Thirteen-year-old Nick calls upon God when he investigates a possible infestation of his neighborhood river by deadly, flesh-eating piranha.

Famous radio private eye Guy Noir leaps from A Prairie Home Companion to the page On the 12th floor of the Acme Building, on a cold February day in St. Paul, Guy Noir looks down the barrel of a loaded revolver in the hands of geezer gangster Joey Roast Beef who is demanding to hear what lucrative scheme Guy is cooking up with stripper-turned-women's-studies-professor Naomi Fallopian. Everyone wants to know-Joey, Lieutenant McCafferty, reporter Gene Williker, Guy’s ex-girlfriend Sugar O'Toole, the despicable Larry B. Larry, the dreamboat Scarlett Anderson, Mr. Kress of the FDA–and Guy faces them one by one, as he and Naomi pursue a dream of earning gazillions by selling a surefire method of dramatic weight loss. In this whirlwind caper Guy faces danger, falls in love, and faces off with the capo del capo del grande primo capo Johnny Banana.

With the warmth and humor we've come to know, the creator and host of A Prairie Home Companion shares his own remarkable story. In That Time of Year, Garrison Keillor looks back on his life and recounts how a Brethren boy with writerly ambitions grew up in a small town on the Mississippi in the 1950s and, seeing three good friends die young, turned to comedy and radio. Through a series of unreasonable lucky breaks, he founded A Prairie Home Companion and put himself in line for a good life, including mistakes, regrets, and a few medical adventures. PHC lasted forty-two years, 1,557 shows, and enjoyed the freedom to do as it pleased for three or four million listeners every Saturday at 5 p.m. Central. He got to sing with Emmylou Harris and Renée Fleming and once sang two songs to the U.S. Supreme Court. He played a private eye and a cowboy, gave the news from his hometown, Lake Wobegon, and met Somali cabdrivers who’d learned English from listening to the show. He wrote bestselling novels, won a Grammy and a National Humanities Medal, and made a movie with Robert Altman with an alarming amount of improvisation. He says, “I was unemployable and managed to invent work for myself that I loved all my life, and on top of that I married well. That’s the secret, work and love. And I chose the right ancestors, impoverished Scots and Yorkshire farmers, good workers. I’m heading for eighty, and I still get up to write before dawn every day.”

Tales of horror have always been with us, from Biblical times to the Gothic novel to successful modern day authors and screenwriters. Though the genre is often maligned, it is huge in popularity and its resilience is undeniable. Marc Blake and Sara Bailey offer a detailed analysis of the horror genre, including its subgenres, tropes and the specific requirements of the horror screenplay. Tracing the development of the horror film from its beginnings in German Expressionism, the authors engage in a readable style that will appeal to anyone with a genuine interest in the form and the mechanics of the genre. This book examines the success of Universal Studio s franchises of the 30s to the Serial Killer, the Slasher film, Asian Horror, the Supernatural, Horror Vérité and current developments in the field, including 3D and remakes. It also includes step-by-step writing exercises, annotated extracts from horror screenplays and interviews with seasoned writers/directors/ producers discussing budget restrictions, screenplay form and formulas and how screenplays work during shooting.

From the majestic trees -- 4,000 from four continents -- under the shadow of the capitol dome to a park near Fredericksburg that's a favorite of bald eagles, this guide overlooks none of the great outdoors within 50 miles of the Washington Monument.

Get the most informative paddling guide to the area, featuring 50 of the best routes for canoeing and kayaking. Boasting more than 400 miles of coastline, beautiful sandy beaches, expansive salt marshes, and dozens of protected bays and harbors, Long Island is truly a paddler’s paradise. It offers something for everyone, from expert sea kayakers to families with young children. Amazing wildlife; ever-changing landscapes; charming history; and, on its western edge, a view of the setting sun behind the Manhattan skyline—there’s no better way to explore it all than from the water. Paddling Long Island & New York City is the most comprehensive guide to the area’s top paddling locations, including rivers, harbors, lakes, and portions of the New York City Water Trail. Written by expert local paddler Kevin Stiegelmaier, the guidebook provides engaging and concise information about Long Island’s geology, weather, history, and wildlife, while also offering carefully selected details vital to a successful paddling trip. You’ll appreciate Kevin’s helpful hints on trip planning, including notes on tides, equipment, training, and camping. Plus, the book’s safety information and navigational “rules of the road” are essential to know. Inside you’ll find: Details on 50 top paddling trips Route descriptions with full-color maps and photos Recommended runs for fishing, trips with children, wildlife viewing, and more At-a-glance data including difficulty, distance, and potential hazards GPS coordinates for put-ins and take-outs Whether you’re looking to spend a long day on the water or you only have time for a quick tour of a local harbor, this book has the information you need to make the trip enjoyable. Wet your paddle and whet your taste for outdoor adventure!