Ryan G. Van Cleave

While trying to impress a beautiful, unattainable classmate, fourteen-year-old Andy discovers that a fellow social outcast may be planning an act of school violence.

Unlocked

WARNING: This video game may impair your judgment. It may cause sleep deprivation, alienation of friends and family, weight loss or gain, neglect of one's basic needs as well as the needs of loved ones and/or dependents, and decreased performance on the job. The distinction between fantasy and reality may become blurred. Play at your own risk. Not responsible for suicide attempts, whether failed or successful. No such warning was included on the latest and greatest release from the Warcraft series of massive multiplayer on-line role-playing games (MMORPGs)--World of Warcraft (WoW). So when Ryan Van Cleave--a college professor, husband, father, and one of the 11.5 million Warcraft subscribers worldwide--found himself teetering on the edge of the Arlington Memorial Bridge, he had no one to blame but himself. He had neglected his wife and children and had jeopardized his livelihood, all for the rush of living a life of high adventure in a virtual world. Ultimately, Ryan decided to live, but not for the sake of his family or for a newly found love of life: he had to get back home for his evening session of Warcraft. A fabulously written and gripping tale, Unplugged takes us on a journey through Ryan's semi-reclusive life with video games at the center of his experiences. Even when he was sexually molested by a young school teacher at age eleven, it was the promise of a new video game that lured him to her house. As Ryan's life progresses, we witness the evolution of videogames--from simple two-button consoles to today's complicated multi-key technology, brilliantly designed to keep the user actively participating. As is the case with most recovering addicts, Ryan eventually hits rock bottom and shares with the reader his ongoing battle to control his impulses to play, providing prescriptive advice and resources for those caught in the grip of this very real addiction.

My Journey Into the Dark World of Video Game Addiction

Unplugged

Dom Dom

In evocative verse and stunning artwork, Witness Trees is the story of the world's most enduring witnesses: the trees. From the Flower of Kent apple tree still standing in Sir Isaac Newton's yard, to the English oak given to Jesse Owens after facing down Hitler at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, to the California redwood saved from destruction by July Butterfly Hill, to the Callery pear tree still miraculously alive after the World Trade Towers fell, Witness Trees is a moving tribute to the world's most famous trees, many of which still need humanity's protection. Be moved, be inspired, be amazed by the quiet, reverberating voices of nature's sentinels: the witness trees.

For each tree depicted, there is information about that tree and the events it witnessed. Among the trees lovingly discussed are 20 treees you can visit today.

Historic Moments and the Trees Who Watched Them Happen

The Witness Trees

Chicago has served as touchstone and muse to generations of writers and artists defined by their relationship to the city’s history, lore, inhabitants, landmarks, joys and sorrows, pride and shame. The poetic conversations inspired by Chicago have long been a vital part of America’s literary landscape, from Carl Sandburg and Gwendolyn Brooks to experimental writers and today’s slam poets. The one hundred contributors to this vibrant collection take their materials and their inspirations from the city itself in a way that continues this energetic dialogue. The cultural, ethnic, and aesthetic diversity in this gathering of poems springs from a variety of viewpoints, styles, and voices as multifaceted and energetic as the city itself. Cristin O’Keefe Aptowicz: “I want to eat / in a city smart enough to know that if you / are going to have that heart attack, you might / as well have the pleasure of knowing // you’ve really earned it”; Renny Golden: “In the heat of May 1937, my grandfather / sits in the spring grass of an industrial park / with hundreds of striking steelworkers”; Joey Nicoletti: “The wind pulls a muscle / as fans yell the vine off the outfield wall, / mustard-stained shirts, hot dog smiles, and all.” The combined energies of these poems reveal the mystery and beauty that is Second City, the City by the Lake, New Gotham, Paris on the Prairie, the Windy City, the Heart of America, and Sandburg’s iconic City of the Big Shoulders.

An Anthology of Chicago Poetry

City of the Big Shoulders

In this gorgeously illustrated collection of poems, readers are introduced to twenty-five of Emily Dickinson's most beloved poems, each illustrated with stunning, full-color collage artwork. Brief commentary and helpful definitions accompany each poem, making The Illustrated Emily Dickinson among the most accessible--and beautiful--introductions to the Belle of Amherst available. Poems include "Hope is the Thing with Feathers," "I'm Nobody! Who are you?", "A Bird came down the Walk," "Success is counted sweetest," and many more.

The Illustrated Emily Dickinson

Rick Dakan

Take your shot at becoming the next Tolkien, Asimov, or King with this simple roadmap to transforming your fiction into works of art Writing Sci-Fi, Fantasy, & Horror For Dummies is your skeleton key to creating the kind of fiction that grips readers and compels them to keep turning pages (even if it's well past their bedtime!) You'll start with the basics of creative writing—including character, plot, and scene—and strategies for creating engaging stories in different forms, such as novels, short stories, scripts, and video games. After that, get beginner-friendly and straightforward advice on worldbuilding, before diving headfirst into genre-specific guidance for science fiction, horror, and fantasy writing. This book also offers: Strategies for editing and revising your next work to get it into tip-top shape for your audience Ways to seek out second opinions from editors, experts, and even sensitivity readers Techniques for marketing and publication, working with agents, and advice for writers going the self-publishing route The perfect beginner's guide for aspiring writers with an interest in horror, fantasy, or science fiction, Writing Sci-Fi, Fantasy, & Horror For Dummies is the first and last resource you need before you start building your next story about faraway lands, aliens, and fantastic adventures.

Writing Sci-Fi, Fantasy, & Horror For Dummies

Greatest hits, 1992-2002

Did you know that one hundred million Americans game over three billion hours a week? One in three British males would rather play video games than have sex with their partner. Gaming isn't just a pastime anymore, but an actual epidemic! So whether you're the one gaming or are a parent to/dating a gamer, like it or not we're all in the gaming world. Packed with trivia questions, hilarious illustrations, and hard-to-believe fun facts, You Know You're a Video Game Addict If . . . is a hysterical guide to one of America's most widespread addictions.

You Know You're a Video Game Addict If...

Todd James Pierce

Behind the Short Story provides the “inside scoop” on how a successful story emerges from first to final draft by compiling critical analysis techniques, writing exercises, representative stories, and useful insights into the writing process from award-winning, student-oriented teachers who are also successful short story writers. Covering the process of writing and elements of fiction at the same time, unique craft commentaries explore the decisions writers make on issues of structure, character, setting, etc. and offer practical suggestions for pre-writing, drafting, and revising.

From First to Final Draft

Behind the Short Story

Virgil Suarez

Virgil Suárez

An anthology of the finest contemporary poetry on the subject of America furnishes evocative roadmaps of American history that reflect the collective memory and spirit of its citizens, in a volume that features works by Fred Chappell, Kelly Cherry, Gary Soto, Paisley Rekdal, Walt McDonald, Lola Haskins, and other poets. Simultaneous.

Poets on the Promise of America

Red, White, and Blues

Features a collection of poetry from some of America's best poets and provides original commentaries and suggested exercises to help the reader explore the meaning behind these poets' works.

Behind the Scenes

Contemporary American Poetry

Write Better Proposals Faster to Accelerate Your Writing Career! Whether you are a true beginner or a seasoned writer looking to secure more book contracts, The Weekend Book Proposal shows you how to take your best ideas and create powerful proposals--quickly and professionally. No need to spend months laboring over a proposal when in just a few days you can write one that will ignite the interest of agents and editors. Ryan G. Van Cleave presents the tools you need to craft an eye-grabbing proposal for your nonfiction, memoir, anthology, textbook, novel, and more. Jam-packed with proven strategies, nuts-and-bolts advice, sample queries and proposals, interviews with publishing experts, and "Hit the Gas" tips for speeding up the proposal process, The Weekend Book Proposal will show you how to succeed and prosper as a writer--and sell your books before you've even written them! The Weekend Book Proposal explains how to: • Write a catchy title and book description. • Create a compelling author bio and chapter outline. • Develop a targeted, engaging concept statement. • Build a strong marketing plan and endorsements list. • Structure your proposals based on those crafted by successful authors.

How to Write a Winning Proposal in 48 Hours and Sell Your Book

The Weekend Book Proposal

"This collection of poetry explores the poet's relationship and generational conflict with his father, the environment in which he matured, and the culture of his youth. The poems center around problems achieving self-definition in the American Midwest and the massive pressures for conformity pressed upon youth by the pop media. The poet rails against his own generation, which he views as failing to respond to the massive changes in the American social morass, except by escapism and avoidance."

A Book of Rune

Ha Ha Tonka

Offers advice to writers on writing a book proposal, covering such topics as how to create an author bio, how to develop an engaging concept statement, and how to build a strong marketing plan.

Ryan G. Van Cleave

Books

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