In ancient Egypt, during the reign of Ramesses the Great, sixteen-year-old Sati wants nothing more than to follow in her father's footsteps and join the royal military.But everyone knows women can't be soldiers.When mysterious forces threaten her family, Sati makes an impossible choice and runs away from home. As she sails to the glittering new capital of Per-Ramesses, her ship is attacked by marauders seeking another passenger: Ahmose, a restless and enigmatic nobleman who...

Attend a grand ball of the bizarre and never look at dance the same way again!Weird Dance processes through the odd, grim, and unintentionally humorous history of dance, uncovering strange stories and weird facts.These dark tales of murder, rivalry, insanity, and more reveal all sorts of grim goings-on, proving that—for dancers—life was not just one grand plié. Stories include:An elderly woman who stepped out of her Strasbourg home one summ...

Jessica Jones barged onto our screens in November 2015, courtesy of Marvel and Netflix, presenting a hard-drinking protagonist who wrestles with her own inner (and outer) demons. Gaining enhanced abilities as a teenager, she eschews the "super costume" and is far more concerned with the problems of daily life. But when Jessica falls under the control of a villain, her life changes forever.Based on the comic book Alias, the show won a large following and critical acclaim fo...

From a longtime script consultant, "a vital aid to all writers, novelists, and screenwriters . . . invaluable" (Gale Anne Hurd, producer, The Walking Dead and Aliens).In this book, Linda Seger, author of Making a Good Script Great, shows how to create strong, multidimensional characters in fiction, covering everything from research to character block. She introduces concepts designed to stimulate the creative process, combining them with p...

13 essays on the importance of representation in science fiction and fantasy, with an introduction by author Alex Dally MacFarlane. Proceeds from the sale of this collection go to the Carl Brandon Society to support Con or Bust. Full table of contents: Introduction by Alex Dally MacFarlane. “Parched” by Mark Oshiro. “Boys’ Books” by Katharine Kerr. “Clicking” by Susan Jane Bigelow. “The Princess Problem” by Charlotte Ashley. “Autism, Representa...

Writers Workshop of Science Fiction and Fantasy is a collection of essays and interviews by and with many of the movers-and-shakers in the industry. Each contributor covers the specific element of craft he or she excels in. Expect to find varying perspectives and viewpoints, which is why you many find differing opinions on any particular subject.This is, after all, a collection of advice from professional storytellers. And no two writers have made it to the stage via the same journ...

N ational B ook C ritics C ircle A ward Winner . "With dazzling clarity, [Chocano's] commentary exposes the subliminal sexism on our pages and screens."— O, The Oprah MagazineAs a kid in the 1970s and 80s, Carina Chocano was confused ...

This sneak peek teaser - featuring literary giants John Grisham and Danielle Steele - from Chapter 2 of The Bestseller Code, a groundbreaking book about what a computer algorithm can teach us about blockbuster books, stories, and reading, reveals the importance of topic and theme in bestselling fiction according to percentages assigned by what the authors refer to as the “bestseller-ometer.”Although 55,000 novels are published every year, only about 200 hit the lists, a co...

Through exercises and following a writing program with the book - learn more about creative non-fiction and how you can make a living at it.

A comprehensive and sustained analysis of the development of storytelling for televisionOver the past two decades, new technologies, changing viewer practices, and the proliferation of genres and channels has transformed American television. One of the most notable impacts of these shifts is the emergence of highly complex and elaborate forms of serial narrative, resulting in a robust period of formal experimentation and risky programming rarely seen in a medium th...

Following Common Core Standards, this lesson plan for F. Scott Fitzgerald’s, "The Great Gatsby" is the perfect solution for teachers trying to get ideas for getting students excited about a book.BookCaps lesson plans cover five days worth of material. It includes a suggested reading schedule, discussion questions, essay topics, homework assignments, and suggested web resources.A separate book is also available that contains a companion study guide to the book.

Over the last several decades, comic book superheroes have multiplied and, in the process, become more complicated. In this cutting edge anthology an international roster of contributors offer original research and writing on the contemporary comic book superhero, with occasional journeys into the film and television variation. As superheroes and their stories have grown with the audiences that consume them, their formulas, conventions, and narrative worlds have altered to follow suit, inj...