Rzepka draws on more than twelve hours of personal interviews with Leonard and applies what he learned to his close analysis of the writer's long life and prodigious output: 45 published novels, 39 published and unpublished short stories, and numerous essays written over the course of six decades.--David Geherin, Eastern Michigan University "International Crime Fiction Association"

Get Shorty’s Chili Palmer is back in Be Cool, a classic novel of suspense from New York Times bestselling author Elmore Leonard. But this time it’s no more Mr. Nice Guy. After a smash hit and a flop, B-movie-producer Chili Palmer is looking for another score. Lunching with a record company executive, Chili's exploring a hot new idea—until the exec, a former "associate" from Chili's Brooklyn days, gets whacked. Segue from real life to reel life. Chili's found his plot. It's a slam-bang opener: the rubout of a record company mogul. Cut to an ambitious wannabe singer named Linda Moon. She has attitude and a band. She's perfect. Zoom in to reality. Linda's manager thinks Chili's poaching and he's out to get even, with the help of his switch-hitting Samoan bodyguard. But somebody else beat them to the punch, as Chili discovers when he gets home and finds a corpse at his desk. Somebody made a mistake...

Fans of Lisa Greenwald and Wendy Mass are sure to fall head-over-heels for this funny, sweet story of crushes, competition, and the confusing reality of middle school. "Heartbreak is for suckers." -- Jenna Sakai When Jenna gets dumped over winter break, it confirms what she learned from her parents' messy divorce: Relationships are risky and only lead to disappointment. So even though she still has to see her ex-boyfriend Elliott at newspaper club, Jenna is going to be totally heartless this semester -- no boys, just books. But keeping her cool isn't always easy. Jenna's chief competition for a big journalism scholarship is none other than Elliott. Her best friend Keiko always seems busy with her own boyfriend. And cute-but-incredibly-annoying Rin Watanabe keeps stealing her booth at the diner she's been hiding at every day after school. Rin is every bit as stubborn and detached as Jenna. And the more Jenna gets to know him, the more intriguing a mystery he seems. Soon Jenna is starting to realize that being a loner is kind of, well, lonely. And letting people in might just be a risk worth taking.

Rzepka draws on more than twelve hours of personal interviews with Leonard and applies what he learned to his close analysis of the writer’s long life and prodigious output: 45 published novels, 39 published and unpublished short stories, and numerous essays written over the course of six decades.

Cool can’t be taught. That’s the received wisdom, yet this wry, entertaining compendium by Thomas W. Hodgkinson (author of the indispensable How to Sound Cultured) shows that, on the contrary, anyone can increase their cool quotient by learning from the masters and the methods of the past. It’s never an easy journey. But to set yourself on the path to true cool, you’ll need this invaluable roadmap.

"Discover your inner cool with help from Batman(TM), the coolest Super Hero in all of Gotham City and, yes, the universe."--

Explore an urban underworld where many people get lost, lose it, or just disappear. Twenty-something Oli shapes a torrent of chemicals into a searing account of survival in the urban Melbourne scene.

Be Cool Be Nice® (BCBN) is not just a book . . . it is mandatory reading for boys and girls, men and women, and anyone with a smartphone. Be Cool Be Nice launched with Kendall Jenner and Willow Smith on the covers of Garage magazine and an unprecedented Snapchat collaboration. Be Cool Be Nice beautifully advocates kindness, good manners and civility, and encourages us all to interact and use social media in a positive way so we 'check it before we wreck it.' “I aim to treat others as I want to be treated.” –Kendall Jenner on the Be Cool Be Nice campaign The official Be Cool Be Nice book is for people who: Deal with drama Have experienced bullying Have experienced selfie addiction Have experienced Chronic Bad Attitude Syndrome (CBAS) Have goals (squad or otherwise) Part journal, part interactive manual, and part friend, Be Cool Be Nice is as beneficial as it is beautiful. Sharing values that will last a lifetime, this book bridges the gap between adult and child and conveys a timeless message through its beautiful artwork, motivational advice, and positive affirmations. Its clever activity pages encourage the reader to reflect and learn, and the illustrations, stickers, and postcards are the work of design icons including Burberry, Marc Jacobs, Marc Newson, Pat McGrath, DSquared2 and so many more. This book is a starter pack for a positive online life.

The star of ABC's Step by Step shares his experiences being a teen and an actor--the frustrations and changes--and offers readers advice on topics ranging from peer pressure, physical changes, and school to parents, friendships, self-image, and dating.

Addressing the challenges facing adolescent black males, this book analyses and stresses the importance of identity development. It helps educators and parents understand the importance of cultivating a positive black male identity and how this overlooked aspect of childhood development impacts young adults. Solutions for finding a balance between academics and social activities are also provided.