Local Interest

At just forty-one years old, Dr. Autumn Klein, a neurologist specializing in seizure disorders in pregnant women, had already been named chief of women's neurology at Pittsburgh's largest health system. More than just successful in her field, Dr. Klein was beloved--by her patients, colleagues, family, and friends. She collapsed suddenly on April 17, 2013, writhing in agony on her kitchen floor, and died three days later. The police said her husband, Dr. Robert Ferrante, twenty-three years Klein's senior, killed her through cyanide poisoning. Though Ferrante left a clear trail of circumstantial evidence, Klein's death from cyanide might have been overlooked if not for the investigators who were able to use Ferrante's computer, statements from the staff at his lab, and his own seemingly odd actions at the hospital during his wife's treatment to piece together what appeared to be a long-term plan to end his wife's life. In Death by Cyanide, Paula Reed Ward, reporter for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, describes the murder investigation and the trial in this sensational case, taking us from the poisoning and the medical staff's heroic measures to save Klein's life to the investigation of Ferrante and the emotion and drama inside the courtroom.

Whether you re entering the college scene for the first time or returning after a not-so-successful initial attempt, First Semester Success can load you up with tips and strategies for achieving your academic goals. With an entry for each day of the semester (and some bonus tips, too), this book shows simple ways that students can take control of their own learning, studying, reading, habits, and goals. Make reading this book one of your new goals today, and commit to testing the ideas in this book over the semester. You might be surprised at your first semester s success.

Free yourself from writer's block and inner critics with the creative power of improv!

"Jorjeana Marie's generous, joyful, and oh-so-useful book shows writers--both seasoned and new--how to unleash their creativity and find their best story."--Gayle Forman, New York Times bestselling author of If I Stay and I Have Lost My Way

Improv instructor and writer Jorjeana Marie reveals a new way to generate idea after brilliant idea. Applying the rules of improv to fiction writing, Marie presents fun games and exercises you can do from the comfort of your desk at home.

Surprise yourself with new plots, infinite characters and settings, and a supreme confidence in your own process. Armed with the power of improv--and liberating exercises like Ad Agency, Raise the Stakes, and Family Portraits--you'll soon be an idea machine. With Improv for Writers, your creative storytelling well will never run dry again.

Advance praise for Improv for Writers

"Here's a secret. Many authors started out as drama geeks and later found that theatrical skills like deep-diving into character and improvising on the fly were essential tools for writing fiction. Jorjeana Marie's generous, joyful and oh-so useful book applies the principles of improv to writing and though a series of targeted, fun exercises shows writers--both the seasoned and the new--how to unleash their creativity and find their best story."--Gayle Forman, New York Times bestselling author of If I Stay and I Have Lost My Way

"Part practical, part playful, part encouraging and affirming, Jorjeana Marie's Improv for Writers is a certain antidote to writing blocks--and writer's block! This book is a necessary and vital tool for authors and storytellers everywhere."--Karma Brown, bestselling author of The Life Lucy Knew

"Thank you, Jorjeana Marie for infusing joy and play and experimentation in the often-arduous act of writing fiction. I'll be turning to these exercises whenever I need to jump-start my writing session and will be recommending many of my writing students to do the same."--Nina LaCour, Michael L. Printz Award-winning author of We Are Okay, Hold Still, The Disenchantments, and Everything Leads to You; and You Know Me Well, a novel written in collaboration with David Levithan.

How can educators and other professionals caring for children extend the learning potential of read alouds? This book is designed to help teachers, special education specialists, and speech-language pathologists achieve two objectives: 1) how to interact with children around books in ways that are instructive in nature but also responsive to children's verbal contributions; and 2) how to use literature, informational texts, and poetry to achieve the goals of the Common Core State Standards. The authors provide specific recommendations for structuring read aloud routines in the early childhood classroom, making the read aloud interactive, using instructional strategies that enhance children's vocabulary and content knowledge, and supporting and extending children's verbal contributions through scaffolding during the activity. This practitioner‐friendly text also includes methods for supporting children with special needs, as well as English language learners.

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