Garage Still Lives by Corey Olsen Published by Silent Sound, 2015

A Scottish police inspector deals with forgeries and false identities in a new murder mystery in the “superior series” (The New York Times). When a lobster fisherman discovers a dead body in Scotland’s Firth of Forth, DCI Karen Pirie is called into investigate. She quickly discovers that the case will require untangling a complicated web—involving a long-ago disappearance, art forgery, and secret identities—that seems to surround a painter who can mimic anyone from Holbein to Hockney. Meanwhile, a traffic accident leads to the discovery of a skeleton in a suburban garage. Karen has a full plate, and it only gets more stressful as the man responsible for the death of the love of her life is scheduled for release from prison, reopening old wounds just as she was getting back on her feet. From a Diamond Dagger Award winner and multiple Edgar Award finalist, Still Life is a tightly plotted mystery featuring an investigator “whose unwavering confidence is tempered by a strong dose of kindness and sense of justice” (Booklist). “There are few other crime writers in the same league.”—Maureen Corrigan, The Washington Post

"Learn to draw a variety of realistic still lifes in pencil"--Cover.

For Gillian Marchenko, dealing with depression means learning to accept and treat it as a physical illness, while continuing as a wife and mother of four, two with special needs. How can she care for her family when she can't even get out of bed? Her story is real and raw, not one of quick fixes. But hope remains as she discovers that living with depression is still life.

As an artist, writer, teacher, wife, and mother of two young girls, Claire struggles to maintain balance. Institutionalized for manic-depression as a result of her third suicide attempt, Claire is confined both in her hospital room and in her mind. However, she begins to find awareness and direction during her stay at a mental institution, mainly because she allows herself to enter her past in a way she has never before. Claire examines her childhood--how she and her siblings unrelentingly adored their mother, whose death marked the end of their innocence. But it is not until she returns to her hometown of Clare, MI to see her ailing father that she truly discovers just how deep the secrets of her childhood are. Along the way, the dark corners of her mother's past reveal the healing truth of love. In her journey to battle the idealized notions of motherhood and artistry, Claire finds purpose and inspiration in simple treasures: her children.

The equivalent of a foundation course in traditional oil painting for beginning to intermediate level artists, this in-depth book uses the still life as a practical way to master oil techniques. The still life is a practical, forgiving genre as it does not require the likeness of a portrait or the accurate proportions of the figure and, unlike the landscape, it doesn’t change with the weather. Instead, it gives aspiring artists ample time to study and the opportunity to look closer. It can be used as a purely formal subject for drawing and painting techniques, or a platform for emotional expression using personal symbolism and imagery. However, though the still life is used throughout as a teaching tool, this is first and foremost a book about oil painting. It begins with simple compositions that build to more complex arrangements. Starting with essential information on how to best set up your studio—including lighting, equipment, materials (paints, solvents, brushes, mediums), and preparing your canvas and paper for oil painting—Still Life Painting Atelier then offers concrete lessons in a logical progressive sequence, with step-by-step illustrations, finished paintings, diagrams and tips. Chapters cover: • How to address composition through thumbnail sketches and line drawings • Using underpainting to study the characteristics of light and shade • The basics of color theory and color mixing • How to use a variety of brushes to create sharp and soft edges • Techniques that are helpful when painting metal and glass • How to apply glazing and scumbling to bring luminosity and texture

The hard cover best seller is now in paperback. As one of the innovators of the disco era and founders of Paradise Garage, Mel Cheren rekindles the dance till you drop days of the late 70s and pays somber respect for those who have since passed away. Disco, the dark, early days of AIDS, gay liberation, NYC and everything in between is in this book.

”Jen Robin is not just an organizer—she is a teacher and a healer. As she helps sort our ‘stuff’ she is also sorting our values, emotions, relationships, and dreams. She is a magician and this book will work magic on your home and life.” - Glennon Doyle, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Untamed In this essential guide, the creative force behind the popular organization company Life in Jeneral reveals her emotionally engaged approach to decluttering—a unique process that empowers people to re-envision their spaces to suit their evolving needs. Life is about connection, not collection. Jen Robin’s company, Life in Jeneral, focuses on the “soul work” of home organization—the psychological and emotional foundation necessary for creating a streamlined and sustainable lifestyle. For Jen, change comes from within—a process that to succeed, must begin with the heart. Americans are spending more time at home than ever before, and many have come to realize that their living spaces aren’t serving them. We have too many things, resulting in physical and mental clutter. And the organizational strategies we try only go so far, leaving us feeling disconnected and disheartened. Life in Jeneral helps you build healthier mental habits that allow us to break free from the clutter, while providing traditional strategies to get—and stay—organized. Beautifully designed and featuring examples from Jen’s personal experiences and those of her clients, Life in Jeneral teaches us how to: Flip common mental blocks that prevent us from organizational success Identify and tackle “clutter magnets”—the spaces where things seem to gather Discover common emotional baggage keyed to specific types of clutter Organize and evolve specific spaces in the home, room by room Life in Jeneral offers a holistic approach to organization; once we understand what we want from our spaces—how they can nurture and support our emotional well-being—we can create a home that feels both practical and joyful.