“All the Living and the Dead: From Embalmers to Executioners, an Exploration of the People Who Have Made Death Their Life’s Work” by Hayley Campbell

"A deeply compelling exploration of the death industry and the people―morticians, detectives, crime scene cleaners, embalmers, executioners―who work in it and what led them there. We are surrounded by death. It is in our news, our nursery rhymes, our true-crime podcasts. Yet from a young age, we are told that death is something to be feared. How are we supposed to know what we’re so afraid of, when we are never given the chance to look? Fueled by a childhood fascination with death, journalist Hayley Campbell searches for answers in the people who make a living by working with the dead. Along the way, she encounters mass fatality investigators, embalmers, and a former executioner who is...>>

“Wawata: Moon Dreaming: Daily Wisdom Guided by Hina, the Maori Moon” by Hinemoa Elder

"Hina, the Maori moon goddess, has 30 different faces to help illuminate life’s lessons—a different face and a different energy for each day of the month. And with her changing light, new insights are revealed. This book gives us the chance to connect to the ancient wisdom of the old people, who reach forward into our lives, with each of the moon’s names as their offerings. Their reminders are a source of strength in our strange modern world, where we have been stripped of much of the connection and relationships we need for our wellbeing through successive lockdowns. We now see just how important these things are! This book leads you through a full cycle of...>>

“The Structure of Story: How to Write Great Stories by Focusing on What Really Matters” by Ross Hartmann

"This practical, how-to guide reveals the tools that great writers use to craft compelling stories. What do all great stories have in common? What techniques do great writers use? How do you take your writing to the next level? There are no storytelling rules-but there are patterns. The Structure of Story details the specific writing tools that will help you recognize and apply the patterns of great stories. You will learn how to shift your focus from storytelling rules to storytelling tools. By applying these tools, you'll be able to keep the reader on the edge of their seat while delivering an emotional, meaningful story. In The Structure of Story, you'll learn the four dramatic tools that keep...>>

“Shaping the Story: A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing Short Fiction” by Mark Baechtel

"Shaping the Story teaches beginning fiction writers to hone their craft with a unique, step-by-step approach to writing a short story. Stepping students through an interlocking set of twelve easy-to-follow exercises, Shaping the Story helps the beginning fiction writer understand the ways a short story changes and grows as it moves from its often-vague beginnings through a satisfying ending. As students step through the process, they learn about development of theme, point of view, voice, setting, character, dialogue, scene, plot, the treatment of time, and the crafting of satisfying endings. The text also offers an additional 48 skill-building exercises--four per chapter--plus an anthology of thirteen carefully chosen stories, which, through reading and analysis, will bring the...>>

“Story by Numbers” by Adam Skelter

"So you’ve got this script or this novel you’re working on. Is it good? How do you know? Does it have fully dimensional characters and a plot that digs up their demons and forces them into a reckoning? Story By Numbers is a step-by-step deep dive into structure that will take your story from an underdeveloped storm of "cool ideas", to a slick, compelling work with fully dimensional characters. It uses the protagonist’s inner conflict as the guide to developing plot points and meaningful conflicts. It takes an irreverent, hands-on approach to story and character development in three parts: Part One tackles the infamous 4 Act, 8 Sequence, 24 Plot Point structure...>>