The embrace of the outdoors has been the cornerstone of my existence-a profound connection that began amidst the sprawling fields surrounding my childhood home in the heart of Texas. Those vast expanses became my canvas for exploration, nurturing an innate love for nature's grandeur and the infinite adventures it offered.Transitioning from a mere enthusiast to a seasoned guide leading expeditions into the wilderness marked a transformative phase in my life. Guiding others through the backcountry became not just a profession but an extension of my very being. Over the years, I've shepherded over 10,000 individuals into the untamed wilds, accumulating an impressive tally of more than two years spent residing under the canopy of stars in the confines of a tent.Yet, as every seasoned adventurer knows, the script rarely unfolds precisely as planned. In fact, I've come to realize that approximately 90% of the time, circumstances pivot away from our meticulously charted course. Despite the unexpected twists and turns that would seemingly throw a wrench into the gears of our plans, I've maintained a steadfast belief that these deviations are the very essence of adventure itself. In those moments of deviation, I've always stressed the importance of fostering a positive attitude-a beacon that guides us through the unforeseen challenges.It was within these experiences that the seeds for my book, "Out-lol-doors," were sown. I yearned to pen a compendium not just outlining practical advice for outdoor pursuits but infusing it with a comedic lens-a fusion of laughter and wisdom aimed at illuminating the practical aspects of outdoor recreation in an engaging and entertaining manner.

The third in 'The Kingkiller Chronicle' series of fantasy novels by Patrick Rothfuss.

In one of the most ambitious collections of recent years, Somerset Maugham Prizewinner Rodge Glass edits an exciting assembly of Scotland s most promising new writers. Writing on contemporary Scotland, The Year of Open Doors features stories from Saltire First Book award shortlisted Sophie Cooke, James Black Tait Memorial Prize nominee Suhayl Saadi, acclaimed novelist and poet Kevin MacNeil and renowned performer and novelist Alan Bissett. Throw in renowned international authors like Kapka Kassabova and Jason Donald and renowned figures of Scottish literature like Duncan McClean and you have a collection that aims to show a changing and dynamic new Scotland. Cargo Publishing has also opened the door to brand new, unpublished authors; quite simply if you want to read the best new talent in Scottish fiction, you ve come to the right place.

My Brothers Best Friends is based on a true story and its set in The Bahamas. Its about a seventeen year old "Mjay" and his brothers best friend "Chris". They explore there sexuality together and find love on the down low of the hood. The book is filled with violence, heart break and thrills but most of all it shows true love.

This New York Times bestselling book is filled with hundreds of fun, deceptively simple, budget-friendly ideas for sprucing up your home. With two home renovations under their (tool) belts and millions of hits per month on their blog YoungHouseLove.com, Sherry and John Petersik are home-improvement enthusiasts primed to pass on a slew of projects, tricks, and techniques to do-it-yourselfers of all levels. Packed with 243 tips and ideas—both classic and unexpected—and more than 400 photographs and illustrations, this is a book that readers will return to again and again for the creative projects and easy-to-follow instructions in the relatable voice the Petersiks are known for. Learn to trick out a thrift-store mirror, spice up plain old roller shades, "hack" your Ikea table to create three distinct looks, and so much more.

For many tabletop RPG players, the joy of an in-depth game is that anything can happen. Typical adventure modules include a map of the adventure’s primary location, but every other location?whether it's a woodland clearing, a random apothecary or the depths of a temple players elect to explore?has to be improvised on the fly by the Game Master. As every GM knows, no matter how many story hooks, maps or NPCs you painstakingly create during session prep, your best-laid plans are often foiled by your players' whims, extreme skill check successes (or critical fails) or their playful refusal to stay on task. In a game packed with infinite possibilities, what are GMs supposed to do when their players choose those for which they're not prepared? The Game Master’s Book of Random Encounters provides an unbeatable solution. This massive tome is divided into location categories, each of which can stand alone as a small stop as part of a larger campaign. As an example, the “Taverns, Inns, Shops & Guild Halls” section includes maps for 19 unique spaces, as well as multiple encounter tables designed to help GMs fill in the sights, sounds, smells and proprietors of a given location, allowing for each location in the book to be augmented and populated on the fly while still ensuring memorable moments for all your players. Each map is presented at scale on grid, enabling GMs to determine exactly where all of the characters are in relation to one another and anyone (or anything) else in the space, critical information should any combat or other movement-based action occur. Perhaps more useful than its nearly 100 maps, the book's one-shot generator features all the story hooks necessary for GMs to use these maps as part of an interconnected and contained adventure. Featuring eight unique campaign drivers that lead players through several of the book's provided maps, the random tables associated with each stage in the adventure allow for nearly three million different outcomes, making The Game Master's Book of Random Encounters an incredible investment for any would-be GM. The book also includes a Random NPC Generator to help you create intriguing characters your players will love (or love to hate), as well as a Party Makeup Maker for establishing connections among your PCs so you can weave together a disparate group of adventurers with just a few dice rolls. Locations include taverns, temples, inns, animal/creature lairs, gatehouses, courts, ships, laboratories and more, with adventure hooks that run the gamut from frantic rooftop chases to deep cellar dungeon-crawls, with a total of 97 maps, more than 150 tables and millions of possible adventures. No matter where your players end up, they'll have someone or something to persuade or deceive, impress or destroy. As always, the choice is theirs. But no matter what they choose, with The Game Master's Book of Random Encounters, you'll be ready.

The Greatest Christmas Novels, Stories, Carols & Legends (Illustrated Edition) is an exemplary collection that embodies the spirit of Christmas through an eclectic mix of literary styles and historical periods. This anthology not only captures the traditional essence of Christmas but also explores its various interpretations across different cultures and times. Featuring an impressive array of authors from William Shakespeare to Leo Tolstoy, and encompassing genres from folk tales to Victorian classics, the collection stands out for its breadth and depth. Highlighting the richness of the anthology are seminal works that have shaped the literary and cultural perceptions of Christmas, promising a treasure trove of timeless narratives. The contributing authors, a veritable who's who of literary giants spanning several centuries, bring a diverse array of backgrounds to the anthology. From the poignant social commentary of Charles Dickens and Harriet Beecher Stowe to the imaginative realms fashioned by J.M. Barrie and L. Frank Baum, the collection bridges the literary contributions of the 19th and early 20th centuries. It aligns itself with significant historical, cultural, and literary movements, celebrating the spirit of Christmas through a tapestry of voices that collectively enrich the reader's understanding of this festive season. This anthology is recommended for readers who seek to immerse themselves in the multifaceted world of Christmas literature. It provides a unique opportunity to explore a multiplicity of perspectives, styles, and themes within a single volume. For educators, students, and enthusiasts of literature and history alike, The Greatest Christmas Novels, Stories, Carols & Legends (Illustrated Edition) offers an unparalleled educational value. It fosters a dialogue between the different authors works, inviting readers to delve into the rich tapestry of Christmas narratives that span centuries and cultures, all the while celebrating the enduring spirit of Christmas through the ages.

"A taut, chilling glimpse inside the homes of an affluent community built on lies, secrets, and tragedy."—Carter Wilson, USA Today bestselling author How well do you really know your neighbors? Alyson Tinsdale is giving her son the childhood she never had: a stable family, a loving home, and a great school in a safe neighborhood. Bonnie Sloan is the neighborhood matriarch. With her oldest son headed to Yale, and her youngest starting kindergarten, Bonnie is now pursuing her own long-held political aspirations despite private family struggles. When the open space behind some of the most expensive homes gets slated for development into an amusement facility, the neighborhood becomes deeply divided. The personal pressures and community conflicts ratchet with every passing day, but it's when a thirteen-year-old is found dead beside the neighborhood lake that simmering tensions boil over into panic. Gossip flows, lies are exposed, and accusations are made as cracks run through the community's once solid foundations. The neighborhood's faith in exterior appearances is eclipsed by the secrets every house keeps. And as Bonnie and Alyson fight to keep their children safe and their messy personal lives from becoming neighborhood knowledge, it becomes clear that their neighbors might not be who they appear to be. Fans of Lisa Jewell and Wendy Walker will love this fast-paced, engrossing novel that reminds us that nothing and no one are ever as perfect as they seem.

The Artistry of LIFE: Knocking on the WHITE DOOR is a modern day Through the Looking Glass and more. Not only does it rearrange the world we know, it bravely takes us to places of truth that have been ignored for centuries. A typical American girl meets an eccentric mystic philosopher on a poetry site and suddenly finds her life turned completely around. What was a bothersome, stressful, sickly life, transforms into a miraculous, fulfilling, healthy life right before your eyes. Be a fly-on-the-wall as she learns how to stop her brain from tricking her into wrong thinking. See the knowledge of the ancients compared to the knowledge of today. You will be amazed, entertained and hopefully, healed. A young nurse suffering from depression and subsequent physical symptoms is healed Learning 'The Spirits' truths balancing her karma saving her from a life of antidepressant medications and alcohol abuse. Think of all the money you one could save if you could learn balance and forgo the vices!