Every single item that goes through your hands could be fodder for creativity.  If you are like me, a ton of paper likely passes through your hands every day. Some you probably don’t even pay attention to—it just goes right into the trash or the recycling. But every single item could be fodder for creativity. Keep an envelope or plastic bag with you so you have somewhere to store papers you encounter. Ignore nothing. You never know how the material might translate into a collage. It might get buried with another medium, but who cares? You’ll know it’s there and it will ground the memory ..read more

Composting at home is an excellent way to deal with garden waste in an environmentally friendly way. Learn how with expert advice from Grow More Food authors Colin McCrate and Brad Halm.  Compost is a key ingredient for your soil fertility, and you have two choices for how to obtain it: Make your own or buy it. Composting at home is an excellent way to deal with garden waste in an environmentally friendly way. When you make your own compost, you theoretically have control over the quality of the compost that goes back into your garden. Photo by Kimberly Thompson Panay © Storey Publishing ..read more

Go green by using your surplus cilantro to make a tasty Fermented Cilantro Coconut Sauce. Don’t like coconut? Simply omit it.  A whole lot of good food is wasted every day—globally, about one-third of food doesn’t ever make it to the table. Fermentation is one answer to reducing the food waste in our homes, schools, and restaurants. Small steps, taken by many, lead to big changes for the environment.  Photo by Alee Moncy © Storey Publishing. Plus, fermenting is fun. Each batch is a little science experiment that you get to eat. Like a potted plant or garden bed, ferments require som ..read more

Table of Contents Foreword by Kathryn Marsh, Esq., and Melissa Hoppmeyer, Esq. Introduction Part ICHAPTER 1. The Truth About Sexual Assault Defining Sexual Assault Let’s Talk About Consent Expert Contribution: Alcohol-Facilitated Sexual Assault Common Types of Manipulation Expert Contribution: Signs of Sexual Abuse in Children and Hose to Offer Support 12 Myths About Sexual Assault Expert Contribution: The Power of Words Let’s Check In CHAPTER 2. What to Do If You’ve Been Assaulted Expert Contribution: The Role of an Advocate for Survivors of Sexual Violence Your Next Steps Expert Contribution ..read more

This promotion is not currently available. Our Open Book program celebrates authors from a variety of cultural experiences and backgrounds by sharing their stories, inspiration, writing process and more. Learn More ..read more

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Sky Gazing author Meg Thacher shares two DIY eclipse pinhole projector projects that you can make at home. One way to observe an eclipse is to use a pinhole projector to make an image of it.  You will need:  Scissors  Sheet of plain white paper  Tape  Shoebox with lid  Aluminum foil  Pin or thumbtack  What to do:  Cut out a rectangle of white paper and tape it to the inside of one end of the box.  On the other end of the box, cut out small square that is about 1 inch by 1 inch (2.5 cm by 2.5 cm).  Cut a piece of foil that is 2 inches b ..read more

Don't miss the solar eclipse! On April 8, 2024, there will be a total solar eclipse in North America. Here's what you need to know. Everyone in North America will be able to see at least part of the Sun blocked by the Moon. But along the narrow path of totality—from Mexico, through Texas, to Maine and eastern Canada—folks will see a total solar eclipse. There, and only there, the Moon will cover the Sun completely. All afternoon, people everywhere will stop, look up, and be amazed. The sky will go completely dark for a few minutes. Birds and animals will prepare for sleep. The Sun’s ghostly ..read more

Hi Bill, thanks so much for sitting down to talk to us about The Freshman  Survival Guide, which has now sold over 166K copies (congratulations!). Could you highlight some of the main changes that have been made in this newly revised edition that is releasing on March 26? Thanks, Abigail. Since the last edition of the book in 2016, much has changed. The global pandemic disrupted life as we knew it for most of the planet for a few years while at the same time issues of gender, race and justice have become enormous sources of conflict and confusion in the culture at large. Not ..read more

My Benghazi experience is a story about six guys fighting with some serious disadvantages and overcoming some long odds. The politics of the events of September 1, 2012, got a lot of headlines, but the story went far beyond politics. I have come to realize that the idea of our overcoming is an important part of the story. My story has resonated with many people because we all struggle. Every day, each one of us has to get up and move forward. Some days are harder than others. The truth is that life will eventually improve, but you have to take steps to make that happen— even if you can only t ..read more