Virtual Strangers


Book Description

The Flatshare meets a modern You've Got Mail Do you believe in love at first type? When Ada set up her own PR firm from a coffee shop, she didn't expect to meet journalist Fraser. Also working there daily, he soon becomes a friend. Reporting on interesting things to do around Edinburgh, Fraser ropes Ada into accompanying him on his assignments. As they work side-by-side Ada can't help but notice how attractive Fraser is, and how well they get along. But, Ada has been chatting to a guy she met on an Agatha Christie fan fiction site, and she can't stop wondering about him. His interests are the same as hers, and the anonymity helps them both be more honest and open. As Ada's messages with the mystery man become deeper, she thinks she's falling for him. Ada is torn between Fraser and Myster-E - but can you have real feelings for someone when you're virtual strangers?




Virtual Strangers


Book Description

Fed up, frustrated and fast approaching forty, Charlie Simpson hasn’t had many high points in her life just lately. The only peak on the horizon is her ambition to climb Everest, if she could only get organised and save up the cash. Unfortunately, though, she has more pressing things to deal with; her eldest son moving out, her father moving in, and her best friend moving two hundred miles away. She finds solace, however, via her newly acquired modem, when she stumbles upon a stranger who’s a like-minded soul. Like-minded, perhaps, but no fantasy dream date. Though virtual, he’s of the real-life variety – he may be a hero, but he has a wife. Charlie hasn’t got a husband, but she certainly has principles, and they’re about to be hauled up a mountain themselves. And, of course, her mum’s always said she shouldn’t talk to strangers. The question is, is now the time to start breaking the rules? 'A fantastic book that gets you hooked from the first page' New Woman 'It's wonderfully funny and rather inspiring...I enjoyed it hugely and I confess I read it all in one go, wolfing it down like a delicious box of chocolates' Judy Astley ‘A charming and optimistic novel about modern love’ – Hello Magazine ‘A laugh out loud read’ – Real magazine 'I absolutely loved it - hooray for Julia! this is funny, original, well-written and unguessable - I had no idea how it would end. It also has the very best closing paragraph I've read in years. Completely wonderful, dazzlingly entertaining, unputdownaable' Jill Mansell




The Stray and the Strangers


Book Description

Based on a true story, a stray dog befriends an orphan boy in a refugee camp on a Greek island. The fishermen on Lesvos call her Kanella because of her cinnamon color. She’s a scrawny, nervous stray — easily intimidated by the harbor cats and the other dogs that compete for handouts on the pier. One spring day a dinghy filled with weary, desperate strangers comes to shore. Other boats follow, laden with refugees who are homeless and hungry. Kanella knows what that is like, and she follows them as they are taken to a makeshift refugee camp. There she comes to trust a bearded man, an aid worker, and gradually settles into a contented routine. Kanella grows healthy and confident. She has a job now — to keep watch over the people in her camp. One day, a little boy arrives and does not leave like the others. He seems to have no family and, like Kanella, he is taken in by the workers. He sleeps on a cot in the food hut, and Kanella keeps him warm and calm. When two new adults come to the camp. Kanella is ready to defend the boy from them, until she is pulled away by the bearded man. They are the boy’s parents, and now he must go with them. Eventually, the camp is dismantled, and Kanella finds herself homeless again. Until one night, huddled in the cold, she awakens to see two bright lights shining in her eyes — the headlights of a car. The bearded man has come back for her, and soon Kanella is on a journey, too, to a new home of her own. Key Text Features maps illustrations author's note Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.6 Describe how a narrator's or speaker's point of view influences how events are described.




CyberSociety


Book Description

The culture of computer and network- mediated communication is growing both in size and sophistication. Cyberspace is the new frontier where new worlds, meanings and values are developed. CyberSociety focuses on the construction, maintenance and mediation of community in electronic networks and computer-mediated communication. Leading scholars representing the range of disciplines involved in the study of cyberculture lay out the definitions, boundaries and approaches to the field, as they focus on the social relations that computer-mediated communication engenders.




Strangers, Enemies, Friends & Lovers


Book Description

Because not all love stories have happily-ever-after starts...in fact, some have such...unpleasant beginnings, the endings seem ridiculously predictable. But the universe has its own plan and a sometimes ironic sense of humor, and things have a way of working out in the most unexpected, mysterious, and incredibly beautiful ways. In a world where hate is easy and seems to be so richly rewarded, may we always, always choose love. I hope you enjoy reading these stories as much as I enjoyed writing them




Virtual Globalization


Book Description

This book examines the interrelationship between telecommunications and tourism in shaping the nature of space, place and the urban at the end of the twentieth century. They discuss how these agents are instrumental in the production of homogenous world-spaces, and how these, in turn, presuppose new kinds of political and cultural identity. This work will be of essential interest to scholars and students in the fields of sociology, geography, cultural studies and media studies.




A Stranger's Game


Book Description

Picking up a pretty woman, Grace, outside his favorite bar in Texas, FBI agent Breed Grayhawk is unaware that she has just finished a wrongful sentence for murdering her parents and is breaking into her late father's colleagues' homes in search of evidence that will clear her name. A best-selling novel. Reprint.




Virtual Reality


Book Description

The idea of virtual realities has a long and complex historical trajectory, spanning from Plato's concept of the cave and the simulacrum, to artistic styles such as Trompe L'oeil, and more recently developments in 3D film, television and gaming. However, this book will pay particular attention to the time between the 1980s to the 1990s when virtual reality and cyberspace were represented, particularly in fiction, as a wondrous technology that enabled transcendence from the limitations of physical embodiment. The purpose of this critical historical analysis of representations of virtual reality is to examine how they might deny, repress or overlook embodied experience. Specifically, the author will contend that embodiment is a fundamental aspect of immersion in virtual reality, rather than something which is to be transcended. In this way, the book aims to challenge distorted ideas about transcendence and productively contribute to debates about embodiment and technology.




Scotland with a Stranger: A Memoir


Book Description

“Who goes to Scotland for two weeks with a stranger they met over the internet?” Are you feeling stuck in a rut, yearning for adventure, and seeking a fresh start? Discover the transformative power of stepping out of your comfort zone and embarking on an unforgettable journey to Scotland. Ninya's true story is a testament to the incredible resilience of the human spirit and the boundless possibilities that await us, even when life seems at its darkest. At forty-three, Ninya found herself at a crossroads. Her life had been marred by addiction, cancer, and the painful aftermath of a divorce. Overwhelmed by depression and anxiety, she was desperately in need of a change. That change arrived in the form of a message from a stranger, offering her a chance at self-healing through a hiking expedition across the breathtaking Scottish highlands. Join Ninya as she steps out of her comfort zone and into the unknown, guided by a woman whose unorthodox methods challenge her every step of the way. In this poignant memoir, you'll experience the highs and lows of Ninya's adventure as she traverses winding one-lane roads, hikes majestic mountains, and explores awe-inspiring glens. From the rugged beauty of the Scottish wilderness to the unexpected twists and turns of fate, you'll find yourself captivated by Ninya's courage and resilience. Prepare to be swept away by a story that is equal parts hilarious and terrifying, heartwarming and empowering. As Ninya confronts her fears and reclaims her power, you'll witness the incredible transformation that unfolds against the backdrop of Scotland's breathtaking scenery. "Scotland with a Stranger" is more than just a travel memoir. It's a testament to the indomitable spirit of women over 40, reminding us that it's never too late to embark on a journey of self-discovery and find the strength to heal ourselves. Ninya's story will inspire you to embrace the unknown, face your fears head-on, and rediscover the beauty and magic that life has to offer.




International Marketing: An Asia-Pacific Perspective


Book Description

International Marketing, 6e is written from a wholly Australasian perspective and covers issues unique to local marketers and managers looking towards the Asia–Pacific region, the European Union, and beyond. It presents a wide range of contemporary issues faced by subsidiaries of multinational enterprises (MNEs) as well as small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs), mainly exporters, which make up the vast bulk of firms involved in international business in the Australasian region. International Marketing, 6e clearly demonstrates the links between the different stages of international marketing, connecting analysis with planning, planning with strategy and strategy with implementation. Key concepts are brought to life with comprehensively updated statistics, recent illustrations, and a variety of real-world examples and case studies.