Michael's Eulogy centers around one man having to play God over a decision that pertains to not only a convicted murderer, but also the lives of a whole town and especially, the man's late best friend. Danny Gardner is asked to speak the eulogy at the funeral of his childhood best friend Michael Connolly, who had committed suicide, leaving a letter for everyone to read. But a day following the funeral and Danny's return home, he's given a letter written by Michael, explaining in riddles the true reason of suicide and that the original letter is more of a ploy. Confused and uncertain of the letter'smeaning, Danny recalls a pastmurder of a female classmate of theirs. Having to investigate hidden lies surrounding her murder that entails with the letter, Danny returns to Michael's hometown, but this time to cross examine the town's most protected secret that could destroy the entire town if discovered and revealed. ChristopherWilliamSelnawas born inMission Viejo, California. When hewas six his family moved to Scottsdale, Arizona, where he attended Sandpiper Elementary, Desert Shadows Middle School, and graduated at St. Mary's High School. After graduation, Christopher enlisted in theMarines and served four active years and was discharged honorably. He then attended Scottsdale Community College, and after a year of tending school, he decided to move to Los Angeles and pursue a screenwriting career. During his time in Los Angeles, Christopher Selna had worked at three restaurants as a bartender, notably Mastro's Steakhouse in Beverly Hills. Deciding that there were too many distractions he moved to Oregon with half of his first novel completed. Shortly after, he finished that novel and two more afterwards. Leaving Oregon a year later, he returned to Arizona where he started and finished his fourth novel, Michael's Eulogy. He still resides in Scottsdale, Arizona, and is working on a new novel.

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • David Brooks challenges us to rebalance the scales between the focus on external success—“résumé virtues”—and our core principles. NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY THE ECONOMIST With the wisdom, humor, curiosity, and sharp insights that have brought millions of readers to his New York Times column and his previous bestsellers, David Brooks has consistently illuminated our daily lives in surprising and original ways. In The Social Animal, he explored the neuroscience of human connection and how we can flourish together. Now, in The Road to Character, he focuses on the deeper values that should inform our lives. Looking to some of the world’s greatest thinkers and inspiring leaders, Brooks explores how, through internal struggle and a sense of their own limitations, they have built a strong inner character. Labor activist Frances Perkins understood the need to suppress parts of herself so that she could be an instrument in a larger cause. Dwight Eisenhower organized his life not around impulsive self-expression but considered self-restraint. Dorothy Day, a devout Catholic convert and champion of the poor, learned as a young woman the vocabulary of simplicity and surrender. Civil rights pioneers A. Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin learned reticence and the logic of self-discipline, the need to distrust oneself even while waging a noble crusade. Blending psychology, politics, spirituality, and confessional, The Road to Character provides an opportunity for us to rethink our priorities, and strive to build rich inner lives marked by humility and moral depth. “Joy,” David Brooks writes, “is a byproduct experienced by people who are aiming for something else. But it comes.” Praise for The Road to Character “A hyper-readable, lucid, often richly detailed human story.”—The New York Times Book Review “This profound and eloquent book is written with moral urgency and philosophical elegance.”—Andrew Solomon, author of Far from the Tree and The Noonday Demon “A powerful, haunting book that works its way beneath your skin.”—The Guardian “Original and eye-opening . . . Brooks is a normative version of Malcolm Gladwell, culling from a wide array of scientists and thinkers to weave an idea bigger than the sum of its parts.”—USA Today

Nowhere will you find a more comprehensive, current, and detailed writing skills course designed specifically for writing children and teen books, written by a children's and young adult author who is in the field today. WRITING FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS: A CRASH COURSE is a ten-step course that relays all the nitty-gritty details of the business, beginning with how to evaluate your book idea all the way to pitching your book to editors and agents. Within each step, you'll find clear and specific information covering topics such as the children's book market, manuscript format, commonly made mistakes and editing tips to beef up your writing skills, finding the right literary agent or children's book publisher, and professional submission etiquette. This book will even tell you what kind of paper you should use and exactly how you should write your email or letter pitches to editors and agents. Bonus materials include templates for all of your submission needs as well as examples of real-life editorial letters sent to authors from editors today. You will get a complete inside peak to the children's and YA fiction writing market for those who want to write picture books, easy readers, chapter books, and middle grade or young adult/teen novels.

The piercing, iconic semi-autobiographical novel of a domineering father and ambitious son, from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Prince of Tides Step into the powerhouse life of Bull Meecham. He’s all Marine—fighter pilot, king of the clouds, and absolute ruler of his family. Lillian is his wife—beautiful, southern-bred, with a core of velvet steel. Without her cool head, her kids would be in real trouble. Ben is the oldest, a born athlete whose best never satisfies the big man. Ben’s got to stand up, even fight back, against a father who doesn’t give in—not to his men, not to his wife, and certainly not to his son. Bull Meecham is undoubtedly Pat Conroy’s most explosive character—a man you should hate, but a man you will love. Praise for The Great Santini “Stinging authenticity . . . a book that won’t quit.”—The Atlanta Journal “[Pat] Conroy has captured a different slice of America in this funny, dramatic novel.”—Richmond News-Leader “Conroy takes aim at our darkest emotions, lets the arrow fly and hits the bull’s-eye almost every time.”—Milwaukee Journal Sentinel “Robust and vivid . . . full of feeling.”—Newsday “God preserve Pat Conroy.”—The Boston Globe

The author, a certified grief counselor, combines academic expertise . . . with her own and others personal experiences in this helpful resource. . . . [She] thoughtfully directs grief-stricken readers through the steps to create a moving, truthful speech. Kirkus Indie Review The eulogy: its not about the bowling scores. Its about who our loved ones werethe human qualities, virtues, and noble deeds that made them people of value in the world. Good Words: Memorializing through a Eulogy teaches how a eulogy can help us in difficult times of grief. Dr. Hewett shares how eulogies can be written at the time of death, before a loved one has died and shared with him or her, and even years later as a way to remember and honor an important person in our lives. This book walks readers through the writing process to help them develop powerful and personal eulogies based on time-honored strategies. It also teaches readers how to deliver the eulogy effectively. Good Words is full of useful information about eulogies, such as: how and when to include children in the ceremony, how to write eulogies for difficult situations like suicide or strained relationships, how to revise and polish a eulogy after the funeral or memorial ceremony, and how various religious perspectives from a wide variety of spiritual traditions might influence the eulogy. This book offers contemporary twists on classical eulogy writing, including using websites and YouTube to deliver the good words. Like no other book on the market, Good Words assists readers with writing their own good words of praise, blessing, and honor upon the death of a loved one.

The Last Word investigates the debased art of eulogy. Through insightful, surprisingly playful readings of famous eulogies (from a scene in Love Actually to Jacques Derrida’s heart-rending essays on the deaths of his peers), Cooper argues against the socially sanctioned desire to avoid thinking about death that results in clichéd memorials, honoring neither the living nor the dead.

"This book walks readers through the writing process to help them develop powerful and personal eulogies based on time-honored strategies. It also teaches readers how to deliver the eulogy effectively. Good Words is full of useful information about eulogies, such as: how and when to include children in the ceremony, how to write eulogies for difficult situations like suicide or strained relationships, how to revise and polish a eulogy after the funeral or memorial ceremony, and how various religious perspectives from a wide variety of spiritual traditions might influence the eulogy." --