The book begins with me in High School, (in Los Angeles), experiencing the added challenge of being an elected student council president; and, not letting all the political benefits affect my ego to the point where it becomes a character fault. From high school I enter the Air Force where performance, and not necessarily political connections, was how a person gained recognition. This recognition held true at every assignment from basic training, tech school, 1st assignment, Thailand, Academy Prep School, Air Force Academy and McGuire AFB. Along the way, I discuss some of the gaffs as well as the accomplishments.
A Sticky Business is a fact-based story into which I have inserted two fictional protagonists so as to raise a question that is the theme of the novel. A young priest in Boston witnesses a tragic incident in which several blocks are destroyed and many righteous are killed or injured. He begins a quest to learn why God permitted such a disaster to befall innocent people while two Mafia Dons lead long and prosperous lives. His attorney-friend gathers evidence and prosecutes those he believes are responsible for the incident. They ultimately reach different conclusions as to the priest's quest. The 14 fact-based short stories begin with the story of a poor boy from Brooklyn who moves West, becomes a famous lawman, only to have his career shattered when secrets from his distant past are revealed. He dies a pauper, his achievements forgotten. The other creative nonfiction stories range from an Olympic athlete who achieves a glorious but costly victory, to the journalist who gets a killer scoop.
Doubts about James Earl Ray, Dr. Martin Luther King’s lone assassin, arose almost immediately after the civil rights leader was fatally shot on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis on 4 April 1968. From the start, his aides voiced suspicions that a conspiracy was responsible for their leader’s death. Over time many Americans became convinced the government investigations covered up the truth about the alleged assassin. Exactly what led Ray to kill King continues to be a source of debate, as does his role in the murder. However, Mel Ayton believe the answers to the many intriguing questions about Ray and how conspiracy ideas flourished can now be fully understood. Missing from the wild speculations over the past fifty-two years has been a thorough investigation of the character of King’s assassin. Additionally, the author examines exactly how the conspiracy notions came about and the falsehoods that led to their promulgation. The Man Who Killed Martin Luther King is the first full account of the life of James Earl Ray based on scores of interviews provided to government and non-government investigators and from the FBI’s and Scotland Yard’s files plus the recently released Tennessee Department of Corrections prison record on Ray. Most importantly, the testimony of Anna Sandhu has often been ignored by writers but her story is crucial in gaining an understanding of Ray’s deceptive ways. A courtroom artist, who, after listening to Ray’s story, later married him. Also missing from accounts of the alleged ‘conspiracy’ is the story told to this author by Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary Deputy Warden Rolland H. Cisson, which decisively renders Ray’s claims of innocence to be bogus. In the short-lived freedom he acquired after escaping from the Missouri State Penitentiary in 1967, following being sentenced to twenty years in prison for repeated offenses, he traveled to Los Angeles and decided to seek notoriety as the one who would stalk and kill Dr. King, who he had come to hate vehemently. From the time of King’s murder, the reader will follow Ray to solitary confinement in a Nashville prison. Then, six years later, on 10 June 1977, James Earl Ray again escaped from prison, this time with five others. Ray was the last to be recaptured, having survived only on wheatgerm. Finally, the book relays Ray’s stabbing by several black inmates, then his resulting diagnosis with Hepatitis C, which caused his death twelve years later, in 1998.
The balance of good and evil is skewed. Events in history have been altered in an apparent attempt to promote evil. Those events have consequences. Thomas Kane must save the world, or is it only his mind that needs saved? Book one of the trilogy, " Sins of the Fathers-The Thomas Kane Chronicles" introduces Kane and his desperate attempt to right the wrongs.
Mel Mathews' place in the ranks of fine contemporary writers is assured." In The Chronicles of a Wandering Soul series, the wandering, questing central figure of Malcolm Clay has become a new literary icon. With thoughtful ruminations, keen humor, informative explorations of themes from religion to traits of visited countries, and so many clever double entendres, Mel Mathews' place in the ranks of fine contemporary writers is assured. —Grady Harp, goodreads, Amazon.com Top10 Reviewer” An introspective allegory about the search for prosperity of the soul . . .”—Midwest Book Review” Vive LeRoi: A powerful kick at the American way of life."LeRoi is ostensibly a novel, and not overtly psychological, but it lays bare the psychic plight of a middle-aged man looking for meaning. It is a powerful kick at the American way of life-ambition, success, money and power-but it is redemptive in the narrator's search for internal Eros and an outer relationship he can trust himself to believe in.—Daryl Sharp, author and publisher, Inner City Books In Book One of The Chronicles of a Wandering Soul, Malcolm Clay, a rather ornery but 'successful-in-life' character, finds himself stranded in the middle of nowhere, his fancy MG allowing him to limp into a gas station with a diner-cum-motel on the other side of the road. Subtly layered in symbol and metaphor, one soon realizes that the simplicity of this novel is only skin deep. The old mechanic, a study in laissez-faire and cool disdain, tries the patience of our hero. As a matter of fact, all members of the cast including the Queen who rules the diner, the pretty waitress and the lanky fast-order cook are highly complicated human beings. The enigmatic and moody old Chevy half-ton pick-up truck Malcolm borrows is unreliable in the conventional sense, but does grant him the freedom to escape the confines of the motel and the frustration of his broken down MG. 'Ol' Reliable' guides him over a cattle guard, a mysterious unseen gateway into sanctuary, the oasis of a river that cuts through this otherwise barren wasteland where he can cast a fly into adventure-and misadventure-yet beyond that, healing waters for the soul. Could this perhaps be a modern day model of a questing Perceval and the Grail Legend's Fisherking?
Mystic Mel has led a colorful life. From starting our life as an African-American in an Irish community to attending a Lynyrd Skynard concert in Minnesota, Mystic Mel has experienced many misadventures which make for often hilarious reading.
What had Jordyn done? After receiving the shocking news of Jordyn's deceit, Ash was on the warpath, and there wasn't anything or anybody that could stop him. With his list of enemies steadily growing by the second, Ash never thought Jordyn would be added to it. He's now carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders and didn't look to catch a break anytime soon. Ash already had to watch his back for his brother and father. If he thought he couldn't trust anyone before, he definitely couldn't now. Jordyn is determined to prove her loyalty to Ash, but that is proving to be hard with him trying to kill her. The last thing she expected was for her secrets to come back to bite her in the ass. With everything around her in shambles, the only thing Jordyn was sure of was that she's was not about to give up on her relationship without a fight. Ash and Jordyn weren't the only ones with problems. Marcel was still dealing with a few of his own. As much as he tried to rid himself of his feelings for Fatima, they didn't seem to be going anywhere. Fatima was the first woman, other than family, who was able to capture his heart. He just wasn't so sure that love was enough to overcome her betrayal. Take one final ride with these couples as they try to navigate through this craziness called life and fight for their chances at happiness.
Ashley "Ash" Thomas is a young boss, who's known for his ruthless ways and no-nonsense attitude. After running his family's business alongside his brothers for years, Ash no longer wants any part of that life. Nearly losing his life as a result of one of his brother's reckless actions was an eye opener for him, and the main reason he is more than ready to step away from the game. Now, all Ash wants to do is run his tattoo business with his best friend, Marcel, and continue to stack his paper. Unfortunately, a lot of people aren't feeling the "new" Ash. His girlfriend Misty being the main one.Misty didn't bother to hide her distaste for Ash's newfound career. She didn't like the possibility of the lifestyle she'd grown accustomed to changing. She was used to having money at her disposal and Ash wrapped around her finger, but she was slowly noticing that things had changed. Their relationship wasn't the same, and she could feel them drifting apart. As much as she tried to stay in Ash' s good graces and keep his attention focused on her, it was no use. There seemed to be a new chick on the scene who had managed to catch Ash's eye without even trying.After finally putting an end to a dead relationship, Jordyn's main focus is on finishing school. Being hit with setback after setback, she's only trying to keep her head above water and survive. She had no time for distractions, and money was her only motive. The last thing she needed was to fall for her handsome, quick-tempered boss. As much as Jordyn tries to convince herself that he isn't what she needs, she finds herself drawn to him, and the attraction between the two is undeniable. Will she be able to stick to her guns and keep things between them strictly business, or will she fall victim to this savage's charm?
When an avalanche traps Peter Garrett's sister, who is part of a millionaire's ill-conceived climbing expedition near the top of K2, Peter is determined to organize a rescue party.
After having no choice but to step back into the family business to help his brothers, Ash is back with a vengeance. The way Ash sees it, you're either with him or against him. He's back terrorizing the streets and taking out any and everyone in his path with no mercy. He's at a point where everyone's loyalty is to be questioned, and the only people he finds that he can trust are Marcel, and surprisingly, Jordyn.Jordyn had no idea what she was getting herself into when she decided to step out on a limb with Ash, but she's down for the ride. Without being given much of a choice, she is forced to put her big girl panties on and prove that she's more than capable of handling this savage. The bigger question was, could he handle her?Ash isn't the only one whose sanity is being tested. Marcel is finding himself in a constant battle with his daughter's mother, and she's set on making his life a living hell. Trying to keep the peace as well as focus on his budding relationship is starting to take a toll on him. Even with all the drama going on in his personal life, Marcel is still by his boy's side with his guns locked and loaded, ready for war. At this point, the only options are to either get down or lay down.
Lent has the historic, root meaning of spring, springtime, and the lengthening of the days. In the days of winter, there is a longing for spring, a longing for the lengthening of days, more sunshine, warmer temperatures, less frost and bone-chilling cold. Lent is the season of springtime for the soul. That certainly is a positive twist on Lent. Commonly, the first thought that comes to mind is a season of penitence and fasting from Ash Wednesday to Easter. Too frequently, the somber aspect of abstinence, self-discipline, reflection, and introspection has so dominated our observance of Lent that we want Mardi Gras to never end. Springtime for the Soul: A Lenten Devotional is a series of readings and meditations composed for ChristiansGods holy ones, saintswho are on a quest to grow and gain a greater understanding of our faith. It is my purpose and hope that you will find the daily readings and the meditations refreshing and encouraging, cultivating the crusty winter soil of the heart and germinating new thoughts concerning the essentials of our living faith.
This book provides the first comprehensive analysis of Louis XIV's magnificent final chapel at Versailles, completed in 1710 near the end of his long reign (1643-1715). Construction, begun in 1699 on foundations of 1689, spanned the offices of two premiers architects du roi, Jules Hardouin-Mansart and Robert de Cotte. Eight painters and over 100 sculptors participated in the monumental undertaking, which remains almost unchanged today. An unusually large number of archival documents, drawings, and early texts about the chapel allow a detailed reconstruction of its history and meaning. Given Louis XIV's renown as one of the great kings and art patrons of all history and the universal definitions of his power in terms of divine kingship, the story of his palace chapel interests all historians of the ancien regime."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved
(Applause Books). Compiled by Mel Gussow, this collection of sideshow American and international theatre includes: Deeply American Roots (Sam Shepard) * The Man Who Made Theatre Ridiculous (Charles Ludlam) * From the City Streets, a Poet of the Stage (Miguel Pinero) * The Clark Kent of Modern Theatre (Robert Wilson) * Speaks the Language of Illusion (Martha Clarke) * The Lonely World of Displaced Persons (Lanford Wilson) * A Virtuoso Who Specializes in Everything (Michael Gambon) * Actress, Clown, and Social Critic (Whoopi Goldberg) * Comedy, Tragedy and Mystical Fantasy (Peter Brook) * Celebrating the Fallen World (Richard Foreman).
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