Young Nikola Tesla got a shock when he rubbed his cat's fur. That small spark lit his imagination forever. Covering his early years to his eventual success in the world of electricity, Bright Dreams showcases Tesla's incredible journey of discovery and perseverance. Author-illustrator Tracy Dockray conveys Tesla's busy and imaginative world with collage-style artwork and informative sidebars.

In Bright Boulevards, Bold Dreams, Donald Bogle tells–for the first time–the story of a place both mythic and real: Black Hollywood. Spanning sixty years, this deliciously entertaining history uncovers the audacious manner in which many blacks made a place for themselves in an industry that originally had no place for them. Through interviews and the personal recollections of Hollywood luminaries, Bogle pieces together a remarkable history that remains largely obscure to this day. We discover that Black Hollywood was a place distinct from the studio-system-dominated Tinseltown–a world unto itself, with unique rules and social hierarchy. It had its own talent scouts and media, its own watering holes, elegant hotels, and fashionable nightspots, and of course its own glamorous and brilliant personalities. Along with famous actors including Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, Hattie McDaniel (whose home was among Hollywood’s most exquisite), and, later, the stunningly beautiful Lena Horne and the fabulously gifted Sammy Davis, Jr., we meet the likes of heartthrob James Edwards, whose promising career was derailed by whispers of an affair with Lana Turner, and the mysterious Madame Sul-Te-Wan, who shared a close lifelong friendship with pioneering director D. W. Griffith. But Bogle also looks at other members of the black community–from the white stars’ black servants, who had their own money and prestige, to gossip columnists, hairstylists, and architects–and at the world that grew up around them along Central Avenue, the Harlem of the West. In the tradition of Hortense Powdermaker’s classic Hollywood: The Dream Factory and Neal Gabler’s An Empire of Their Own, in Bright Boulevards, Bold Dreams, Donald Bogle re-creates a vanished world that left an indelible mark on Hollywood–and on all of America.

Reprint of the original, first published in 1843.

The Sierra Nevada are just bumps standing between Laurel Tanner and her dream. When artist Laurel Tanner is left broke and brokenhearted by her mother’s death and her ex’s desertion, her only chance to open her own studio and gallery depends on getting to Reno and snagging a fat commission. But a steep rocky mountain road, and a hot Forest Ranger, may have other plans for her in the first book in this new Small-Town Romantic Comedy Series from Bestselling Author JoMarie DeGioia. A city girl stranded on a rocky mountain road. The Forest Ranger who comes to her rescue. An unexpected encounter at 5000 feet... Should she chase a dream or find a new one? Two months after her mother’s death, Laurel leaves San Francisco broke and brokenhearted. She heads for Reno to get a commission, hoping to earn enough to open her own art studio and gallery. With no opportunities behind her, this is her best shot. When she nearly runs into a deer, she swerves and hits a rock wall. Can her day get any worse? The sound of a crash draws Forest Ranger Jack Butler from his off-duty hike, and he finds a gorgeous girl sitting by her crumpled convertible. He’s always been a sucker for a damsel in distress, and can’t ignore the attraction burning between them. They soon share a kiss hot enough to start a forest fire. While her car is being fixed, the quaint town of Cloud Canyon welcomes Laurel. She finds herself surrounded by warm, meddlesome, well-meaning Butlers, and she’s tempted to put her studio on hold if it means she can have a new life with Jack. And maybe a new family too. Jack, still stinging from his failed marriage, doubts he’ll be enough for her to stay. Will falling for Jack keep her from chasing her dream? Or will she find a new one in Cloud Canyon?

Are you a creative person seeking more satisfying work? Do you want to make the transition from a job you find secure but soulless to a life built around your creative dream? Then look no further than this essential guide, written by a tenured professor who quit his job and pursued his dream as a successful “story merchant” and film producer. This book will show you how to: Construct a life that fits your personal vision Stand up against negative peer pressure Redefine success in your own terms Identify and control your conflicting inner voices Find time to make your dreams come true And much more! Kenneth Atchity teaches you the skills you will need to venture out into the world on your own terms. If you’re ready to fall in love with your future, this book can give you the inspiration you need to make that life-changing leap into a better world.