Reowned criminalist Lincoln Rhyme is pitted against Amelia Sachs, his own brilliant protegee, as they disagree on the analysis of a crime they began working together.

A goblin who for many years has been hiding himself so that he does not frighten anyone finally finds a family.

Composed of two companion novellas, The Empty Chair is a profound, heart-wrenching piece of spiritual storytelling from Bruce Wagner, the internationally acclaimed author of such novels as Dead Stars, I’m Losing You and Force Majeure. In First Guru, a fictional Wagner narrates the tale of a Buddhist living in Big Sur, who achieves enlightenment in the horrific aftermath of his child’s suicide. In Second Guru, Queenie, an aging wild child, returns to India to complete the spiritual journey of her youth. Told in ravaged, sensuous detail to the author-narrator by two strangers on opposite sides of the country, years apart from each other, both stories illuminate the random, chaotic nature of human suffering and the miraculous strength of the human spirit. A deeply affecting and meditative reading experience, The Empty Chair is an exquisitely rendered, thought-provoking, and humbling new work.

Losing a loved one--whether a spouse, parent, child, sibling, or friend--leaves people feeling overwhelmed and hopeless. Holidays and other special occasions seem to intensify the pain. Whether the occasion is Christmas or Easter, a birthday or anniversary, these celebrations force the bereaved to again face the reality of a loved one's absence. Susan Zonnebelt-Smeenge and Robert C. De Vries know firsthand the sorrow of bereavement: Both lost a spouse. Yet as they faced their pain and gleaned insights from their professions--Susan is a psychologist, Robert, a minister--they found renewed richness on special days that once brought heartache. In The Empty Chair, the authors share a comforting blend of emotional support, spiritual guidance, and personal experience to help readers honor their loved one on important days. Those who support the bereaved--mental-health professionals, pastors, funeral home staff, and others--will also appreciate this book for its reflective yet practical approach.

Through eight compelling stories we get to know the Gestalt therapist Vikram Kolmannskog and some of his clients. These include the businessman Carl who is suffering from chronic burnout, the overwhelmed Marianne who believes she may have been the victim of sexual assualt, the trans woman Annette who breaks with dominant gender norms, the prisoner Jonny who is now encircled by his own self-made wall of isolation, and the beautiful Ask, who falls in love and others fall in love with - including the therapist Vikram. Through these tales of psychotherapy we see how both suffering and healing can occur. With increased awareness and through dialogue we can experience more of ourselves, the other and our world. We become more whole - and that is a good definition of health.

Written for a Thanksgiving service, this program in readers' theater format is set in a restaurant where a pastor has taken four young people out to dinner. Although there are only five in the party, the pastor asks for a table for six. The story unfolds as the pastor explains why he has requested an extra place setting and chair.

Teacher and therapist Mike Boxhall draws on years of experience with thousands of students to offer a path to spiritual freedom. From a starting point of stillness, he leads readers on a challenging but ultimately rewarding path of discovery.

Rabbi Nachman of Breslov (1772-1810) is best known for stories that possess profound depth and speak to the very soul. To others, his teachings shed light on some of the deepest mysteries. Here, is timeless wisdom, adapted by disciplines living in Jerusalem today, reaches out to us all: Never lose hope. Find joy and cause for happiness in everything that happens to you.

After Japan bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, people of Japanese ancestry living on America's West Coast, including Alaska, were forcibly removed from their homes and jailed in detention camps. Understanding the scope of Japanese treatment during World War II requires acknowledging the unique and personal experiences of Japanese Americans, which have rarely included those living in Alaska. This book begins to rectify that omission by looking at the Japanese community of Juneau, Alaska when it was a small, tightly knit and remote community accessible only by boat. The story revolves around a key event involving John Tanaka, a senior and designated class valedictorian. Before he and his family were shipped out of Juneau, a special assembly was held at the Juneau High School where John received an early diploma. However, later at the actual graduation ceremony, in an act of quiet defiance, his chair was left empty to express the void and injustice felt by the community for him and other missing friends and neighbors.What unfolds is an account of how Japanese Americans living in Juneau between 1941 and 1951 reacted to their forced removal from Juneau in 1942, and how their spirit and resolve helped them live during their imprisonment and renewed their lives following it. The story also shows how the Juneau community's cross-cultural ties and friendships rallied support for their missing friends during and after incarceration, which led to a quest for justice over 70 years later.

Identifies the stages of grief, looks at how children face death, and discusses suicide, bereavement, counseling, symptoms of grief, insomnia, letters of condolence, and widowhood