RENOWNED ARTIST R. O. BLECHMAN'S illustrations are instantly recognizable. For more than fifty years, his work has appeared on the covers of The New Yorker, run alongside op-eds in The New York Times, graced the pages of Harper's Bazaar, and, more recently, been featured on The Huffington Post, providing unspoken commentary on the world at large. In Dear James, Blechman has compiled all the wisdom he has accumulated over the course of his esteemed career into a series of poignant yet instructive letters written to an imagined young illustrator, "James." The result is a wise and mesmerizing meditation on creativity. Flush with wit and candor, Blechman's correspondence delves into his own trash can of false starts and failed beginnings, in addition to his artistic triumphs, to offer James both encouragement and criticism. He urges him to reach his potential as an artist, advising him on practical aspects -- proper technique, choice of work environments, dealing with editors -- and along the way provides invaluable insights on art, and life, that lay bare the challenges James will face as he aims to be successful in this demanding field. In the tradition of Rilke's Letters to a Young Poet, Dear James is an indispensable tool for any up-and-coming creative person looking for advice and inspiration, as well as a memorable read for those daring enough to chase their dreams.

Portrays the closely-intertwined and often troubled lives of residents in the small town as seen through the eyes of Miles Pruitt, a much respected high school teacher

Dear James, by best-selling author Jon Hassler, is a delightful exploration of the themes of loss and spiritual renewal. Agatha Magee, the feisty, quick-witted, fiercely Catholic doyenne of Staggerford, Minnesota, confronts crises large and small in her 70th year: she is forced to retire from her beloved teaching; she's crushed to learn that her Irish pen pal, James, is a priest; and she's faced with evils ranging from Irish terrorism to the petty jealousies that tear apart life in a small town. John Hassler's Dear James is a poignant reminder that life is full of sorrow and loss, but also of joy and new beginnings.

It's ironic how stories end. Painful experiences remain locked within your shattered soul until life, through orchestrated circumstances, hands you the key to unlock the rusted metal bars that held you a prisoner far too long. This book was written for women who have loved deeply, only to find themselves effortlessly thrown aside. It was written for mothers who were left standing alone holding an innocent child. May these penned words find their way into the darkest places of your heart, releasing you from pain, regret, and rejection completely. Dear James is a raw, honest, gut-wrenching personal journey through grief. It is the story of a shattered past, an uncertain future, and the struggle of a mother and daughter to find wholeness.

Told through a series of notes, two boys go on a hike hoping to find Yeti but run into trouble along the way.

Every morning James Christie puts on a blue rugby shirt and jeans. His wardrobe is full of identical outfits. Every day he eats the same meal and drinks from the same mug. These are not ingrained habits, but survival strategies. For James, coping with new experiences feels like smashing his head through a plate glass window. The only relief comes from belting the heavy bag at the boxing club or watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He's an autistic man lost in a neuro-typical world. Differently wired. Alien. Despite a high IQ, it seems he'll spend the next 20 years cleaning toilets. But then his life takes an amazing turn - from a Glasgow tenement to a rendezvous with a Hollywood star on Sunset Boulevard. On that road trip across America, the man who feels he lacks a soul will find it. Eight time zones and 5,000 miles away, he has a date with the actress who played Drusilla, the kooky vampire who changed his life when he saw her in a Buffy episode. Drusilla has no soul either. And maybe that's the attraction. But Drusilla is fictional. The lady he'll see on Sunset is Juliet Landau. She's real, and that's a very different proposition...

Few entrepreneurs have had as rich and varied a business career as John Timpson, the chairman and chief executive of Timpson Ltd. He has witnessed his father being forced out of what was the family business. He has negotiated a management buy-out from Hanson. He has twice mortgaged his house to finance career-changing deals. Today, the business that bears his name is a flourishing and profitable nationwide chain of over 320 outlets. John Timpson was the king of niche retailing before the term was even invented. This book was conceived as a set of notes and ideas for John's son, James, to prepare him for taking over the company. "They constitute the best advice I can give you," father tells son, "25 years of experience." Gritty, frank and above all highly practical, Dear James will provide all managers with an abundance of tips on how to run a business better. But Dear James is far more than that. Warm, funny and highly personal, it's a true original: a business book that comes from the heart.