“We are all prompted by the same motives, all deceived by the same fallacies, all animated by hope, obstructed by danger, entangled by desire, and seduced by pleasure.”

This book is a biography of the man who wrote those words about three hundred years ago, the great man of letters of the eighteenth century, Samuel Johnson. And it has a special purpose: presenting the story of Sam’s life in a shorter form than any other researched biography and conveying that story in a style that’s clear and accessible for any general reader.

During his productive life, Sam started by doing basic writing and editing for a magazine, but he went on to produce some major literary works: essays and poetry, biographies, an edition of the plays of Shakespeare with his own insightful comments, and of course the first modern dictionary of English. My Sam Johnson is yours as well, and one of the main goals is to explain Sam’s style in order to encourage you to read more of his writing.

Sam’s character is also examined. He was successful but also very self-critical, and in between the visits to clubs and pubs where he revelled in talking about writing and everything else, he was often depressed and sleepless.

Sam is a fascinating and complex man, and My Sam Johnson will introduce you to him for the first time or make you appreciate him even more.

Wayne Jones is a writer, podcaster, and editor in Ottawa, Canada. He has published a book about personal minimalism called Less and Less, as well as the novel The Killing Type. Wayne also hosts the podcast Writing & Editing.

 

In Chasing Picasso: A True Story of a Daytime Heist on Art Hill, the author unveils the mysterious history and disappearance of a small Picasso painting from the Saint Louis Art Museum in 1973. The 1906 Rose Period oil painting has not been seen since it disappeared in a clandestine daytime theft under the watch of museum guards. The painting and the heist would have been forgotten altogether if it weren’t perhaps for one curious author, C. Joan Baker. A quest she hopes ends with the Picasso, nicknamed Nude, returning to the Saint Louis Art Museum.

Her story retraces the steps of the daytime heist to understand how someone could have pulled it off during visiting hours with no witnesses. Like the painting, the heist maintained a low profile over the last fifty years. She realized the painting was left off the FBI’s stolen art database, a national file established in 1978. Any investigative case files from local and federal agencies involving the theft have been routinely purged, leaving no evidence behind.
She learns the mystery of Nude didn’t begin when it disappeared. The painting should have been featured in the earliest authorized catalog (1932) documenting Picasso’s artwork of his Rose Period, yet it wasn’t. In fact, the painting didn’t appear in the Picasso-authorized catalog until a 1970 supplement. The catalog offered no ownership history beyond the museum’s possession.

The institution acquired the painting from an undisclosed seller in 1934, just a year after Hitler began purging modern art from Europe. The author explores the path of Nazi-looted art to America, looking at the possibility that Nude could have been confiscated from a Jewish art dealer in 1933. Perhaps it would have something to do with its quiet disappearance in 1973.

However, more than one compelling reason existed for stealing a Picasso on April 11, 1973. The museum robbery occurred only three days after Picasso died, possibly a crime of artistic passion. Art was considered a national currency, and its values had exploded wildly by the late 1950s. Organized crime began to steal art and move it around its network to launder money and use it to buy narcotics.

After Nude disappeared, thieves continued to steal art in St. Louis, at least until 1978. The thefts that followed were not as quiet. Two different heists led to sensational headlines, one involving a Hollywood legend and the other, a notorious assassination. Using the Freedom of Information Act, court files, and other government documents, the stories might reveal the most likely motive behind the stolen Picasso.

Bringing the story to the public became the best opportunity to recover a painting worth millions. Because most people had never heard of the heist, the painting could have been hiding in plain sight for decades. The author concludes with the possibility of recovery and what to do if it is found.

 

Roxy, better known online as Foxy Roxy, was a spunky little Italian Greyhound who stole the hearts of dog lovers all over the world. She had a huge personality and an extensive wardrobe to match. Through her beautiful photos and fun adventures, she amassed thousands of Facebook fans from around the world.

This book loosely follows her life from puppyhood to stardom. Packed with photos, stories, and never-before shared memories, it is a tribute to Roxy’s life. You will see all her pawesome adventures with her brother, Greyson, who is also a superstar pup! Together, Roxy and Greyson made three professional calendars, won many contests, and were featured in magazines and newspapers. They made a big difference in the world by raising money for animal rescues.

In December 2021, after a six-month battle with brain cancer, Roxy crossed the rainbow bridge. She lived an amazing life and gave so much love to this world. Her legacy will live on in the hearts of those she touched.

 About Staying in Tune: “At twenty-two, I was a young professional, a recent engineering graduate with a job at Texas Instruments. Three months later, after an unplanned, whirlwind trip to California, with who I thought was the love of my life, I landed at Fuller Memorial Hospital where I was diagnosed with bipolar.
After a decade of stability, feeling that the medication had dulled my creative spark, I quit the lithium. My life was good for five years off medication, and I felt like I was free, with more energy and creativity. I thought I was cured, but bipolar wasn’t so easily conquered.
The inevitable second crash was worse than the first, a rogue wave of severe depression, manic episodes, quitting jobs, and broken relationships as I headed toward potential bankruptcy and worse.
This is the story of how I rebuilt my life by starting over in my career, leading support groups, finding the right medication, therapists, and doctors, and finishing my career as an Analytics Manager at Apple.”

 

 About A Drop in Forever: “Merrick Forrester doesn’t do relationships. Not anymore.

After enduring multiple heartbreaks, he’s convinced that everything beautiful eventually starts to rot. So when he meets the captivating and mysterious Drue Hart, he does his best to avoid her—that is, until he discovers the secret she carries. It’s then he decides getting close to her is worth the danger to his heart.

Drue Hart is finally ready to put old ghosts to rest when she returns to her hometown after spending many years abroad. But when she meets Merrick, the past rises to haunt her once again. The handsome realtor inserts himself into her life, but something about him unsettles her, despite the magnetic attraction they share.

When their ethereal connection grows too great to ignore, Merrick and Drue must decide what they’re willing to give up for love. With mystery shrouding Drue’s past and Merrick’s intentions, can they learn to balance the truth with a love that transcends all space and time?”