This book shares proven techniques for stimulating creativity and innovation.

Let's "cut to the chase" and "make no bones about it"-this book will have you "pleased as punch." Sowing your wild oats, throwing in the towel, painting the town red...Harry Oliver reveals the fascinating stories behind these and other strange turns of phrase steeped in the weird and wonderful history and traditions of everyday life. From quirky terms to street and city names and more, this book answers the questions you never thought to ask. ? What ancient empire coined the phrase "green with envy"? ? Who was the first person to "get someone's goat"? ? Which writer first penned, "I'll eat my hat!"

"In the world of country music, Buddy Killen is one of Nashville's biggest starmakers. In the course of his long career, beginning in the 1950s and continuing to the present day, he has worked with the likes of Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Elvis Presley, Dolly Parton, George Jones, Roger Miller, Billy Ray Cyrus, and many, many more. Now the man known as "the Quincy Jones of country music" tells all about his life and career in a personal and revealing story in the tradition of Ralph Emery's best-selling Memories. It is a rare behind-the-scenes look at the country music industry from someone who has seen the music business from the front offices to the back stages." "Country music is currently estimated to be a $3-billion-a-year business, with record sales topping $700 million annually. Buddy Killen, former owner of Tree International, is one of the megastars of that industry, having written, published, and produced more hit songs than anyone in Nashville. From publishing Elvis Presley's first million-dollar record, "Heartbreak Hotel," to signing up a fourteen-year-old Dolly Parton, to producing the records of such diverse recording stars as the Allman Brothers, Joe Tex, and Exile, Killen has seen, heard, and done it all." "Killen's story begins in a rat-infested shack in deep-Depression rural South, where Buddy was one of a family of eight children. After early years of struggle, he landed a job as a touring musician, playing with a number of country music's great performers, including one of the most famous and influential personalities in country music history, Hank Williams." "Looking back on a career spanning over forty years, Killen goes behind the myths to explore the truth of legends, revealing the secret and personal behavior of some of country music's most renowned greats, past and present. Like a Who's Who of contradictions of private acts and public image, Killen reveals the on-stage versus back-stage personalities of some of country's most beloved legends, stars such as Gentleman Jim Reeves, Patsy Cline, Johnny Paycheck, Dottie West, and George Jones." "By the Seat of My Pants is not only an exciting look at the nation's hottest entertainment field by one of Nashville's key players and ultimate insiders, but a compelling human interest story that personifies the triumph of the human spirit."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

When it comes to writing books, are you a “plotter” or a “pantser?” Is one method really better than the other? In this instructional ebook, author Libbie Hawker explains the benefits and technique of planning a story before you begin to write. She’ll show you how to develop a foolproof character arc and plot, how to pace any book for a can’t-put-down reading experience, and how to ensure that your stories are complete and satisfying without wasting time or words. Hawker’s outlining technique works no matter what genre you write, and no matter the age of your audience. If you want to improve your writing speed, increase your backlist, and ensure a quality book before you even write the first word, this is the how-to book for you. Take off your pants! It’s time to start outlining.

The Snowflake Method-ten battle-tested steps that jump-start your creativity and help you quickly map out your story.

Control your wiggles and be the BOSS of your ants. In I Have Ants in My Pants, Julia Cook helps normalize the feeling many kids have when they struggle to control their wiggles and provides strategies for improving impulse control. Some children just can't sit still no matter how hard they try. And Louis is no exception. He accidentally kicks his friend during story time. He can't stand still in the lunch line. And he wiggles in his seat at the movie theater. Everyone keeps telling him he has ants in his pants, but Louis doesn't see any ants! Louis' mom explains that this means he wiggles a lot, and she teaches him a special tool, the Wiggle Dance. Wiggle and jiggle. Jump up and down. Shake your hands and turn around. Take a deep breath. Scrunch up your nose. Wobble your knees and wiggle your toes. With a little practice and a few helpful tools, Louis learns that he can calm his wiggles and become the boss of the ants in his pants!

Hey! Oh! Ooooo. You picked me up! How sweet of you.... Oh what, I just wrote this whole thing and you expect me to write more words? Fine. Well inside what you're going to get is honesty and bad jokes. Some tears, fears, and CRAZY years. All rolled up into one insane ride. From shootings to births and mental illness to boot. Cancer, houses burning down, chronic illness... You want it we got it. It's real. It's raw. It's all the stuff nobody wants to talk about with a redheaded attitude, and a really bad sense of humor. But what can you do? This is me. This is my life.