James McGowan – författare

The Baby Wrestler is a humorous look at what happens when Dad chooses to stay at home and raise the kids. This funny, irreverent, and poignant book offers a completely different view of parenting that's equal parts Will Farrell, Dr. Spock, and Jack Kerouac. It's the perfect gift for Father's Day, Mother's Day, or Mental Health Day.Cunningly disguised as a comic memoir, The Baby Wrestler was written as a confidential report by a global troubleshooter for the United Nations who chose to become a stay-at-home-dad, (SAHD). Our man believed that he could handle any situation, but all hell broke loose when he found himself in charge of a precocious toddler, a hyperactive preschooler, and a wolf-dog who liked to eat deliverymen. Survival hinged on recasting his identity into The Baby Wrestler.Recently released by an anonymous hacker, The Baby Wrestler is packed with explosive information that threatens to subvert the expectations of parents everywhere. It comes at a time when two major trends have put American families into an ironic bind: most households with children now lack a father, yet more fathers than ever are the primary caretakers for their children. If there's a man in the house at all, there's a good chance that he's doing the work traditionally done by a woman. Yet, there are still more men in jail than at home taking care of their kids. In these complicated times, both fathers and mothers need a new road map, and society needs a fundamental change in the value it places on the job of child raising.In practical terms, The Baby Wrestler offers beleaguered parents some guidance through the experience that's equivalent to running a restaurant, a laundromat, a tutoring service, a home maintenance service, a landscaping company, a buying club, a school for manners, a financial planning group, a pocket zoo, a life coaching service, a social secretarial service, and a visiting nurse service all at the same time on a 24/7/365 basis with no days off and no pay whatsoever. To cope with it all without pharmaceutical intervention, modern parents do not need to become Baby Whisperers. They need to become Baby Wrestlers.This satirical tale of a vexed soul who's brought low, and then raised up by tiny terrorists of love is told through 50 short chapters that are alternatively hilarious and profound, opening with "e;The Baffled King,"e; proceeding through "e;The Ethics of Elfland"e; and closing with "e;Unwrapping The Present."e; It tackles tough subjects such as international travel with kids for idiots, how to change 3,000 diapers, and blocking attempts to turn your kids into zombie consumers.Along the way, the book reveals some of the harrowing work experiences the author endured prior to dropping off the U.N.'s radar screen and taking on the impossible job of raising perfect hellions. Ultimately, the paradox at the heart of his mission was revealed over the course of a decade—there is no future in childcare, except the future itself. The Baby Wrestler is now poised to trigger a revolution in the way people view fathers who actually take care of their children.

Dungeon crawling for treasure is easy. Talking to an estranged mother to get it, much less so. Ashe has a list of invaluable items he will do anything to obtain: herb pipes that grant immortality, a super-tech wand that projects black globes of annihilation, and a certain arcane axe. The parent who abandoned him is just the first step. He will have to deal with a sorceress he cannot trust. And parlay with an eccentric and dangerous lizard man. Learn how Ashe added to his collection of rarities in this anthology of supplemental chapters to Repenter. He will make enemies along the way. But he might also stumble his way into a few friendships. Such is the nature of fortune hunting. You'll enjoy these short stories, because of their crisp dialogue and intriguing connections to the main novel. This anthology contains no spoilers to Repenter and can be read in advance of the other Players of the Game stories. Get it now.

Gunther, McGowan and Donegan draw on their own experiences and those of others in the field, to explain the importance of communication in school leadership. In focusing on the communication process—why it's critical for schools, and how it can be executed well—they make the case that communication must be a primary emphasis for leaders, not an afterthought.In Strategic Communications for School Leaders, the authors provide the insights and skills necessary for understanding the role of communication in educational leadership. They also lay the foundation for helping leaders-and those that aspire to be-create and execute communication plans that help to win the trust of an increasingly skeptical public and provide a means to advocate for schools' appropriate share of scarce resources.Topics addressed in the book include the following: understanding the audiences and their information channels; aligning the school leaders' messages with their educational goals and values; telling stories and using illustrative examples; delivering honest and credible messages (including admitting mistakes); using technology intelligently and appropriately; and creating and adhering to a communications plan.

Gunther, McGowan and Donegan draw on their own experiences and those of others in the field, to explain the importance of communication in school leadership. In focusing on the communication process—why it's critical for schools, and how it can be executed well—they make the case that communication must be a primary emphasis for leaders, not an afterthought.In Strategic Communications for School Leaders, the authors provide the insights and skills necessary for understanding the role of communication in educational leadership. They also lay the foundation for helping leaders-and those that aspire to be-create and execute communication plans that help to win the trust of an increasingly skeptical public and provide a means to advocate for schools' appropriate share of scarce resources.Topics addressed in the book include the following: understanding the audiences and their information channels; aligning the school leaders' messages with their educational goals and values; telling stories and using illustrative examples; delivering honest and credible messages (including admitting mistakes); using technology intelligently and appropriately; and creating and adhering to a communications plan.

This book offers students and professionals practical information for developing and improving the quality of early childhood special education. It contains a wealth of knowledge and experiences from people involved in leadership and program administration. Several chapters also provide specific suggestions for setting up a family and child friendly system for evaluating young children. The revised edition focuses on implementation rather than establishment of early childhood education systems. This edition also notes changes in the field since the original book was published.

Power has a steep cost. One often paid in regret. In blood. In a world where gods walk among mortals and technology rivals magic, five superhuman individuals are forged into weapons. But the forging is brutal. Ed Burnhelt carries an inferno in his blood that could consume him before he ever learns to wield it. His training under his legendary mother isn't nurturing. It's lethal. He's not the only one running the gauntlet. A god of invention, a reality-warping brawler in silver armor, and two inheritors of impossible skill each face their own crucible. Mastery demands sacrifice. Power demands more. These origin stories reveal what the New Players lost before they ever stepped onto the battlefield. And the nightmares their good intentions unleashed. Because power's price is not paid once. The tally comes due again. And again. Perfect for fans of Joe Abercrombie, Andrzej Sapkowski, and the darker side of Brandon Sanderson. Step into the crucible.

What do you do when the real enemy isn't the one standing in front of you? Ed Burnhelt and his grey-eyed adversary both know the truth: stopping their nations from war won't save anyone. Because in the shadows, something far worse is already growing. A cyborg goddess commands an empire of twisted flesh. Her mind-hacking flowers don't just kill. They corrupt, transforming victims into her mutated army. She's patient. Relentless. And she's already won battles Ed doesn't even know about yet. Ed's hyper powers make him nearly unstoppable. His family and allies bring magic and super-tech firepower. But raw power won't be enough against an enemy who rewrites minds and reshapes bodies at will. To save this world, Ed must push his abilities beyond their limits and work with old friends and new allies he does not trust. Because if they fail, the cyborg goddess will corrupt everything. All as part of the dire and ancient Game. The Players of the Game saga expands into bold new territory with this action-packed installment, featuring unforgettable characters and the epic magic-technology fusion at the heart of the series. Perfect for fans of Timothy Zahn, Brandon Sanderson, and Joe Abercrombie. Join the fight now.

Some family reunions have arguments. This one has a demon war. And in the middle of its destruction, Ashe must help his daughter. She exists as a living ghost.  Her body is broken.  Inert. To make her whole, he needs to carve through a dark empire to take back the cure from its leader. Her mother. Ashe's ex. The odds are against him. The bloody empress has united the east with demonic armies of super-tech and sorcery. The tattered west possesses only one real advantage. A band of mercenaries renowned for turning many a tide. The Brigands. Ashe is now one of them. Can Ashe and his allies seize the cure for his daughter from his former lover? If they hope to prevail, there will be a cost. What will need to be sacrificed? Who will need to be sacrificed? Will it be enough? You'll love this epic dark science fantasy story, because of the enduring connection between a father and his daughter throughout a desperate war's chaos. Get it now.

The only thing worse than losing everything is the darkness it leaves behind. In a nether realm of endless war, where magic and super tech collide across feuding baronies, a haunted queen seeks oblivion on a forgotten island at the edge of the world. ViRauni has lost her kingdom, the war, and the love of her life — twice. All she wants is to disappear. But the island harbors something ancient and hungry, something with a dire connection to her past. It's been waiting for her. Now she must rally the shattered remnants of the Brigands against a brain-hacked horde closing in from all sides. Hexes and heavy firepower won't save them. Neither will running. But ViRauni's greatest enemy isn't on the battlefield. Her cursed armor feeds on death, and it's starving. The darkness inside her is growing — and part of her welcomes it. Some wars can only be won by the monster you've become. Perfect for fans of Joe Abercrombie, Brandon Sanderson, and R.F. Kuang. Surrender to the darkness. Get it now.

Sometimes the worst person is the best man for the job.Across realms where magic and machine collide, Ashe is a fortune hunter without peer. His fire magic is renowned. He burns through anything and anyone between him and the treasures he seeks. Ashe's competence is matched only by his cruelty.No one would mistake him for a hero.Despite his flaws, he is a dark world's best hope against the rise of a darker empire. One commanded by his sadistic former lover. Ashe wants nothing to do with the escalating war. But their long-lost daughter has other ideas.She needs Ashe's help against another dire threat.It blows on the wind amidst the armed bedlam. A sentient disease lost by the warrior sect that raised his child.It wants new victims.And Ashe's ex will gladly supply them for its allegiance.Will the man with the hottest fire stop the world from burning? Not unless he can strive to be better. Not unless he can repent.Perfect for fans of The Wheel of Time and The Avengers. Epic-scale fantasy with kitchen-sink scope, multi-world stakes, and an ensemble of characters playing for keeps.Unleash the fire.