UPPING THE STAKES is the story of Lily Jarman, an alluring woman whose life of wealth and privilege ends abruptly, forcing her to find a way to save her life and her family. Catapulted into the casino world of high-stakes gambling and sexual adventure, Lily risks more as her drug use escalates, thrusting her further into a life of turmoil. In this compelling search for independence, she embarks on a roller coaster journey from Atlantic City to New York and Las Vegas where she learns that upping the stakes comes with powerful life changing consequences.

Seeking writing success? Start at the beginning... Whether you’re looking to get published or just hoping to hook your reader, first impressions are vital. Compelling opening scenes are the key to catching an agent or editor’s attention, and are crucial for keeping your reader engaged. As a writer, what you do in your opening pages, and how you do it, is a matter that cannot be left to chance. The First 50 Pages is here to help you craft a strong beginning right from the start. You’ll learn how to: • introduce your main character • establish your story world • set up the plot’s conflict • begin your hero’s inner journey • write an amazing opening line and terrific first page • and more This helpful guide walks you through the tasks your first 50 pages must accomplish in order to avoid leaving readers disoriented, frustrated, or bored. Don’t let your reader put your book down before ever seeing its beauty. Let The First 50 Pages show you how to begin your novel with the skill and intentionality that will land you a book deal, and keep readers’ eyes glued to the page.

Every leader needs to move people to action and align everyone’s actions toward the same goal. But how is this best accomplished? Words are a leader’s greatest tool, and metaphors are the most potent combination of words available. This book will provide you with communication tools that will take your leadership to the next level and beyond. Through the proper use of metaphors, anyone can become a better leader, align his or her team with their organizational values, and lead the organization to success. Metaphors activate vision and mission statements, enliven goals and objectives, and literally align every aspect of an organization in its intended direction. The knowledge gained from the principles in this book will help leaders develop stronger vision and mission statements that are actionoriented, and it will provide a schematic to organize goals and objectives that are relevant and focused on accomplishing the vision.

Relevant to, and drawing from, a range of disciplines, the chapters in this collection show the diversity, and applicability, of research in Bayesian argumentation. Together, they form a challenge to philosophers versed in both the use and criticism of Bayesian models who have largely overlooked their potential in argumentation. Selected from contributions to a multidisciplinary workshop on the topic held in Sweden in 2010, the authors count linguists and social psychologists among their number, in addition to philosophers. They analyze material that includes real-life court cases, experimental research results, and the insights gained from computer models. The volume provides, for the first time, a formal measure of subjective argument strength and argument force, robust enough to allow advocates of opposing sides of an argument to agree on the relative strengths of their supporting reasoning. With papers from leading figures such as Michael Oaksford and Ulrike Hahn, the book comprises recent research conducted at the frontiers of Bayesian argumentation and provides a multitude of examples in which these formal tools can be applied to informal argument. It signals new and impending developments in philosophy, which has seen Bayesian models deployed in formal epistemology and philosophy of science, but has yet to explore the full potential of Bayesian models as a framework in argumentation. In doing so, this revealing anthology looks destined to become a standard teaching text in years to come.​

Do you have a story idea inside you that you're dying to write, but you're not sure where to start? Are you already writing a novel, but the story has become too complicated and you don't know how to make progress? Maybe you already have your own novel outlining process, but you simply want to improve it? Or ... perhaps you don't have a story idea yet, but you just love the thought of writing a novel. Write a Novel Outline from Scratch! is an indispensable tool for storytellers of all levels and backgrounds. In this step-by-step guide, author Andrew Butcher shows you how to come up with a story idea and create a complete novel outline, including detailed character bios, location sheets, and loads of bonus tips that will transform your writing process into one that works! It doesn't matter if you're a beginner or experienced writer. It only matters that you want to outline an intricate story that will wow your readers. On top of that, learning to effectively outline and structure your novel means that when it comes to actually writing it, you'll write it faster, you'll write it better, it will need less revision, and--best of all--you'll get it published sooner! In this book, you'll learn how to: - Generate story ideas and expand them into a complete book outline from SCRATCH! - Weave plot lines together so intricately it will blow your readers' minds - Create vivid story locations that will transport your readers into your story world - Create fully developed characters your readers will love (or love to hate!) - Implement BONUS outlining tips that will forever change your writing process - Gain confidence in your writing by effectively outlining your story first The book includes links to loads of downloadable files to supplement your learning, and plenty of real-life examples from Andrew's first novel. There's even a FREE Scrivener template for Windows available for download, so if you're a Scrivener user, you can follow the exact template Andrew uses for outlining his stories. But don't worry, if you're not a Scrivener user, you will still benefit from reading this book! By the end of it all, you'll feel ready to write your book. So what are you waiting for? Dive in and start outlining your novel today!

The next Kirk McGarvey novel, Gambit, is an international thriller with non-stop action, perfect for fans of Jason Bourne. “If you like thrillers full of international intrigue, Hagberg is a major find.” —Dean Koontz, New York Times bestselling author An American billionaire and a Russian oligarch want Kirk McGarvey dead. First they send a South African assassin, and when Mac kills him, they commission a Canadian sniper for the kill. When Mac put him down, they hire a team of highly specialized Chinese killers called “Scorpions.” When Mac dispatches them, they send a squad of Russian special ops armed to the teeth with high-tech firepower. Mac's only chance of survival is to turn on the tables on the people behind this assassination conspiracy, that is, if he can find them. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

“A practical, heartfelt manual for anyone who needs to change minds and actions. Lisa Cron shares the art of practical empathy with leaders who care enough to make a difference.”—Seth Godin, author of The Practice A step-by-step guide to using the brain’s hardwired need for story to achieve any goal, from the author of Wired for Story Whether you’re pitching a product, saving the planet, or convincing your kids not to text and drive, story isn’t just one way to persuade. It’s the way. It’s built into the architecture of the brain, and has been since early humans gathered around the camp fire, trying to figure out how to outsmart the lion next door. In Story or Die, story coach Lisa Cron sets out to decode the power of story, first by examining how the brain processes information, translates it into narrative, and then guards it as if your life depends on it. Armed with that insight, she focuses on how to find your real target audience and then pinpoint their hidden resistance. Finally, she takes you, step-by-step, through the creation of your own story, one that allows your audience to overcome their resistance and take up your call to action, not because you told them to, but because they want to. That is the power of story. Use it wisely.