Charles M. Schulz and his beloved comic strip, "Peanuts," have changed the world. In "Security Blankets," Fraser and Bang present a heartwarming collection of 51 touching true stories to show the connection people have with the adored cartoon. Stories, photos from the contributors, and "Peanuts" artwork make this work extra special. The connections are so strong they've even had the power to change people's lives.
Take, for example, the Vietnam POW; whose first piece of correspondence while in captivity was a Snoopy card that included a picture of his wife and children. Or the 5-year-old boy from Boston who demanded that his stuffed Snoopy accompany him to the hospital for a high-risk surgery. Connections such as these show how "Peanuts" has become a security blanket for thousands.
This is chicken soup for the "Peanuts" lover's soul.
Excerpt from the book:
"But what made this drawing different was the unique "countdown calendar" that my father had drawn on Snoopy's belly. Each square on the calendar, which my sisters and I would cross out, meant that our dad was one day closer to coming home. Every time a square was marked off that drawing, Snoopy brought a bit of happiness and security to a war-weary and scared ten-year-old girl who desperately missed her Daddy.
Did Snoopy help bring my father safely home from the Vietnam War? Maybe, maybe not. But to this day, whenever I see Snoopy--especially when he's performing his happy dance--my heart is grateful and filled with loving memories of my Dad.

This is the true story of the most remarkable horse in history. Foaled in the lavish Ottoman stables of the Topkapl Palace in the late 1870s, this dark bay stallion was hard schooled in the disciplines of war. Until now, his remarkable story has never been told.

Poet of the Caribbean

musings of a global peacemaker

By ""Mama Lizzie" "

a true story about rising from the ashes told in Poetry & Prose

"darkness and light" which took her on the journey of "The Phoenix" and resulted in the creation of a global peace initiative. 'Poet of the Caribbean' was inspired by her second visit to St. Vincent & The Grenadines and her newly-given name ""Mama Lizzie." "The book is designed to serve 'The Bigger Picture."

""Mama Lizzie,"" however, was compelled to write this book in which she shares her experience and passes on the teaching that she gleaned from enduring abuse, extreme loss, mental illness and the double-edged sword of her gifts. Told with unflinching honesty, vision and conviction, 'Poet of the Caribbean' is a living testimony to "her "personal motto '"Be Original - Be Yourself'" and her signature poem 'Sexy Hymn' - celebrating woman.

commitment to the on-going path of self-realisation is clear and her work is rooted in psychological, spiritual and holistic understanding.

""role model of courage and forgiveness whom she met after sending him 'Dear Mr. Lomax' - a poem which conveys both her horrific experience of mind-control and a powerful message of individual and collective

""Mama Lizzie's"" quest.

In January 2003 Asne Seierstad entered Baghdad on a ten-day visa. She was to stay for over three months, reporting on the war and its aftermath. A Hundred and One Days is her compelling account of a city under siege, and a fascinating insight into the life of a foreign correspondent. An award-winning writer, Seierstad brilliantly details the frustrations and dangers journalists faced trying to uncover the truth behind the all-pervasive propaganda. She also offers a unique portrait of Baghdad and its people, trying to go about their daily business under the constant threat of attack. Seierstad's passionate and erudite book conveys both the drama and the tragedy of her one hundred and one days in a city at war.

Stories My Parents Told Me: Tales of Growing Up in Wartime Malta is a collection of seven short stories based on actual events during World War II on the Mediterranean island nation of Malta. The stories describe a difficult time for children and their families where survival was paramount and family ties were what sustained them. These stories are interspersed with snippets of history, factual details and descriptions which establish a setting for tales which are, at times, emotionally moving and, at other times, bring a smile to your face. These stories also describe a culture of a time past for a deeply religious and frugal people. Early reviews: "Have now read them - and love them Wonderful human stories. (Rupert Grech) is a talented writer. Terrific " - Barry York, Ph.D., OAM; Historian, Museum of Australian Democracy. "(Rupert Grech) is a very good raconteur. I enjoyed reading the stories, some of which are touching and very moving" - Mark A. Sammut, Author/Freelance Journalist.

Lydia was 19 years old and enjoying university with a loving family and great friends when she became anorexic. The doctors told her that she would die. This is Lydia's account of what anorexia did to her, how it changed her and how it impacted on her family, friends and all her choices in life. Her story is told through letters and blogs that Lydia wrote at the best and worst of times, notes from her parent s and friends desperately trying to find a way through to her and doctors notes with the horrific exacting details. Lydia is now 23 and 'recovering'. She strongly believes that recovery is possible, and feels she is almost there. She wrote her book to explain her deepest thoughts and to explain the painful mental torture that she endured and overcame. And she wrote it in the hope that others suffering would relate to it, and that other families watching their loved ones will be touched and understand more deeply how an eating disorder really feels.

Truth sees no boundaries and sooner or later it comes out and expresses its need to be acknowledged. Relationships are needed and sustained throughout our lifespan and need sustenance through nurture, understanding and support. This incredible story, narrated with simplicity and humour, carries the reader through extremes of human emotion and relationships. It is a compelling story of a father's true horror, isolation and survival in his daily struggles to rear his two adoring and beautiful daughters. Upon the inevitable breakup of his family, in court every attempt for the revelation of the truth is thwarted as he tries to put forward his experiences only to suffer injustice at every step of the nightmare that unfolds in front of him. He advocates and instigates a campaign for equality and justice in the treatment of parents and grandparents through the halls of power only to be physically and emotionally drained by the very men he saves from self destruction. He challenges and exposes the incompetence of the system, the state, the legal profession only to be excluded from the media at every step of his struggle to survive while being wiped from government files and dubbed as a threat to the very same system that tried to destroy him. But truth runs much deeper and much closer to the heart, where life itself, the unconditional love of his daughters and friendships are continuously challenged.

Ever since its publication in 2007, Eric MacLeod's memoir of his young family's years reconstructing and living in one of the most remote crofthouses in Scotland has remained one of our most popular titles, selling mostly in Scotland but travelling far and worldwide thanks to the area's many visitors. Sandstone Press is now happy and proud to present a second edition, complete with an additional chapter bringing the story of the family and the house bang up to date.

This is a true story. A humdinger of an argument lurches Alana into a vision which is beyond her wildest dreams. Seeing a romantic couple drinking champagne on a yacht, canoodling and eating the faces off of each other; the green eyed monster rears its ugly head. Most women buy shoes or clothes to console themselves after a tiff but Alana sees a 70,000 yacht. Does she buy it? Alana tells this true, hilarious at times story, her life, her journey, her mayhem. Do you have a sense of fun, like a giggle, don't take life too seriously? Then read this. When, where, how does it all end?

From Lassie to Old Yeller to Rin Tin Tin to Marley, dogs have stolen our attention and our hearts. In real life, our own pets are more than just canine companions; they are members of our family. And for some, they are heroes and brave servants.

In "Man s Best Hero," prolific author (and lifelong dog lover) Ace Collins provides a collection of short, dramatic stories about dogs that have gone the extra mile. Though not trained to perform heroic acts, circumstances and the remarkable bond between the dog and its owner led these animals to perform amazing feats that defy logic. Whether it is saving a drowning man, jumping in front of a truck to push a toddler to the curb, or tearing the burning clothes off a child s back, the actions presented in these stories display courage, loyalty, intelligence, and other admirable qualities of life and faith.

These compelling portraits, told first in the words of the dog and then through exciting narrative that recounts the dog s actions, will touch reader s hearts and will leave them with a greater appreciation for their furry friends.

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A haunting and exquisitely-observed collection of medical vignettes that brilliantly captures the intense drama of the Emergency Room Reminiscent of Chekhov's stories, The Blood of Strangers is a visceral portrayal of a physician's encounters with the highly charged world of an emergency room. In this collection of spare elegant stories, Dr Frank Huyler reveals a side of medicine - the intricacy of suturing a facial wound, the bath a patient receives from her husband and daughter - interwoven with the lives of the sick and injured. The author presents an array of fascinating characters, both patients and doctors - a neurosurgeon who practices witchcraft, a trauma surgeon who unexpectedly commits suicide, a wounded murderer, a man chased across the New Mexico desert by a heat-seaking missile. At times surreal, at times lyrical, at times brutal and terrifying, The Blood of Strangers is a deeply affecting first book from one of the most dramatic specialities of modern medicine.

He never knew his name, he never knew his mother, he never knew his family, he never knew his people, he never knew his country. Born Alice Springs, 4th January, 1973, murdered Perth, 4th January, 1992...because he was black. From the epitaph at Alice Springs Cemetery] *** Warren Braedon, named Louis St. John Johnson by his adoptive parents, was taken from his mother in Alice Springs at just three months old. Told that he had been abandoned, Louis's adoptive parents, Bill and Pauline Johnson raised him in a loving family in Perth. Despite a happy childhood, Louis was increasingly targeted by school bullies and the police for his Aboriginality. As he grew older, his need to meet his natural family prompted visits to Alice Springs with his parents, but they were thwarted by bureaucracy. Louis was planning to return to Alice Springs when, walking home on his 19th birthday, he was brutally murdered by a group of white youths whose admitted motive was 'because he was black.' Originally published in the multi-award-winning and seminal history of the Aboriginal 'Stolen Generations' (Broken Circles by Anna Haebich), the story of Louis Johnson/Warren Braedon captures the dark heart of racism in modern Australia through the tragic story of one boy and his short life. A Boy's Short Life is an in-depth history of Aboriginal discrimination, highlighted through an individual story of injustice, one that raises issues that continue to challenge our society.

Across Great Divides, true stories of life at Sydney Cove will appeal to all readers, young, old and in-between, who love to be immersed in a good read, while learning new things. The stories will no doubt make you wonder, what would I have done? Across Great Divides, true stories of life at Sydney Cove, brings to life the diverse experiences of people living in the precarious circumstance of Australia's first penal colony. The stories are relayed through a non-fiction narrative which shows how convict men saw and seized the possibilities of their new position. It portrays the situation of convict women and their relationships with military men. The stories demonstrate the varied responses of participants to their unique situation: some succeeded beyond their imagination, some failed disastrously. The stories also give voice to the dilemma of the Aboriginal people challenged by the unexpected arrival of a completely alien race of white people to their land: Bennelong and his difficult to ignore wife, Barangaroo, dealt with their new circumstances in a way they felt would best benefit themselves and their people. On the other hand, the young warrior Pemulwuy had his own ideas about how the white invaders should be confronted. Boorong and Nanberry, two native children taken separately into the homes of white settlers in the aftermath of a devastating epidemic, went on to have fickle yet enduring relationships with their white guardians. The stories in Across Great Divides, true stories of life at Sydney Cove give the different perspectives of military men who had volunteered for a tour of duty in the remote colony. Marine officers Watkin Tench, William Dawes, George Johnston, Philip Gidley King, and Captain John Hunter left valuable links to past times through their diaries, letters and journals. Arthur Phillip, the colony's first governor, also wrote letters which give us insight into the dilemmas plaguing his mind.

Anna David's True Tales of Lust and Love began as a one-time-only reading and storytelling show in January of 2012, a venue for writers and comedians to share and laugh at their dating disaster stories. But after selling out the venue and attracting immediate press and buzz--with articles in "The LA Weekly, LA Times, Time Out, Flavorpill," and "LAist," among others--David agreed to produce the show every month. It has continued not only to sell out but also to attract a growing list of authors, comedians, and Hollywood writers. As Time Out declared, "This is the place to go to see strong female performers."
With the show now booked indefinitely, and with audio recordings of each performance available on iTunes, Anna has collected the most popular and entertaining pieces into the first ever True Tales of Lust and Love anthology. The book includes essays organized into three sections--Casual Sex, Dating, and Out of the Ordinary--which collectively offer up funny, raucous, insightful, and surprisingly touching confessions about the quest for lust and love. Everyone has dating disaster stories, everyone needs to share and laugh at them, and this anthology will give readers the opportunity to do just that, with contributions from the funniest writers and comedians around, pulled from the world of books, TV, and film. "True Tales of Lust and Love" is the perfect complement for a funny or cynical Valentine's Day--and beyond.

Molluscs and Me is a celebration of the Kent countryside and a story of how fulfilment can come from an unusual source. Without acres of land, Helen decides to start an edible snail farm in her spare bedroom. In the face of prejudice, she searches for a market for her escargots and does everything she can to get her snails into the public eye and onto their plates, from farmers markets and visiting local schools to inviting TV cameras into her home. But when the snails refuse to lay eggs, will Helen have to admit defeat? When small furry animals move in to dine on escargots au naturel, will Freddie and Dusty the ferrets save the day? Molluscs and Me is a true story of determination and entrepreneurship about setting up and running an edible snail farm in East Kent. Recipes and information about snail farming and snail cooking through history and around the world are sandwiched between the chapters. This book is for you if you are fed up with the rat race or dreaming of a new way of life.

Listen to this authentic voice from the far land of New Mexico's past. Pull up a chair. Throw away your watch. The author will tell you a story. She was born more than a century ago, and her stories were born centuries before that. Now through the graceful agency of her grandson, Don Usner, her stories will live on, told and retold, shared widely, the irrepressible spirit of old New Mexico captured and held between these covers.

For Art Spiegelman, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Maus, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 were both highly personal and intensely political. In the Shadow of No Towers, his first new book of comics since the groundbreaking Maus, is a masterful and moving account of the events and aftermath of that tragic day. Spiegelman and his family bore witness to the attacks in their lower Manhattan neighborhood: his teenage daughter had started school directly below the towers days earlier, and they had lived in the area for years. But the horrors they survived that morning were only the beginning for Spiegelman, as his anguish was quickly displaced by fury at the U.S. government, which shamelessly co-opted the events for its own preconceived agenda. He responded in the way he knows best. In an oversized, two-page-spread format that echoes the scale of the earliest newspaper comics (which Spiegelman says brought him solace after the attacks), he relates his experience of the national tragedy in drawings and text that convey-with his singular artistry and his characteristic provocation, outrage, and wit-the unfathomable enormity of the event itself, the obvious and insidious effects it had on his life, and the extraordinary, often hidden changes that have been enacted in the name of post-9/11 national security and that have begun to undermine the very foundation of American democracy.

Steve Braunias travels off the grid to capture weird and wonderful goings-on in small-town New Zealand. Full of fascinating - and sometimes disturbing - stories about people living in 20 places - from Kawakawa to Mosgiel, and across the seas in Samoa and Antarctica - their lives, loves, aspirations, and sometimes dark secrets. Searing insights and honesty from New Zealand's most awarded journalist - this book will be talked about!