What’s the big deal about this immortalized fruit, revered by Pharaohs, kings, poets, and common people alike? A lot! In fact, some religious scholars believe this otherwise named Phoenician apple is that metaphoric fruit – symbolizing health, fertility and longevity – spoken of in the biblical Garden of Eden. In Praise of the Pomegranate sings more than just praises of this legendary and fruit, dating back to 3500 BC. It is a “treasure trove” filled with: – ground-breaking medical findings in cancer and other immune disease prevention – an infallible weight loss guide based on Nature's way – dozens of images and illustrations in brilliant colours – tips and original recipes to utilize all parts of the pomegranate – both skin and arils A must read for one who wishes to learn how in adding this miraculous fruit to your diet you may naturally: · reverse premature aging · overcome weight issues · boost erectile function · increase fertility · improve mental health · super-charge cardiovascular functions · enhance personal magnetism (attraction)

"I do not talk to dirty boys." The girl was defiant, her dress dusty, her scarf askew; tendrils of burnished copper hair escaping onto her face. She would not stand by as her brother defended her honor. She would defend herself. So begins the story of Batsheva Hagiz, the spirited daughter of a Jewish merchant dynasty in 12th Century Málaga. Her life is set by tradition, with schooling in languages, merchandise, and trade. But it's her love of swordplay and the ability to throw a dagger with deadly aim that will serve her best. On the caravan journey across the desert to her wedding, Batsheva is abducted by men who are certain their sheik will prize her body. In the early days of captivity, chained to his tent, she makes the decision to do more than merely survive. She will live. Her resolve will push the boundaries of convention, taking Batsheva from the sands of the Maghreb to the Holy Land where a crusade rages, on to the court of Plantagenet England. Batsheva is Everywoman; she refuses to give in to her fate. Instead, she confronts the world on her terms. In her third novel, S. J. Schwaidelson weaves another cinematic story, immersing readers into exotic lands and cultures with surprisingly contemporary conflicts and human passions.

In ancient Ammon, a sheltered young woman fleeing her rich and powerful father’s plans for her marriage is thrust into a violent world in which her only tools – or weapons – are her knowledge of plants and healing. Under the Pomegranate Tree is a stand-alone historical novel, but does contain a character featured in the author's historical novel Judith, which is based on the apocryphal Book of Judith.

Between 1998 and 2000, Sue and Ann travel throughout Greece and France. Sue, coming to grips with aging, caught in a creative vacuum, longing to reconnect with her grown daughter, struggles to enlarge a vision of swarming bees into a novel. Ann, just graduated from college, heartbroken and benumbed by the classic question about what to do with her life, grapples with a painful depression. As this modern-day Demeter and Persephone chronicle the richly symbolic and personal meaning of an array of inspiring figures and sites, they also each give voice to that most protean of connections: the bond of mother and daughter.

Told through the point of view of her tutor, Beatriz Galindo, Falling Pomegranate Seeds: The Duty of Daughters shines a light on the forces shaping Catalina of Aragon during her childhood and the years leading up to the leaving of her homeland, and the court of her mother, Queen Isabel of Castile.

“Nishta Mehra's luminous prose shines in these linked essay meditations on love, grief, and identity. A natural storyteller, she has an original voice, an ear for spoken language, and an eye for the sparkling detail. A compellingly original coming-of-age story told in writing that is at turns crisp and lyrical but always entertaining.”-Cara Blue Adams, editor, The Southern Review “The Pomegranate King is an emotionally balanced, thoughtfully curated collection of essays...Mehra unpacks what it means to arrive at the shores of other strange countries: coming out, falling in love, becoming a parent and mourning your own. A truly moving debut.”-Lauren Eggert-Crowe, author of In the Songbird Laboratory & The Exhibit Divided into four sections--Identity, Death, Community, & Belief--The Pomegranate King is a dynamic collection of essays that showcases Nishta Mehra's insightful voice and unique perspective. Filled with stories that are at once deeply personal and universally relevant, these twelve original essays demonstrate Mehra's ability to find meaning in all facets of human experience. Whether recounting the sudden death of her father, describing her adventures in the kitchen, or analyzing the art of Mark Rothko, Mehra makes smart, poignant observations that will captivate and touch you. An engaging, compelling read.

'Ali spins a web of tales that is as inventive and fantastical as the Arabian nights.'âe"The Times.