Ever since Stella was a puppy, she was trained to use her powerful beagle nose to sniff out chemicals used in explosives and warn her human handler in order to keep people safe. But during a routine security inspection, Stella is distracted and misse

George loves Saturdays. That’s because Saturdays mean time with Grandma Stella. The two of them love going on adventures downtown to visit the dinosaur museum and ride on the carousel! Even when they stay in, George and Stella have fun together, making cinnamon rolls without popping open a tube and sharing the biggest, best hugs. Then one day Stella is gone, and George is ready to cancel Saturdays. But when a new addition to the family arrives, George finds a way to celebrate the priceless memories he made with his grandma—while making new ones too.

Arthur Miller decided to become a playwright after seeing her perform with the Group Theater. Marlon Brando attributed his acting to her genius as a teacher. Theater critic Robert Brustein calls her the greatest acting teacher in America. At the turn of the 20th century – by which time acting had hardly evolved since classical Greece – Stella Adler became a child star of the Yiddish stage in New York, where she was being groomed to refine acting craft and eventually help pioneer its modern gold standard: method acting. Stella's emphasis on experiencing a role through the actions in the given circumstances of the work directs actors toward a deep sociological understanding of the imagined characters: their social class, geographic upbringing, biography, which enlarges the actor's creative choices. Always “onstage ” Stella's flamboyant personality disguised a deep sense of not belonging. Her unrealized dream of becoming a movie star chafed against an unflagging commitment to the transformative power of art. From her Depression-era plays with the Group Theatre to freedom fighting during WWII, Stella used her notoriety as a tool for change. For this book, Sheana Ochoa worked alongside Irene Gilbert, Stella's friend of 30 years, who provided Ochoa with a trove of Stella's personal and pedagogical materials, and Ochoa interviewed Stella's entire living family, including her daughter Ellen; her colleagues and friends, from Arthur Miller to Karl Malden; and her students from Robert De Niro to Mark Ruffalo. Unearthing countless unpublished letters and interviews, private audio recordings, Stella's extensive FBI file, class videos and private audio recordings, Ochoa's biography introduces one of the most under recognized, yet most influential luminaries of the 20th century.

"When Stella does not want to go to bed, she tries all sorts of ways to keep the sun up"--

Luz Stella wanted the world to be a better place. When she found it to be otherwise, she did not hesitate to do all in her power to change it. Bismark Pacheco was there to do his part-to save the world, and to save Luz Stella. Or was it the other way around? When Pacheco loses his passport in a desperate deep water escape from a Cape Canaveral Cruise ship, the two seek help in Birmingham from their old friend Wilson Abut. The former quarterback, now a journalist, stirs the pot with his column Abut To You. Bubba Driver, the mammoth defensive tackle, runs interference. Eighty-year-old Dr. Helene Stern dodges terrorists who would destroy her Health First Clinic, and provides comfort to Siboney, the Latin beauty and unapologetic revolutionary. All are arrayed against the steely-eyed Bobby Sanchez who wants to bring down anything and anyone who would stand for an orderly world. This is Luz Stella's Tale.

Six days before Christmas, Stella must rush home to Scotland when her grandmother is taken to hospital. As she reconnects with her past, old flames are rekindled, and as Christmas fast approaches, Stella begins to wonder if her most heartfelt wish can come true? Uprooted from her life in London and back in her childhood home of the Scottish borders, Stella is soon faced with relationships which have lain dormant for years. New opportunities present themselves, but will Stella dare to take them... Fans of Christie Barlow, Jenny Hale, Holly Martin and the festive glow of Christmas lights will fall in love with this romantic Christmas treat. What readers have been saying about Stella's Christmas Wish: "A delightful, warm-hearted Christmas read which I thoroughly enjoyed." - Portobello Book Blog "This book feels like you should be snowed in somewhere, preferably in the country, with a nice armchair, warm blanket, hot chocolate and a sleeping cat ... a sweet story about family and friends." - Bookaholic Swede "Finally we discover what the Christmas Wish of the title is based on and sigh contentedly. Curl up and enjoy..." - Anne Stenhouse "A festive family drama with a liberal fairy-dust sprinkling of romance ... Kate Blackadder has created characters which are a delight to spend time with. Warm a glass of mulled wine, forget the Christmas to-do list... and enjoy!" - Rae Cowie

Stella's Stellar Adventure Stella chooses to go on a space adventure because she finds the tail of a comet interesting. As she looks into the comet's secrets, she and her trusty robot companion have fun and make new friends. Bio: Stella has a bright personality, and her eyes light up with thoughts of exploring space. She has always been interested in the beautiful night sky, which has driven her to learn new things and try new things from a young age. Stella has a huge imagination, bigger than the world itself. She often looks up at the sky and wonders what's beyond the moon and stars. She makes up her mind to go on a dangerous trip into space to find the answers. This will fulfill her wish and start a fun new journey. Stella goes on an exciting trip with her robot friend, who stands for her imagination and friendship. These dynamic pairs are exploring space in ways that have never been seen before. They are the perfect mix of scientific wonder and human desire. Stella's search turns into a deep journey of self-discovery as they go through the universe and face both dangers and wonders. She learns the value of friendship in the middle of being alone, the value of being brave in the face of the unknown, and the beauty of looking at the world with eyes full of wonder. Stella's story is inspiring because it shows that we can learn about the universe's wonders if we are curious, brave, and ask our friends for help. Page 9 of 25 In Summary: "Stella's Stellar Adventure" is a sweet story about friendship, discovery, and wonder that takes kids on an amazing journey through space. We meet Stella at the beginning of the story. She is a little girl who is very interested in the night sky. She sees a comet cutting through the sky, which changes her life in an exciting way. Its mysterious beauty interests her. Stella sets out on an epic trip to find out more about the comet. Stella's loyal robot friend stays with her as she continues her journey through space. Their trip is an ode to the universe's wonders and the desire to find new things. In a secret valley on Mars, they find mysteries. On the Moon, old whispers tell them stories about the universe. On Mars, they dance through an asteroid belt where each rock hums its own cosmic tune. As the couple speeds through Saturn's rings, they see how stars are formed in a beautiful cloud, hear the comet they've been following sing by itself, and almost get sucked into an unimaginable black hole. Stella learns new things and faces new challenges in each area, which helps her grow and understand the world better. Stella and her robot have their most important contact on a faraway planet, where they learn from friendly aliens about how all living things are connected and different at the same time. Like the other meetings, this one stresses unity, bravery, and the insatiable human need to know and understand the unknown. She comes back to Earth at the end of her trip through the galaxy, full of amazing stories and lessons she learned while she was away. Stella is still very interested in learning, even though the trip is over. After she gets back, she sees the night sky not as a faraway work of art that she can't understand, but as a call to endless journeys and chances. "Stella's Stellar Adventure" tells kids to have big dreams, value their relationships, and always ask questions about the world they live in. It's not just a story about going into space. Stella thinks of the world as a beautiful, interesting, and never-ending place to learn. This makes her think of the journey that people who are brave enough to look beyond will go on. Page 10 of 25 Chapter 1: Comet's Night. Stella was amazed as she looked up at the sky on a clear, quiet night. The stars were shining like tiny lanterns, and the sky was a deep dark blue. On this particular night, she saw something very beautiful. The sky was filled with a comet that was as bright as the moon. Its tail flashed with colors Stella had never seen before, leaving a bright path of color behind it. As it moved through space, the comet left behind a sparkling path where red, blue, green, and purple colors mixed. Stella felt a spark of excitement ignite inside her. She was full of wonder and couldn't stop asking questions. She said, "I have to find out where it's going." She thought the comet was calling to her, luring her to go on an exciting journey with its mysterious beauty and hypnotic path. Stella knew that this was a unique chance to see something in the universe. She was very interested in following the comet, figuring out what it was, and figuring out its path. Stella saw the comet going through asteroid belts and cosmic clouds, above planets and stars, and deeper into the unknown with each second that went by. With its rainbow of colors, the comet's tail looked like a map of the universe's secrets and undiscovered wonders. Each glimmer could help us figure out one of the secrets that lie beyond. Stella was excited about the idea of going on a space journey to follow the comet and learn about the stories it might hold. Stella made a choice that would change her life because she liked to try new things and was eager to learn. She wouldn't just watch the comet from her garden; she would go after it, going into space to follow its tail and find out where it was going. Stella stuck to her promise, even though the idea was controversial and might be dangerous. She was ready to go on an amazing trip to find new places and learn about the universe's great mysteries. After she made her choice, Stella's mind was full of plans and thoughts. How could she find the comet? What secrets would she find along the way? Without a doubt, the trip would be hard and full of both pleasures and difficulties. Stella, on the other hand, showed no fear. She liked to try new things and was very interested in the universe, so she was ready to take on anything it had to offer. On the night of the comet, she felt like she wanted to learn more about the world and figure out its mysteries again. She was about to start her trip through space. Page 11 of 25 Chapter 2: A Friend in the Loft Stella was amazed as she looked up at the sky on a clear, quiet night. The stars were shining like tiny lanterns, and the sky was a deep dark blue. On this particular night, she saw something very beautiful. The sky was filled with a comet that was as bright as the moon. Its tail flashed with colors Stella had never seen before, leaving a bright path of color behind it. As it moved through space, the comet left behind a sparkling path where red, blue, green, and purple colors mixed. Stella felt a spark of excitement ignite inside her. She was full of wonder and couldn't stop asking questions. She said, "I have to find out where it's going." She thought the comet was calling to her, luring her to go on an exciting journey with its mysterious beauty and hypnotic path. Stella knew that this was a unique chance to see something in the universe. She was very interested in following the comet, figuring out what it was, and figuring out its path. Stella saw the comet going through asteroid belts and cosmic clouds, above planets and stars, and deeper into the unknown with each second that went by. With its rainbow of colors, the comet's tail looked like a map of the universe's secrets and undiscovered wonders. Each glimmer could help us figure out one of the secrets that lie beyond. Stella was excited about the idea of going on a space journey to follow the comet and learn about the stories it might hold. Stella made a choice that would change her life because she liked to try new things and was eager to learn. She wouldn't just watch the comet from her garden; she would go after it, going into space to follow its tail and find out where it was going. Stella stuck to her promise, even though the idea was controversial and might be dangerous. She was ready to go on an amazing trip to find new places and learn about the universe's great mysteries. After she made her choice, Stella's mind was full of plans and thoughts. How could she find the comet? What secrets would she find along the way? Without a doubt, the trip would be hard and full of both pleasures and difficulties. Stella, on the other hand, showed no fear. She liked to try new things and was very interested in the universe, so she was ready to take on anything it had to offer. On the night of the comet, she felt like she wanted to learn more about the world and figure out its mysteries again. She was about to start her trip through space.