A collection of reflections on the nature of what it means to be a writer. How do you find out what being a writer means to those who really are writers? You ask them. In this book, Adair Lara shares what the ink-stained, carpal-tunneled, slightly dazed, word struck people she knows had to say. You know you’re a writer when . . . . . . You’ll never forgive your parents for your happy childhood. . . . The doctor tells you that you have terminal cancer, and you think, “I can use this.” . . . You accidentally sign a check with your pen name. . . . You know more than ten synonyms for “blue.” . . . You write your Christmas letter as if it were War and Peace. Many readers will recognize themselves in this collection of observations about the eccentric, quirky, word-obsessed condition that is being a writer.
The material is right there in front of you. You’ve known yourself for, well, a lifetime—and you finally feel ready to share your story with the world. Yet when it actually comes time to put pen to paper, you find that you’re stumped. Enter Adair Lara: award-winning author, seasoned columnist, beloved writing coach, and the answer to all of your autobiographical quandaries. Naked, Drunk, and Writing is the culmination of Lara’s vast experience as a writer, editor, and teacher. It is packed with insights and advice both practical (“writing workshops you pay for are the best--it’s too easy to quit when you’ve made no investment”) and irreverent (“apply Part A [butt] to Part B [chair]”), answering such important questions as: • How do I know where to start my piece and where to end it? • How do I make myself write when I’m too scared or lazy or busy? • What makes a good pitch letter, and how do I get mine noticed? • I’m ready to publish—now where do I find an agent? • If I show my manuscript to my mother, will I ever be invited to a family gathering again? As thorough and instructive as a personal writing coach (and cheaper, too), Naked, Drunk, and Writing is a must-have if you are an aspiring columnist, essayist, or memoirist—or just a writer who needs a bit of help in getting your story told.
Fresh from the success of Normal Is Just a Setting on the Dryer, award-winning writer Adair Lara returns with more heartfelt wisdom for, and by, real people. From wry advice on life's daily challenges: "If you wonder if your pants are too short, they are," to pithy confirmation on the good things in life: "Orange food rarely disappoints," and rife with aphorisms more honest than your friends: "No trip planned after the third bottle of pinot noir will ever happen. Or should happen," Lara's sparkling second collection is sure to enlighten, affirm, and amuse. In a gifty, hardcover formatfeaturing Roxanna Bikadoroff's wry illustrations, The Bigger the Sign is the perfect gift for anyone in need of a lift.
What does a mother do when her teenaged daughter is spinning out of control and nothing is bringing her back? Here is a searingly honest memoir of motherhood and a testament to the power of love and family. When Adair Lara’s daughter Morgan turned thirteen, she was transformed, seemingly overnight, from a sweet, loving child into an angry, secretive teenager who would neither listen nor be disciplined. The author, her youngest son, Patrick, her ex-husband, Jim, and her new husband, Bill, all stepped on a five-year roller-coaster ride in which Morgan incarnated the chaos principle in torn jeans and dyed hair. Drinking, drugging, disappearing, suspicious companions, failing and cheating at school, joy riding in a stolen car–there was no variety of adolescent acting out that she didn’t indulge in. For Adair Lara it became an endless sojourn at the end of her rope, a trial immensely complicated by the reappearance in her life of her aging father, a man who had abandoned his wife and seven children decades earlier. Inevitably, Morgan’s misbehavior revives memories of her own headstrong adolescence, while her father’s presence makes agonizingly real for her the consequences of giving up. Paradoxically, he also becomes the source of her best advice. Hold Me Close, Let Me Go is an emotionally charged, often brutally honest memoir that all parents (and anyone who was ever a teenager) will experience shocks of recognition from while reading. It imparts invaluable lessons about holding loved ones close through the roughest passages and about the power of family to overcome the most grievous obstacles. Adair Lara is a clear-eyed and eloquent witness to the complex costs and rewards of motherhood, and her book will redefine for readers their idea of what being “a good enough mother” really means.
When the self-help books just aren’t helping, it’s time to call in the experts: real people . . . San Francisco Chronicle columnist Adair Lara polled her readers for life lessons learned through experience, receiving thousands of heartfelt and irreverent responses. The best are compiled here in more than two hundred bits of priceless counsel, accompanied by witty, whimsical illustrations by award-winning artist Roxanna Bikadoroff. This handy little volume is filled with humor, unconventional insights, and the kind of common wisdom that will always bear repeating.
A personable and funny book on how to write about your life in essay and memoir, by Adair Lara, whom Anne Lamott (Bird by Bird) calls "San Francisco's legendary writer and teacher
We all live in a speeded up world--we buy instant meals, work overtime, are wired in to our homes and offices, and precariously balance family and jobs. But it seems the more we get done the more there is to do, and while our modern lifestyles have given us faster ways of doing things, they have also quickly taken away the rhythm and serenity of daily life. San Francisco Chronicle columnist Adair Lara wrote a column describing her mother's way of slowing down--hanging up clothes on a clothesline. More than 1,000 readers responded to her column with their own suggestions--writing letters in longhand though they have computers, washing dishes by hand though they have dishwashers, reading their favorite novels again and again. The best of these stories, as well as others, have been combined to create this inspirational collection.
This delightful guide gives new grandmas clear direction on how to navigate foreign territory. Celebrated columnist Adair Lara advises on how to choose a decent name (Oopsie? Boopsie?). She outlines how to give advice without getting a Dr. Sears guide chucked at the head. She offers wise counsel on how to stay on the parents' good side (hint: don't say anything, ever). Hilarious in its blunt truisms, The Granny Diaries steers around the shoals of grandma sentimentality. And yet, having fallen madly in love with her own grandchildren, Adair affirms that the years after the big G truly are golden.
It seems the more we get done the more there is to do, and though modern conveniences offer a faster way of doing things, they have also taken away the serenity of daily life. San Francisco Chronicle columinst Lara reveals ways in which people manage to find peace in the midst of their tumultuous lives. Line drawings.
We all live in a speeded up world--we buy instant meals, work overtime, are wired in to our homes and offices, and precariously balance family and jobs. But it seems the more we get done the more there is to do, and while our modern lifestyles have given us faster ways of doing things, they have also quickly taken away the rhythm and serenity of daily life. San Francisco Chronicle columnist Adair Lara wrote a column describing her mother's way of slowing down--hanging up clothes on a clothesline. More than 1,000 readers responded to her column with their own suggestions--writing letters in longhand though they have computers, washing dishes by hand though they have dishwashers, reading their favorite novels again and again. The best of these stories, as well as others, have been combined to create this inspirational collection.
When the self-help books just aren’t helping, it’s time to call in the experts: real people . . . San Francisco Chronicle columnist Adair Lara polled her readers for life lessons learned through experience, receiving thousands of heartfelt and irreverent responses. The best are compiled here in more than two hundred bits of priceless counsel, accompanied by witty, whimsical illustrations by award-winning artist Roxanna Bikadoroff. This handy little volume is filled with humor, unconventional insights, and the kind of common wisdom that will always bear repeating.
The material is right there in front of you. You’ve known yourself for, well, a lifetime—and you finally feel ready to share your story with the world. Yet when it actually comes time to put pen to paper, you find that you’re stumped. Enter Adair Lara: award-winning author, seasoned columnist, beloved writing coach, and the answer to all of your autobiographical quandaries. Naked, Drunk, and Writing is the culmination of Lara’s vast experience as a writer, editor, and teacher. It is packed with insights and advice both practical (“writing workshops you pay for are the best--it’s too easy to quit when you’ve made no investment”) and irreverent (“apply Part A [butt] to Part B [chair]”), answering such important questions as: • How do I know where to start my piece and where to end it? • How do I make myself write when I’m too scared or lazy or busy? • What makes a good pitch letter, and how do I get mine noticed? • I’m ready to publish—now where do I find an agent? • If I show my manuscript to my mother, will I ever be invited to a family gathering again? As thorough and instructive as a personal writing coach (and cheaper, too), Naked, Drunk, and Writing is a must-have if you are an aspiring columnist, essayist, or memoirist—or just a writer who needs a bit of help in getting your story told.
Fresh from the success of Normal Is Just a Setting on the Dryer, award-winning writer Adair Lara returns with more heartfelt wisdom for, and by, real people. From wry advice on life's daily challenges: "If you wonder if your pants are too short, they are," to pithy confirmation on the good things in life: "Orange food rarely disappoints," and rife with aphorisms more honest than your friends: "No trip planned after the third bottle of pinot noir will ever happen. Or should happen," Lara's sparkling second collection is sure to enlighten, affirm, and amuse. In a gifty, hardcover formatfeaturing Roxanna Bikadoroff's wry illustrations, The Bigger the Sign is the perfect gift for anyone in need of a lift.
A collection of reflections on the nature of what it means to be a writer. How do you find out what being a writer means to those who really are writers? You ask them. In this book, Adair Lara shares what the ink-stained, carpal-tunneled, slightly dazed, word struck people she knows had to say. You know you’re a writer when . . . . . . You’ll never forgive your parents for your happy childhood. . . . The doctor tells you that you have terminal cancer, and you think, “I can use this.” . . . You accidentally sign a check with your pen name. . . . You know more than ten synonyms for “blue.” . . . You write your Christmas letter as if it were War and Peace. Many readers will recognize themselves in this collection of observations about the eccentric, quirky, word-obsessed condition that is being a writer.
What does a mother do when her teenaged daughter is spinning out of control and nothing is bringing her back? Here is a searingly honest memoir of motherhood and a testament to the power of love and family. When Adair Lara’s daughter Morgan turned thirteen, she was transformed, seemingly overnight, from a sweet, loving child into an angry, secretive teenager who would neither listen nor be disciplined. The author, her youngest son, Patrick, her ex-husband, Jim, and her new husband, Bill, all stepped on a five-year roller-coaster ride in which Morgan incarnated the chaos principle in torn jeans and dyed hair. Drinking, drugging, disappearing, suspicious companions, failing and cheating at school, joy riding in a stolen car–there was no variety of adolescent acting out that she didn’t indulge in. For Adair Lara it became an endless sojourn at the end of her rope, a trial immensely complicated by the reappearance in her life of her aging father, a man who had abandoned his wife and seven children decades earlier. Inevitably, Morgan’s misbehavior revives memories of her own headstrong adolescence, while her father’s presence makes agonizingly real for her the consequences of giving up. Paradoxically, he also becomes the source of her best advice. Hold Me Close, Let Me Go is an emotionally charged, often brutally honest memoir that all parents (and anyone who was ever a teenager) will experience shocks of recognition from while reading. It imparts invaluable lessons about holding loved ones close through the roughest passages and about the power of family to overcome the most grievous obstacles. Adair Lara is a clear-eyed and eloquent witness to the complex costs and rewards of motherhood, and her book will redefine for readers their idea of what being “a good enough mother” really means.
Hollywood celebrities are doing it. Corporate moguls are doing it. But what about those of us living in the real world—and on a real budget? Author and holistic health practitioner Victoria Moran started eating only plants nearly thirty years ago, raised her daughter, Adair, vegan from birth, and maintains a sixty-pound weight loss. In Main Street Vegan, Moran offers a complete guide to making this dietary and lifestyle shift with an emphasis on practical "baby steps," proving that you don’t have to have a personal chef or lifestyle coach on speed dial to experience the physical and spiritual benefits of being a vegan. This book provides practical advice and inspiration for everyone—from Main Street to Wall Street, and everywhere between. "Finally, a book that isn't preaching to the vegan choir, but to the people in the pews—and the ones who can’t fit in those pews. This is a book for the Main Street majority who aren’t vegans. Once you read this, you'll know it's possible to get healthy and enjoy doing it—even if you live in Paramus or Peoria."—Michael Moore "A great read for vegans and aspiring vegans."—Russell Simmons "Yet another divine gift from Victoria Moran. Main Street Vegan covers it all—inspiration, information, and out of this world recipes. This book is a gem."—Rory Freedman, co-author Skinny Bitch "Main Street Vegan is exactly the guide you need to make changing the menu effortless. Victoria Moran covers every aspect of plant-based eating and cruelty-free living, with everything you need to make healthy changes stick."—Neal Barnard, MD, president, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, and NY Times bestselling author of 21-Day Weight Loss Kickstart "A great book for anyone who's curious about veganism. It shows that not all vegans are weirdos like me."—Moby
In Moonbright, Maine, there’s a pumpkin on every porch, fresh brewed apple cider in every cup—and the sweetest sorcery in the air . . . Before, after, and even during the excitement of the annual Halloween parade, gathering at the Corner Café is a beloved Moonbright tradition. Costumed revelers of all kinds come for the famous whoopie pies, the heartfelt hospitality, and the chance to hear the town’s spookiest stories and local legends whispered to the younger generation . . . The most magically romantic legend of all promises that a Moonbright woman will marry the man she sees reflected in a mirror on Halloween. For three such singles, the crunch of fall leaves and the fragrance of fresh-baked pie sets the perfect stage for this most tantalizing trick—and most delightful treat—the genuine enchantment of true love. PRAISE FOR THE COTTAGE ON PUMPKIN AND VINE “This wonderful, well-written collection calls to mind brisk autumn nights cuddled with a loved one.” —Publishers Weekly “This diverse trio of stories bring three couples to love with a charming, slightly sexy Halloween flair . . . Sassy, funny, and dusted with magic.” —Library Journal “With humor and a little mysticism thrown in, each story winds its way to a happy ever after. Every pairing comes to fruition in a unique way.” —RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars
Aside from working for T-FLAC (and having the same last name), Lexi Stone and Alex Stone are polar opposites, right down to Lexi’s mere mortality and Alex’s paranormal powers. And though Lexi disdains Alex’s rule-breaking bravado, she can’t ignore how his roguish charm makes her heart race. But Lexi’s secret desires clash head-on with her duties when suspicions arise that Alex is poised to switch sides and join forces with a European terrorist cell. Lexi is now assigned to shadow his every move, but her task becomes even tougher when Lexi and Alex suddenly find themselves partnered on an emergency mission in Russia. To stop the rise of a superhuman terrorist threat, Lexi and Alex must work as a well-oiled team, with lethal shadows looming behind them and no one to trust but each other.
Produced in cooperation with the National Association of School Nurses, this text includes comprehensive coverage of the multiple facets of school nursing—from the foundations of practice and the roles and functions of a school nurse through episodic and chronic illness and behavioral issues, to legal issues and leading and managing within school settings. Written and edited by school nurses and pediatric experts, it features real-world-tested, best practices based on evidence and experience. There’s content here that you won’t find in other books, such as health assessments, individualized health plan development, mental health conditions including adolescent depression, contemporary legal issues, and current policy statements essential to school nursing.
Tourism to Cancun and Cozumel continues to grow at an unprecedented rate, with new hotels sprouting up each year. Frommer's reviews the best of these in each price range, plus beaches, sports, shopping, and night life. The 1998 edition includes expanded coverage of excursion areas, including ruins and intriguing villages. Glossary.
This Frommer guide is designed to help travellers around the beautiful resort of Puerto Vallarta, where lush mountains cascade down to the shoreline, and to Manzanillo - still one of the hidden jewels of this region. Visitors will be charmed by strolling mariachis and intrigued by the bustling central market of Guadalajara, The City of Roses.
This honest, accurate guide takes travelers from Mexico's top beach resorts to its colonial heartland--with intriguing excursions off the beaten path. This promises to be a banner year for U.S. travel south of the border, and Frommer's coverage of Mexico is second to none. Maps. Index. Glossary.
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