A Spark of the Fire: The inspiration for most of this Sci-Fi and Fantasy book was the stories of my Native ancestors, my dreams, and Norse mythology. But then, where did the original stories and dreams come from? My dreams that began in the first story in this book, The Forest, have been with me almost since birth. I have remembered and wrote in my dream journals about meeting someone, who has been part of my Dreamtime and eventually waking life, who I believe to be my soulmate. Native stories have been the inspiration for my people as long as we can remember. These stories are not usually meant to be taken literally and are told and retold orally to be changed as the situation requires shaping our reality. The theme of the stories in this book is part relationships and a paradox of interstellar travel to other worlds out there among and beyond the Stars. I recall the words of Einstein who is mostly responsible for the theory concerning our inability to travel beyond the speed of light: Imagination is more important than Knowledge. And then my Native ancestors: We Are all Related. This book may then be an Aboriginal Theory of Relativity. .winterhawk

Jimmy Groome never really believed that his life was worth anything. An overweight and unpopular teen, it takes a suicide attempt to bring a traumatic childhood experience into sharp focus. With some encouragement from family and a counselor, Jimmy picks up a guitar and it quickly becomes obvious that he has a natural talent. After losing weight and joining a band, Jimmy goes from being a shy and insecure child to an outgoing and self-destructive young adult. In a world where sex, drugs and rock n' roll go hand in hand Jimmys future is uncertain. In this prequel to Fire, we follow Jimmy Groome on his dark path, where he decides if he'll ignite the fire inside - or if hell let it burn out and fade away.

In quarantined Colorado, where hundreds of thousands of people are dying from an unstoppable disease called the red death, insomniac Kate Cummings struggles to find the courage to live and to love. This is a story of survival in the face of brutality, government cover-up, and public hysteria. It is also a story of love: lost, found and fulfilled.

Named one of the best 25 space opera books by BookRiot! The first book in a scifi retelling of the Mahabrahata. When Esmae wins a contest of skill, she sets off events that trigger an inevitable and unwinnable war that pits her against the family she would give anything to return to. In a universe of capricious gods, dark moons, and kingdoms built on the backs of spaceships, a cursed queen sends her infant daughter away, a jealous uncle steals the throne of Kali from his nephew, and an exiled prince vows to take his crown back. Raised alone and far away from her home on Kali, Esmae longs to return to her family. When the King of Wychstar offers to gift the unbeatable, sentient warship Titania to a warrior that can win his competition, she sees her way home: she’ll enter the competition, reveal her true identity to the world, and help her famous brother win back the crown of Kali. It’s a great plan. Until it falls apart. Inspired by the Mahabharata and other ancient Indian stories, A Spark of White Fire is a lush, sweeping space opera about family, curses, and the endless battle between jealousy and love.

A Richly Illustrated Guide to Making Fire Without a Lighter If you ask outdoorsman Daniel Hume for the fastest, most practical way to start a fire, he’ll tell you: Use a match. But he probably won’t stop there. For Hume, conjuring flame is an art form, and seeking out the old ways is a passion that has led him the world over. Fire Making is your guide to techniques Hume has learned firsthand—from the San people in Namibia, the Mangyan of the Philippines, and other masters. You’ll fall in love with the craft of coaxing spark into flame using only handmade tools. Learn about: The bow drill, the fire plow, and other traditional fire–starters Every type of tinder, from birch bark to fungus Overcoming strong winds, freezing cold, and other challenges Plus modern fire–making hacks, such as using foil and a battery. Hume’s crystal clear steps, all helpfully illustrated, make it easy to start and maintain the perfect fire for any need—from quickly boiling a pot of water, to setting up camp . . . to the sheer joy of seeing your efforts rewarded with a blaze of warmth and light.

In the world of Wry, magic and mystery abound; but this world is also full of great danger. With the help of her newfound friends, Katherine must battle to find and rescue her daughter, Mandy, who was kidnapped by the evil Kylasar. Kylasar happens to be Mandy's father, but loses himself when Loche, the God of Chaos, takes control of both his mind and his body. Katherine eventually finds the Blue Sorcerers, the source of all goodness on Wry. Using their magic, these powerful sorcerers are able to discover Mandy's whereabouts, but it is up to Katherine to get to her in time. Will she survive long enough to reach her daughter and bring her to safety?

Up-to-date and thorough coverage of the causes, repercussions, and prevention of dust explosions and fires by one of the most well-respected environmental scientists and worker safety litigation specialists in the world This handy volume is a ready “go to” reference for the chemical engineer, plant manager, process engineer, or chemist working in industrial settings where dust explosions could be a concern, such as the process industries, coal industry, metal industry, and others. Though dust explosions have been around since the Earth first formed, and they have been studied and written about since the 1500s, they are still an ongoing concern and occur almost daily somewhere in the world, from bakeries to fertilizer plants. Dust explosions can have devastating consequences, and, recently, there have been new industrial standards and guidelines that reflect safer, more reasonable methods for dealing with materials to prevent dust explosions and resultant fires. This book not only presents these new developments for engineers and managers, it offers in-depth coverage of the subject, starting with a complete overview of dust—how it forms, when it is in danger of exploding, and how this risk can be mitigated—as well as a general overview of explosions and the environments that foster them. Dust Explosion and Fire Prevention Handbook covers individual industries, such as metal and coal; offers an appendix that outlines best practices for preventing dust explosions and fire and how these risks can be systematically mitigated by these implementations; and incorporates a handy glossary of terms for easy access, not only for the veteran engineer or chemist, but for the student or new hire. This ready reference is one of the most useful texts that an engineer or chemist could have at their side. With so many accidents still occurring in industry today, this must-have volume pinpoints the most common, sure-fire ways for engineers, scientists, and chemists working with these hazardous materials to go about their daily business safely, efficiently, and profitably, with no extraneous tables or theoretical treatises.