Phantom Mesa Written by: Jim McMillen

Aging Southwest Texas rancher Clovis Carlisle is met with unexpected resistance when news spreads that he is considering a lease contract that would place up to 80 towering wind turbines atop the one-and-a-half square mile mesa that towers 200 feet above the rest of his four-and-a-half square mile ranch.

He is confronted by environmental and other issue-driven protesters, electricity-sensitive neighbors, and a pot-smoking, ex-college professor who manufacturers meth in his remote cabin. Augusto Klemen, a Mexican drug lord, formerly a freshman cadet at Clovis’ military boarding school, discovers Clovis’ location through wind farm news. Severely burned by Clovis over 50 years before in a hazing incident, Klemen seeks revenge. Making matters worse, a coldblooded Russian hit man is contracted to kill Clovis. 

Atop Phantom Mesa are ancient Comanche burial grounds, once called La Mesa Fantasma by Spanish explorers who reported ghosts there. Widower Clovis experiences several strange happenings there and visits his wife’s cremated remains at the mesa, talking with her as if she was alive. One visit ends with a cliff-hanging episode of survival, including a confrontation with a straying cougar.

The storyline visits Texas scenes in Houston, San Antonio, and Kerrville. Chilling episodes in Atlanta, Georgia, Ft. Pierce, Florida, and New Orleans, Louisiana lead to a series of circumstances that threaten the humble West Texas rancher.

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Cat O’ Nine Tales Written by: Krystal Lawrence

What evil dwells within the pretty lady next door or the ordinary house cat?

What happens when you pursue your dreams into the desert after dark?

Beware the man borne of your imagination. He could seek vengeance on the one who created him.

Visit a bookstore offering a most alluring and sinister service.

Journey to the dark side with ten twisted tales of horror, malevolence, and the truly uncanny.

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Eat Happy-Gluten Free, Grain Free, Low Carb Recipes For A Joyful Life Written by: Anna Vocino

Eat Happy has 154 delicious grain-free, gluten-free recipes that are also free of any processed sugars. There are meats, fish, sides, soups, starters, casseroles, slow cooker recipes, breakfast dishes, and even desserts to satisfy any sweets craving you might have, all with virtually no sugar. If you are low carb, paleo, are wanting to keep autoimmune issues at bay, or just want to lose extra weight, Eat Happy gives you comfort food where you won’t miss the sugars or grains so your body and brain can feel happy from eating real foods.  

In 2012, after almost ten years of being gluten free due to celiac, Anna Vocino found she was gaining weight faster than a tick on a labradoodle. Turns out the culprit wasn’t overeating or too much fat in the diet, but the pesky sugars and grains in all those gluten free comfort foods. When Anna started podcasting with Fitness Confidential author Vinnie Tortorich, she adapted her entire way of eating to do what Tortorich coined: NSNG—No Sugars No Grains. Sure enough, the weight dropped off, the inflammation due to celiac finally calmed down, and for the first time in her life, she learned what it meant to be truly happy about food. 

All of Anna’s recipes are delicious, easy to make, and so satisfying, you won’t even know you’re eating healthy. Craving rich, decadent chocolate pots with fresh cream that are delicious but not fattening? Wanna make a grain-free pizza crust that actually helps you lose weight? Dying for pancakes, but you’ve committed to avoiding carbs? How about hearty shepherd’s pie, tater tots, sizzling ginger rice, all made with cauliflower instead of high carb rice and potatoes? Eat Happy offers low carb comfort foods to please the entire family.

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Age With a Giggle by Sharyn Chapman

AGE WITH A GIGGLE was written to assist all women who are searching for a way to cope with aging and the plethora of woman's issues that we are faced with every day. Women come in every size, shape and color and although we are paradoxically different, we are truly the same. Our experiences might change because of the zillion and twelve variables in our individual lives but our issues, feeling and desires remain constant. We are complex bodies of love and good deeds who very often shortchange ourselves. We find a benchmark and think it has to be our standard. We hate the changes we see in the mirror as the years pass by and feel we must struggle to hold on to our youth. Why? If anyone can make lemonade from wilted, sagging and dried up lemons, a woman can. Why let old scars and ridiculous habits mar the surface of our thinking. Change is possible and by using humor it is probable. If we begin each day feeling like we are going into gum surgery, how can we feel joy? Re-ignite your ability to laugh and exhume the lightheartedness that you buried so many years ago! By the way, all the profits from this book are being donated to charity. Now, doesn't that make you smile???

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A woman unexpectedly finds a kitten while at church and decides to bring it home. But her husband is not happy with her new pet.  Frisky soon makes their home its wonderland, filled with excitement and accidents. What Frisky brings most to their home is finally appreciated by both adults!

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Where folks marry 'til death do them part, and the sugary aroma of pralines faintly hangs in the air, lays a remote Louisiana parish called Boggy. Evil? A romantic spirit? A garrulous, grouchy police dog that dreams of a town with more crime? Nothing is what it seems as hometown darling, Maddie Kane, unwittingly discovers in a place where superstitions and the Atchafalaya swamp reign supreme. Maddie's impassioned pleas for police to consider wily Beau Blackthorne, son of the most prominent family in town, as a viable murder suspect, police swiftly rule her fiancé Dwight's death an accident. Nineteen-year-old Dwight Harris, found dead in the swamp, comes back to Boggy in spirit form. He is sure that his death was an accident, but plays up the "Restless Spirit Syndrome" for the Celestial Elders, to buy precious time and be close to his beloved Maddie. Sure that everyone had it wrong, and after being patted on the head and told to go home by the police, an indomitable Maddie picks up her crippled heart and marches herself off to the police academy. With her unconventional police dog, Ebola, by her side, Maddie Kane embarks on a career as a deputy, seeking emotional salvation for herself and justice for her departed love, Dwight. With no chance of having a brilliant career, plucky Deputy Kat Cooney takes the art of doing nothing to new heights. Naïve rookie Deputy Maddie looks to Kat to mentor her, much to the dismay and surprise of those around her. Even jaded Kat isn't prepared for what Maddie unearths when she defies cranky Lieutenant Darnell's orders and shakes up the Blackthorne name, changing Boggy's tranquil reputation forever. It's a wild ride atop Deputy Maddie's motorbike, with her intrepid police dog, Ebola, next to her in his sidecar. Maddie Kane will tickle you, tug at your heart, and take you to the outer limits of your imagination.

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Betrayal & Conquer: An American Story of Courage & Resilience By Ramona Ortega-Liston

Dr. Ramona Ortega is the daughter of Mexican migrants that immigrated to the United States in the 1930’s seeking the American dream. After enduring years of physical and emotional hardship throughout the 1950’s, Ramona and members of her large family found the dreams they sought. This is the inspiring story of one of the nine children born to Maria and Blas Ortega who set out to pursue her own American dream. Her name is Ramona. 

Not letting the stifling poverty she knew as a child stop her Ramona moved from the Iowa cornfields to Arizona pursuing her dream of going to college. She was triumphant in her educational quest successfully earning an Associate of Arts degree from Scottsdale Community College (with highest distinction), a Bachelor of Science degree (magna cum laude) from Arizona State University (ASU) and a Master’s degree from Harvard University. But she was not finished going on to earn a doctorate from ASU eventually becoming an associate professor at The University of Akron where she was named one of six “Women “Trailblazers.” Ramona pursued other aspects of her American dream by volunteering for the Bush-Cheney Transition Team (2000-2001) later becoming a Co-Host for the Presidential Inaugural Committee Awards Luncheon “Leave No Child Behind.” And, yes, Ramona danced at four presidential inaugural balls! 

Ramona has many years of public service to her credit becoming a Charter Member of the ASU Research Park Board of Directors and a member of the Arizona Governor’s Trade Delegation to Japan. She is the recipient of three prestigious presidential appointments. She was appointed by the Reagan Administration to the Community Colleges of the Air Force Board of Visitors and received the prestigious Air Force Award for Meritorious Civilian Service. Next Ramona was appointed by the George H. W. Bush Administration to the Army Command and General Staff College Advisory Board and to the National Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance. Ramona’s many tiered career includes being an associate in the investment banking firm of Boettcher and Company and she later served as director of the Unaccompanied Minors Shelter Care Program (UMSCP) receiving special recognition by the U.S. Office of the Inspector General for creating a model shelter for unaccompanied minors. 

Dr. Ortega’s interest in government and politics began as a Scottsdale Community College student aide to Sandra Day O’Connor in 1975 later becoming Deputy Administrative Assistant to Congressman John McCain (now U.S. Senator). She has been a dynamic speaker on Hispanic and women’s issues at Harvard University and Radcliffe College and is a published author. Among her many research publications are articles on the variables influencing public sector careers of Hispanics and women in higher education. 

Only in America can a daughter of Mexican migrants grow up to accomplish the things Ramona has and to live her idea of the American Dream; few expected that she would become a world traveler presenting academic papers on six of the seven continents. Ramona’s story is inspirational and illustrates that through hard work and educational preparation anyone can rise above their humble beginnings and enjoy the fruits of an independent and courageous spirit.

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The Bottom Line – A management primer for first line law enforcement supervisors by Arthur P. Meister

The most important position in any management hierarchy is the first line supervisor. It’s where the rubber meets the road for ensuring an organization’s mission gets done as expected. And yet, it is the position least likely to receive any management training when it’s needed most. While some may get nominal experience in relief supervisory assignments, most don’t get the opportunity to truly learn and reflect on the proper approach to - and relationship with - the position they will occupy. This should happen before functional duties take command of their time and attention. Many bring former interpersonal habits and reasoning power into their new position. Rules, regulations, and standard operating procedures often dominate a new manager’s attention. 

This book provides a reality-based introduction to issues newly promoted law enforcement supervisors should know sooner rather than later. It explains the role interpersonal skills and orientation play in management success. Any leader’s influence is sustainable to the extent subordinates are willing to let it effect them. While much is written about management expectations of subordinates, role also involves recognizing and meeting basic subordinate expectations, too. It helps set the right interpersonal tone and tenor for effectively managing others. It also builds a strong foundation from which to coach and counsel them the right way. A properly fulfilled role also helps lessen the potential for personnel problems and strengthens any official action when needed to address one. 

This book challenges the reader to become familiar with a decision making bottom line before having to deal with crisis and controversy. A bottom line is the moral boundary that should never be crossed. It is the line in the sand that prepares one to lose the deal, a friendship, allow someone guilty to go free, even damage your cause, for the sake of protecting personal integrity, and what will likely be everyone’s longer term best interest. 

There are too many examples of managers and subordinates alike who help or abet others doing wrong in the name of loyalty and friendship that has them later lamenting, “I wish I hadn’t said or done that.” 

That’s because so much of law enforcement service involves emotionally charged interactions. This reality raises the bar for loyalty and friendship when actions are revisited or adjudicated by lawful oversight authority. It can compel a choice between honesty, loyalty and friendship, in ways no other occupation demands with such direct and damaging consequences. In other words, how to avoid surpassing what one later finds should have been their bottom line. 

All of this is important for maintaining a professional workplace when dealing with issues unique to law enforcement, i.e., overreaction, informants, officer involved crime scenes, the public trust, etc. 

A professional work environment can exist anywhere, from the precinct station on the meanest street, up to and yet noticeably absent in the plush and pristine corporate office. That’s because management sets the tone and tenor of all workplace activity. The keys to a manager’s success require understanding one’s proper role, knowing his or her moral boundaries, and employing the interpersonal and functional skills that help maintain a professional work environment regardless of its unique circumstances and the challenges it must face.

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Refreshing, liberated and sexy, Trouble Magazine, Australia This is London in the heady nineties. Claudia, an aspiring painter, drops out of college and squats a freezing cold studio in the East End of London. She is joined by beautiful Paloma and a statuesque lesbian Q who has never quite given up on the idea of seducing Claudia. From their diet of tinned sardines and apples, to their night-time escapades in which they film each other on the roof wearing nothing but silver angel wings and roller skates, Kiss the Sky chronicles the humorous coming of age quest for creativity, independence and sexual freedom while living like artists on next to nothing. Soon Claudia and her friends are sucked into the maelstrom of the dance music revolution taking over the capital. Although this peaceful movement is violently opposed by the authorities, they immerse themselves with infectious enthusiasm. But of course life is not all just play and parties and their naive idealism soon gets them into deeptrouble. When the girls are evicted from the studios after organising an illegal rave, Claudia finds herself increasingly on her own and even homeless… Will Claudia and her friends be able to escape the matrix and stay on their un-prescribed path in the face of real life challenges and adversity? Escape with Kiss the Sky into various parts of bohemian London, in search of an alternative, non materialistic way of life!

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In his newest publication, renowned Double Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon Dr. Ross Clevens offers patients a must-have guide to Facial Plastic Surgery. A Consumer's Guide to Facial Plastic Surgery: Your Plastic Surgery Companion has eight steps to prepare you for the entire facial plastic surgery process. You will learn how to improve your current beauty practices so that you come closer to your aesthetic goals well before consulting with a facial plastic surgeon.

The book is replete with actual before-and-after patient photos, dozens of patient testimonials and anecdotes taken directly from Dr. Clevens and his practice - one of America’s most successful practices. Dr. Clevens’ peers across the globe learn from his innovative discoveries that provide patient better results in a shorter procedural and recovery time. Enjoy the intimate behind-the-scenes perspective into the world of plastic surgery.

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