Kirjahaku

Josephine is a saga about greed, power, servitude, and survival, balanced against the misery of living in a western Pennsylvania coal patch. Timeless, poignant with flawed, unforgettable characters and set during a most prosperous time for the few, Josephine's efforts to shape a life that sets her afire are thwarted time and time again by forces around her. Although she rebuffs society's mandates and wants to carve out her own path, circumstances compel her to marry Joseph, one of the many miners battling for his dignity and welfare. Josephine and her friends, Annie and Emma, struggle to survive and help other women to do the same as heartache reaches into every home. They are pushed and pulled by tragedies, the constant threat of poverty, and by a society of imposed limitations. Although Josephine's story does not end tied up in a pretty bow with the reader saying she slayed the dragon, they can say she had an indomitable spirit; she tackled the challenges that came her way; and made opportunities for herself, her family, and the women around her.

Dogs are forever. They are not to be tossed aside because they don't fit our version of a perfect dog. They kiss away our tears, cuddle next to us when we are sad, greet us with excitement and high spirits, even if we are in a bad mood, and stay by our side in times of trouble and tears. They know very well the meaning of the words, "till death do us part." Based on true events that happened to Elizabeth and her husband, David, Samson and Delilah, is a heartwarming story about two very different, adorable beagles, and how they each captured their guardians' hearts and formed a bond that would be cherished always. This journey shows how we love and protect those closest to our hearts. With humor and humility, the author reveals what it's like to open your heart to not one, but two loveable beagles. The story also shares the challenges encountered in living with two dogs in a New York City apartment and the joy of having two quirky dogs like Samson and Delilah. While this book is candid and sincere and sad and funny, it focuses on the issue of giving dogs a second chance. Sharing the antics and adventures of Samson and Delilah, this book shows how to work through the challenges that may arise in that most valuable and rewarding of relationships. Most importantly, it will also inspire people to take action to rescue a dog-maybe two.

Samson and Delilah return to the pages with their human companions, Elizabeth and David, plus the twenty foster dogs they welcomed into their home. The fosters come in all shapes, colors, and sizes, some with heart-warming stories and others tragic and heart-wrenching. You will meet sweet Bonnie, the puppy mill dog; Flossie and Bailey, laboratory beagles; crazy Tillie and gentle Millie; two adorable sisters, Lady and Angel; and LittleBit who talks, just to name a few. Poignant, uplifting stories of twenty foster dogs, plus the continued antics of Samson and Delilah, will make you smile, warm your heart, and possibly bring tears to your eyes.

This book is a collection of short stories, poems, and personal vignettes written by The Fifth Avenue Writers a group of six local authors from Pittsburgh.Initially, Fifth Avenue Writers formed in order to write and hone their craft. They soon found contentment and joy in writing and supporting each other. Along the way, they realized their writings needed to have a home, not be put on the shelf, shoved in a drawer, lost for now, forever. This collection of writings is meant to share with the reader expressions of some of their intimate thoughts and longings, love and sorrow, humor, wonder, and the paths they have traveled. They are an eclectic group with various life experiences, evidenced by their writings, which are as different as they are. Just peek at the titles in the table of contents.The collection includes a description of a walk through an English village before Hitler started dropping bombs; finding comfort in the heartfelt moments between grandfather and grandson; experience the heartbreak of a little boy lost; encounter a child's despair when she finds out she is not allowed to play with others; marvel at a world of wonder in Sicily; remember the sorrow of the loss of millions; reminisce with a trip to the local sweet shop; chuckle at an HOA's antics and a nun who manages a bed and breakfast with aplomb; ponder the evil in man, the plight of women, and love that comes to us in many ways; laugh at the message from an irate mother when her son chooses an unsuitable woman as a bride. All this and so much more.