The Midwest has produced a robust literary heritage. Its authors have won half of the nation's Nobel Prizes for Literature plus a significant number of Pulitzer Prizes. This volume explores the rich racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity of the region. It also contains entries on 35 pivotal Midwestern literary works, literary genres, literary, cultural, historical, and social movements, state and city literatures, literary journals and magazines, as well as entries on science fiction, film, comic strips, graphic novels, and environmental writing. Prepared by a team of scholars, this second volume of the Dictionary of Midwestern Literature is a comprehensive resource that demonstrates the Midwest's continuing cultural vitality and the stature and distinctiveness of its literature.

Why do many Jamaican men acknowledge the importance of love, but also believe that men have the right to physically discipline their partners? How far does fathering become a journey of personal self-development? What happens to "outside children" when the father also has children at home? Why do fathers believe that they must toughen their sons? These are some of the questions which are carefully explored in this groundbreaking study of Jamaican fathers. The study departs from the tradition of Caribbean family research in which the focus has usually been placed on women and on households and instead gives men the opportunity to speak for themselves. Unlike the familiar emphasis on low-income households, this new study interviewed men across a range of social classes and within different community contexts. As a result, the impact of harsh economic conditions is unmistakable in limiting the ability of Jamaican men to translate their fathering commitment into active and continuing involvement.Across social classes and communities, Jamaican men share a common cultural conception of what is required to be a good father. However, they are also tied to definitions of hegemonic masculinity which emphasize male dominance and virility, so that domestic conflict may be inevitable, and men's aspirations to be good fathers may become imperilled. Given the existence of these countervailing values, there is a struggle to find a reasonable fit. The study concludes that it is possible for Jamaican men to be good fathers but bad husbands.

From Pain to Purpose is a book designed to help us understand that all of the pain that we experience have purpose

GATORS, SNAKES, BEARS AND BIKERS, OH MY

This book is the second in a planned series of books entitles "Tails of a Woodsman." This book is similar to the first book Patti has published, it is a collection of humorous true stories of Patti's encounters with Florida Wild Life. Patti's gifted story telling style has a way of touching the heart of her readers and many readers report laughing right out loud

Most of the stories in this book happened in the 440,000 acres of the untamed piney woods of the Ocala National Forest. Patti resides in a cottage, near the healing springs of the Seminole Indians---Salt Springs. This is where she shares the land with many Florida critters to include, gators, poisonous snakes, black bears, owls, eagles, and great salt water and freshwater fishing.

These stories will warm the heart of the readers and expose the reader to rural Florida, a place that is spiritually scared to those born here and awesomely challenging to the newcomer

GATORS, SNAKES, BEARS AND BIKERS, OH MY

This book is the second in a planned series of books entitles "Tails of a Woodsman." This book is similar to the first book Patti has published, it is a collection of humorous true stories of Patti's encounters with Florida Wild Life. Patti's gifted story telling style has a way of touching the heart of her readers and many readers report laughing right out loud

Most of the stories in this book happened in the 440,000 acres of the untamed piney woods of the Ocala National Forest. Patti resides in a cottage, near the healing springs of the Seminole Indians---Salt Springs. This is where she shares the land with many Florida critters to include, gators, poisonous snakes, black bears, owls, eagles, and great salt water and freshwater fishing.

These stories will warm the heart of the readers and expose the reader to rural Florida, a place that is spiritually scared to those born here and awesomely challenging to the newcomer

In the quiet of a village churchyard, something evil waits . . . Walter Ross is determined to expose a secret he believes is hidden somewhere inside the walls of a Catholic church in the small community of Pixville. His quest begins when his best friend, Cecil, spends a frightening night at the church's cemetery, known as "the Marble Orchard" while partying among the gravestones with friends. On another occasion, two sailors visiting Pixville along with two local girls encounter a mythical figure that seems all too chillingly real. When other similar events from the past and present begin to surface, Walter is convinced that these mysterious happenings are warning signs that something sinister has occurred inside St. Joseph's Church. As time moves on and events unfold, a fire destroys the church, opening the door to a horrific discovery. With the authorities baffled, it falls to Walter to unravel the mystery of the Marble Orchard.

Snakes, gators, and bears, oh my!
This book is a collection of humorous and emotional stirring events of one woman's attempt to share the land with various critters that resided on her farm located in the heart of Ocala National Forest. This 440,000 acre wooded swampland harbors over 20 spring fed lakes filled with large mouth bass, other fresh water fish and reptiles, including alligators. The piney forest that surrounds these awesome lakes in spring is also the home for many critters including a variety of aggressive snakes, wandering curious black bear and exotic often strange acting birds.
These stories based on actual events will delight the heart of the reader. In addition, the reader will be exposed to rural Florida, a place spiritually sacred to those born and raised here, awesomely challenging to the newcomer.