Michael Daswick's Books

CHIP ROCK and THE CATALINA KID

By: Michael Daswick

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CHIP ROCK and THE CATALINA KID

By: Michael Daswick

Up until 1980, less than 50 brave souls had managed the monumental open-ocean solo swim from the SoCal coast to Catalina Island. But that's exactly what Cal, a simple burger artist, sets out to do in Chip Rock and the Catalina Kid. In the clammy coastal town of No Palms, Chip Rock and his pals have aged out of the pathetic orphanage known as Boys Hall. 27 miles across the channel, Catalina Island sits in the haze. Catalina Kid tells the saga of Chip's lifelong friend, Cal, an industrious yet unsettled dreamer, looking for a meaningful role in his world. Following a seemingly random remark, Cal shocks the community when he embarks on a daring 27-mile open-water swim to Catalina Island. His daunting attempt will captivate the entire town, including: Haley, the tenacious heart-throb who entangles Cal's swirling emotions; and Sherwin, a 5 year-old pipsqueak and cheerleader. As Haley helps in her mysterious ways, and the waves pound the No Palms cliffs, Cal's harrowing attempt turns perilous, drawing the entire town into the physical and emotional trials of his punishing adventure. The suspense builds from the moment Cal dips his toe in the water. Catalina Kid reveals the unlikely hero in all of us, and how ordinary people react to extraordinary situations. Chip Rock and the Catalina Kid is the nail-biting sequel to Chip Rock and the Fat Old Fart. Michael Daswick's first book, Chip Rock and the Fat Old Fart, is a novel about revelations, underdogs, the fragile threads that hold families together, and fatherhood. This sequel, Chip Rock and The Catalina Kid, explores the strength of dreams and the unexpected pursuits of heroism.

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Page Count

534

Publisher

PLAYA CHICA PRESS

Published Date

ISBN 10

1648266134

ISBN 13

9781648266133

CHIP ROCK and the FAT OLD FART

By: Michael Daswick

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CHIP ROCK and the FAT OLD FART

By: Michael Daswick

The importance of the Outsider. Chip Rock has just aged out of the pathetic orphanage known as Boys Hall, in the comically doleful little town of No Palms on the SoCal coast. Low on luck and opportunity, Chip sets out to find a meaningful place in the world. It's no ordinary journey. Aimless and quick with bad choices, Chip wanders into a rich tapestry of characters: the grumps at the No Palms Women's Club; the nagging neighbor Rosita right across the street; the Old Town Dog, luckless fishermen, and the pretty new girl at the bank. Never shy, Chip meets an outcast butcher named Deacon O’Dell, seemingly the embodiment of all Chip's lousy luck, rolled into one person. Nonetheless, sparks set off an unlikely bond and an adventure of stunning hardships, but with a remote chance for rejuvenation. CHIP ROCK and the FAT OLD FART tells the story of the comic and poignant friendship between 23 year old Chip and 55 year old Deacon, and explores the glue which bind together imperfect families and flawed friendships. Author Michael Daswick is the winner of the two greatest literary awards from Columbia University. His inspiring work tackles epic themes of guilt, redemption, loss, struggle, friendship and fatherhood. Rich yet quirky, always mixing humor with drama, Michael writes at the crossroads of sophistication and the idiosyncratic. Fat Old Fart constantly mixes striking settings, and noble decisions that lead to unexpected results. It’s a coming-of-age saga about Chip -- and a coming-of-old-age awakening for Deacon, who strives to learn the true meaning of fatherhood. A spree of events teaches the orphan Chip how families are born not only by blood, but also through friendship, workplace, and neighborhoods. Families beget entire communities. From No Palms to Mexico, their adventure and struggle brings together a vastly different collection of people, building into a desperate and very emotional ending which none of them expect. Fat Old Fart grew out of several linked short stories, always portraying the Underdog, from which author Michael Daswick won both of Columbia's prestigious literary awards: The Bennett Cerf Memorial Prize for Fiction and The Cornell Woolrich Fellowship for Creative Writing. He lives in Scottsdale with his wife Kim and family. Fat Old Fart is the first in the Chip Rock Series. The sequel is CHIP ROCK and the CATALINA KID. Chip’s early years at Boys Hall are chronicled in the award-winning short story collection, HALLBOYS.

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461

Publisher

PLAYA CHICA PRESS

Published Date

ISBN 10

1513650912

ISBN 13

9781513650913

ZIN MIGNON and the RIDDLE of the RUSSIAN RYE

By: Michael Daswick

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ZIN MIGNON and the RIDDLE of the RUSSIAN RYE

By: Michael Daswick

Find out why ZIN was seen on CNN, FOX, CBS, NBC, etc! From the filthy streets of Brooklyn to the glam of Beverly Hills, 13 year old chef extraordinaire Zin Mignon serves a parade of royalty, celebrities and supermodels. As the Mustard Monks lurk in the alleys and dry rump roast sits on the counter, young Zin is the greatest Chef in the country. But, more than anything, Zin wants to learn where he came from; exactly what is Zin’s cryptic ancestry? So why is the sizzling sensation of the Sunset Strip cooking for the homeless on skid row? And why are so many rivals trying to take him down? Why is evil restaurant critic Brandy Bitterwine roasting Zin with… zero stars! With the help of Avalina, the brilliant 22-year old business manager, and his swim-teammate Jenny, Zin must fight to learn his family history that may not be entirely appetizing. Is it related to the secret of his incredible Russian Rye? While his fans rave, the vile scoundrels are closing in. Zin’s fragile artistic temperament is pushed to the boiling point until Jenny has a brilliant idea, but will it work? Little do they know they’ll face the ultimate challenge which could shut down Zin’s kitchen forever. The second in the series, RIDDLE of the RUSSIAN RYE

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Page Count

305

Publisher

PLAYA CHICA PRESS

Published Date

ISBN 10

1513650920

ISBN 13

9781513650920

ZIN MIGNON and the SECRET of the PICKLED PIGS' FEET

By: Michael Daswick

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ZIN MIGNON and the SECRET of the PICKLED PIGS' FEET

By: Michael Daswick

Find out why ZIN was seen on CNN, FOX, CBS, NBC, etc! 11 year-old genius Chef Zin Mignon is in a horrific pickle. He’s been kidnapped from Le Cordon Bleu cooking school in Paris by the mysterious Mustard Monks and spirited away to their ultra-remote mountaintop abbey. In time, he’ll be able to take their daunting Test. If he passes, he may join their secret Order and achieve the culinary success he’s always dreamed of. If he fails…. The tale of Zin Mignon begins at the bottom of a jar of pickled pigs’ feet in his father’s pathetic Brooklyn deli. A secret note sets him on a world-spinning quest, an adventure that takes him through the alleys of the homeless to the tables of billionaires, to discover who he really is and the greatness for which he's destined. As the young mastermind sets the culinary world on fire, a mix of treacherous rivals feast on the chance to make his dreams go up in smoke. In the wildly appetizing first book of the Zin Mignon series, Zin has become the greatest chef on the planet, shocking the cooking world. But he’s distracted and must honor the solemn promise he made to his dad, and to learn the incredible secret of his family legacy. It’s a true original. With humor, amazing exploits and heartfelt compassion, Zin uses food and his kitchen to build a recipe that will lead him to his true identity. Can he cut the mustard? Could Artemis Fowl meet MasterChef? Author MICHAEL DASWICK is the winner of both of Columbia's prestigious literary awards for fiction. He's the author of the heartwarming epic novel CHIP ROCK and the FAT OLD FART, and HALLBOYS, a collection of inspiring connected short stories. Always mixing humor and drama, friends and treacherous rivals, with ZIN MIGNON, Michael has cooked up a stirring series of Kitchen Fiction.

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Page Count

200

Publisher

PLAYA CHICA PRESS

Published Date

ISBN 10

1513650904

ISBN 13

9781513650906

HALLBOYS

Short Stories from Boys Hall

By: MICHAEL DASWICK

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HALLBOYS

Short Stories from Boys Hall

By: MICHAEL DASWICK

HALLBOYS are six linked short stories about the escapades and dreams of young Chip Rock and his pals, the Hallboys, who grow up in the shabby orphanage known as Boys Hall, in the seedy SoCal beach town of No Palms. Can beautiful motives come from the ugliest settings? They can at Boys Hall. From the chores of scraping seagull poop off the front steps to forever battling the cranky hags at the hated No Palms Women's Club, the Hallboys know all the tricks. Each story mixes humor and humanity while rising to a surprising and memorable ending. They underscore the vivid imagination of children, and their adventures which lead to friendships and bonds that last a lifetime. CHIP ROCK doesn't have a traditional family. As an orphan at BOYS HALL, the wilting orphanage in a sinking SoCal beach town, his 'brothers' are a rag-tag bunch of Hallboys who match wits with the old bats at the Women's Club, fish off the creaking pier, and chase pirates around the ruins of the ancient lighthouse. HALLBOYS shows how shared struggles can build the bonds of friendship -- to forge families and brotherhood. Author Michael Daswick was awarded both of Columbia's finest literary awards, The Bennett Cerf Memorial Prize for Fiction, and the Cornell Woolrich Fellowship for Creative Writing. HALLBOYS is the prequel to the novel, CHIP ROCK and the FAT OLD FART, which describes Chip's heartache and heroics after he's aged out of Boys Hall.

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Page Count

128

Publisher

PLAYA CHICA PRESS

Published Date

ISBN 10

1513650890

ISBN 13

9781513650890

ZIN MIGNON and THE LAST SUPPER

By: MICHAEL DASWICK

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ZIN MIGNON and THE LAST SUPPER

By: MICHAEL DASWICK

Find out why ZIN was seen on CNN, FOX, CBS, NBC, etc! With the extraordinary events of Book #2 and the Secret of the Russian Rye behind him, Zin Mignon's quest turns to his shadowy family history. His search brings new clues. The 14 year-old phenom Chef reaches the doorstep of a squalid peasants’ orphanage in the hinterlands of Russia. But with his pal Jenny, all they find are skinny kids and crushing conditions. Ah, but Zin has fame. And an appetite to help. Thus, he cooks up a daring charitable scheme to feed the planet’s poorest kids. In the globetrotting Book 3, Zin does his finest cooking ever. Blindsided by one revelation after another, join Zin as he moves ever closer to the astonishing secrets baked into his mysterious past. MICHAEL DASWICK is the award-winning author of the Zin Mignon series and Chip Rock and the Fat Old Fart.

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Page Count

314

Publisher

PLAYA CHICA PRESS

Published Date

ISBN 10

1648265707

ISBN 13

9781648265709

ZIN MIGNON and the MUSTARD MONKS

By: MICHAEL DASWICK

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ZIN MIGNON and the MUSTARD MONKS

By: MICHAEL DASWICK

As Zin Mignon approached his father’s grave, he buckled in shock. Moments later, he asked, “Mom, who would do such a thing? Dad was just a simple guy who ran a little deli. I mean… Wasn’t he?” Thus begins the fourth book of Zin Mignon, the 13 year-old Chef Extraordinaire. He’s back in Brooklyn, with new recipes and a quest to finally uncover his family history. Ah… but if only his sleuthing skills matched his cooking prowess. So far, Michael Daswick’s sprawling Series has seen young Zin gnaw his way towards the core of his rotten family history: rat-roasting in homeless camps; the squalid orphanages of Russia; Gypsy caves of the Steppes; the Glam of the Sunset Strip; the reclusive mountaintop Abbey of the mysterious Mustard Monks, who conceal their secrets like prized Russian caviar. Join Zin in his most fantastical world-spanning adventure yet. But be warned: food will never taste the same again. In this epic conclusion, the Truth is Served. Will Zin be elated to finally uncover his family saga? Or utterly dashed into doom? Neither Zin, nor the reader, ever expected a shocker like this. And by the way…Who the heck are the Mustard Monks?

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Page Count

344

Publisher

PLAYA CHICA PRESS

Published Date

ISBN 10

1648265723

ISBN 13

9781648265723

Avoiding a Parental Freak-Out

Straight Talk from College Professor to Christian Parent

By: Michael Bozack

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Avoiding a Parental Freak-Out

Straight Talk from College Professor to Christian Parent

By: Michael Bozack

Students across America have learned that the transition from high school to college is one of the toughest assignments they have ever received. And, for a Christian student, achieving success in a secular university is even harder. Did you know that . . . Only 32% of high school seniors graduate with the skills they need for college. Only 20% of entering college students have the basic quantitative skills necessary to compare ticket prices or calculate the cost of food. By the end of their freshman year 30% of college students drop out. The four-year graduation rate for students attending public colleges and universities is currently 33%. The six-year rate is 58%. More than 85% of college students feel overwhelmed and 51% report that "things are hopeless." Christian students are not immune to the bad statistics. They should be our best college students, but many are falling prey to the same forces that derail secular students. What is a parent to do? Help is here! In this book, we give Christian parents the straight scoop on how to prepare your kids for college. Far more Christian students end up at secular colleges and universities than Christian colleges, but there are few resources to help parents. We show you what to do, what to avoid, what critical information you need, and which battles to fight. We offer tons of talking points to share with your kids. And best, we save you sleep, frustration, money, heartaches, pints of Baskin-Robbins double chocolate, and hours of watching the Hallmark Channel to chill out. Related keywords: Christian college planning, parent college planning,

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Page Count

322

Publisher

AuthorLoyalty

Published Date

ISBN 10

1632695529

ISBN 13

9781632695529

Scarcity Brain

Fix Your Craving Mindset and Rewire Your Habits to Thrive with Enough

By: Michael Easter

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Scarcity Brain

Fix Your Craving Mindset and Rewire Your Habits to Thrive with Enough

By: Michael Easter

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The author of The Comfort Crisis asks: Are we hardwired to crave more? From food and stuff to information and influence, why can’t we ever get enough? “Reveals the biological and evolutionary foundations behind your brain’s fixations, so you can stop seeking and start living.”—Melissa Urban, Whole30 CEO and author of The Book of Boundaries “Michael Easter’s genius is that he puts data around the edges of what we intuitively believe. His work has inspired many to change their lives for the better.”—Dr. Peter Attia, author of Outlive Michael Easter, author of The Comfort Crisis and one of the world’s leading experts on behavior change, shows that the problem isn’t you. The problem is your scarcity mindset, left over from our ancient ancestors. They had to constantly seek and consume to survive because vital survival tools like food, material goods, information, and power were scarce and hard to find. But with our modern ability to easily fulfill our ancient desire for more, our hardwired “scarcity brain” is now backfiring. And new technology and institutions—from dating and entertainment apps to our food and economic systems—are exploiting our scarcitybrain. They’re bombarding us with subversive “scarcitycues,” subtle triggers that lead us into low-reward cravings that hurt us in the long run. Scarcity cues can be direct and all-encompassing, like a sagging economy. Or they can be subtle and slight, like our neighbor buying a shiny new car. Easter traveled the world to consult with remarkable innovators and leading scientists who are finding surprising solutions for our scarcity brain. He discovered simple tactics that can move us towards an abundance mindset, cement healthy habits, and allow us to live our lives to the fullest and appreciate what we have, including how to: • Detect hidden scarcity cues to stop cravings before they start, from a brilliant slot machine designer in a Las Vegas casino laboratory • Turn alone time into the ultimate happiness hack, from artisanal coffee-making Benedictine monks • Reignite your exploration gene for a more exciting and fulfilling life, from an astronaut onboard the International Space Station • Reframe how we think about and fix addiction and bad habits, from Iraq’s chief psychiatrist • Recognize when you have enough, from a woman who left a million-dollar career path to adventure the world Our world is overloaded with everything we’re built to crave. The fix for scarcity brain isn’t to blindly aim for less. It’s to understand why we crave more in the first place, shake our worst habits, and use what we already have better. Then we can experience life in a new way—a more satisfying way.

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