The moving story of her own search for God by the highly-acclaimed author of the bestselling A History of God: The 4,000-Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity and Islam; The Battle for God: A History of Fundamentalism; and Islam: A Short History. In 1969, after seven years as a Roman Catholic nun -- hoping, but ultimately failing, to find God -- Armstrong left her convent. She knew almost nothing of the changed world she was entering, and she was tormented by panic attacks and inexplicable seizures. Her struggle against despair was fueled by a string of discouragements -- failed spirituality, doctorate and jobs, fruitless dealings with psychiatrists -- but finally, in 1976, she was diagnosed with epilepsy and given proper treatment. She then began the writing career that would become her true calling, and as she focused on the sacred texts of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, her own true inner story began to emerge. She would come to experience brief moments of transcendence through her work -- the profound fulfillment that she had not found in the long hours of prayer as a young nun. Powerfully engaging, often heart-breaking, but lit with bursts of humour, The Spiral Staircase is an extraordinary history of self.

Revenge is easy, but justice is worth fighting for... Kenna is tired of being lied to—and hunted by the very allies she once trusted. Unearthing the dark secrets of the superhero world has not only endangered her life, now her boyfriend faces execution for crimes he didn't commit and her mother is being held captive in a secret governmental prison. Kenna is determined to stand up for what's right and save those she loves from unspeakable fates. It's time for the betrayal to end. It's time for the real criminals to face justice. But the truth is even more terrifying than Kenna could imagine. A conspiracy threatens the fate of heroes, villains, and all of humanity. If Kenna's going to survive, she must draw on her deepest strength: her resilience. Because when Kenna's pushed to the limit, she doesn't break down. She fights back. The Hero Agenda Series: Powerless (Book 1) Relentless (Book 2)

In the midst of a multi-national comparative study of modern Catholic poets, Charles S. Kraszewski was more than a little surprised at the difficulty he encountered in finding a representative poet from that ostensibly most Catholic of European nations, Poland. With but two guiding criteria in mind – the poet had to be possessed of a Catholic world view and have a significant impact on the development of modern poetry – it seemed that Polish poets were either very good . . . or Catholic. Then, in 2004, during the funeral of the Nobel Prize winning poet Czesław Miłosz, it was revealed that the poet had written a recent letter to the Pope, declaring his intent, in his later writings, to express a Catholic viewpoint. This was a surprising admission, given the rather heterodox reputation that characterized the poet during his long lifetime. Irresolute Heresiarch: Catholicism, Gnosticism and Paganism in the Poetry of Czesław Miłosz is the fruit of Kraszewski’s research into the religious themes expressed in the poetry of the great bard. Beginning with his earliest published poems and continuing through the posthumously printed collections, the book is a careful consideration of the religious claims set forth in Miłosz’s works, which range from orthodox Christianity, through dualism and gnostic thought, with a healthy dose of pagan appraisal of the wonder of the natural world. In response to the question “Was Miłosz a Catholic poet?” Kraszewski first attempts to define that category, on the basis of Catholic core beliefs, and later, in a comparative discussion of indubitably Catholic greats, such as T. S. Eliot, Jan Zahradníček, and Hector de Saint-Denys Garneau. Although for the sake of clarity he focuses only on the poems, and not the prose works, of Czesław Miłosz, the answer to the question is made all the more difficult by the very personal lyrical “I” adopted by Miłosz in his poetic practice. Which “I” is speaking, when Manichean thought is expressed, and which “I” is it, that invokes the saints at moments of temptation? Whatever the answer to these questions may be, Irresolute Heresiarch is successful in highlighting the wide range, and complex nature, of one of the most influential and important poets of our time.

Kitty is 16 years old and a student at a boarding school in the mountains of Colorado. Her life is rather dreary and boring and she feels very alone. Only her roommate and best friend Jojo offers her support in this situation. When Kitty and Jojo suddenly land in a strange, magical world one evening, the shy young Kitty gradually becomes a combative, self-confident magician. In the mysterious world of Naytnal, she and Jojo must take up the fight against the evil that threatens to destroy the world. The new fantasy series NAYTNAL is a seven-part series about Kitty and Jojo in the fantastic world of the Star of Realms, as Naytnal is also called. This is the first volume in the series.

Kitty, apparently abandoned by her mother, and her friend Jojo are two normal girls who go to boarding school in the mountains of the Rocky Mountains. Or so they thought ... until one day they received a mysterious message from a strange, distant world that was in danger. Kitty and Jojo are supposed to go on a journey that will change their lives. Accompany Kitty and Jojo on their magical but also dark and dangerous first trip to the star of empires, which is also called Naytnal. Meet wizards, fairies, goblins and other monsters and beings, and get to know the deep meaning that Kitty and Jojo have in the end for the star of the empires. This is the first novel of the Naytnal series, the first volume of the fantasy series THE NAYTNAL CHRONICLES.

“A brave and lyrical exploration of motherhood and mental health ... as terrifying as it is riveting.” — Susannah Cahalan, NYT bestselling author of Brain on Fire A powerful exploration of postpartum psychosis and motherhood — and a call to end the stigma and blame. Early motherhood is supposed to be joyous, but for Aaisha Alvi, those early days were ruined by terrifying, delusional thoughts about her baby and family. Far beyond the trials of breastfeeding and getting her baby to sleep, Aaisha’s experience was the antithesis of everything she had ever been told about motherhood. When her second pregnancy ended in miscarriage, Aaisha’s psychosis returned. This time, however, she was blindsided by the unimaginable: voices urging her to stab her daughter and to harm innocent people. Aaisha felt evil, worthy of taking her own life. But each time she sought medical help, she was turned away. With unflinching honesty, Aaisha takes readers beyond the vitriol and blame flung at women — particularly women of colour — suffering from postpartum psychosis. Her story is a clarion call to increase awareness of a condition that need never result in tragedy and to build support for those affected by it.