Best of
How-To

2011

Let's Get Digital: How to Self-Publish, and Why You Should


David Gaughran - 2011
    Packed with practical, actionable advice, the new fourth edition of Let's Get Digital delivers the very latest best practices on publishing your work and building audience.* Boost your writing career with marketing strategies that are proven to sell more books.* Discover expert tips on platform building, blogging and social media.* Learn which approaches are best for selling fiction vs. non-fiction.* Implement powerful ways to make your ebooks more discoverable.* Increase your visibility by optimizing keywords and categories.* Weigh the pros and cons of Kindle Unlimited, and find out exactly how to tweak your promotional plans depending on whether you stay exclusive to Amazon or opt for wider distribution.And that's just for starters...

Mixing Secrets for the Small Studio


Mike Senior - 2011
    Mixing Secrets For The Small Studio is a down-to-earth primer for small-studio enthusiasts who want chart-ready sonics in a hurry. Drawing on the back-room strategies of more than 100 famous names, this entertaining guide leads you step-by-step through the entire mixing process. On the way, you'll unravel the mysteries of every type of mix processing, from simple EQ and compression through to advanced spectral dynamics and 'fairy dust' effects. User-friendly explanations introduce technical concepts on a strictly need-to-know basis, while chapter summaries and assignments are perfect for school and college use. * Learn the subtle editing, arrangement, and monitoring tactics which give industry insiders their competitive edge, and master the psychological tricks which protect you from all the biggest rookie mistakes. * Find out where you don't need to spend money, as well as how to make a limited budget really count. * Pick up tricks and tips from leading-edge engineers working on today's multi-platinum hits, including Michael Brauer, Serban Ghenea, the Lord-Alge brothers, Tony Maserati, Manny Marroquin, Dave 'Hard Drive' Pensado, Jack Joseph Puig, Mark 'Spike' Stent, Phil Tan, Andy Wallace, and many, many more... Mike Senior is a professional engineer who has worked with Wet Wet Wet, The Charlatans, Reef, Therapy, and Nigel Kennedy. He specialises in adapting the techniques of top producers for those working on a budget. Since 2007 he has transformed dozens of amateur productions for Sound On Sound magazine's popular 'Mix Rescue' column, proving time and again that you can achieve commercial-grade results with affordable gear -- once you know how * Learn the subtle editing, arrangement, and monitoring tactics which give industry insiders their competitive edge, and master the psychological tricks which protect you from all the biggest rookie mistakes. * Find out where you don't need to spend money, as well as how to make a limited budget really count. * Pick up tricks and tips from leading-edge engineers working on today's multi-platinum hits, including Michael Brauer, Serban Ghenea, the Lord-Alge brothers, Tony Maserati, Manny Marroquin, Dave 'Hard Drive' Pensado, Jack Joseph Puig, Mark 'Spike' Stent, Phil Tan, Andy Wallace, and many, many more...

The LEGO® Ideas Book


Daniel Lipkowitz - 2011
    You have what it takes! Did you ever wonder what you can do with all of those LEGO® bricks after you have created the project they came with?Now with The LEGO Ideas Book, you can take what you already have and make something new! The book is divided into six themed chapters—transportation, buildings, space, kingdoms, adventure, and useful makes—each with basic templates of key models and spreads to inspire you to create your own.Hints and tips from Master Builders can help you turn your classic car into a race car or add a bridge to your castle! Don't be concerned if you haven't got all the bricks you need: this book also shows how to simplify details, making this a great user-friendly guide for any building ability.Featuring all-new LEGO® building projects, tips to supplement and enhance your LEGO creations, inspirational builds, and expert advice from LEGO Master Builders, The LEGO Ideas Book will keep kids of all ages creating for hours.

The Memoir Project: A Thoroughly Non-Standardized Text for Writing Life


Marion Roach Smith - 2011
    It's not that every person has lived such a unique or dramatic life, but we inherently understand that writing memoir-whether it's a book, blog, or just a letter to a child-is the single greatest portal to self-examination. While there have been other writing books, there's been nothing like Marion Roach Smith's THE MEMOIR PROJECT. Marion has written four books and she's been teaching a sold-out memoir writing class for 13 years. Her new book is a disarmingly frank, but wildly fun, distillation of all the unsentimental lessons that WORK. Tired topics like writing exercises, morning pages and "writer's block" are replaced with quirky, provocative tactics that teach you to write with purpose. Previously self-published in April 2010 (under the title Writing What You Know: Realia), the book has already proven hugely popular, and with its new title and updated content, it is sure to find an even bigger and even more enthusiastic audience.

A Practical Wedding: Creative Ideas for Planning a Beautiful, Affordable, and Meaningful Celebration


Meg Keene - 2011
    And then there are the expectations: from calligraphy invitations to satin chair-covers, all those things that Must Be Done or everyone will be Horribly Offended. Or will they?A Practical Wedding helps you create the wedding you want—without going broke or crazy in the process. After all, what really matters on your wedding day, what you’ll remember ‘til you’re old and gray, is not so much how it looked as how it felt. In this refreshing guide, expert Meg Keene shares her secrets to planning a beautiful celebration that reflects your taste and your relationship. You’ll discover:The real purpose of engagement (hint: it’s not just about the planning) How to pinpoint what matters most to you and your partner DIY-ing your wedding: brilliant or crazy? Affording a wedding without having to cut your guest list How to communicate decisions with your family Why that color-coded spreadsheet is actually worth it Wedding Zen can be yours. Meg walks you through everything from choosing a venue to writing vows, complete with stories and advice from women who have been in the trenches, the Team Practical brides. So here’s to the joyful wedding, the sensible wedding, the unbelievably fun wedding! A Practical Wedding is your complete guide to getting married with grace.

Perfect Puppy in 7 Days: How to Start Your Puppy Off Right


Sophia Yin - 2011
    Dr. Marty Becker; "America's Veterinarian" of Good Morning America, says, "This is like no other puppy book you've seen before. It’s not just about teaching your puppy manners, it's a step-by-step recipe for bonding with your puppy, learning to communicate with him, and preparing you pup for life! With Dr. Yin's approach your puppy will learn more in a week than many dogs learn in a year!"Victoria Stillwell from Animal Planet's "It's Me or the Dog" says, " This book is a must-have for any puppy parent or canine educator."Dr. Johan Bradshaw, author of "Dog Sense" says, "This book is a comprehensive and humane guide to puppy behavior and training, incorporating a detailed guide on how to interpret your puppy's body language. Worth buying for the socialization advice and checklist alone."Dr. Ellen Lindell, veterinary behaviorist, states, "This well-organized book is filled with essential information about puppy development and learning. Experts and novices alike will appreciate the illustrations and analogies that turn science into a clear and enjoyable read. Most important, Dr. Yin offers a plan that incorporates critical socialization and training into a daily routine. It will be a puppy life-saver."Nancy Abplanalp of "Thinking Dogs" says, "I own tons of dog training books and none of them are as much fun to read as this one. It's accurate and easy to access. The puppy socialization chapters and checklist are especially well done. If you have a puppy, work with puppies, raise puppies, or just plain like puppies, get this book.Chapters include:• How Your Puppy Developed Before You Got Her• Why Start Training So Soon?• Preparing for the Puppy• A Foolproof Potty Training Program• Dr. Sophia Yin’s Learn to Earn Program for Puppies• Socializing Your Pup to Dogs, People and Handling• A Head Start on All the Rest

Making Handmade Books: 100+ Bindings, Structures Forms


Alisa Golden - 2011
    Thanks to the 100 ideas in this volume, the craft is now available to everyone. In as little as an afternoon, beginners will be on their way to folding, gluing, and sewing handmade books in a variety of shapes and styles, from rolled scrolls to Jacobs ladders, folded flexagons to case bindings. Complete with photographs of the authors own master books and statements by more than 40 established book artists, this collection is sure to inspire. Culled from the authors best-selling books Creating Handmade Books, Unique Handmade Books, and Expressive Handmade Books, these projects will fuel bookbinding adventures for years to come.

The Knitter's Book of Socks: The Yarn Lover's Ultimate Guide to Creating Socks That Fit Well, Feel Great, and Last a Lifetime


Clara Parkes - 2011
    No other knitted garment has as many structural demands or endures as much wear and tear. The humble sock must defy gravity, suffer the confines of our shoes, and endure being trampled on all day long. All too often, the root cause of a sock's triumph or failure is the yarn itself. In The Knitter’s Book of Socks, Clara Parkes shows you how to knit socks from yarn up, following the sock yarn life cycle from its foundations to its final moments on a proud foot. By understanding a sock's basic needs—elasticity, strength, and moisture management—you’ll learn how to play with these tools like building blocks, confidently combining fiber, twist, ply, pattern, and clever stitch tricks to construct your perfect pair of socks.  To help put these principles into practice, The Knitter’s Book of Socks also offers 20 fresh, original patterns from today’s sock-design luminaries, including Cookie A, Cat Bordhi, Ann Budd, Nancy Bush, Anne Hanson, and Melissa Morgan-Oakes. The socks presented here run the gamut from simple knit-and-purl combinations suitable for beginners to innovative designs with lush colorwork, swirling cables, and delicate lace. Understanding the elements of yarn is the first step on every successful sock knitting journey. With this book as your guide, you’ll learn how to make any sock yarn shine and love every pair of socks you knit.

National Geographic Backyard Guide to the Birds of North America


Jonathan Alderfer - 2011
    It features 150 of the most common and interesting birds likely to be observed at backyard feeders, nesting nearby or just migrating through. An indispensable visual index of all 150 species appears on the inside front and back laminated covers, making identification a snap. Beginning with Backyard Basics, an easy-to-follow, richly illustrated presentation on observing and identifying birds-with tips on attracting and feeding your favorite birds, birdhouses, and bird-friendly landscapes to entice nesting-the book is full of National Geographic's iconic field guide images and maps. Core species on everyone's list-such as robins, woodpeckers, bluebirds and chickadees-are featured in two-page spreads including practical tips with additional imagery. Sidebars captivate with interesting and little known facts.

Convict Conditioning 2: Advanced Prison Training Tactics for Muscle Gain, Fat Loss, and Bulletproof Joints


Paul Wade - 2011
    With an amazing understanding of anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology, Coach Wade explains very simply how to work the smaller but just as important areas of the body such as the hands and forearms, neck and calves and obliques in serious functional ways.His minimalist approach to exercise belies the complexity of his system and the deep insight into exactly how the body works and the best way to get from A to Z in the shortest time possible. Paul teaches us how to strengthen our bodies with the simplest of movements while at the same time balancing our structures in the same way: simple exercises that work the whole body.Sprinkled throughout the entire book are too-many-to-count insights and advice from a man who has come to his knowledge the hard way and knows exactly of what he speaks. But what Coach Wade does better than any before him is his unbelievable progressions on every exercise and stretch. He breaks things down and tells you exactly how to proceed to get to whatever level of strength and development you want. and gives you the exact metrics you need to know when to go to the next level.

The First 50 Pages: Engage Agents, Editors and Readers, and Set Up Your Novel for Success


Jeff Gerke - 2011
    Compelling opening scenes are the key to catching an agent or editor’s attention, and are crucial for keeping your reader engaged.As a writer, what you do in your opening pages, and how you do it, is a matter that cannot be left to chance. The First 50 Pages is here to help you craft a strong beginning right from the start. You’ll learn how to: introduce your main character establish your story world set up the plot’s conflict begin your hero’s inner journey write an amazing opening line and terrific first page and more This helpful guide walks you through the tasks your first 50 pages must accomplish in order to avoid leaving readers disoriented, frustrated, or bored. Don’t let your reader put your book down before ever seeing its beauty. Let The First 50 Pages show you how to begin your novel with the skill and intentionality that will land you a book deal, and keep readers’ eyes glued to the page.

A Chicken in Every Yard: The Urban Farm Store's Guide to Chicken Keeping


Robert Litt - 2011
    In this handy guide to breeds, feed, coops, and care, the Litts take you under their experienced wings and share the secrets to: Picking the breeds that are right for you • Building a sturdy coop in one weekend for $100 • Raising happy and hearty chicks • Feeding your flock for optimal health and egg nutrition • Preventing and treating common chicken diseases • Planning ahead for family, neighborhood, and legal considerations • Whipping up tasty egg recipes from flan to frittata With everything that first-timers will need to get started—along with expert tips for more seasoned keepers—this colorful, nuts-and-bolts manual proves that keeping chickens is all it’s cracked up to be.

How to Shoot Video That Doesn't Suck: Advice to Make Any Amateur Look Like a Pro


Steve Stockman - 2011
    It’s about the language of video and how to think like a director, regardless of equipment (amateurs think about the camera, pros think about communication). It’s about the rules developed over a century of movie-making—which work just as well when shooting a two-year-old’s birthday party on your phone. Written by Steve Stockman, the director of the award-winning feature Two Weeks, plus TV shows, music videos, and hundreds of commercials, How to Shoot Video That Doesn’t Suck explains in 74 short, pithy, insightful chapters how to tell a story and entertain your audience. In other words, how to shoot video people will want to watch. Here’s how to think in shots—how to move-point-shoot-stop-repeat, instead of planting yourself in one spot and pressing “Record” for five minutes. Why never to shoot until you see the whites of your subject’s eyes. Why to “zoom” with your feet and not the lens. How to create intrigue on camera. The book covers the basics of video production: framing, lighting, sound (use an external mic), editing, special effects (turn them off!), and gives advice on shooting a variety of specific situations: sporting events, parties and family gatherings, graduations and performances. Plus, how to make instructional and promotional videos, how to make a music video, how to capture stunts, and much more. At the end of every chapter is a suggestion of how to immediately put what you’ve learned into practice, so the next time you’re shooting you’ll have begun to master the skill. Steve’s website (stevestockman.com) provides video examples to illustrate different production ideas, techniques, and situations, and his latest thoughts on all things video.

Information Graphics


Sandra Rendgen - 2011
    Considering this complex variety of data floating around us, sometimes the best — or even only — way to communicate is visually. This unique book presents a fascinating historical perspective on the subject, highlighting the work of the masters of the profession who have created a number of breakthroughs that have changed the way we communicate. Information Graphics has been conceived and designed not just for designers or graphics professionals, but for anyone interested in the history and practice of communicating visually. The in-depth introductory section, illustrated with over 60 images (each accompanied by an explanatory caption), features essays by Sandra Rendgen, Paolo Ciuccarelli, Richard Saul Wurman, and Simon Rogers; looking back all the way to primitive cave paintings as a means of communication, this introductory section gives readers an excellent overview of the subject. The second part of the book is entirely dedicated to contemporary works by the current most renowned professionals, presenting 200 graphics projects, with over 400 examples — each with a fact sheet and an explanation of methods and objectives — divided into chapters by the subjects Location, Time, Category, and Hierarchy.Features:200 projects and over 400 examples of contemporary information graphics from all over the world—ranging from journalism to art, government, education, business and much more Historical essays about the development of information graphics since its beginnings Exclusive poster (673 x 475 mm / 26.5 x 18.7 in) by Nigel Homes, who during his 20 years as graphics director for TIME revolutionized the way the magazine used information graphics

Ultimate Speed Secrets: The Complete Guide to High-Performance and Race Driving


Ross Bentley - 2011
    Ultimate Speed Secrets is the indispensable tool to help make you faster, whatever your driving goals.  Professional race driver and coach Ross Bentley has raced everything from Indycars to World Sports Cars to production sedans, on ovals, road courses, and street circuits around the world. His proven high-performance driving techniques benefit novice drivers as well as professional racers. Ultimate Speed Secrets covers everything you need to know to maximize your potential and your car:Choosing the correct lineOvertaking maneuversAdapting to new tracks and carsThe mental game and dealing with adversityFinding (and keeping) a sponsor.The pages are filled with specially commissioned color diagrams to illustrate the concepts described. Whether you are a track-day novice or a seasoned professional, Ultimate Speed Secrets will arm you with practical information to lower your lap times and help you get the best out of your vehicle—and yourself. It’s the ultimate high-performance driving tutorial!

How to Raise Your Own Salary


Napoleon Hill - 2011
    The detailed dialog between Andrew Carnegie and Napoleon Hill will mesmerize you with its message. Simultaneously, this classic work will stimulate your subconscious mind to put into immediate operation your desire for individual achievement. This book will teach you how to: -Win riches, power, and prestige. -Discover how to set your own goal in life and achieve it. -Make life pay you for your personal efforts. -Uncover Andrew Carnegie's entire secret of success. -Retrace step by step the principles of achievement that lifted Carnegie to a position of great affluence and wealth. -Achieve the right mental attitude that places you on the next rung in your ladder to success. -Manifest success in your day-to-day life.

Purging Your House, Pruning Your Family Tree: How to Rid Your Home and Family of Demonic Influence and Generational Oppression


Perry Stone - 2011
    Purging Your House, Pruning Your Family Tree takes you to the root of these issues, showing you how to rid your home and family of demonic influence and generational oppression.   With his unique blend of Bible knowledge and spiritual insight, Perry Stone brings to light the methods and strategies the devil uses to launch his attacks against our families.  Discover what you need to know to stand strong against him, including:   ·        How Satan selects his victims from an early age ·        Removing accursed things from your house ·        How you can prevent Satan’s return to your house ·        The reason three o’clock in the morning taps into the spirit world ·        Why we battle atmospheric warfare and how to change it   The insights in this book--if read, believed, and practiced--will help you to alter your present situation and prepare for a great emotional and spiritual future.

Artist's Journal Workshop: Creating Your Life in Words and Pictures


Cathy Johnson - 2011
    Artist's Journal Workshop provides all the guidance, structure and inspiration you need to create a meaningful art-journaling practice. Starting with the question, What do you want from your journal? you'll build a sound journaling concept that will serve your unique creative needs and give you the freedom to practice, play and develop as an artist. Featuring rich visual examples on every page, you'll receive continual guidance and inspiration from:- 27 international artists who share pages and advice from their own art journals - More than 25 hands-on exercises to help you personalize your journal while developing new ideas and techniques - Journal pages featuring travel sketching, nature studies and celebrations of daily life - Prompts for visually commemorating life events and milestones - Support for working through creative doubts and blocks - A range of artistic styles and perspectives to study and admire - Instruction for trying your hand at new methods and materialsThis is the perfect opportunity for you to begin realizing your artistic potential--one page at a time. Begin the journey today!

Southern Biscuits


Nathalie Dupree - 2011
    Filled with beautiful photography, including dozens of how-to photos showing how to mix, stir, fold, roll, and knead, Southern Biscuits is the definitive biscuit baking book.Nathalie Dupree has written or coauthored many cookbooks, including the James Beard award winner Nathalie Dupree's Southern Memories and Shrimp and Grits.She has appeared on more than 300 television shows and specials, which have shown nationally on PBS, The Learning Channel, and The Food Network. Dupree holds an Advanced Certificate from the Cordon Bleu and has also written extensively for magazines and newspapers. She lives in Charleston, South Carolina.Cynthia Stevens Graubart is an author and former television producer who began her culinary television production career with New Southern Cooking with Nathalie Dupree in 1985. She is the author of The One-Armed Cook, called the culinary version of What to Expect When You're Expecting. Cynthia and her husband, Cliff, live in Atlanta, Georgia.Homemade Refrigerator Biscuit Mix Makes 10 cupsIf making several batches of biscuits a month, or one biscuit at a time, make a flour-and-fat base mixture to add the milk to at a later time. It will keep several months in a tightly covered container in the refrigerator. Combine one part milk or buttermilk with two parts mix for any quantity of biscuits from 4 to 40! Once again, more salt and baking powder are added. This dough can also be used in making coffee cakes, pancakes, waffles, and the like.Ingredients: 10 cups self-rising flour3 teaspoons salt5 teaspoons cream of tartar4 teaspoons baking powder2 cups chilled shortening, lard, or butter,roughly cut into 1/2-inch piecesDirections: Fork-sift or whisk the flour, salt, cream of tartar, and baking powder in a very large bowl. Scatter the shortening over the flour and work in by rubbing fingers with the shortening and flour as if snapping thumb and fingers together (or use two forks or knives, or a pastry cutter) until the mixture looks like well-crumbled feta cheese, with no piece larger than a pea.Shake the bowl occasionally to allow the larger pieces of fat to bounce to the top of the flour, revealing the largest lumps that still need rubbing.Store the mix in the refrigerator in an airtight container until ready to use.

The Backyard Homestead Guide To Raising Farm Animals


Gail Damerow - 2011
    Gail Damerow covers everything you need to successfully raise your own farm animals, from selecting the right breeds to producing delicious fresh milk, cheese, honey, eggs, and meat. Even with just a small plot of land, you can become more self-sufficient, save money, and enjoy healthy, delicious animal products. Also available in this series: The Backyard Homestead, The Backyard Homestead Book of Building Projects, The Backyard Homestead Seasonal Planner, and The Backyard Homestead Book of Kitchen Know-How.

The Unofficial Guide: Walt Disney World 2012


Bob Sehlinger - 2011
    Coverage of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter including best times to beat the crowds, the best places to buy Butterbeer, and the scoop on all the shops in the village of Hogsmeade. Walt Disney World Resort theme parks are rated best in the world. earning high marks for things outside of the traditional theme park experience. Epcot's International Food & Wine Festival, which takes place for six weeks every fall and showcases food from twenty-five countries, was rated by Forbes Traveler as one of the Best U.S. Food and Wine Festivals. In 2011, Disney not only launched its new cruise ship, the Disney Dream, it also announced plans of a complete overhaul of Pleasure Island set to begin construction and reopen as Hyperion Wharf

Self-Printed: The Sane Person's Guide to Self-Publishing: How to Use Digital Self-Publishing, Social Media and Common Sense to Start Earning A Living ... or Shouting 'Down With The Big Six!')


Catherine Ryan Howard - 2011
    Who want to do it the cheapest and easiest way possible while still producing a quality product. Who understand that much like Starbucks outlets and Nespresso coffee machines, traditional and self-publishing can peacefully co-exist. Who know that they don't have to sell a million copies of their book to start earning a living from their writing, but that they do have to work hard and treat it like a business. Who are blessed with common sense and live in the real world at least most of the time. Who find my jokes funny.  If this sounds like you, then SELF-PRINTED: THE SANE PERSON'S GUIDE TO SELF-PUBLISHING may be just the "How To..." guide you were looking for. It will tell you everything you need to know in order to publish a Print On Demand paperback and e-book, and - crucially - sell them, without sounding like anti-Big Publishing propaganda produced by the Ministry of Truth.  Be warned: you are now entering a No Saying "Gatekeepers" Zone...  Visit SelfPrintedbook.com to see the full table of contents.  ABOUT CATHERINE: Catherine Ryan Howard is the coffee-guzzling twenty-something behind the popular blog, Catherine, Caffeinated. In March 2010 she self-published her travel memoir, Mousetrapped: A Year and A Bit in Orlando, Florida, using the Print-On-Demand service CreateSpace, Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing and Smashwords. Using free promotional tools like blogging, Twitter and Facebook, she managed to make Mousetrapped an Amazon bestseller and sell 4,000 copies of it in a year. Her success story has been featured in The Sunday Times and The Sunday Independent newspapers, and Catherine has been interviewed on BBC Radio Ulster, Newstalk and RTÉ Radio's Marian Finucane Show. She lives in Cork, Ireland, where she divides her time between her desk and the sofa. She wants to be a NASA astronaut when she grows up. (She's 28.)

Dynamic Nymphing: Tactics, Techniques, and Flies from Around the World


George Daniel - 2011
    Advanced tight line nymphing tactics, including Czech, Polish, French, Spanish, and American techniques Rigging and fishing dry and droppers, curly Qs, and conventional indicators Fishing the extremes: shallow water, cold weather, high water, wind Casting and technique sequences that include tuck cast, bow and arrow cast, as well as elevating and leading when tight line nymphing62 nymph patterns

Cartooning: Philosophy and Practice


Ivan Brunetti - 2011
    . . Keep it right next to your desk where you can find it at a moment’s notice."—Tim O’Neil, PopMatters.comThe best cartooning is efficient visual storytelling—it is as much a matter of writing as it is of drawing. In this book, noted cartoonist and illustrator Ivan Brunetti presents fifteen distinct lessons on the art of cartooning, guiding his readers through wittily written passages on cartooning terminology, techniques, tools, and theory. Supplemented by Brunetti's own illustrations, prepared specially for this book, these lessons move the reader from spontaneous drawings to single-panel strips and complicated multipage stories.Through simple, creative exercises and assignments, Brunetti offers an unintimidating approach to a complex art form. He looks at the rhythms of storytelling, the challenges of character design, and the formal elements of comics while composing pages in his own iconic style and experimenting with a variety of tools, media, and approaches. By following the author's sophisticated and engaging perspective on the art of cartooning, aspiring cartoonists of all ages will hone their craft, create their personal style, and discover their own visual language.

The Enchanted Map Oracle Cards


Colette Baron-Reid - 2011
    . . between the visible and the unseen is a guiding force that some call Spirit, the Holy Will, the Divine, the Field, or Consciousness. Using this card deck by Colette Baron-Reid will connect you to that larger Consciousness and guide you as you travel along on the journey of your life. The themes of these 54 cards represent some of the places you’ll visit, the conditions you may encounter, and the allies and challengers you’ll meet as you navigate a metaphoric map of your life’s journey. The enclosed guidebook will help you ask the right questions and interpret the messages in your readings.      The Enchanted Map Oracle Cards were created in order to empower you to understand the story of your fate, destiny, and free will; and allow you to chart a course to live a life of deep purpose, true prosperity, and vibrant love. Step into the Enchanted Map . . . and watch the magic come alive!

Vegetable Gardener's Container Bible


Edward C. Smith - 2011
    You’ll discover that container gardening is an easy and fun way to enjoy summer’s bounty in even the smallest of growing spaces.

Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction: Build a Secret Agent Arsenal


John Austin - 2011
    If you’re a budding spy, what better way to conceal your clandestine activities than to miniaturize your secret agent arsenal? MiniWeapons of Mass Destruction 2 provides fully illustrated step-by-step instructions for building 30 different spy weapons and surveillance tools, including:* Paper Dart Watch                 * Pen Blowgun* Rubber Band Derringer          * Mint Tin Catapult* Pushpin Dart                          * Cotton Swab .38 Special* Toothpaste Periscope            * Paper Throwing Star* Bionic Ear                             * And more!Once you’ve assembled your weaponry, the author provides a number of ideas on how to hide your stash—inside a deck of cards, a false-bottom soda bottle, or a cereal box briefcase—and targets for practicing your spycraft, including a flip-down firing range, a fake security camera, and sharks with laser beams.

21 Days to Master Affirmations


Louise L. Hay - 2011
    If there's a skill you've always wanted to take advantage of, the answer is just 21 days away with the Hay House 21 Days Series.Louise Hay's teaching on affirmations have sold over 39 million copies worldwide and provided a healing technique that have comforted and healed countless people over the last 30 years. 21 Days to Master Affirmations makes this infinitely powerful skill as easy and as quick to learn as its ever been. You'll discover the power of simple, soothing words can be applied to any problem. Whether emotional or physical, Louise's teachings are available for you to call on at any time. You'll also learn how to create your own personalised affirmation that target persistent, perhaps lifelong personal issues and ailments. This e-book is the ideal introduction to the defining spiritual technique of the last 30 years, now presented in a format that fits into 21st Century living. Start healing your life in just 21 days!

Food Photography: From Snapshots to Great Shots


Nicole S. Young - 2011
    She then discusses lighting and composition and shows how to style food using props, fabrics, and tabletops. Finally, she explains how to improve your photos through sharpening, color enhancement, and other editing techniques. Beautifully illustrated with large, vibrant photos, this book offers the practical advice and expert shooting tips you need to get the food images you want every time you pick up your camera. Follow along with your friendly and knowledgeable guide, photographer and author Nicole S. Young, and you will: •      Use your camera’s settings to gain full control over the look and feel of your images •      Master the photographic basics of composition, focus, depth of field, and much more •      Learn to enhance your food photographs using professional food styling techniques •      Get tips on different types of lighting, including strobes, flashes, and natural light •      Improve the look of your photos using Adobe Photoshop •      Go “behind the scenes” and walk through the process of creating great food photographs with an entire chapter of start-to-finish examples And once you’ve got the shot, show it off! Join the book’s Flickr group to share your photos, recipes, and tips at flickr.com/group/foodphotographyfroms....

The Colette Sewing Handbook: Inspired Styles and Classic Techniques for the New Seamstress


Sarai Mitnick - 2011
    Sarai Mitnick, an independent pattern designer setting the high water mark in the industry, shares her knowledge of these fundamentals and offers five beautiful projects to go with them. Powerful instruction: A former expert in user experience in the tech industry, Sarai Mitnick's Colette Patterns line has gained a great deal of respect for comprehensive, clear instruction. Comprehensive resource: The chapters cover sewing techniques, planning and fitting, working with patterns, working with fabrics, working with linings, finishing techniques? In essence, each chapter focuses on what the entirety of another book might cover. Gorgeous package: Pitch-perfect combination of illustration, step-by-step photography and beautiful project shots, all with a clean, lovely design. *Disclaimer: eBook does not include Tissue Enclosures as enclosed with original book.

Needle Painting Embroidery: Fresh Ideas for Beginners


Trish Burr - 2011
    In 15 projects organized in three levels, from novice to intermediate, Trish provides expert, easy-to-follow guidance on techniques for surface stitching that provide subtle shadings and a soft, paintlike blending of colors. Sections on materials, the long and short stitch, and helpful practice motifs lead to gorgeous projects like Burgundy Rosebuds, a Wild Pansy, and a Racquet-tailed Roller.

The Sewing Machine Accessory Bible: Get the Most Out of Your Machine---From Using Basic Feet to Mastering Specialty Feet


Wendy Gardiner - 2011
    Whether you are a beginner or have been sewing for years, this book is packed with all the information you need to get the most out of your sewing machine, simply by changing the feet.• Everything you need to know about feet attachments, from basic feet such as the zigzag foot to specialty fabric and technique feet that will help you invent new design ideas for your sewing projects.• Work effortlessly with a full range of fabrics, learn great time-saving tricks, and experiment with a range of decorative effects by following the authors' creative "ideas files."• Includes a guide to needle, thread, and fabric choices and buying advice for choosing basic, mid-range, and top-end sewing machines, embellishers, and sergers.

The Just Bento Cookbook: Everyday Lunches to Go


Makiko Itoh - 2011
    Let Makiko Itoh, the Net's leading bento blogger, get you started on your bento journey!25 bento menus and over 150 delicious recipes, both Japanese and Western: Sukiyaki-style Beef Donburi Bento, Egg-wrapped Sushi Bento, Spanish Omelette Bento, Bunny Sandwich Bento, and moreEvery bento photographed in full colorComprehensive practical bento-making guidelines: choosing a box, menu-planning, speed and safety tips, staple ingredientsTimelines help streamline your morning preparationGlossary of Japanese ingredientsAn invaluable resource for bento beginners and aficionados alike

Chick Days: An Absolute Beginner's Guide to Raising Chickens from Hatching to Laying


Jenna Woginrich - 2011
    There’s nothing more local than an egg freshly laid right in your own yard. But what should you expect when you’re adopting a couple of day-old chicks? In Chick Days, Jenna Woginrich, award-winning author of Made from Scratch, the homesteading memoir for the twenty-something generation, offers a highly entertaining and informative photographic guide for today’s fledgling chick parent. Fun for the complete newbie and for families with young children, Chick Days chronicles the journey of three chickens from newly hatched fluffy butterballs to grown hens laying eggs. Day by day and week by week, readers watch the three starring chickens grow and change, learning about chicken behavior, feeding requirements, housing, hygiene, and health-care essentials, and fun facts on all things poultry. As Jenna herself says, “Chickens are more than 12-piece buckets, country diner kitsch, and egg whites. They’re your backyard ambassadors to healthier eating and basic husbandry. Keeping chickens is a crash course in local eating. When you start collecting eggs you’ll be eating so local you’ll know the amount of cracked corn in the feeder at ground zero of your breakfast . . . ” Jenna’s witty commentary is accompanied by the photography of Mars Vilaubi, who raised the three chickens himself, along with his wife and son. Their accompanying “chick diary” notes particular things this family learned and did along the way to make chicken raising fun. Presenting just the essential information in a highly visual and inviting format, Chick Days makes every stage of chicken life fun, entertaining, and, most of all, doable. It’s sure to give any chicken lover or wannabe owner the confidence and enthusiasm to join the flock!

Teach Like a Champion Field Guide: The Complete Handbook to Master the Art of Teaching


Doug Lemov - 2011
    In his companion Field Guide, he further explores those techniques in a practical guide. With the "Teach Like a Champion Field Guide," teachers will have an indispensable resource that complements their classroom application of Lemov's techniques. The activities are designed to accompany the practitioner on the journey to become a champion teacher. The activities span three stages: learning the techniques, preparing to use the techniques, and actual practice.In addition to developing and sharpening teaching techniques, the activities provide a proven system for assessing outcomes. The book includes thirty new video clips of champion teachers with analysis from the author. It also includes helpful charts for teachers to track their own progress and to record feedback from colleagues. Most importantly, by using the Field Guide, teachers will be prepared to successfully unlock the talent and skill in all their students. A hands-on exploration of 49 techniques that are guaranteed to boost success in the classroomIncludes 30 video clips of champion teachersWritten by Doug Lemov, bestselling author of "Teach Like a Champion"Teach Like a Champion Field Guide is a must-have workbook for every teacher, from beginner to veteran. The workbook is also a great tool for professional development.

Jelly Shot Test Kitchen: Jell-ing Classic Cocktails-One Drink at a Time


Michelle Palm - 2011
    Armed with only a saucepan, a cake pan, and a sharp knife (and ingredients!), readers can be well on their way to a gorgeous batch of Jelly Shots.

Harvesting Color: How to Find Plants and Make Natural Dyes


Rebecca Burgess - 2011
    As more and more crafters are discovering, dyeing your own fabric can yield gorgeous colors. Now master dyer Rebecca Burgess identifies 36 plants that will yield beautiful natural shades and shows how easy it is to make the dyes. Pokeweed creates a vibrant magenta, while a range of soft lavender shades is created from elderberries; indigo yields a bright blue, and coyote brush creates stunning sunny yellows.Gathering Color explains where to find these plants in the wild (and for those that can be grown in your backyard, how to nurture them) and the best time and way to harvest them; maps show the range of each plant in the United States and Canada. For the dyeing itself, Burgess describes the simple equipment needed and provides a master dye recipe. The book is organized seasonally; as an added bonus, each section contains a knitting project using wools colored with dyes from plants harvested during that time of the year. With breathtaking color photographs by Paige Green throughout, Gathering Color is an essential guide to this growing field, for crafters and DIYers; for ecologists and botanists; and for artists, textile designers, and art students.

Quit Your Day Job, A Guide for the Self Published Author


H.P. Mallory - 2011
    HP demonstrates: * What is the best approach to take when creating book covers* How to optimize your book's description page* Choosing the category of your book* The question of pricing your book* The importance of Social Media and, more specifically, Facebook, Twitter and Blogging* How to get reviews including interviews with leading Review websites such as Dear Author* What to feature on your website* The importance of Search Engine Optimization* A Q&A with the people from Pubit!, the self publishing platform of Barnes and Noble* The seven steps of self publishing success from the owner of Smashwords, one of the largest and most well known self-publishing platforms* Tips and tidbits from Goodreads, the world's largest online book club website* And so much more!

The Dr. James Dobson Parenting Collection


James C. Dobson - 2011
    Aren’t there days when you wish you could sit down with an expert on parenting—somebody who really understands what you’re going through and knows just what advice and counsel to give you? Good news: The parenting wisdom you need is here—in one complete volume! In The Dr. James Dobson Parenting Collection, you’ll find three bestselling books ( The New Dare to Discipline , The New Strong-Willed Child , and Parenting Isn’t for Cowards ) containing the straightforward, practical, biblical truths you need—from Dr. James Dobson, the world’s foremost authority on parenting.

Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System


Satoshi Nakamoto - 2011
    Users hold the crypto keys to their own money and transact directly with each other, with the help of a P2P network to check for double-spending.https://bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf

Patterns in Polymer: Imprint and Accent Bead Techniques


Julie Picarello - 2011
    In-depth introduction sections cover basics, color inspiration and recipes, and needed tools and materials. The book includes 7 mini projects and 10 finished jewelry projects, while callouts at the beginning of each project let the readers know exactly what specialized techniques will be learned. It’s the color that makes polymer clay truly exciting, and this book uses color like you’ve never seen it before.

Ready, Set, Novel!: A Workbook


Lindsey Grant - 2011
    Full of helpful lists, plot maps, character Q&As, field trips, writing exercises, inspiring quotes, and plenty of space to write and outline, Ready, Set, Novel! provides ample inspiration and guidance to first-time novelists and more seasoned scribes alike.

Writing Fiction for All You're Worth: Strategies and Techniques for Taking Your Fiction to the Next Level


James Scott Bell - 2011
    WRITING FICTION FOR ALL YOUR WORTH contains the best of James Scott Bell's articles and blog posts on writing, easily searchable under these headings: The Writing World, The Writing Life, and The Writing Craft. You'll learn about the 6 critical success factors for bestselling fiction, how to write un-put-downable action scenes, and how to capture the interest of an agent. The keys to a dynamic opening page are revealed, and just as important, what NOT to do in the opening. There's plenty of inside information on what agents and editors say they're looking for and detailed instructions on how to write a stress free query. You'll learn what to put on your LAST page, when to use italics, how to write with courage. And a whole lot more.And you'll get never before published material, including an first-ever look into Jim's secret writing notebook, the manual he put together over the years for his own use in writing numerous bestsellers. For the first time he's sharing a glimpse into the notes he compiled on his way to publishing success.Plus, a special module on getting into e-publishing, which you must read if you want to have a career selling e-books successfully. ADDED BONUS: Interviews with some of the top writers working today: Jeffery Deaver, Tess Gerritsen, Brad Thor, David Baldacci, Carla Neggers, David Morrell, Alex Kava, Michael Palmer, Eric Van Lustbader, Steve Martinia, plus debut authors Sarah Pekkanen and Boyd Morrison. You will be inspired and instructed by these consummate pros as they share their writing secrets with you. What they're saying about James Scott Bell:"I needed advice before I tried to write a novel. The usual axiom — write what you know — wasn't helpful. So I turned to James Scott Bell. He taught me how to structure a great entrance — the equivalent of gliding down a spiral staircase in a wedding gown — and how to keep the next 400 pages from becoming as hopelessly tangled as the crumpled papers and wads of gum in my old desk. My novel sold." – Sarah Pekkanan, author of The Opposite of Me"I read PLOT & STRUCTURE in a single sitting, gasping and trying not to scream, while trapped in a flooded hospital all alone with a serial killer. Okay, not really, but after reading James Scott Bell's book, I can't help thinking that a good blurb should grab the reader with an interesting character and a compelling situation. I am inspired by Bell's enthusiastic approach, and am impressed with his numerous, helpful insights into the craft of storytelling. I recommend his book highly — especially the ending, where it turns out I WAS the serial killer." - Bill Marsilii, screenwriter, Déjà vu"If Jim Bell is teaching and I'm within a hundred miles, you can bet I'll be there! His commitment to the craft of writing is surpassed only by his enthusiasm for passionate storytelling." – Angela E. Hunt, bestselling novelist

Yoga for Your Brain: A Zentangle Workout


Sandy Steen Bartholomew - 2011
    This much anticipated sequel to "Totally Tangled" is just as tangled! Inside, the pages are jam-packed with Zentangle ideas, tips, projects and 60 new tangles.  Zentangle is the perfect exercise to keep that big muscle inside your skull flexible.

Zenspirations


Joanne Fink - 2011
    The many decorative boarders, frames, shapes, and alphabet will appeal to a spectrum of tastes and styles. Use Joanne's techniques to create details, depth and beauty reminiscent of classical architecture, medieval block printing and manuscript calligraphy. Her passion for beautiful patterns is contaigious. Joanne makes it easy to turn simple lines into attractive designs while her doodled shapes inspire readers to embellish more and just have fun with the process.

People Pictures: 30 Exercises for Creating Authentic Photographs


Chris Orwig - 2011
    This is not a traditional portrait photography book. The goal isn't flattery, but connection and depth. Whether you are a student, busy parent, or seasoned pro photographer, these exercises provide an accessible framework for exploration and growth.With titles like: Be Quiet, Turn the Camera Around, and the Fabric of Family, each of the 30 exercises encourages you to have fun and experiment at your own pace. With step-by-step instructions and using natural light, you will explore everything from street, lifestyle, candid, and environmental shots. The projects are small artistic endeavors meant to change how you see and the pictures that you make. All that's required is a camera, an intrepid attitude, curiosity, and some imagination.

Spud and Chloe at the Farm


Susan B. Anderson - 2011
    A mother hen and her chicks (and their adorable knitted eggshells), three little piglets, and a black lamb full of good intentions are just some of the appealing projects in Spud and Chloë at the Farm, the latest innovative work from author and world-class knitter Susan B.Anderson. The projects in this book follow Spud, a feisty pet sheep, and Chloë, his perky owner, as they travel to a farm and meet the inhabitants of the barnyard, including a brown cow, some mice, a dog, and a barn cat. To continue the theme, and set the stage for loads of interactive play, the book also offers instructions for making an assortment of farm props, such as a picket fence, bales of hay, dainty baskets, and even a three-sided foldable barn.Meanwhile, witty full-color cartoons (presented one per spread throughout the text of the book) tell the story of Spud and Chloë’s visit to the farm, which starts with an invitation from Spud’s cousin Little Lamb. Featuring charming full-color photographs of the knitted toys, this book is a must-have for knitters and their loved ones.

The Backyard Goat: An Introductory Guide to Keeping and Enjoying Pet Goats, from Feeding and Housing to Making Your Own Cheese


Sue Weaver - 2011
    This straightforward guide teaches you how to choose, house, feed, train, and breed the best goats for your space and needs. Whether you want to churn out fresh dairy products, harvest soft cashmere for knitting, or keep goats as playful pets, The Backyard Goat makes it easy to enjoy the benefits of owning goats, with no experience necessary.

Unfurling, A Mixed-Media Workshop with Misty Mawn: Inspiration and Techniques for Self-Expression through Art


Misty Mawn - 2011
    Written by Misty Mawn, these pages will inspire anyone who wishes to open up more to the process of making art.  The book begins with art exercises in drawing and painting that include portraiture, contour drawing, backgrounds, layering, and working with a still life, followed by collage and image transfer techniques. The second section offers exercises and projects in stamp carving, paper pottery, sculpture, origami, paper doll making, and surface design. These tactile explorations offer an enjoyment of the process as well as wonderful handmade projects. The last section shares a variety of approaches to visual journaling. There are instructions for binding your own journal, prompts and ideas for working on your pages, and a variety of exercises using photography and poetry as ways to inspire and inform your journal keeping.  You'll also find a set of gift book plates and a beautiful paper doll designed by the author and printed on perforated cardstock in the back of the book.Tap into your inner creativity and explore new artistic processes with Unfurling!

Water Paper Paint: Exploring Creativity with Watercolor and Mixed Media


Heather Smith Jones - 2011
    Unlike the typical watercolor textbooks, this unique, beautiful volume is a field book of inspiration, creative ideas, how to's, and projects, all from an artist's perspective. Each creative exercise features a technique, shows step-by-step photographs, and includes a clever idea for a gift or project that can be made from the painted samples.

The Total Outdoorsman Manual (Field Stream)


T. Edward Nickens - 2011
    Edward Nickens and the experts at Field & Stream magazine, that is guaranteed to improve your hunting, fishing, camping and survival skills.With practical information for both the beginner and advanced outdoorsman, the book is an authoritative, comprehensive, and entertaining guide that will enable anyone to master the outdoors and hunt, fish, and camp like an expert.HUNT BETTER How to track a buck, make the toughest shots, master bowhunting and knife skills, and haul, butcher, and cook wild game.FISH SMARTER Advice on the best techniques for flyfishing, baitcasting, and spinning, as well as surefire ways to get the most out of your motorboat, canoe, or kayak. SURVIVE ANYTHING Whether you fall through thick ice, are swept away by a raging river, or have a stare down with an angry bear, these skills means the difference between life and death.CAMP ANYWHERE Tested and proven expert tips to help you stay warm, eat well, and build a fire in any situation in record time.Field & Stream For more than 100 years, Field & Stream magazine has provided expert advice on every aspect of the outdoor life, including hunting, fishing, conservation, and wilderness survival. The magazine's annual Total Outdoorsman issue is one of its most popular, read by over nine million sporting enthusiasts. The Total Outdoorsman Challenge brings together avid hunters and anglers from around the country to demonstrate their skills and compete for big bucks and bigger glory. Winners are all-around hunters, fishermen, and survivors with a flair for problem-solving and the skills to prevail.

Advanced Spanish Step-by-Step : Master Accelerated Grammar to Take Your Spanish to the Next Level (Easy Step-by-Step Series)


Barbara Bregstein - 2011
    This step-by-step approach gives you real confidence and the tools you need to achieve a high Spanish proficiency.You'll get a quick review of the key grammar basics, then move on to more advanced topics that you need for true mastery of the language. With complete coverage of verb tenses beyond the present and past, irregular verbs, sentence structure, parts of speech, and more, this book gives a thorough overview of advanced grammar topics. It also introduces you to hundreds of new vocabulary words that are reinforced with readings that put the new terms in everyday context.

Wingbeats: Exercises and Practice in Poetry


Scott Wiggerman - 2011
    Poetics. Writing Reference. WINGBEATS: EXERCISES AND PRACTICE IN POETRY is an exciting collection of exercises by fifty-eight wonderfully diverse teaching poets both in (Oliver de la Paz, Ravi Shankar, Patricia Smith) and out (Ellen Bass, Robert McDowell, Naomi Shihab Nye) of academia. In seven chapters, ranging from "Springboards to Imagination" to "Chancing the Accidental" to "Complicating the Poem," each exercise includes not only clear step-by-step instructions, but numerous poems that exemplify the successful completion of the exercise, some by the authors of the exercises, some by their students. WINGBEATS' exercises incorporate numerous approaches: working in pairs and/or groups, incorporating research and/or the Internet, writing outdoors, and others, all easily found in the book's unique Alternate Table of Contents. Of course, traditional poetic techniques covering metaphor, persona, forms, and revision are also included. WINGBEATS, which poet Cole Swensen calls "indispensable," belongs in every poet's library.Contributors: Rosa Alcala, Wendy Barker, Ellen Bass, Tara Betts, Catherine Bowman, Susan Briante, Sharon Bridgforth, Nathan Brown, Jenny Browne, Andrea Hollander Budy, Lisa D. Chavez, Alison T. Cimino, Cathryn Cofell, Sarah Cortez, Bruce Covey, Oliver de la Paz, Lori Desrosiers, Cyra S. Dumitru, Blas Falconer, Annie Finch, Gretchen Fletcher, Madelyn Garner, Barbara Hamby, Carol Hamilton, Penny Harter, Kurt Heinzelman, Jane Hilberry, Karla Huston, David Kirby, Laurie Kutchins, Ellaraine Lockie, Ed Madden, Anne McCrady, Robert McDowell, Ray McManus, David Meischen, Harryette Mullen, Aimee Nezhukumatathil, Hoa Nguyen, Naomi Shihab Nye, Katherine Durham Oldmixon, Kathleen Peirce, Georgia A. Popoff, Patty Seyburn, Ravi Shankar, Shoshauna Shy, Patricia Smith, Jessamyn Johnston Smyth, Bruce Snider, Lisa Russ Spaar, Susan Terris, Lewis Turco, Andrea L. Watson, Afaa Michael Weaver, William Wenthe, Scott Wiggerman, Abe Louise Young, and Matthew Zapruder."WINGBEATS is a fabulous toolbox of innovative and practical ideas that literally every teacher of poetry workshops and at every level, from elementary poets-in-the-schools through the graduate MFA, will find indispensable. Covering a vast range from image to sound to form, the exercises are all concrete and clearly presented--a marvelous way to mine the imaginations and experiences of today's most dynamic poets. Invaluable "--Cole Swensen"I opened WINGBEATS--and fell in headfirst, caught in the feathers of the creative impulse. WINGBEATS proves that poetry matters, that writing is an experimental discovery process, that there are many avenues to success, that writing poems is a gift we can all claim. The wealth of enabling nudges by the poets of WINGBEATS--who share their energy, wisdom, and examples--opens the door wide to our creative Selves. No teacher, no aspiring poet, should be without the gentle guidance of this book."--Gabriele Rico

A Smart Girl's Guide to Knowing What to Say: Finding the Words to Fit Any Situation


Patti Kelley Criswell - 2011
    What do you say to her? You want to watch a TV show that's on past your bedtime. How do you ask your parents? You break your friend's favorite CD. How do you apologize? In American Girl's latest Smart Girl's Guide, you'll learn the exact words to say in these situations, plus more than 200 others!. Tell a friend that you're sorry for her loss. Ask a teacher for more help. Stand up to a bully. Let someone how much they mean to you. Inside this book, you'll find the tools, tips, techniques, (and actual words!) to help you untangle your tongue and speak out with confidence and grace.

Be the Monkey: A Conversation About the New World of Publishing


Barry Eisler - 2011
    But what does digital mean really, for agents, publishers, and most of all, for authors? What will the industry look like tomorrow, and what should authors be doing to properly position themselves today?Examining the history and mechanics of the publishing industry as it exists today, the way the digital revolution reflects recent events in Egypt and the Maghreb, and a completely inappropriate YouTube video featuring a randy monkey and an unlucky frog, bestselling authors (and friends) J.A. Konrath and Barry Eisler show in this 35,000 word online discussion that digital isn't just the future, it's right now. Konrath, a pioneer in self-publishing, is now making over a half-million dollars a year through his self-published books, and Eisler just turned down a half-million dollar deal from one of the Big 6 NYC publishers to self-publish his latest novel. To find out why and what it all means for you, read on.Please feel free to repost all or any portion of this discussion with attribution and a link back to the authors. About the authorsJoe Konrath is the author of more than twenty novels and hundreds of short stories, written under the names J.A. Konrath (the Lt. Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels series), Jack Kilborn (Afraid, Trapped, Endurance, Draculas), and Joe Kimball (Timecaster.) Joe has a lot of names, apparently. He began self-publishing on Kindle in April, 2009. As of March, 2011, he's sold over 200,000 ebooks. On his blog, A Newbie's Guide to Publishing, he has chronicled his writing journey.Barry Eisler spent three years in a covert position with the CIA's Directorate of Operations, then worked as a technology lawyer and startup executive in Silicon Valley and Japan, earning his black belt at the Kodokan International Judo Center along the way. Eisler's bestselling thrillers have won the Barry Award and the Gumshoe Award for Best Thriller of the Year, have been included in numerous "Best Of" lists, and have been translated into nearly twenty languages. The first book in Eisler's John Rain series, Rain Fall, is now a minor motion picture (kidding, it’s reasonably major) starring Gary Oldman. Eisler lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and, when he's not writing novels, blogs about torture, civil liberties, and the rule of law. You can find out more on his website, friend him on Facebook, and follow him on Twitter. He was also in the movie Freakonomics, which he forgot to tell Joe.

Writing Fight Scenes


Rayne Hall - 2011
    You'll decide how much violence your scene needs, what's the best location, how your heroine can get out of trouble with self-defence and how to adapt your writing style to the fast pace of the action.There are sections on female fighters, male fighters, animals and weres, psychological obstacles, battles, duels, brawls, riots and final showdowns. For the requirements of your genre, there is even advice on how to build erotic tension in a fight scene, how magicians fight, how pirates capture ships and much more. You will learn about different types of weapons, how to use them in fiction, and how to avoid embarrassing blunders. The book uses British spellings.

Spilling the Beans: Cooking and Baking with Beans and Grains Every Day


Julie Van Rosendaal - 2011
    With humorous anecdotes and current factoids on health, Julie and Sue explain everything from the truth behind beans and flatulence to demystifying the simple process of soaking and cooking dried beans and lentils. At a time when eating foods that are as good for the environment as they are for us is a growing concern, whole, healthy, high-fibre foods such as beans and grains are in high demand. Helpful info from gastroentrologist Dr. Guido Van Rosendaal also highlights the physical benefits of incorporating more legumes and whole grains into our everyday diets. Spilling the Beans covers it all, from how to cook up beans and grains, to how to add healthy fibre to your favourite desserts. An entire section on baking delicious desserts with beans amps up cakes, bars, and cookies with flavour and fiber.

Fire Bubbles and Exploding Toothpaste: More Unforgettable Experiments That Make Science Fun


Steve Spangler - 2011
    The materials are easy to find and the directions are simple to follow, but the end result is guaranteed to produce lots of oohs and aahs. Steve Spangler takes his geek-chic approach to exposing some of the coolest science tricks that will surprise teachers and amaze your friends. Over 200 color photographs accompany the step-by-step instructions, and simple explanations uncover the how-to and why for each activity. You'll have a blast with these experiments: Floating Bowling Balls Pop Bottle Music Bouncing Smoke Bubbles Walking on Eggshells Balancing Nails Fireproof Balloon Skateboard Rocket Car Warning! Do not read the special, super-secret, teachers-only section that reveals a few of Steve Spangler's secrets for making science come alive in the classroom. If you're not a teacher and you don't want to miss out on twisting up a Fire Tornado or making a mountain of Exploding Toothpaste, just give this book to the coolest science teacher you know and ask him or her to help you create an unforgettable learning experience.

Victory Over Verbal Abuse: A Healing Guide to Renewing Your Spirit and Reclaiming Your Life


Patricia Evans - 2011
    This insidious behavior permeates our culture--from the privacy of our own homes to the public glare of our schools, workplaces, and other institutions.But you don't have to live with it. In this groundbreaking companion to her bestselling "The Verbally Abusive Relationship," acclaimed public speaker, educator and author Patricia Evans brings you the tools you need to triumph over verbal abuse, no matter where or how you encounter it.She'll guide you step by step through a powerful healing process that provides:A thorough review of available therapiesStrategies for dealing with abusersPositive messages of support and encouragementInspiring affirmations for every week of the yearWith Patricia's help, you'll achieve the clarity you need to build a new life--far from senseless accusations, wounding words, and confusing comments that have taken an untold toll on your psyche. You'll find validation, and learn to believe in yourself--and a better future--once more.

The Essential Urban Farmer


Novella Carpenter - 2011
    In this indispensable guide, Farm City author Novella Carpenter and Willow Rosenthal share their experience as successful urban farmers and provide practical blueprints-complete with rich visual material-for novice and experienced growers looking to bring the principles of ethical food to the city streets. The Essential Urban Farmer guides readers from day one to market day, advising on how to find the perfect site, design a landscape, and cultivate crops. For anyone who has ever grown herbs on windowsills, or tomatoes on fire escapes, this is an invaluable volume with the potential to change our menus, our health, and our cities forever.

Essentials of Dyslexia Assessment and Intervention


Nancy Mather - 2011
    Addressing the components that need to be considered in the assessment of dyslexia--both cognitive and academic--this book includes descriptions of the various tests used in a comprehensive dyslexia assessment along with detailed, evidence-based interventions that professionals and parents can use to help individuals struggling with dyslexia.Like all the volumes in the Essentials of Psychological Assessment series, each concise chapter features numerous callout boxes highlighting key concepts, bulleted points, and extensive illustrative material, as well as test questions that help you gauge and reinforce your grasp of the information covered.Providing an in-depth look at dyslexia, this straightforward book presents information that will prepare school psychologists, neuropsychologists, educational diagnosticians, special education teachers, as well as general education teachers, to recognize, assess, and provide effective treatment programs for dyslexia. The book is also a good resource for parents who are helping a child with dyslexia.A practical guide to understanding, assessing, and helping individuals who have dyslexia Expert advice and tips throughout Conveniently formatted for rapid reference Other titles in the Essentials of Psychological Assessment series: Essentials of Assessment Report Writing Essentials of School Neuropsychological Assessment Essentials of Evidence-Based Academic Interventions Essentials of Response to Intervention Essentials of Processing Assessment Essentials of Conners Behavior Assessments Essentials of Cross-Battery Assessment, Second Edition Essentials of WISC-IV Assessment, Second Edition

Collage Couture: Techniques for Creating Fashionable Art


Julie Nutting - 2011
    With styles ranging from cute to elegant and sweet to sophisticated, these mixed-media projects will transport your art from the studio to the runway!Collage Couture features:- 22 super-pretty projects, from collages on canvas to framed shadowbox art to gifts for your fashionista. Play with your materials--paper, paints, ink and markets--to create pieces you'll be happy to display and share. - Illustrations and easy instruction for creating fashion sketches and silhouettes. And don't forget the details: learn how to add eyes, lips, hair and, of course, clothing! - Tips and advice on setting the mood in your studio, from enhancing your art space with flowers and china to wearing a tiara as your work! Why not feel as pretty as your art?Indulge your inner girly-girl with Collage Couture!

The Canine Thyroid Epidemic: Answers You Need for Your Dog


W. Jean Dodds - 2011
    Learn how to recognize and get treatment for this under-diagnosed and misunderstood malady. Easy to read text with color photos and case studies to help you help your dog.

English for Writing Research Papers


Adrian Wallwork - 2011
    This book focuses on the aspect that causes non-native researchers the most problems when writing a scientific paper for publication in international journals and when presenting their results at conferences: the use of English.

Nancy Zieman's Sewing A to Z: Your Source for Sewing and Quilting Tips and Techniques


Nancy Zieman - 2011
    The Answers to All Your Sewing Questions!Whether you're a novice sewer or a skilled seamstress, who better to go to for sewing answers and advice than expert Nancy Zieman? Set aside your sewing fears and let Nancy guide you step-by-step through 100] basic to advanced sewing methods and techniques.Arranged in alphabetical order for fast and easy reference, this handy guide will make its permanent home by your sewing machine or on your workspace.With over 100 topics ranging from Appliqu� to Zippers, Nancy will help you achieve beautiful results with every project.Helpful Notes from Nancy throughout the book provide insights and tips for a variety of sewing techniques and skills.Spiral binding allows the book to lay flat for hands-free reference while you sew, cut or press.Clear, concise instructions and detailed illustrations help make even the most advanced techniques easy to understand and successfully execute.A wealth of information and instruction from your favorite sewing expert is at your fingertips in this go-to guide! Stitch with ease and assurance with Nancy Zieman's Sewing A to Z by your side!

Knitting with Two Colors: Techniques for Stranded Knitting and Designing Color-Patterned Garments


Meg Swansen - 2011
    Meg Swansen and Amy Detjen share decades of teaching experience as they guide readers from Getting Started with two-color knitting through Designing Your Own sweaters.You will find instructions for custom sizing and centering patterns, as well as a step-by-step guide to designing and knitting multiple styles of two-color garments.Detailed photos and examples throughout.

Brave: Honest Questions Women Ask: Member book


Angela Thomas - 2011
    Angela speaks to participants about deep feelings that all women have at one time or another. She looks boldly at some of the fears and struggles of being a woman, and she helps us see how we can be brave in the face of those challenges.It takes a brave woman to ask these questions and dig into these topics alongside other believers. We’ve all got insecurities, flaws, and struggles that we’re afraid to address. But if we can be brave enough to raise the questions, God will answer us. You’ve got questions. God’s got answers. Be brave. Ask.

Shadowfolds: Surprisingly Easy-To-Make Geometric Designs in Fabric


Jeffrey Rutzky - 2011
    The technique, pioneered by artist Chris K. Palmer, creates patterns from a single, uncut panel of cloth, using a simple, three-step process.In Shadowfolds, Jeff Rutzky, himself an accomplished and passionate origamist, and Palmer offer detailed and fascinating information about the technique and its origins in both Moorish tile and classic Japanese origami. Palmer first encountered the elaborate mosaics of the Alhambra and became intrigued with learning to translate these patterns into folded paper. He turned for inspiration to the work of Japanese origami masters Tomoko Fuse, Jun Maekawa, Toshikazu Kawasaki and Shuzu Fujimoto, as well as to the great American origami artists Robert Lang and Peter Engel.The transition to working in cloth followed. The flexible property of cloth allows pleats to be folded to augment and give a dimensionality not present in a flat surface; and the translucent quality adds a unique intricacy to the geometric patterns. When lines in a pattern are folded as pleats, the resulting shapes formed by the pleats become part of the artistic expression of the material.The possibilities for using Shadowfolds in design are limitless. Some applications take advantage of light shining through the fabric, others show the richness of the folds that have a depth all their own. In addition to explaining the three very simple steps of the technique, the authors show how even novice folders can create breathtaking works of textile art, as well as fashion-forward clothes, accessories and home furnishings incorporating these three-dimensional embellishments. They also include a section of patterns, and fabric and craft resources.

Mission Street Food: Recipes and Ideas from an Improbable Restaurant


Anthony Myint - 2011
    But it’s also a charitable organization, a taco truck, a burger stand, and a clubhouse for inventive cooks tucked inside an unassuming Chinese take-out place. In all its various incarnations, it upends traditional restaurant conventions, in search of moral and culinary satisfaction.Like Mission Street Food itself, this book is more than one thing: it’s a cookbook featuring step-by-step photography and sly commentary, but it’s also the memoir of a madcap project that redefined the authors’ marriage and a city’s food scene. Along with stories and recipes, you’ll find an idealistic business plan, a cheeky manifesto, and thoughtful essays on issues ranging from food pantries to fried chicken. Plus, a comic.Ultimately, Mission Street Food: Recipes and Ideas from an Improbable Restaurant presents an iconoclastic vision of cooking and eating in twenty-first century America.

Tomatomania!: A Fresh Approach to Celebrating Tomatoes in the Garden and in the Kitchen


Scott Daigre - 2011
    Tomatomania! walks readers through every step of the tomato gardening process, from the earliest planning stages to those final satisfying kitchen table moments of the season.Including 20 simple yet unique recipes and numerous kitchen tips to get the most out of your tomato harvest, this comprehensive guide to growing and cooking with tomatoes will turn you, too, into a proud 'maniac!

Create Your Own Free-Form Quilts: A Stress-Free Journey to Original Design


Rayna Gillman - 2011
    Learn how to trust your instincts so you can work more intuitively, and develop a new appreciation for the therapy of sewing without a plan.

Waterwise Plants for Sustainable Gardens: 200 Drought-Tolerant Choices for all Climates


Lauren Springer Ogden - 2011
    Plant entries provide the common and botanical name, the regions where the plant is best adapted, growth and care information, and notes on pests and disease. This practical and inspiring guide includes a variety of plants, from trees to succulents, perennials to bulbs, all selected for their wide adaptability and ornamental value. Companion plants, creative design ideas, and full color photography make this guide a must-have resource for any sustainable gardener.

The Lost Art of House Cleaning: A Clean House is a Happy Home


Jan M. Dougherty - 2011
    Until now.Jan Dougherty has owned a residential cleaning company for six years and has come to the conclusion that the art of housecleaning has all but been lost. “I believe I may be the only survivor who knows how to clean and therefore I have a duty and responsibility to pass on my wisdom (and share the pain) before it’s too late. Most people don’t like cleaning their house because they simply don’t know how.” Jan will show you that with three inexpensive products and a few tools how you too can clean your house and everything in it. She will explain “The PATH”, which is a method to get in, get it clean and get out of a room. Whether you’re doing maintenance cleaning or deep cleaning; “The PATH” is always the same.Her style is funny and entertaining. So even if you don’t want to clean your house you’ll have a good laugh.This is not a book of helpful hints. There are enough books out there that will explain how to clean puke or coffee or puked up coffee. This is a book on how to clean the house and everything in it. After you’ve finished cleaning a room it will sparkle, after you’ve finished cleaning the whole house the shine will be seen from the space station. Moms send copies to your children, if they read it you may not have to spend your next visit cleaning, like you always do. Kids send a copy to your mom, maybe on her next visit she’ll get more done before she leaves. Read it for entertainment! Read it for inspiration! Read it because it really solves the mystery of “How to clean”. “Follow me my child and I will show you The PATH”. Jan Dougherty “The Head Rag Dragger”

Don't Forget to Write for the Secondary Grades: 50 Enthralling and Effective Writing Lessons, Ages 11 and Up


Jennifer Traig - 2011
    Created as a resource to reach all students (even those most resistant to creative writing), the off-beat and attention-grabbing lessons include such gems as Literary Facebooks, where students create a mock Facebook profile based on their favorite literary character, as well as highly practical lessons like the College Application Essay Boot Camp. These writing lessons are written by experts--and favorite novelists, actors, and other entertainers pitched in too.Road-tested lessons from a stellar national writing lab Inventive and unique lessons that will appeal to even the most difficult-to-reach students Includes a chart linking lessons to the Common Core State Standards 826 National is an organization committed to supporting teachers, publishing student work, and offering services for English language learners.

Traditions from Elm Creek Quilts: 13 Quilts Projects to Piece and Applique


Jennifer Chiaverini - 2011
    This collection includes two Hawaiian-style patterns and a double wedding ring quilt, as well as the popular 'Cornucopia of Thanks' sampler.

Your Baby in Pictures: The New Parents' Guide to Photographing Your Baby's First Year


Me Ra Koh - 2011
    Why entrust your memories to hastily taken snapshots--or worse yet, none at all? Let professional photographer (and mom) Me Ra Koh help you capture the moments with 40 beautiful "photo recipes" anyone can do, with any camera. Telling your baby's story in pictures has never been easier!

Trusting Life: Overcoming the Fear and Beliefs That Block Peace and Happiness


Gina Lake - 2011
    Trusting Life is a deep exploration into the mystery of who we are, why we suffer, why we don't trust life, and how to become more trusting. It offers evidence that life is trustworthy and tools for overcoming the fear and beliefs that keep us from falling in love with life.If we persist in being involved with our egoic mind, the voice in our head, it will be difficult to discover the truth about reality-that living in reality, instead of the ego's virtual reality, is a peaceful, safe, and joyous place and that within us is the wisdom and guidance we need to be happy and fulfilled. Being in the moment is where true happiness lies, but we won't discover that if we're wrapped up in the ego's world and believing the ego's perspective, which is one of fear and distrust. Trusting that life is good is so important because the degree to which we trust life is the degree to which we can be happy and at peace. Trusting Life will help you find that happiness and peace.

The Science of Luck


Bong Chandra - 2011
    

The Path of Energy: Awaken Your Personal Power and Expand Your Consciousness


Synthia Andrews - 2011
    The Path of Energy is a unique handbook of principles, practices and exercises to help you access your energy awareness and live a more empowered life.In the book are 13 meditations that activate patterns of light within your energy body to awaken specific abilities and levels of awareness. Each meditation includes benefits and purpose, step-by-step written directions augmented with line drawings, and an interpretive illustration of the completed energy pattern.Subtle energy is more than life force; it is the substance of reality and the vehicle of consciousness. Your body is wired to navigate this domain. You are equipped with everything needed to engage the world of energy and creatively change your life. You simply need to remember how.The Path of Energy is a guide to living with expanded consciousness. Included are techniques that build energy awareness and use this skill to deepen your spiritual path, intimacy in relationships, align with earth energy, clear space, create protection, manifest goals, facilitate healing, and more.

Fear of the Abyss: Healing the Wounds of Shame & Perfectionism


Aleta Edwards - 2011
    While everyone needs coping skills, they are temporary aids that do not increase one’s self-awareness and understanding, as they do not address the root cause of the problem. In focusing on a specific problem or trait, they also fail to recognize that this trait is part of a wider constellation of interlocking issues. Self-help books of a more spiritual bent emphasize “awareness,” but do not show people how to get beyond their defenses to become truly self-aware. Still other books focus on a diagnostic label, such as Panic Disorder or Depression, but do not consider the type of person with these labels and their cause. Fear of the Abyss offers healing for a wounded core by providing specific guidance to those with the core issues of perfectionism and shame, regardless of which issues or diagnoses are on the surface, helping them to let go of that which is defensive or inauthentic. People like these fear facing emotional wounds, and develop their traits to defend against them. The title derives from what they fear on the deepest level—being like a dreaded other, often an abusive parent, or being the way a parent made them feel as a young child. Their fears have intense, varied associations, affecting their everyday lives and relationships. By following the path to their wounded core, readers will develop greater self-awareness, which is the cure for the broader spectrum of issues. Fear of the Abyss takes complex ideas and makes them accessible to the layperson. It includes exercises designed to gradually and gently guide the reader into more depth and insight, as the readiness develops. It contains clinical vignettes to illustrate each chapter’s main points and to share with readers the healing process of others.

Dollars and Sense: The Definitive Guide to Self-Publishing Success


Carolyn McCray - 2011
    

Allie Aller's Crazy Quilting: Modern Piecing & Embellishing Techniques for Joyful Stitching


Allison Ann Aller - 2011
    Jump into crazy quilting with seven enticing projects - ranging from small small quilts to needle cushions and bags - that teach you an array of easy-to-master techniques that combine traditional methods with modern fabric tricks for truly remarkable results.

Sewing Basics


Sandra Bardwell - 2011
    This thorough guide covers everything from choosing fabrics to operating a sewing machine to hand sewing, fitting, fine-finishing, trouble-shooting, and more. Whether the sewer is trying to decipher the symbols on a printed pattern, line a pocket, work French seams, or fit a muslin, she'll find what she's looking for here, all precisely explained and illustrated with hundreds of step-by-step photos. Both for beginners learning how to hem and for more experienced sewers who need help mastering advanced techniques, "Sewing Basics "is an invaluable reference tool sewers will want to keep within easy reach for many years to come.

Reimagining the California Lawn: Water-Conserving Plants, Practices, and Designs


Carol Bornstein - 2011
    From greenswards and meadows to succulent and kitchen gardens, this book presents alternatives to the traditional lawn that can reduce water use, beautify the landscape, and attract birds and butterflies. The authors of Reimagining the California Lawn, Carol Bornstein, David Fross, and Bart O Brien, are visionary horticulturists who wrote the award-winning book California Native Plants for the Garden. With this new publication, they share their passion for water-wise plants and landscapes to help Californians discover the many possibilities and pleasures that come with reimagining the lawn. If you are thinking about removing or reducing your lawn, this inspiring book is the perfect companion to help you begin the process. Its detailed text provides information about how to plan, install, and maintain an attractive landscape that can replace your lawn and describes hundreds of water-thrifty plants from California and other mediterranean climates of the world. Reimagining the California Lawn is illustrated with more than 300 color photographs and offers a variety of plant palettes to choose from as you begin the process of creating a more sustainable landscape.

Cooking Light Annual Recipes 2012: Every Recipe... A Year's Worth of Cooking Light Magazine


Cooking Light Magazine - 2011
    With more than 700 recipes, readers will discover new ingredients and flavors from cuisines around the world, the latest nutrition information demystified for helping to get meals on the table effortlessly, along with an array of menus for whatever the occasion. All the recipes are tested at least twice, often three or four times, to ensure that they are healthy, tasty, and easy to prepare.Features:Every recipe and menu that appeared in the magazine in 2011 is here--including those from the wildly popular Summer Cookbook and Holiday Cookbook issues that use the season's best produce to create memorable main dishes, sides, appetizers, and desserts.Nutritional analysis for each recipeA list of the year's highest-rated recipes and staff favorites, more than 65 full-color photographs, and four comprehensive indexes that make locating recipes easy.

Beyond Knit & Purl


Kate Atherley - 2011
    As a technical editor - and more importantly - as a teacher, Kate knows where knitters hit roadblocks and how to overcome them, and she shares her many years of experience in this book. Confused about increases or decreases? What's ease? If you've only knitted dishcloths, are you ready to move on to socks or should you try something else first? What does "decrease stitches evenly across" actually mean in practice? Do you need some Dirty Secrets or Knitterly Advice? (there are plenty of both scattered throughout the book's pages). Or do you need some help choosing the right pattern for you? This and much, much more are in the book. The amazing how-to photos by Caro Sheridan clearly demonstrate techniques so you can follow along as needed, and there are great patterns spread throughout to support the educational material ranging from ultra-simple dishcloths up to shawls, socks and other garments.

Love is a Verb Devotional: 365 Daily Inspirations to Bring Love Alive


Gary Chapman - 2011
    Gary Chapman has spent his life helping people communicate love more effectively and in turn build more satisfying and lasting relationships. This all-new book with readings for every day of the year will show readers love in action. Each day's reading includes a Scripture verse, brief true story, and concluding devotional thought from Dr. Chapman. The heart-tugging stories from everyday people displaying love in action encourage readers to give love a chance—or a second chance.This is a perfect gift for anniversaries, Valentines Day, birthdays, and for no reason except to say "I love you."

The Best of Clean Eating 2: Over 200 Recipes with Cleaned-Up Comfort Foods & Fast Family Dinners


Alicia Rewega - 2011
    Clean Eating is dedicated to showcasing recipes that are easy and affordable to make, comforting yet surprisingly light, and packed with seasonal and local ingredients. From low fat and heart healthy to vegetarian/vegan and gluten free, Clean Eating's recipes are conveniently adaptable to suit dietary restrictions without sacrificing taste.

Felt Friends from Japan: 86 Super-Cute Toys and Accessories to Make Yourself


Naomi Tabatha - 2011
    Author Naomi Tabatha has gone for a retro feel, capturing the style she remembers from her childhood in Japan during the 1960s and 1970s. Here are Mini-mascot Buddies like Mom and Baby Kitty Cats, Little Elephants, Cheeky Monkey, Croaky Frog, Droopy-eared Dog, and Cuddly Koala; Soft Toys like Brown Bear, Rika the Rabbit, and Little Red Hood; Purrcy Pussycat and Mr. Sausage Dog, the Tabletop Duo; Forest Friends named Fumiko Fawn and Little Rabbit; and the Beret Buddies, Miki the Monkey and Pao the Elephant. Also included are Cute 'n' Fun Accessories like the Frog Coin Purse, the Sausage Dog Pencil Case and the Little Bear Card CaseEvery project features clear step-by-step instructions accompanied by beautiful, full-color photographs and cut-out patterns; and an explanatory section covers the basic stitches and techniques used. Everything is hand-sewn and requires only felt and a needle-and-thread. Simple enough for crafters ranging in age from about 10 years old to adult, the book is sure to please anyone who loves creating cute things from felt.

A Self-Publisher's Companion


Joel Friedlander - 2011
    Joel Friedlander, one of the leading advocates for self-publishing on the internet, draws on a lifetime of experience helping self-publishers launch their books. He demystifies book publishing and, in the process, answers your questions about how to use social media, the importance of sound book construction, and the critical tasks that confront the modern self-publisher. As independent publishing becomes more popular with authors and readers, A Self-Publisher's Companion will show you the new way to publish and promote your book. From ebooks to iBooks, the author also shows how the move to ebooks is affecting independent publishers, and how best to approach the opportunity presented by Amazon's Kindle, Apple's iPad and all the other ebook readers. Drawn from his popular blog, TheBookDesigner.com, this book will help ensure self-publishers don't get left behind.

Brooklyn Brew Shop's Beer Making Book: 52 Seasonal Recipes for Small Batches


Erica Shea - 2011
    Erica Shea and Stephen Valand show that with a little space, a few tools, and the same ingredients breweries use, you too can make delicious craft beer right on your stovetop. Greenmarket-inspired and seasonally brewed, these 52 recipes include Everyday IPA and Rose Cheeked & Blonde for spring; Grapefruit Honey Ale and S’More Beer for summer; Apple Crisp Ale and Peanut Butter Porter for fall; Chestnut Brown ale and Gingerbread Ale for winter; and even four gluten-free brews. You’ll also find tips for growing hops, suggestions for food pairings, and recipes for cooking with beer. Brooklyn Brew Shop’s Beer Making Book offers a new approach to artisanal brewing and is a must-own for beer lovers, seasonally minded cooks, and anyone who gets a kick out of saying “I made this!”

Weekend Homesteader: October


Anna Hess - 2011
    are thinking hard about winter. This month's volume of Weekend Homesteader introduces two different ways to eat fresh produce deep into the cold months --- plucking winter squash and sweet potatoes right off the shelf and harvesting leafy greens from under quick hoops. Meanwhile, you'll take advantage of free mulch and compost going to waste in your neighborhood and will find out whether life at the poverty line is something to be scared of.For those of you who are new to Weekend Homesteader, this series walks you through the basics of growing your own food, cooking the bounty, preparing for emergency power outages, and achieving financial independence. Technically, the series began in May (or November in the southern hemisphere), but most of the projects are designed to be accessible even to someone starting from square one each month. This ebook, and each other volume in the series, presents one easy and fun project for each weekend so that you'll keep making headway without becoming overwhelmed.

501 Quilting Motifs: Designs For Hand Or Machine Quilting (That Patchwork Place)


Quiltmaker Magazine - 2011
    The motifs are cross-indexed by size & by style so finding the perfect one is quick and easy.

Extreme Double-Knitting: New Adventures in Reversible Colorwork


Alasdair Post-Quinn - 2011
    Alasdair Post-Quinn has created an exhaustive how-to for double-knitting that thoroughly tackles techniques you didn't even know existed, let alone thought were possible, such as cabled double-knit fabric, knitting different patterns on either side of the fabric (instead of the usual mirror images) and much more. With 14 patterns, nearly 200 pages and more than 400 photos and illustrations, Extreme Double-Knitting is the only double-knitting reference you need! WHAT OTHER DESIGNERS ARE SAYING... A brilliant book, bound to become a classic work. Acquiring these double-layer techniques will enhance all aspects of your knitting life. Extreme Double Knitting is a very thorough and clearly explained approach to this fascinating area of knitting. Even if you do not yet see yourself reaching some of the more extreme feats of double-layer knitting offered here, you will be gently enticed to expand your repertoire of skills as far as you wish, with plenty more brain candy awaiting you. -Lucy Neatby There are floods of knitting books that beguile with pretty, ingenious patterns. A precious few push back the boundaries of an entire technique. Extreme Double-Knitting does both, exceptionally. A tour-de-force. -Franklin Habit In this delicious guide to the subterranean wonderland of double knitting, Alasdair illuminates user-friendly and innovative techniques of layering color, texture, and design. -Cat Bordhi

Handmade Music Factory: The Ultimate Guide to Making Foot-Stompin'-Good Instruments


Mike Orr - 2011
    Just follow-along with handyman Mike Orr as he guides you through the making of 8 of the most creative instruments you’ll find anywhere. From a one-string guitar made from a soup can, to a hubcap banjo and even a stand-up guitar made from a vintage ironing board—you’ll make instruments that look great, sound great, and deliver some foot stompin’ fun. With Handmade Music Factory,  you can make:*Cigar Box Guitar*Hubcap Banjo*Cookie Tin Guitar*Stand-Up Lap Steel Guitar (made from a vintage ironing board!)*Washtub Bass*Stomp Box*Amplified Washboard*And more!You’ll also learn how to make your own amp using inexpensive parts from the local electronics store. And, don’t miss the plentiful sidebars and tips from the author on everything from where to find salvage parts to surviving music festival camp-outs!

Personal Geographies: Explorations in Mixed-Media Mapmaking


Jill K. Berry - 2011
    Personal Geographies gives you the tools and techniques you'll need to create artful maps of your self, your experiences and your personal journey. Chart the innermost workings of your mind, document your artistic path and create an unfolding maze of your future dreams and goals.Inside Personal Geographies you'll discover:- 21 mixed-media map projects featuring artistic techniques like working with alcohol inks and pochoir, painting on a black surface and carving custom stamps - Insight into the world of traditional and contemporary maps and how they relate to and inspire personal mapmaking - A gallery of maps by contributors from around the world to spark your own creativityFrom mapping your head, hands and heart to recording powerful memories or experiences, the maps in Personal Geographies are a gateway into the fascinating and meaningful world of you.

The Routledge Course in Japanese Translation


Yoko Hasegawa - 2011
    As students progress through the course they will acquire various tools to deal with the common problems typically involved in the practice of translation. Particular attention is paid to the structural differences between Japanese and English and to cross-cultural dissimilarities in stylistics.Essential theory and information on the translation process are provided as well as abundant practical tasks.The Routledge Course in Japanese Translation is essential reading for all serious students of Japanese at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.

Tennis Anatomy


E. Paul Roetert - 2011
    See what it takes to improve consistency and performance on the court. Tennis Anatomy will show you how to ace the competition by increasing strength, speed, and agility for more powerful serves and more accurate shots.Tennis Anatomy includes more than 72 of the most effective exercises, each with step-by-step descriptions and full-color anatomical illustrations highlighting muscles in action.Tennis Anatomy goes beyond exercises by placing you on the baseline, at the net, and on the service line. Illustrations of the active muscles for forehands, backhands, volleys, and serves show you how each exercise is fundamentally linked to tennis performance.You'll also learn how exercises can be modified to target specific areas, improve your skills, and minimize common tennis injuries. Best of all, you'll learn how to put it all together to develop a training program based on your individual needs and goals.Whether you're a serve and volleyer, baseliner, or all-court player, Tennis Anatomy will ensure that you step onto the court ready to dominate any opponent.

Nikon D5100


Rob Sylvan - 2011
    This new model replaces the popular D5000 and creates a nice bridge between the more beginner-level D3100 and the high-end D7000.This book has one goal: to teach D5100 owners how to make great shots using their new Nikon camera. Users learn how to use the D5100 to create the type of photos that inspired them to buy the camera in the first place. Everything in the book is in service of creating a great image.Starting with the top ten things users need to know about the camera, photographer Rob Sylvan carefully guides readers through the operating features. Owners get practical advice from a pro on which settings to use when, great shooting tips, and even end-of-chapter assignments.

Pocket Neighborhoods: Creating Small-Scale Community in a Large-Scale World


Ross Chapin - 2011
    Ross Chapin begins the book by outlining the shifts in the scale of community and the American Dream over several generations, leading to super-sized houses in a sea of development, then describes a solution to help restore healthy, livable communities. The first section of the book looks at historic precedents of pocket neighborhoods, from 15th century hofje almshouses in the Netherlands, to a 19th century Methodists Camp Community on Martha’s Vineyard, to early 20th century Garden City models and Southern California Cottage Courtyards. The second section covers a wide range of contemporary pocket neighborhoods, including New Urban communities, affordable housing, houseboat communities, eco-neighborhoods, and Ross Chapin Architects’ own pocket neighborhood examples. The third section focuses on ‘cohousing’ communities, from Danish origins in the 1960s, to examples across America, Australia and New Zealand, including a chapter on senior cohousing. The fourth section looks at retrofitting pocket neighborhoods within existing communities. Throughout the book are series of “Design Keys” that highlight the essential principles of pocket neighborhood planning and design, and short stories about “Pocket Neighborhood Pioneers” who blazed new trails. The book is filled with rich photographs, drawings, illustrations and site plans, and a Resources section at the end provides leads for the reader to explore the topic in further detail.