INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER AND A NEW YORK TIMES CRITICS' PICK “Thrilling . . . [told] with gonzo élan . . . When the sommelier and blogger Madeline Puckette writes that this book is the Kitchen Confidential of the wine world, she’s not wrong, though Bill Buford’s Heat is probably a shade closer.” —Jennifer Senior, The New York Times Professional journalist and amateur drinker Bianca Bosker didn’t know much about wine—until she discovered an alternate universe where taste reigns supreme, a world of elite sommeliers who dedicate their lives to the pursuit of flavor. Astounded by their fervor and seemingly superhuman sensory powers, she set out to uncover what drove their obsession, and whether she, too, could become a “cork dork.” With boundless curiosity, humor, and a healthy dose of skepticism, Bosker takes the reader inside underground tasting groups, exclusive New York City restaurants, California mass-market wine factories, and even a neuroscientist’s fMRI machine as she attempts to answer the most nagging question of all: what’s the big deal about wine? What she learns will change the way you drink wine—and, perhaps, the way you live—forever. “Think: Eat, Pray, Love meets Somm.” —theSkimm “As informative as it is, well, intoxicating.” —Fortune

Before Angalia Bianca became one of Chicago's foremost authorities on violence interruption and prevention, receiving international recognition and a Resolution for Bravery from the City of Chicago, she was a criminal, a master manipulator, and a brilliant con artist. Bianca spent twelve years in prison for forgery, embezzlement, drug dealing, and theft. But now she has gone far beyond the expectations for recovery to a life of service fueled by an unrelenting determination to make a difference. Bianca was once a gang member; now she puts her life on the line to interrupt gang violence. For thirty-six years she was a heroin addict; now she mentors people in recovery. She was homeless; now she appears as an invited guest to speak at events across the country and around the world. Bianca crawled out of the deepest hole imaginable; now through her work with the renowned violence prevention group Cure Violence, she climbs back down to change lives. In Deep is a blunt, honest look at Bianca's life. Her mind-blowing stories take readers deep into a world of grit and gang violence that seems inescapable. Her story is at once fascinating, terrifying, and ultimately full of hope. Readers will be inspired by Bianca's escape from the depths of depravity, and by her commitment to those facing the worst that the city of Chicago has to offer.

Uproarious advice and never-before-seen color photos from drag queen extraordinaire Bianca Del Rio The cheeky, larger-than-life drag queen and outrageous comic—"The Joan Rivers of the Drag World," (New York Times)—who isn’t afraid to shock or offend brings her trademark acerbic wit and sharp commentary to the page in an illustrated collection of advice. When it comes to insult comics, Bianca Del Rio is in a class by herself. Fierce, funny, and fabulous—a would-be love child sired by John Waters and birthed by Joan Rivers—Bianca sandblasted her name in the annals of pop culture on RuPaul’s Drag Race. Thanks to her snarky frankness, impeccable comedic timing, and politically incorrect humor, she became the show’s breakout star, winning its sixth season. In Blame It On Bianca Del Rio, Bianca shares her opinions loudly and proudly, offering raucous, hilarious, no-holds-barred commentary on the everyday annoyances, big and small, that color her world, and make it a living, albeit amusing, hell for anyone who inhabits it. A collection of biting advice filled with vibrant photos from Bianca’s twisted universe, Blame It On Bianca Del Rio will shock you and keep you laughing. But be warned: it is not for the faint of heart!

Through illustration and poetry, Seeds Planted in Concrete is Bianca Sparacino's raw testament to the beauty that is found within the contrasts of life. By writing truthfully about the intricacies of both love and loss, Sparacino's first collection of work is one that will speak to the very depths of those who read it, inspiring a will to love, and live. This collection is a manifesto of the journey every human being takes throughout their life; an assembly of words that celebrates the resilience of the human heart through stages of hurting, feeling, healing and loving.

Some people call me crazy. Some think Im weird, and others believe I am out downright out of this world. Sometimes to others I make no sense, but in my heart and mind it all comes together. I am made up of a mixture of different things; some that may not necessarily mix, but live flamboyantly in me. Ive had a crazy life and that should be no secret to anyone anymore. I have experienced things beyond the belief of sorrow and agony. Only I know what it is like to feel what I feel. Only I know the gravity of the experiences I have overcome. I guess it really is just how it is stated in the Bible. God will never allow more to come to us than what we can bear, and I know I can do whatever I need to do, through Jesus Christ, whom strengthens me. So, before you judge this book by its cover or dare to belittle my journey, walk a mile in my shoes. I hope my story inspires you with love, life and courage.

Don’t Wake the Dragon is a fantastic and interactive bedtime story featuring a sound-asleep dragon who under no circumstances is to be woken up! Children are tasked with checking in on the sleeping dragon as the castle cook drops his pots and pans and when the knights throw a loud birthday party. It isn’t until the whole kingdom settles down that the dragon wakes up. What is the kingdom to do? Designed to be read aloud and interacted with, parents will take pleasure in the playful text as much as children will enjoy gently rocking the book from side to side as they sing the dragon a lullaby. When the story finally comes to an end, and the gentle lullaby is repeated, the dragon (and the child!) is encouraged to drift off to sleep. The whimsical and colorful illustrations enable the dragon to jump off the page and will delight the reader with its humor and personality on every page. Creates a wonderful bedtime ritual with children that they will look forward to every night.

Follow Empress Bianca from her earliest days as a middle-class housewife in post-war Mexico as she lies, cheats, schemes and seduces her way to the top. A veritable monster of vanity and pretension, captured with deadly accuracy in Lady Colin s lucid prose, Bianca leaves her mark on every couturier's salon, chic restaurant or exclusive gathering she walks into, cutting an unmistakable swathe through social circles and gossip columns from the late 1950s right up to today.

Short of the Book Bianca runs to help someone calling for help in an alleyway. A guy comes running over to help, and they talk while waiting for the rescue. His name is Troy. Bianca's house is broken into that same night. The lead detective moves her into his house to keep her safe, and they fall in love. Troy ends up being Stone's brother Justin. He is undercover in an organization run by Alex. Alex likes Bianca and has stalked her for years. Justin kidnaps Bianca and Stone while they are away for a wedding in the south. They escape and return home. While at home, Bianca is in the barn while Stone has security cameras installed. She returns to the house to find it empty, and when she watches the camera footage, it shows Justin kidnapping Stone again. She calls her brother Andrew for help. She has an earpiece in so Andrew could track her and listen. She calls Justin and tells him to come and get her. He convinces her to act like his girlfriend, and hopefully, it would get Alex off her back. They go to Alex's, and it doesn't work, so they pull out guns on Alex while waiting for the police, whom Andrew called. Alex tells her Stone is in the garage in the second cell. She gets to the cell, and there is a limp body curled up in the back corner. Stone doesn't respond to her. Finally, Justin suggests asking Alex where the keys are after they couldn't find them anywhere. When they go upstairs, everyone is gone--the SWAT team, Alex and his goons, the desks. Not even a piece of paper is left. Justin goes outside to see where they went, and he never returns. Bianca goes back down to the cell, and it is empty. All the lights go off, she had no cell service, the ear piece stops working, and the elevator isn't working. She is stuck there until Andrew comes to the rescue. He used a power pack he had to get the elevator to work to get her out. He was outside and put tracers on all the police vehicles in case they had to trace where they went. Justin was arrested as well--no one believed he was a cop undercover. Andrew and Bianca go back to Stone's house and set up computers to start tracking everyone. They call in reinforcements, and that is where the book ends.

In this interactive follow-up to Don't Wake the Dragon, our beloved Dragon is wide-awake and preparing to celebrate one of the kingdom's most important events of the year: the annual Friendship Festival! It's a time for everyone to gather and have fun, all honouring their meaningful friendships. But on the day of the feast, the cooks are called away to cater to the Queen and the knights must report for special duty in the Enchanted Forest. With everyone gone, Dragon is upset and worried that this year's Friendship Festival is doomed. Could they be planning something special for her? And in the meantime, can you help cheer her up? With colourful and humorous illustrations throughout, this read-aloud picture book encourages kids to interact with the text on every page. Young readers will love waving to characters, blowing kisses, dancing, and more on this fun ride alongside Dragon and her adorable friends in this delightful story that will beg to be read again and again.--