Hollywood: Did You Know?


Alan Royle - 2018
    ‘Hollywood: Did You Know?’ is a collection of tidbits of information about the content or making of around 400 movies, ranging from the earliest days of the silent era to the present time. I have utilised anecdotes and comments from scores of biographies (authorised and unauthorised), as well as Internet sources, magazine articles, interviews and TV appearances. If, like me, you are fascinated by the world of movies, particularly the days of the studio system, I think you shall find more than enough items here to satisfy your curiosity. I am currently researching a second volume along similar lines. For elderly readers I should point out that there is a considerable amount of ‘bad language’ herein, simply because I quote actors and actresses verbatim. For many of them (even the so-called ‘greats’), peppering their reminiscences with expletives is commonplace. I make no apology for this, however, for I think it is important to present these individuals as they really were, minus the studio hype that tended to elevate them to the status of flawless gods and godesses. Very few lived up to their glowing reputations, I’m afraid. Having said that, I believe that the temptations ever present for these men and women who were suddenly faced with enormous wealth and universal adoration, would test the resolve of most of us, saints and all. And saints have always been few and far between in Tinsel Town. When I published my first book (Hollywood Warts ‘n’ All Volume 1) in 2005, I was accused of ‘muck-raking’, of tarnishing the reputations of deceased stars who could no longer defend themselves. I still get the occasional brickbat along those lines even today, but times have changed. Over the past 20 years or so, hundreds of books have been published about the ‘good old days’ of the studio system; not only stars’ biographies, but accounts from a diverse range of previously unheard from sources. Maids, bodyguards, chauffeurs, secretaries, bell-hops, agents, family members and acquaintances of the rich and famous etc, now put their memories into print, confirming much of what I have been writing about for almost a decade and a half. Of course, there are still those who rail against anyone who deigns to question the ‘snow-jobs’ churned out by studio publicity departments down the decades; the standard complaint being the usual one – the dead cannot defend themselves. Well, there have been more books written about Napoleon Bonaparte and Hitler than most anyone else, yet no-one complains of either man being unable to defend himself. So, again I make no apolgies for anything included in this publication, unless the reader comes across an unforseen error I may have accidentally overlooked, in which case I apologise unreservedly.

True State Trooper Stories


Charles A. Black - 2016
    Sgt. Charles Black is a 35 year veteran of the Iowa State Patrol during those years he has had many experiences and he shares his favorites in this book. In 35 years I have seen a lot of changes from the name of the organization to the primary function. From hearses to ambulances to rescue units with EMT's. From paper list of stolen cars to computers.From no recorders to body cameras. From fist fights to gun fights.But human nature and the effects of drugs and alcohol remain the same.

Stone Cold: The extraordinary story of Len Opie, Australia's deadliest soldier


Andrew Faulkner - 2016
    A cold-eyed killer who drank nothing stronger than weak tea, he fought with his bare hands, a sharpened shovel and piano wire. He was a larrikin who went by the book, unless the book was wrong. He set his own bar high and expected others to do the same.Stone Cold is the extraordinary story of one of Australia's most fearless fighters. It takes us into the jungles of New Guinea and Borneo and some of the fiercest battles of World War II. It goes to the cold heart of Korea, where Len emerged from the ranks to excel in the epic Battle of Kapyong and play a key role at the Battle of Maryang San. And it drops us into the centre of the American counterinsurgency war in Vietnam with Len's involvement in the CIA's shadowy black ops program, Phoenix.Action-packed and surprising, Stone Cold gives rich life to a warrior soldier and one of Australia's greatest diggers.

Boeing 747. Queen of the Skies.: Reflections from the Flight Deck.


Owen Zupp - 2019
    From flights over Antarctica to carrying a spare fifth engine beneath the wing, award-winning aviation writer and airline pilot, Owen Zupp, has detailed the varied journeys of the magnificent Boeing 747. Click below to buy this book and share the journey.

Leadership: Tidbits and Treasures


Chris Brady - 2008
    Here is a book that will stimulate your thinking and help you to be successful in your work, your study, and in your every day living. Our prayer is that it will also educated the reader in the areas of history, politics, economics and the culture war that is currently upon us. the articles and illustrtions from great thinkers and doers throughout history outlined on these pages, will, if studied and applied to your life, help develop your inner qualities, and that is where your real wealth is.

Cold Fury: The Cannock Chase Murders


David J. Cooper - 2020
    Why would a man, married to an attractive young woman, want to sexually assault and murder innocent little girls?In the late 1960s, Cannock Chase in Staffordshire became the centre of the biggest murder hunt in Britain.The bodies of five year old Diane Tift, six year old Margaret Reynolds, and seven year old Christine Darby were found dumped there.The killer thought he was cleverer than the police and slipped through the net four times.He would have continued with the killings but he made a big mistake.Find out what happened and how the police eventually caught up with him.

Stealing the Wave: The Epic Struggle Between Ken Bradshaw and Mark Foo


Andy Martin - 2007
    In the mid-80s, Ken Bradshaw and Mark Foo took big-wave surfing's spiritual home, Waimea Bay on Hawaii's legendary North Shore, and in their relentless quest for supremacy turned it into an arena of personal combat. Bradshaw was in pole-position. The muscular, square-jawed Texan already commanded respect through a combination of strength, gritty determination, and infamous temper – he was known to bite chunks out of fellow surfers' boards whenever he felt disrespected in the water. Mark Foo was the new kid on the block, and his polar opposite. The icon of the next generation, openly challenging the old guard, this slim Chinese-American wowed Waimea's winter crowds with his prowess, speed, moves, looks, and thirst for the biggest waves. But Foo's talent for self-marketing was anathema to surfing veterans and purists, and above all to Bradshaw. Foo was driving surfing in a new, commercial direction, while Bradshaw saw himself as the heir and guardian of a great tradition. And then one fine day Foo stole a wave from right under Bradshaw's nose, arousing his wrath, and firing up a feud that would span a decade.Their unforgiving rivalry would ultimately evolve into a grudging mutual admiration which was, however, doomed to end in death on a giant swell at Maverick's, just south of San Francisco, on Christmas Eve of 1994. Stealing the Wave is the intimate history of the conflict between two remarkable men that gets to the heart of what it means to compete, and examines what happens when competition, passion and belief go too far.

Effortless Small Talk: Learn How to Talk to Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere... Even If You're Painfully Shy


Andy Arnott - 2014
    I would awkwardly blunder my way through conversations and always end up embarrassing myself. However, instead of accepting my awful social skills as “part of me” I decided to overcome them and master small talk. And You Can Master Small Talk Too… In this book I detail everything I did to overcome my fear and inability to make small talk, so that you can do it too. You can pick up this book, read through it and have an actionable step-by-step structure to follow so you can master small talk. If you follow the simple structure and easy strategies I lay out then you will be able to converse with anyone, anytime, anywhere. I studied everything from esteemed psychologists all the way to pick-up artists so I could find the simplest ways to conquer my fears. Everything in this book has been boiled down to its simplest form and then molded into actionable steps. This means you don’t need to spend countless hours researching, reading and testing techniques, I did all that for you. You just need to read this book. As you work through the book you will learn the following: - The simplest, most actionable strategies for mastering small talk - How to effortlessly ‘open’ any conversation, no matter where you are - How to control your body language to make people want to talk to you - How to use small talk to get ahead in life - Simple psychological hacks to instantly improve your mood and radiate confidence - How to make other people want to talk to you And much, much more. But Why is Small Talk So Important Well, here's the funny thing… Most people don’t think small talk is important at all, but that’s because they aren’t aware just how powerful it is. If you learn to master small talk then you can use it to better your life in an almost infinite number of ways. Small talk can be used to do any of the following, and much more: - Get a new promotion at work - Meet a new romantic partner - Network with incredible people - Avoid being the awkward one at the party And that is only scratching the surface. So, if you hate how awkward you are in social situations and wish you could change, let me help you. I wrote this book to help people who were in the exact situation I was in just a few years ago. So, don’t let your poor social skills hold you back in life and cripple you. Instead, learn to master small talk. Buy the book now and learn how to make effortless small talk with anyone, anywhere, anytime. Click the “buy now” button and start conquering your fears and inabilities right now. I look forward to helping you on your journey.

The Visitors: A True Haunting (True Hauntings Book 5)


Rebecca Patrick-Howard - 2016
    They didn’t believe in ghosts…but they would.Named for the row of weeping willows that lined the driveway,Willow Terrace was the most well-known house in the county. With its sweeping views, wraparound porches, and fourteen rooms it was the kind of place that was coveted. Built in the mid-nineteenth century, it was also one of the old houses in town. Stained windows, intricate wood carvings, and a winding staircase straight out of the movies– So why had it been empty for so long? The Sanders family had been watching the house for most of their lives. As a teenager, Piper had sworn she would own the house one day. When their small business began taking off, they finally had the chance to buy Willow Terrace and begin fixing up the sad, neglected place.They’d brushed off those rumors and stories they’d heard, tales of ghostly figures that appeared in windows, cries in the middle of the night, objects that flew across rooms... Ghosts weren’t real, right?Piper and Larry were about to take a journey into the world of the supernatural–a journey they’d never forget. They’d soon learn they weren’t the only ones living in their new house.And that their unearthly visitors might not be happy for the intrusion. Secret passageways, underground tunnels, an invisible child, demonic rituals, and a town’s haunting mystery…had they bitten off more than they could chew? Now the Sanders' family faced a difficult choice: make a run for it or stay and fight for the house they'd invested everything in. Based on a true story.

All in a Doctor’s Day: A collection of short medical stories


Peter Sykes - 2020
    Peter Sykes lifts the lid on the good, the bad and the ugly in the NHS, based on real-life situations from his 40 years experience at the sharp end of medical practice.Some of these stories will make you laugh, a few will make you cry and others have a surprising twist in the tail.They feature patients, doctors and nurses, blood, sweat and toil, life and death, heartache and joy.

ER Stories from the Inside


Brian Fleig - 2019
    • Real stories tell the sad, gory, uplifting and the funny, • Stories from across the country by an actual travel nurse

Hollywood Celebrities: Where Are They Now?


Ron Ebner - 2013
    Here in this book Ron Ebner—author of The Winds of Hell, Nova, Plague World, and two short story collections—has collected a voluminous amount of information about current actors and former actors, including:Disney favorites Annette Funicello, Tommy Kirk, Tim Considine, Hayley Mills and Kevin Corcoran, as well as Mouseketeers Sharon Baird, Lonnie Burr, Cubby O’Brien and Karen Pendleton; Lauren Chapin and Elinor Donahue of “Father Knows Best”; Johnny Crawford of “The Rifleman”; Shelley Fabares of “The Donna Reed Show”; Little Rascal “Spanky” McFarland; Beverly Washburn; Cynthia Pepper; Native American actors Chief Dan George and Will Sampson; the frisky star of the original Nancy Drew movies, Bonita Granville; Al “Grandpa” Lewis; Fess Parker; John Amos…and many others.Read through these pages and find out what’s happening with about 100 of your favorite Hollywood celebrities.

The Scottish Doctor's Daughter


Jo Bartlett - 2018
     DI Hannah Blair has returned to Scotland to head up a small team of detectives investigating the whole range of crimes that occur in the wild Highlands. When her team is asked to investigate a suspicious death in the rural town of Balloch Pass, Blair isn’t just looking for a potential killer, she’s also chasing the ghosts of her past. Dr Noah Bradshaw has only been in town for a year. But as one of three GPs in the small medical practice, he’s already well-liked in the community… until the finger of suspicion points at him, and some of his patients start to believe he really could be capable of murder. With a local priest also under suspicion, Blair is preoccupied by her strained relationship with her father and her unwanted attraction to one of the suspects, until the investigation seems to be slipping through her fingers. But when Noah reveals the secret that brought him to Balloch Pass, everything changes… Blair faces a race against time to stop the killer striking again, and grab her own chance of happiness with both hands.

My Will to Live: My Story of Surviving the Holocaust


Eve Gordon - 2014
    His life is rapidly changed. His family is destroyed. An unbelievable story about escape, intrigue, survival and the miraculous ability of one young man to outwit and outlive his gestapo torturers.

Shots Fired Deputy Down


Craig Johnson - 2015
    This book covers Sergeant Johnson’s career and assignments that included working in the jails, patrol, community policing, Special Investigations (Narcotics and Gangs), and the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force. Sergeant Johnson was promoted to sergeant in 2010 and was assigned to the Eastern portion of San Diego County where he worked in patrol and a specialty assignment for the remainder of his career. On September 25, 2012, Sergeant Johnson’s career and the careers of several other deputies would take a turn for the worst. Sergeant Johnson and his team of deputies were ambushed by a child molester armed with a high powered rifle as they attempted to arrest the suspect. One of Sergeant Johnson’s deputies was shot at extremely close range and was trapped in the apartment with the suspect. Sergeant Johnson was hit by gun fire on the landing of the suspect’s apartment and trapped on the second floor with nowhere to go. The ordeal lasted fifteen minutes before Sergeant Johnson and the wounded deputy were rescued and transported to a hospital. This book discusses the harrowing experience of being shot and barricaded without an escape. It discusses the incredible story of Christian faith during the moments when Sergeant Johnson and his team of deputies feared for their lives. The cover photo is a testament to Sergeant Johnson’s faith and the survival of Sergeant Johnson and his team of deputies who were there on that day. This book highlights Sergeant Johnson’s early career and accomplishments, deals with personal tragedies related to the shooting and other events in Sergeant Johnson’s life, and Sergeant Johnson’s struggle to overcome such a traumatic event. The hope of this book is to help others learn they will survive these critical situations, and the aftermath that affects many called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). With the help of therapy, family, and faith, Sergeant Johnson survived the ordeal that occurred on September 25, 2012. Sergeant Johnson considers himself a survivor and not a victim. By reading this book you will experience what it is like to be a peace officer in Southern California. You will have a better understanding of the peril that peace officers face on a daily basis. You will have a better understanding how these events can weigh on each officer over his or her long careers. This book discusses details about the shooting (which was approximately a 15 minute ordeal), the rescue of Sergeant Johnson and his deputies, and Sergeant Johnson’s recovery that took over a year for him to deal with. This book is a testament to all of the men and women who wear the badge and all they deal with on a daily basis. This book praises Sergeant Johnson’s Christian faith that was paramount for him to survive this traumatic event and heal.