Sarah James

The Politics of Failed Policies examines the darker side of state autonomy and policy experimentation in our federal system: policy failure. While advances in statistics and computing promised the ability to evaluate the outcomes of state policies more precisely and accurately, the path from information to responsive policy remains far from guaranteed, especially given our highly polarized political climate. Most of the existing scholarship focuses on individual characteristics that affect public officials' likelihood of internalizing new information and refining their policy preferences. In stark contrast, author Sarah James takes a historical institutionalist approach and shows that the design, resources, and processes of state-level research institutions can systematically influence when evidence can overcome confirmation bias and partisan preferences among elected state officials evaluating a policy. This work contributes a more precise definition of a state's capacity for research that better explains political responses to policy failure. The detailed case studies support a theory of policy feedback in which policy and institutional landscape can empower diffusely organized and disadvantaged policy opponents to overcome the power of the traditional winners in the American political economy. The Politics of Failed Policies takes seriously that policy research and learning are not isolated from the caprices of party politics, and yet Jamesw shows that state politics and policymaking are not irrevocably beholden to the whims of partisan bickering. While ideological battles, pressure from well-resourced interest groups, and, yes, even elections, remain formidable forces in American politics, strategically designed state policies and institutions can lay a foundation for building a coalition to respond to actual policy outcomes. Choices about policy and institutional design have long-term effects on when, how, and why public officials feel pressured to acknowledge and respond to policy failure.

Murder, movie stars, and mystery await those who climb aboard this cross-country train, inspired by the real-life history of the Hollywood Victory CaravanHollywood, 1942. Jacqueline Love's acting career is flailing. Suddenly on the wrong side of 40, parts are drying up, directors are calling her "difficult," and Humphrey Bogart has definitely stopped taking her calls. Desperate to cling to stardom, Jackie takes the only gig that will have her: the Hollywood Victory Caravan, a train full of movie stars crossing the country to fundraise for the war effort. Jackie wouldn't call herself patriotic, but with her life's work on the line, she'll do anything.When a fellow star dies on board, everyone assumes the death was a tragic accident–but Jackie isn't so sure. Stuck in Chicago's Union Station, Jackie enlists the help of Grace, one of the few women in the police force, to investigate. But "difficult" outside of a movie set is dangerous, and when the pair fall into a homegrown Nazi scheme, Jackie must ask herself what's more important: her career, or her country?

"Glamorous and suspenseful." -Marie Benedict, New York Times bestselling author of The Only Woman in the Room and The Mitford AffairPerhaps the best place in 1943 Hollywood to see the stars is the Hollywood Canteen, a club for servicemen staffed exclusively by those in show business. Murder mystery playwright Annie Laurence, new in town after a devastating breakup, definitely hopes to rub elbows with the right stars. Maybe then she can get her movie made.But Hollywood proves to be more than tinsel and glamour. When despised film critic Fiona Farris is found dead in the Canteen kitchen, Annie realizes any one of the Canteen's luminous volunteers could be guilty of the crime. To catch the killer, Annie falls in with Fiona's friends, a bitter and cynical group-each as uniquely unhappy in their life and career as Annie is in hers-that call themselves the Ambassador's Club.Solving a murder in real life, it turns out, is a lot harder than writing one for the stage. And by involving herself in the secrets and lies of the Ambassador's Club, Annie just might have put a target on her own back."This vibrant, utterly delightful mystery expertly captures the drama, glamour and absurdity of wartime Hollywood. Sarah James's swift dialogue, dry wit and clever characters transport you into a 1940s movie, where the jokes are quick, the love affairs scandalous and the cast as charming as they are flawed. Underneath it all, James's deep knowledge of the era's movies and music lends an authenticity that makes the rest shine even brighter. I laughed, I gasped and I never wanted it to end. This should head straight to the top of every must-read list." -Brianna Labuskes, author of The Librarian of Burned Books

An enemies-to-lovers dark romance novel. Loosely inspired by the Hades and Persephone myth. Sinful, spicy and utterly seductive. *** Peyton Dimitra has always been a good girl... until she meets her wicked new boss, Hadina Adis.Hadina Adis had never been good... but meeting Peyton Dimitra makes her want to be better.The longer Peyton spends with Hadina, the more she is propelled into a life of secrecy, crime and betrayal. Loving Hadina comes easy, but trusting her doesn't.When her new life implodes, Peyton has to decide between being the girl she used to be, or the woman Hadina helped her become.***Seeds of Sorrow is the first book in a dark contemporary romance series, loosely inspired by Greek mythology. This book contains mature themes, explicit content, triggers, violence and strong language. Reader discretion is strongly advised.

For fans of ATOMIC CITY GIRLS and THE SECRETS WE KEPT, a fascinating debut historical novel of one of the most closely held secrets of World War II and a woman caught up in it when she follows her missing sister to the mysterious city of Oak Ridge, Tennessee.Lillian Kaufman hasn't heard from her twin sister since Eleanor left for a mysterious job at an Army base somewhere in Tennessee. When she learns, on an unexpected phone call, that Eleanor is missing, Lillian takes a train from New York down to Oak Ridge to clear up the matter. It turns out that the only way into Oak Ridge is to assume Eleanor's identity, which Lillian plans to do swiftly and perfectly. But Eleanor has vanished without a trace-and she's not the only one. And how do you find someone in a town so dangerous it doesn't officially exist, when technically you don't exist either?Lillian is thrust into the epicenter of the gravest scientific undertaking of all time, with no idea who she can trust. And the more she pretends to be Eleanor, the more she loses her grip on herself.

Lisa est tr s panouie dans sa carri re professionnelle. Journaliste pour un grand magazine people new-yorkais, elle ne jure que par son travail et ne laisse aucune place aux relations amoureuses. Matthew n' tait encore qu'un adolescent lorsque sa carri re de chanteur explosa. Adul par des milliers de jeunes filles, Matthew d cida pourtant de mettre un terme sa carri re si prometteuse. L'hyst rie des fans ne lui permettait plus de vivre normalement. Il ne supportait plus toute cette pression m diatique. Mais aujourd'hui, des ann es plus tard, Matthew se sent plus fort, pr t revenir sur le devant de la sc ne. Lorsque Lisa apprend la nouvelle, elle tombe sous le choc. Elle qui faisait partie de ces nombreuses groupies transies d'amour pour le s duisant chanteur, ne peut contenir sa joie et se promet de tout mettre en oeuvre pour r aliser son r ve de toujours: rencontrer son idole...

This volume offers a new perspective to debates on local food and urban sustainability presenting the long silenced voices of the small-scale farmers from the productive green fringe of Sydney’s sprawling urban jungle. Providing fresh food for the city and local employment, these culturally and linguistically diverse farmers contribute not only to Sydney’s globalizing demographic and cultural fabric, but also play a critical role in the city’s environmental sustainability. In the battle for urban space housing development threatens to turn these farmlands into sprawling suburbia. In thinking from and with the urban ‘fringe’, this book moves beyond the housing versus farming debate to present a vision for urban growth that is dynamic and alive to the needs of the 21st century city. In a unique bringing together of the twin forces shaping contemporary urbanism - environmental change and global population flows - the voices from the fringe demand to be heard in the debate on future urban food sustainability.

This volume offers a new perspective to debates on local food and urban sustainability presenting the long silenced voices of the small-scale farmers from the productive green fringe of Sydney’s sprawling urban jungle. Providing fresh food for the city and local employment, these culturally and linguistically diverse farmers contribute not only to Sydney’s globalizing demographic and cultural fabric, but also play a critical role in the city’s environmental sustainability. In the battle for urban space housing development threatens to turn these farmlands into sprawling suburbia. In thinking from and with the urban ‘fringe’, this book moves beyond the housing versus farming debate to present a vision for urban growth that is dynamic and alive to the needs of the 21st century city. In a unique bringing together of the twin forces shaping contemporary urbanism - environmental change and global population flows - the voices from the fringe demand to be heard in the debate on future urban food sustainability.

Sarah James' precise and astonishing poetry invites us to taste and touch the flavours, shapes, memory and experiences for ourselves, the tang of sea-salt tempering the irresistible physicality of these adventurous poems.

Cv Publications' series of English County Guides launched with a survey of Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire, first published in 1999. Rather than just passing from point A to B researchers followed an ad-hoc schedule of diverse routes. They found themselves turning down obscure side lanes leading to little villages hidden in marvellous environs of deep countryside. The fifth guide, Norfolk is characterised by the breadth and variation of its countryside, known for its arched skies and expansive landscape. In a complex series of journeys that criss-crossed the county, Nicholas and Sarah James have recorded over two hundred villages and market towns, ranging from Cromer to Hunstanton on the 'Norfolk Riviera', to the 'Wash' and Norfolk Broads, with lesser known hamlets nestling deep in this fascinating and historic part of East England.

Cv Publications series of Guides to English counties is launched with my survey of Oxfordshire. It has been a journey of discovery. Rather than just passing from point A to B my excursions followed an ad-hoc schedule of diverse routes. I found myself turning down obscure side lanes leading to little villages hidden in a marvellous landscape of deep countryside. Documenting over one hundred centres the county gradually revealed itself as largely unspoilt by the industrial sprawl. Oxford itself is of course very lively and cosmopolitan, but communications and facilities are as good in the many market towns. I was really interested to note the range of properties both old and new and the particular character of an area. I hope that my guide provides details and insights that will assist your own enquiries for a new location' - Sarah James.