In this account of her life, Vera Dorothy Ervine offers testimony of how God's providence has guided her through two world wars and eventually to another country. A disciplined Christian laywoman who commits to day-to-day purposeful living, Vera details her experiences as a missionary nurse in unprogressive areas. Her stories are an inspiration to others who serve the Lord.

Award-winning author Dung Kai-cheung weaves together two inventive narratives in this remarkable book. One is the story of a novelist who recounts his family’s history against the backdrop of Hong Kong’s development from the 1930s to the 1990s. Dung builds this story through vignettes about the protagonist’s relationship with technological inventions that shaped his life, as glimpsed through his uncertain memory and family myths. Running parallel to this is a rebellion by the novelist’s oppressed fictional characters, who attempt to break the yoke of servile obedience laid upon them by the conventions of novel-writing. The central character, Vivi, has been written into being by the author and, once created, she seems to take on a life of her own and moves from being fabricated to being real, even bravely undertaking the journey to meet her creator—the novelist—in the real world. Fantasy and realism combine to suggest that crossing boundaries is inherent part of our nature. “Dung Kai-cheung is the most important writer of contemporary Hong Kong. Since the end of the last century, his work has constituted an alternative history of Hong Kong: the city’s splendor and dilemma, its fantastic metamorphoses and uncanny fate. The History of the Adventures of Vivi and Vera represents Dung at his best. The novel chronicles the changes and continuities of Hong Kong in the final decades of colonial rule, and projects a futuristic vision in which postcolonial nostalgia meets postmodernist fantasia, and family romance begets science fantasy. Above all, Dung seeks to inscribe Hong Kong as fiction, and celebrate the power of creativity that is Hong Kong.” —David Der-wei Wang, Edward C. Henderson Professor of Chinese Literature at Harvard University “Dung Kai-cheung is Hong Kong’s most prolific and innovative contemporary novelist. His work is at once playful and challenging, brilliant and imaginative, and filled with a sense of mystery and discovery. The first volume in Dung’s acclaimed ‘Natural History’ trilogy, The History of the Adventures of Vivi and Vera is nothing short of a qishu, or ‘book of wonder.’ Freely navigating different times and spaces, people and objects, autobiographies and fictions, Dung Kai-cheung has written a new allegory for our troubled times.” —Michael Berry, Professor of Contemporary Chinese Cultural Studies at UCLA, author of Speaking in Images and A History of Pain

Vera McLuckie hates school. Mainly because she struggles with stuff the other kids find easy. Oh, and because she keeps getting into trouble for doing what she is really good at. Daydreaming. So when Vera gets the chance to show just how extraordinary she is, will she dare take on the coolest, smartest girl in the whole of Acorn Bank Primary? This is a children's story whose main characters happen to have Dyspraxia, Dyslexia and Asperger's (not made explicit). Will relate to children who feel different and left out at school. The book's real purpose is one of catalyst to help parent and teacher discuss, with children in a respectful way, what it is like to have a learning difficulty. This book works on several levels. It is a lovely story in itself that most children will relate to, dealing as it does with lack of self-belief, peer pressure and the bullying that goes along with not necessarily being the most popular kid in class. These issues can be readily picked up in school and discussed in circle time and PSHE (citizenship) lessons. But it goes deeper. Whilst not named in the book explicitly, the three main characters exhibit dyspraxic, dyslexic and autistic (Asperger's Syndrome) tendencies respectively. So the story can be used by parents and teachers as a catalyst for discussing what it is like to have a learning difficulty. In schools, teachers can use the book on a one-to-one, group or class basis to help raise awareness and improve well-being. Both author and illustrator are keen to raise awareness of specific learning difficulties in a way accessible to children. The illustrator is herself autistic. The publisher – Your Stories Matter – is dedicated to publishing books that share experiences, improve understanding and celebrate differences. To this end it provides free cross-curricula teaching resources with all of its books at www.yourstoriesmatter.org

Winner of the 2021 Edgar Award – G.P. Putnam’s Sons Sue Grafton Memorial Award Finalist for the Lambda Literary Awards An NPR Best Book of the Year "Gripping, subtle, magnificently written." —The New York Times Book Review "A delectable page-turner . . . Vera Kelly introduces a fascinating new spy to literature’s mystery canon—one we hope sticks around long beyond this snappy, intimate debut." —Entertainment Weekly New York City, 1962. Vera Kelly is struggling to make rent and blend into the underground gay scene in Greenwich Village. She's working night shifts at a radio station when her quick wits, sharp tongue, and technical skills get her noticed by a recruiter for the CIA. Next thing she knows she's in Argentina, tasked with wiretapping a congressman and infiltrating a group of student activists in Buenos Aires. As Vera becomes more and more enmeshed with the young radicals, the fragile local government begins to split at the seams. When a betrayal leaves her stranded in the wake of a coup, Vera learns the Cold War makes for strange and unexpected bedfellows, and she's forced to take extreme measures to save herself. An exhilarating page-turner and perceptive coming-of-age story, Who Is Vera Kelly? introduces an original, wry, and whip-smart female spy for the twenty-first century.

A contemporary novel about a girl who finds friendship and love following a fateful move to a new town.

New York Times bestselling author Carol Edgarian delivers “an all-encompassing and enthralling” (Oprah Daily) novel featuring an unforgettable heroine coming of age in the aftermath of catastrophe, and her quest for love and reinvention. Meet Vera Johnson, fifteen-year-old illegitimate daughter of Rose, notorious proprietor of San Francisco’s most legendary bordello. Vera has grown up straddling two worlds—the madam’s alluring sphere, replete with tickets to the opera, surly henchmen, and scant morality, and the quiet domestic life of the family paid to raise her. On the morning of the great quake, Vera’s worlds collide. As the city burns and looters vie with the injured, orphaned, and starving, Vera and her guileless sister, Pie, are cast adrift. Disregarding societal norms and prejudices, Vera begins to imagine a new kind of life. She collaborates with Tan, her former rival, and forges an unlikely family of survivors, navigating through the disaster together. “A character-driven novel about family, power, and loyalty, (San Francisco Chronicle), Vera brings to life legendary characters—tenor Enrico Caruso, indicted mayor Eugene Schmitz and boss Abe Ruef, tabloid celebrity Alma Spreckels. This “brilliantly conceived and beautifully realized” (Booklist, starred review) tale of improbable outcomes and alliances takes hold from the first page, with remarkable scenes of devastation, renewal, and joy. Vera celebrates the audacious fortitude of its young heroine, who discovers an unexpected strength in unprecedented times.

Vera Koo enrolled in a firearm safety course because she was afraid of guns. Goals are important to Vera, so she set hers high, completing the beginner's course, and eventually becoming the best shooter in her advanced class. Her instructor suggested she reach for an even higher goal with competitive shooting. And she did. With unflinching focus and determination, Vera became one of the most accomplished shooters ever. At age 70, she’s an eight-time women’s division winner of the prestigious Bianchi Cup Action Pistol Championship. She’s the first woman to place in the Top 20 in the Bianchi Cup competition. Vera’s story is more than that of a petite Asian woman becoming a top competitor in the male-dominated sport shooting world. It’s the story of a Chinese immigrant, raised in a traditional Chinese culture, where women deferred to their husbands and kept to their socio-economic class, succeeded in America. Vera is a successful businesswoman, accomplished athlete, and a loving wife and mother. It was never an ‘either or’ for Vera, it’s about meeting life’s challenges head-on with dogged persistence, grace, humility—and humor. With faith in herself and God, Vera has survived unexpected tragedies, tremendous hurt, and betrayal. And yet, her story is about hope, love, compassion, and forgiveness. Through all the twists and turns in her life, Vera shows us how the same grit that made her a world class athlete, helped her find joy. “Search for something you’re good at,” Vera says, "and it will take you far.” - Vera

Vera cannot wait for the day when she starts school, but the first day does not go exactly as she has anticipated.

Darrius sat underneath a large oak tree, enjoying the cool evening air. This evening, however, he could feel his age upon him. The robes he now wore covered the many scars he had received in his youth as a young adventurer. The gray hair that hung from his head had taken the place of the dark black that it once was. He had replaced his sword with a walking stick and hung up his armor for common clothes. Draped at his side, he still wore a short sword, mostly for comfort than defense, for his hands, which once could be deadly with a blade, had lost their strength and hurt so when he gripped the hilt. Out in the field of wildflowers, he watched a young elf run and frolic among the setting sun. Vera was her name, and she had been in his care for the last thirty years. She was a babe wrapped in a blanket when he found her lying under a knotted root of a tree less than one hundred yards of a battlefield he was leaving. Thirty years, the time had flown by in his eyes, and now he was but a shade of his former self. She ran to him with a smile across her face. Father, Father, look what I have found. I believe it is hurt. Vera had her hands clasped together as she ran to kneel down beside her father. Darrius could never keep a smile off his face when she came to him with some injured creature she was planning to nurse back to health. What is it you have this time, my dear? Darrius said, opening her hands to reveal a blue-tailed lizard, Look, Father, it has lost its tail. Darrius gave a low chuckle and looked into Veras deep blue eyes. My dear, that lizard isnt hurt at all. You see, if something is threatening it, say, a bird or a snake, and it grabs on to its tail, the lizard will disconnect the tail in order to escape. Vera looked long at the little critter sitting in her palms. I have no intention of making a meal out of you, little lizard. Run now back to your home. She set the lizard down, and it quickly scurried off. Brushing her hands, she sat down next to her father to watch the sun set. Father, tell me a story of when you were adventuring out in the world and the things you saw while you were there. Darrius put his arms around her and gave a deep sigh. My dear, I dare say you have heard all of my stories and tales. Why are you so interested in those old tales anyhow? They are ancient history. Although Darrius fully enjoyed telling stories to his daughter, he always put up a hard front just to keep an image up, perhaps. Come, my dear, help this old man to his feet. Its nearly dark, and we need to return home. Vera gave a disappointed sigh and unwillingly obeyed. When they had made it back home, the sun was just barely peeking over the hills. In the distance, an owl started calling out into the night, and the crickets had begun their song. Vera, my dear, will you go around back and gather wood for the fire, please. Vera helped her father into the house and gave a wholehearted nod as she made her way to the woodpile. Inside, Darrius removed his robe and hung it on a rack next to the door. He then unbelted his sword and placed it next to the fireplace. Slowly he eased into a rocking chair in front of the hearth and stirred the coals. A few minutes later, Vera entered the house with an armful of wood and set it next to the fireplace. After building the fire up to a respectful glow, she took her seat next to her father. Father, I think we are going to have to get more wood if we are to make it through the winter. Darrius could hear in her voice that it was not what she wanted to say. Well, my dear, we are taking the wagon into the village to do that very thing in the morning, you know. What is really on your mind? Vera shifted in her seat to get comfortable. Father, I have sat here many nights listening to you recount the tales of your youth and the adventures and sights you have experienced, and I so long to leave this place to set out on my own to have those same experiences. Though in my hea