The Best Worst Thing


Book Description

Front door locked, kitchen door locked, living room windows closed. Nobody in the closet, nobody under the beds. Still, Maggie is worried. Ever since she started middle school, she sees injustice and danger everywhere--on the news, in her textbooks, in her own neighborhood. Even her best friend seems to be changing. Maggie believes it is up to her, and only her, to make everything all right. Can she come up with a plan to keep everyone safe? The Best Worst Thing is a perceptive novel about learning the limits of what you can control, and the good--sometimes even best--things that can come of finally letting go.




Merrily We Roll Along


Book Description

The much-beloved musical by Stephen Sondheim and George Furth, available again in print for the first time in 20 years. Written over forty years ago, Sondheim and Furth's spirited and affecting Merrily We Roll Along boasts an innovative structure that begins in the present and moves backwards in time over 20 years, tracing the personal and professional lives of a successful producer and composer and his two (now estranged) friends. With wit, irony, and a crackling score by Sondheim, Merrily poignantly captures the ways success can corrupt youthful ideals, and crumble the foundations of friendship in its wake.




The Best Worst Thing


Book Description

ONE DAY. THATS ALL IT TAKES TO CHANGE A LIFE A YOUNG COUPLE. A NEW BABY. PLANS FOR THE FUTURE. As a wife, new mom and successful career woman, Kristen Brown thinks her life is set. Until one morning, her husband doesnt wake up. In this bittersweet memoir, we experience Browns new life as a young widow mom grappling with the shock, pain and regret following her husbands unexpected death while managing a stressful work situation amidst the downfall of the economy. But not wanting to be a sad mom, she instead harnesses her emotions into a positive force in her life. Through a process of life-changing experiences like surfing, getting inked and starting her own company that takes her to Hollywood, she discovers her lifes purpose to be the role model for her daughter she longs to beand becomes a role model for others in the process. Kristen Brown captivates us with her story of transformation that is filled with the universal elements of loss, love, hope, humor and our ongoing search for answers that changes our perspective on the meaning of life and how we should live it. Kristen Brown bares her soul and shows us that loss can color our experiences and empower us to do more, be more and hope for more than we ever thought possible. you will fall deeply for The Best Worst Thing. Kristen Brown opens her tattered heart for all to see, then shares her rocky road back from the edge, as she finds the woman she was meant to be. Julie Bauke, author of Stop Peeing On Your Shoes "a powerful journey of love, loss, rebirth, and self-discovery. Kristen has a gift of keen insight, provocative imagery, and raw authenticity Theresa Rose, award-winning author of Opening the Kimono: A Woman's Intimate Journey Through Life's Biggest Challenges "You will be captivated from the very first word and may not be able put this book downshe tells her incredible story that will move you emotionally in many ways. Peggy McColl, New York Times Best-Selling Author Kristen Brown is a widow mom, writer, speaker and founder of Happy Hour Effect. Nominated for multiple business awards, she showcases her company at Hollywood events, has been featured extensively in the media and has adapted her company message into a training series. She lives in Minneapolis with her daughter and big black Lab.




The Best Worst Thing That Happened to Me


Book Description

Motivational speaker Waleuska Lazo shares how taking responsibility for your thoughts, emotions, and actions will lead to a more fulfilled and happy life.




Pity Party


Book Description

Discover an "absurd, funny, and thought-provoking" book perfect for "anyone who has ever felt socially awkward or inadequate" (Louis Sachar, author of Holes and the Wayside School series). Dear weird toes, crooked nose, stressed out, left out, freaked out Dear missing parts, broken hearts, picked-on, passed up, misunderstood, Dear everyone, you are cordially invited, come as you are, this party's for you Welcome to Pity Party, where the social anxieties that plague us all are twisted into funny, deeply resonant, and ultimately reassuring psychological thrills. There's a story about a mood ring that tells the absolute truth. One about social media followers who literally follow you around. And one about a kid whose wish for a new, improved self is answered when a mysterious box arrives in the mail. There's also a personality test, a fortune teller, a letter from the Department of Insecurity, and an interactive Choose Your Own Catastrophe. Come to the party for a grab bag of delightfully dark stories that ultimately offers a life-affirming reminder that there is hope and humor to be found amid our misery.




The Worst Thing She Ever Did


Book Description

All Sophie wants is to forget what happened last summer. But that’s not easy when people keep asking if she’s okay, and her mother locks herself behind closed doors for hours at a time. And now her best friend, Abigail, cares more about parties and boys than about hanging out with Sophie. Lost in memories of the life she had before that terrible day, Sophie retreats into herself. But it’s only so long before she must confront the tragedy of her past so she can face the future.




Take the Risk


Book Description

By avoiding risk, are you also avoiding your life's full potential? Join acclaimed neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson as he explores the life-changing power of taking the risk, even if you're afraid. In our risk-avoidant culture, we place a high premium on safety. We insure our vacations. We check crash tests on cars. We extend the warranties on our appliances. But by insulating ourselves from the unknown--the natural risks of life--we miss the great adventure of living our lives to their fullest potential. Dr. Ben Carson spent his childhood as an at-risk child on the streets of Detroit, and he took big risks in performing complex surgeries on the brain and the spinal cord. Now, offering inspiring personal examples, Dr. Carson invites us to embrace risk in our own lives. In Take the Risk, Dr. Carson examines our safety-at-all-costs culture and the meaning of risk and security in our lives. Take the Risk guides you through an extensive examination of risk, including: Risk-taking in history An assessment of the real costs and rewards of risk Learning how to assess and accept risks Understanding how risk reveals the purpose of your life From a man whose life dramatically portrays the connection between great risks and greater successes, the insights Dr. Carson shares in Take the Risk will help you dispel your fear of risk in order to dream big, aim high, move with confidence, and reap the rewards of wise risk-taking. Praise for Take the Risk: "Whether you are a world-renowned neurosurgeon, a CEO, or a teacher, this book applies to anyone who ever wondered about the difference between the pacesetters and those who struggle to keep up. It is the pacesetters who Take the Risk, and this book explains when and why to take risks to empower everyone to become a trailblazer rather than a mere spectator. For anyone who wants to rise above mediocrity, this book is a must-read." --Armstrong Williams, author and radio host, The Armstrong Williams Show




God with Skin On


Book Description

Are you sure your God will show up in the darkest times of your life? How about your kids? Are they equipped with answers for the pain that most likely awaits them? God with Skin On will take you along with Eli and Owen through their own dark place and out the other side. Separated from their father on Mount Rainier, the two brothers are forced to survive and reach out to the God they have been told about but were never desperate enough to really need. With everything on the line, they find a God who really shows up when they most need him. God with Skin On will help you and/or your children ask the questions and find the answers for the great tests of faith that await them in life. Answering these great life questions before you are face down in life’s murkiest moments will be the greatest gift you can give anyone! Enjoy the journey!




Benefit-Risk Assessment Methods in Medical Product Development


Book Description

Guides You on the Development and Implementation of B–R Evaluations Benefit–Risk Assessment Methods in Medical Product Development: Bridging Qualitative and Quantitative Assessments provides general guidance and case studies to aid practitioners in selecting specific benefit–risk (B–R) frameworks and quantitative methods. Leading experts from industry, regulatory agencies, and academia present practical examples, lessons learned, and best practices that illustrate how to conduct structured B–R assessment in clinical development and regulatory submission. The first section of the book discusses the role of B–R assessments in medicine development and regulation, the need for both a common B–R framework and patient input into B–R decisions, and future directions. The second section focuses on legislative and regulatory policy initiatives as well as decisions made at the U.S. FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health. The third section examines key elements of B–R evaluations in a product’s life cycle, such as uncertainty evaluation and quantification, quantifying patient B–R trade-off preferences, ways to identify subgroups with the best B–R profiles, and data sources used to assist B–R assessment. The fourth section equips practitioners with tools to conduct B–R evaluations, including assessment methodologies, a quantitative joint modeling and joint evaluation framework, and several visualization tools. The final section presents a rich collection of case studies. With top specialists sharing their in-depth knowledge, thought-provoking considerations, and practical advice, this book offers comprehensive coverage of B–R evaluation methods, tools, and case studies. It gives practitioners a much-needed toolkit to develop and conduct their own B–R evaluations.




Working Actor


Book Description

Veteran character actor David Dean Bottrell draws on his 35+ tumultuous years of work in the entertainment industry to offer a guide to breaking in, making a living, and making a life in the fabulous trenches of show business. Covers every facet of the business, including: - Capturing the perfect headshot - Starting (and maintaining) your network - Picking an agent - Audition do’s and don’ts - Joining the union(s): SAG-AFTRA and Actors Equity Association (AEA) - On stage vs on screen - Paying the bills - Self-promotion - Late bloomers - When to get out David Dean Bottrell has worn many different hats during his decades in showbiz: television actor with appearances on Boston Legal, Modern Family, The Blacklist, Mad Men, True Blood, NCIS, and Days of Our Lives; screenwriter for Paramount and Disney; respected acting teacher at UCLA and AADA; and regular expert columnist for esteemed acting site Backstage. In Working Actor, Bottrell offers a how-to manual jammed with practical information and insider advice, essential reading for any artist (aspiring or established) in need of insight or inspiration. Mixing prescriptive advice ("Getting Started," "Learning Your Craft," "Finding an Agent") with wisdom drawn from Bottrell's own professional highs and lows and those of his acting compatriots, this book's humorous, tell-it-like-it-is tone is a must-have guide for anyone hoping to successfully navigate show business.