Donald G. Firesmith

From Grief to Wonder: A Journey of Magic and Friendship. Dive into the enchanting world of The Secrets of Hawthorne House, a multi-award-winning young adult paranormal fantasy that masterfully addresses themes of grief, fitting in, bullying, financial hardship, and respecting others' beliefs and cultures. And it does so while weaving a spellbinding narrative of adventure, friendship, mystery, and ancient magic. After the tragic death of his mother, Matt Mitchell's grieving father moves him and his twin sister away from the sea they love to the small Midwest town of Hawthorne, Indiana. As a new out-of-towner at the local high school, Matt's despair and anger grow when he becomes the target of relentless bullying. He is soon warned that Old Lady Hawthorn, the secretive recluse who lives in the dilapidated Victorian mansion next door, is a witch who murdered her husband. But once Matt starts working for her, he discovers she is something altogether different. When the old lady's niece and her three children move into the mansion, Matt's dreary world takes an extraordinary turn. Matt meets Gerallt, and their unexpected friendship changes Matt's life forever. As they become best friends, Matt discovers a world brimming with secret magic and an ancient Celtic god, challenging everything he thought he knew. Together, the two boys confront the school bullies with a blend of cunning and magical mischief, embark on a thrilling quest for lost treasure, and uncover the profound secrets hidden within Hawthorne House. Winner of ten book awards, The Secrets of Hawthorne House is more than a story of friendship; it is a journey into a world where magic is real, cultures clash, and a lost treasure waits to be found. This meticulously crafted coming-of-age story balances the real with the fantastical, weaving a rich tapestry from elements of urban fantasy and Celtic mythology.Critics and readers have praised The Secrets of Hawthorne House for its ability to cover complex issues while maintaining a lighthearted and engaging tone that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. With descriptive prose, a multifaceted plot, and memorable characters, this book captivates and delights with wisdom, humor, and heart. The characters' personal battles resonate deeply with readers of all ages. More than merely a story of two friends, The Secrets of Hawthorne House is a journey through grief, the struggle against discrimination, and the discovery of inner strength amidst adversity. Whether you're a young reader or simply young at heart, it delivers an unforgettable adventure that bridges the gap between the ordinary and the extraordinary. With its unique blend of realistic struggles and magical escapades, this novel is a treasure trove of lessons on life, acceptance, and the unbreakable bonds of friendship. Pick up a copy now and join Matt and Gerallt as they uncover the true secrets of the Hawthorne House. Awards: 2020 TopShelf Magazine Book Award 1st Place Winner2020 International Book Awards Winner in the Fiction: Fantasy Category2020 Author Shout Reader Ready Top Pick AwardWinter 2020 Pinnacle Book Achievement Award for Best Books in Young Adult Fantasy Category2019 Readers' Favorite Book Award Silver Medal in the Young Adult Fantasy Urban CategoryAmerican Book Fest 2020 Best Book Award - Finalist in FantasyIndependent Author Network 2020 Book of the Year - Finalist in Paranormal/Supernatural Fiction2021 Author Elite Awards - Top 10 Finalist in Science Fiction and FantasyReadFREE.ly's Top 50 Indie Books of 2019 - Third Place2020 Purple Dragonfly Book Award in Science Fiction/Fantasy Category (Honorable Mention)

The architects of today’s large and complex systems all too often struggle with the lack of a consistent set of principles and practices that adequately address the entire breadth of systems architecture. The Method Framework for Engineering System Architectures (MFESA) enables system architects and process engineers to create methods for effectively and efficiently engineering high-quality architecture for systems, subsystems, and software components.Meets the Needs of Specific ProjectsThe book begins by documenting the common challenges that must be addressed by system architecture engineering. It explores the major principles answering these challenges and forming the basis of MFESA. Next, the authors introduce MFESA, including its primary goals, inputs, tasks, outputs, and assumptions. Then they describe the fundamental concepts and terminology on which the systems architecture engineering is founded. This is followed by a description of each of the ten system architecture engineering tasks including associated goals and objectives, preconditions, inputs, steps, postconditions, work products, guidelines, and pitfalls.Finally, the book documents the relationship between quality and architecture, explains the quality model underlying MFESA, and provides a summary of MFESA method framework, as well as a list of points to remember and future directions planned for MFESA.Explains Specific RationalesOrganized as a handy desk reference, this book harnesses more than 100 years of the authors’ combined professional experience to provide extensive guidelines, best practices, and tips on avoiding possible pitfalls. It presents a direct rationale of why steps are taken, how things can go wrong, and guidance for how and when to tailor the model for a system’s specific context.CRC Press is pleased to announce that The Method Framework for Engineering System Architectures has been added to Intel Corporation’s Recommended Reading List. Intel’s Recommended Reading program provides technical professionals a simple and handy reference list of what to read to stay abreast of new technologies. Dozens of industry technologists, corporate fellows, and engineers have helped by suggesting books and reviewing the list. This is the most comprehensive reading list available for professional computer developers.

With over 3,000 main entries and over 600 pages, this book is the only reference of its kind dedicated to the terminology used in the object technology field.