception desk to the C-Suite in this entertaining and thorough guide to navigating a thriving career in corporate America. This book is the perfect place to learn from someone who has seen it all and come out on top. You'll walk away from this book feeling empowered and ready to take on the jungle and the adventure of a corporate career!

Retired US Air Force captain Mark David Gibson makes his debut as an author with his memoir, Served in Silence. Join Mark as he takes you on his journey before, during, and after the military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy. Walk right alongside Mark as he shares his story of guilt, shame, and secrecy, and draw inspiration as you witness him create a new life grounded in love, authenticity, and purpose. Served in Silence speaks to the heart of anyone struggling to live authentically and aims to inspire listeners to be brave and live firmly in their truth.

Notes from Hell is a confession of an ordinary woman whose face becomes familiar to the whole world. The book tells about her work in Benghazi, about the reasons for the infection of the children, about the monstrous tortures she suffered, the terror, uncertainty and friendship in the Libyan prisons, about what it feels like to have three death sentences and survive.

Dear Listener, This is the story of my journey while slowly cleaning out the closet of my heart following the death of my beloved mother. I wasn’t prepared to lose her. I did the only thing I knew how to do. I kept busy, swallowing every feeling. Then I ended up in the hospital and was forced to stop. While recovering, I began to write these letters. My heart broke wide open; the flood of blocked emotions poured out. Finally, I was able to accept my mother’s death. It’s my deepest hope these letters will bring you, too, a sense of peace. Love, Helen

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.

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.

Revised edition.

When I bounced the idea of An Accidental Life off Jim Browne, my financial manager with a keen understanding of the human condition, he said that all of us benefit from serendipity, from the accidental life. (We in fact met by happy accident.) He added that my life was and is typical, or perhaps a tad off the norm. Surely he's correct in that we all benefit from fortuitous events, but I think he's incorrect in saying that such events in my life are typical or normal.

Born to Create is an inspirational autobiography chronicling Dr. Rosalie H. Contino's professional transition from successful seventh-grade English teacher to a newfound career in the arts. While most 40-year-old professionals are busy building upon the foundation that several years of hard work produced, Contino made the bold decision to quench the burning desire within to pursue the passion to create.

This audiobook contains many unreleased and internationally published pieces of Joseph A. Santiago (Mr. Joe). This books represents a decade's worth of works from Mr. Joe's life. The work utilizes creative nonfiction, fiction writing, poetry, essays, and showcases collaboration from the World Voice Project. Mr. Joe utilizes the digital media environment to connect the audience to him and continue conversations beyond what's possible in traditional publishing.

Life is linear, memories aren’t. Cinder Block Houses is a collection of five short stories of growing up among the manzanita, pine, trailer parks and cinder block houses of Tuolumne County. Contains the stories: Beyond the Sky, Cat Box, Zodiac Sign: Ford Taurus, Baby Jesus Eyes and Uncle Jimmy’s Shotgun

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.

The actress Isla Blair’s extraordinary, moving and uplifting story of her childhood in India and her separation from her parents. Born in Bangalore India, during the fading days of the Raj, Isla grew up on a tea plantation managed by her father. She spent her early years in the lush, verdant hills of Kerala with her much loved older sister Fiona, secure in the love and affection of her parents and her adored “Ayah”.

With 30 years of experience as a nursing home administrator, Natalie Zeleznikar was no stranger to the strengths and limitations of health care. When she was diagnosed with breast cancer, the plan was a double mastectomy and a couple months to recovery. Her reality was eight total hospitalizations in five years after nearly dying - not of cancer, but of sepsis. With a unique perspective blending the experiences of a patient and a health care worker, The Scars You Can’t See follows Natalie’s journey of struggle and survival.

There have been innumerable 'rock star' biographies and music histories before, but there is no book that presents the deepest, innermost thoughts from some of the industry's most legendary musicians on not only how they create, but what drives their creative process. Have you ever wondered how your favourite rock stars get inspired? How they write a song? How an album is put together? Icons of Rock contains interviews with each musician to give the listener a compelling and groundbreaking insight into the creative process at the heart of each rock star's musical success.

A biography of Alexander Pushkin (1799 – 1837), who is considered by many to be the greatest Russian poet and the founder of modern Russian literature. Included is a brilliant work of the great Russian poet Marina Ivanovna Tsvetaeva, "My Pushkin". Please note: This audiobook is in Russian.

In this uniquely accessible nonfiction work for young listeners, Chef Flynn McGarry, who at an early age discovered a passion for food and cooking and has since gone on to receive wide-acclaim as a chef, shares his insights and explores the elements of creativity as he encourages young listeners to mix passion, hard work, and their own unique perspective to achieve results that might just be life-changing.

As a child, Clive Staples Lewis imagined many things...heroic animals and knights in armor and a faraway land called Boxen. He even thought of a new name for himself - at four years old, he decided he was more of a Jack. As he grew up, though, Jack found that the real world was not as just as the one in his imagination. No magic could heal the sick or stop a war, and a bully’s words could pierce as sharply as a sword. So Jack withdrew into books and eventually became a well-known author for adults.